Hurry, hurry, hurry

GH watches the race for the mace

A sixth day is allocated to this World Test Championship final. At this rate, you could almost squeeze in a two-Test series. We have, at any rate, a contest on our hands. The bowlers have brought their A-games; the batters you might charitably grudge a C-minus.

This first day veered wildly. The loss of Travis Head on the stroke of lunch to a leg-side strangle tilted the first session South Africa’s way; the arc of the second session bent towards Australia, as Steve Smith and Beau Webster compiled positive half-centuries. After tea, batters of both teams held to the crease as if to a window ledge: nine wickets plummeted for 63 in 172 deliveries.

First of all, kudos to the unfancied Proteas. Kagiso Rabada bowled exquisitely on a fullish length throughout, gliding through the crease as if barely touching the ground, and coaxing movement from the ball well into its life cycle. His skill, and Marco Jansen’s lively support, meant that South African bowling depth went untested. Perhaps, in fact, we should have seen this coming. The cover of the programme for the World Test Championship final juxtaposes the two captains so: a faintly airbrushed Pat Cummins smiling guilelessly, unaware of the ICC mace about to dong him, while Temba Bavuma snickers in the background.

Look out behind you…..