South Africa vow to wear down Australia's bowlers in second Test

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 16 Oct, 18:02 · Archive

South Africa aim to make Australia's bowlers work harder in the second Test after losing the first by 214 runs.

South Africa have admitted they failed to make Australia's bowlers work hard enough in the opening Test at Durban, which they lost by 214 runs. The hosts vow to improve their approach in the second Test at Gqeberha on Sunday, and expect to welcome back pace bowler Kagiso Rabada, who impressed on Australia's last tour in 2018.

South Africa's batting was the main weakness in the first Test. Only Aiden Markram passed 50, with seven other batters scoring between 30 and 49 across both innings. Coach Shukri Conrad has responded by dropping both Tristan Stubbs and Kyle Verreynne. Australia's attack, featuring Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon, proved relentless and hard to score off.

South Africa No.3 David Bedingham stressed the importance of making the Australian bowlers work in the back-to-back Tests. 'It's just about trying to take them to 80 overs, 100 overs, 120 overs,' he said. 'And then, I know they're machines, but everyone gets tired eventually.' Bedingham noted that when lower-order batters were batting around the 68th over in the first innings, the ball became softer and easier to bat against, suggesting earlier batting collapses had cost the Proteas.

How it is being reported

• Proteas urged to wear down Australia's bowling machinesSouth Africa have conceded they didn't do a good enough job making Australia's bowlers toil in the first Test, a point they must address at St George's Park.Perth Now · 16 Oct, 17:37
• Proteas urged to wear down Australia's bowling machinesSouth Africa have conceded they didn't do a good enough job making Australia's bowlers toil in the first Test, a point they must address at St George's Park.The West Australian · 16 Oct, 17:37

In this story: South Africa · Australia · Kagiso Rabada · David Bedingham · Aiden Markram · Shukri Conrad · Gqeberha · Pat Cummins

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