Following a disastrous batting collapse in the series-deciding third Test against South Africa at Newlands, Cape Town, former Australian opener David Warner has launched a scathing attack on Pat Cummins’ side. Chasing a target of 288 runs to win the series, the visitors were bundled out for just 111 in their second innings, handing South Africa a 2-1 series victory.
Speaking on Fox Cricket after the match, David Warner did not hold back. He described the team’s dismal performance in the fourth innings as falling well short of “Australian standards” and labeled it “absolutely embarrassing.” The former star criticized the batting lineup for failing to show any fighting spirit in such a crucial encounter, noting that the Australian team surrendering without a fight was something never seen before.
“This is completely against Australian standards” – David Warner
“It’s poor. It’s completely against Australian standards,” David Warner told Fox Cricket. “There was no fight shown by the team. It’s embarrassing. Throughout the series, the batters have let the bowlers down. While Matt Renshaw showed some fight in the first Test, the overall performance of the batters has been absolutely embarrassing. It’s extremely disappointing.”
The collapse was all the more shocking given that Australia had been in a commanding position earlier in the match. Thanks to Mitchell Starc’s six-wicket haul, South Africa were bowled out for 329, giving Australia a substantial 100-run lead after the first innings. However, centuries from Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder set a challenging target, against which Australia’s top and middle order completely crumbled.
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Kagiso Rabada and the South African bowlers wreaked havoc early on, reducing Australia to 60/7 before lunch. Matt Renshaw and Marnus Labuschagne were dismissed in the very first over, while only Cameron Green (27) and Nathan Lyon (33) offered any real resistance.
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