Former England seamer Stuart Broad criticised Australia’s tactics on the third day of the World Test Championship final, as South Africa inched closer to a historic run-chase.
Broad questions Australia's gameplan
Broad, who served as South Africa’s bowling consultant for match before joining the official commentary panel, criticised Australia's field placements during a match-defining partnership between Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma. The pair put on 143 in an unbroken stand which put South Africa within 100 runs of victory at the end of day three.
"Use this over now to have that conversation, 'where can we get that extra attacking fielder from, where can we manipulate the batter’s mind to make a mistake?’", Broad said during the 38th over of the innings.
As the day wore on, Nathan Lyon was Australia's most threatening bowler, producing sharp turn past the bat on several occasions.
"With that sort of spin, you have to strike," said Broad. "With this style of bowling, where you’re looking to push it across Bavuma, you’ve got to have the fielder saving one.
"You’re looking for Bavuma to play a forceful shot through the off side, to nick it and for it to carry to slip, or even to slice it away towards deep third or deep backward point, you can’t allow him to just play a forward defence and get off strike. The Aussies are just going through a little period of letting South Africa get off strike, rotate strike."
Bavuma was managing a problem with his hamstring throughout the day, requiring several periods of on-field attention from the South Africa medical staff. Nevertheless, he finished the day unbeaten on 65, having faced 121 deliveries. Despite his injury, he supported Markram in reaching an important century towards the end of the day, the eighth of his Test career.
History awaits for South Africa
If South Africa chase down their 282-run target on day four, it would be their first senior ICC trophy in 26 years, having last lifted the ICC Knockout, a forerunner of the Champions Trophy, back in 1998. It would also be the joint-second fourth-innings run-chase at Lord’s, matching England’s 282 against New Zealand in 2004. The record (342) has stood since 1984, when West Indies hunted it down against England.
Starc frustrates South Africa
Earlier in the day, Australia had threatened to take the game out of South Africa's reach with important lower-order runs. After losing Nathan Lyon (2) early in the morning session, Australia stumbled to 148-9 before a gritty rearguard partnership between Mitchell Starc (58 not out) and Josh Hazlewood (17) frustrated South Africa’s bowlers.
Fresh from his rescue act with the bat, Starc struck first blood by dismissing Ryan Rickelton for 6. After a brief partnership with Markram, Wiaan Mulder also fell to Starc for 27 putting South Africa on the edge of a disastrous collapse.
Also read: Explained: Why Australia and South Africa players are wearing black armbands during WTC final
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Nevertheless, after Markram and Bavuma's partnership, South Africa will begin tomorrow needing just 69 runs to secure the World Test Championship mace.
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