The Australian innings concluded at 207 after a notable performance by the Proteas bowlers at Lord’s. Australia’s initial innings was at 212, but the Australian bowlers, especially the pacers, played their part, restricting South Africa to 138 runs. In the second innings, the South Africans again took wickets in quick succession. However, Mitchell Starc became the innings builder, smashing a stunning half-century and driving the score to 207, which gave Australia a lead of 281 runs. South Africa now needs 282 runs to win against the reigning world champions.
This is not the first instance of Starc building an innings from the number 9 position. He has achieved this seven times in Test cricket. England’s Stuart Broad, who also consults with South Africa, has done so six times. Only two batsmen have scored five or more 50-plus scores from number 9 or lower in Tests in a single country – Stuart Broad and Mitchell Starc, both in England.
It’s widely known that conditions in SENA countries favor fast bowlers. In the 30 wickets taken (including both Australian innings and one South African innings), only one was by a spinner, South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj. The remaining 29 wickets were claimed by pace bowlers, with Australia’s captain Pat Cummins taking the most wickets in an innings (6).