Cape Town: After his team address in Gqeberha was the prelude for Australia being bowled out for 99, Andrew McDonald tried another collective pep talk in the Newlands nets before day two of the tie-breaking third Test.
If it inspired confidence in some, a more pragmatic view was shown by the sight of captain and number eight Pat Cummins padding up to bat, a day after he showed more confidence in his bowlers than batsmen to set the agenda when he won the toss. Steve Smith observed the scene as a mere spectator, still suffering whiplash-like symptoms from a neck injury.
More telling, as it turned out, was the identity of the last Australian participant to leave the nets: Josh Inglis. His throwdown session was replete with drives, cuts and frenetic foot movement, all familiar to those who saw him peel off a debut Test century in Sri Lanka last year.
By day’s end in Cape Town, it had been Inglis who made the most indelible mark on proceedings with a damaging and unbeaten 85, the perfect accelerator after a decent platform had been laid by Travis Head (41), Matt Renshaw (74) and the recalled Cameron Green (65).
Spectators remained tense for most of the day, knowing from recent history that Australia were more than capable of collapsing. Twice they lost two wickets in quick succession, but it was the team’s ability to staunch those bleeds that made for arguably their best ensemble batting day in well over a year.
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