Nic Maddinson kickstarts his redemption arc in Durban

Australia remain ahead after day three in Durban, with South Africa falling for 284 in their first innings overnight.

Nic Maddinson and Travis Head returned to the crease, making 33 runs before bad lighting ended play for the third of three days.

Is Steve Smith’s Australia’s greatest ever slips fielder? Gerard Whateley thinks so.

Not one, not two, but THREE blinders for Smudge! The first used pure game smarts to anticipate and move from leg slip to dismiss South African captain Temba Bavuma as he played his shot, the second a diving catch in the cordon at full stretch to remove David Bedingham, and the third was a diving catch from leg slip to dismiss Verreynne – it might have been the best of the lot.

Simon Katich was blown away by the first catch: “He’s stolen that. he’s snuck in and thieved it from the back door. That was brilliant from Steve Smith. He has positioned himself perfectly.”

Adam Collins called the second catch “Superman stuff.” whilst Vernon Philander said of the third “that is not human.”

Catches win matches and Smith’s hands continue to be an underrated part of his game. The second catch saw Smith go past Joe Root for the most catches in Test Cricket taken by a fielder other than a wicketkeeper, and saw Gerard Whateley declare him “the finest slip fielder of his generation.”

South Africa’s batting line-up is impatient and susceptible to the short ball

With the South Africans getting off to a bright start with aggressive stroke play, Australia turned to the short ball which proved successful.

Mulder and Stubbs both holed out in quick succession to Cummins, whilst Jansen fell to Hazlewood in similar fashion.

Simon Katich said there was “a real lack if discipline” from the South African batters as the Aussies took control. All ten South African wickets were catches.

Australia needs to be more ruthless with the tail

Australia had South Africa on the ropes at 8/197, just under 200 runs behind Australia’s first innings total.

Frustratingly the South African tail wagged and the Australian bowlers weren’t able to wrap things up, conceding a 52-run partnership for the 9th wicket and a 35-run partnership for the 10th.

Australia still had a 106-run lead at the innings break, but the opportunity to have a far bigger lead unfortunately went begging.

Nic Maddinson kickstarts his redemption arc

The Aussie opener smashed two audacious boundaries in the opening over of the second innings – one from the very first ball - to loosen the shoulders and relieve the pressure after his first innings failure.

Everyone will be behind him as he looks to build on his innings on Monday.

What’s a winning score from here?

Australia leads by 139 runs at stumps with 10 wickets in hand – what sort of a lead will they need from here?

Simon Katich and Vernon Philander both believe a 300-run lead is the minimum, with two days left in the match – albeit shortened days given play has been stopped early by bad light every day.

AND ANOTHER THING

Matt Renshaw’s innings looks EVEN better now. Renshaw’s 190 was the only score from both teams’ first innings above 50.

He was a cut above and handled the bowling and conditions better than anyone.

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