How Pat Cummins, Steve Smith and their Australia teammates performed in their defeat to South Africa at Lord’s
The Tasmanian all-rounder continues to impress in a range of scenarios with the bat, the ball and in the field. Australia’s first innings would have been far worse without him, even if Webster made a scratchy start. He was less successful in the second innings, but deserves to keep his place in the West Indies.
Josh Hazlewood: 6
The ever-reliable Hazlewood bowled solidly in each innings without quite looking to be at his best. He helped Starc add priceless runs to give South Africa a trickier chase than they might otherwise have had.
Alex Carey after being dismissed by Kagiso Rabada on day two.Credit: Getty Images
Alex Carey: 6
The keeper-batsman dropped a catch he would have expected to snaffle on the first evening, though it wasn’t overlay costly. But he made critical runs on the second evening to lift Australia out of the mire at 7-73 and otherwise kept tidily.
Nathan Lyon: 4
“The GOAT” bowled serviceably without results. Lyon might have had more success had he been switched around to bowl into the footmarks at the Nursery End a little earlier in South Africa’s chase, but he also allowed the Proteas to play him too often off the back foot.
Nathan Lyon (left) and Marnus Labuschagne (right) congratulate Aiden Markram on his match-winning knock.Credit: Getty Images
Marnus Labuschagne: 4
Labuschagne was drafted up to open, and hinted at promise in both innings before flirting outside off stump twice to keep his Test place very much open to question. He fielded well with plenty of energy. Should he be dropped, there is still plenty of time for the 30-year-old to return.
Travis Head: 3
The aggressive left-hander played in typical fashion without his usual effect, glancing down the leg side in the first innings and then getting bowled by a nip-backer in the second. He wasn’t afforded much of a buffer from the new ball by the top order. He also pulled off a sharp run out.
Jubliant South African skipper Temba Bavuma holds the Test championship mace aloft.Credit: Getty Images
Usman Khawaja: 2
The 38-year-old veteran was well beaten by Kagiso Rabada in both innings and showed a few signs of struggles, such as missing or mistiming his pet pull shot. He wants to keep playing through to the end of the Ashes, but needs a complementary opening partner.
Cameron Green: 1
Green’s long stint in county cricket reaped plenty of runs but not much preparation for the class of Rabada on a seaming surface. He’s a gifted batter but may not be the answer at number three, particularly once he returns to the bowling crease.
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