Australia’s head coach, Andrew McDonald, has acknowledged the shortcomings in his side’s batting performance on the fourth day of the Test match in Gqeberha, where they collapsed for 99 runs and faced a rare follow-on. Despite the setback, McDonald refrained from pinning the blame on individual players.
Australia’s second innings saw them end day four on 156 for 4, trailing South Africa by 170 runs. Marnus Labuschagne’s dismissal triggered a resurgence from the home team, though Travis Head held firm with an unbeaten 87. Encouragingly, McDonald assured fans that Steven Smith, who dealt with a neck issue, is expected to play in the final day.
This unexpected turn of events contrasts sharply with South Africa’s earlier struggle at 97 for 5. They ended up with a commanding 425, owing much to Marco Jansen’s 5 for 33, bolstered by Kagiso Rabada’s impactful return and Simon Harmer’s strategic role.
Reflecting on the 99 all out, McDonald said: “I think any time when anything unfolds at that speed it takes a couple of players communicate and navigate through that and we weren’t able to get any partnerships. We’ve had some of these moments across the journey, so we’re not a perfect batting unit and I’ve never said that we are.”
He acknowledged the proficiency of the South African bowlers, highlighting their role in exposing Australia’s vulnerabilities. However, McDonald maintained a balanced view, noting that pitches didn’t have too many unexpected challenges, and emphasised the need for batting improvements.
Australia’s recent form includes a comprehensive 214-run victory in the first Test in Durban. While batting consistency has been questioned in recent years, McDonald pointed to their solid record, including not having lost a Test series since 2023 in India.
“It’s only a week ago that we were a really, really good team,” McDonald remarked. “This team’s been a really consistent team over a long period of time so I’m not going to sit here and hang anyone out to dry.”
He also expressed confidence in his team’s ability to turnaround, saying, “I have great belief and trust that the skillsets in that room, in particular tomorrow, can go out there and potentially turn this one around.”
Looking ahead, McDonald avoided discussing any potential team changes for the final Test but did hint at Cameron Green’s availability after recovering from an abdominal strain. Green might participate as a specialist batter, though his bowling return remains uncertain.
The squad still includes Josh Inglis and Cooper Connolly as batting alternatives, while the uncapped Sam Harper joins the team after Inglis was sidelined due to a fractured finger in the earlier match.
