A stitch in time saves nine. Sort out your problems immediately for you might have to work more on them later, and perhaps it will take you longer to deal with them then. Australian Cricket’s pedestal-image was being tarnished after the first two Tests against South Africa had their scoreline revealed, 2-0. It was then that the selectors resorted to a complete shuffled line-up for the third and final Test at Adelaide. Fresh, desperate-to-prove youngsters made their way in, the strugglers were left out. And with a consolation 7-wicket win at Adelaide, hosts Australia had not just preserved pride, but also avoided another 3-0 whitewash. But for South Africa it was their third consecutive Test series win in Australia.

Do they really care about losing the chance to complete a whitewash? Not really.

Going that “extra-inch”

A Test series win on away soil is worth an acknowledgement, much more than that really, to be honest. Doing it for a third consecutive time is just amazing. With conditions difficult to adjust to, crowd not supportive, a Lion-like opposition at home, it’s not that easy. It takes hard work, determination, will, skill and luck as well to go your way. But most of all you need characters in your side, characters who are willing to go that ‘extra-inch’ as Al Pacino says in Any Given Sunday. Faf Du Plessis’ side is made up of those characters. They were the ones willing to die for that extra inch.

“The great thing about our team is we’re quite prepared to put in the hard yards and go all the way. We’re not looking for special stuff. Just want to do the basics well. That’s what we’ve done,” du Plessis said after the series ended 2-1, in his team’s favour.

Rabada, batsmen step-up for South Africa

At Perth in the first Test, Dale Steyn’s shoulder injury made South Africa’s aim for a series win tougher. So what, the rest of the bowling attack took the task to themselves. South Africa’s seamer Vernon Philander, Steyn’s pace-partner, Kagiso Rabada and debutant spinner Keshav Maharaj took on the task of sending the Aussies packing one by one. While Philander zipped one in, then out; Rabada was pacy, accurate; Maharaj was containing and chipping away wickets. Australia were all out for 244 in the first innings despite being at 158-1 at one stage. Then Dean Elgar and JP Duminy turned on the style, put on a decisive partnership, scored hundreds, won some sessions, and South Africa declared on 540 for 8.

With just two seamers and a spinner, South Africa then set on the task of bowling Australia out. Then the acrobatic UFO inside Temba Bavuma popped up to accomplish a David Warner-run-out. Watch the video of that dismissal again and again and you would realise how the change in emotions of the commentators on-air goes from almost ‘good pick up and throw’ to feeling absolutely awestruck. But it was Rabada who ran in tirelessly, showed immense work ethics and earned 5 for 92. A 177-run win followed and a second Test at Hobart awaited.

Absolute humiliation for Steven Smith and Australia

Kyle Abbott was then brought-in in place of the injured Steyn. At Hobart, Philander found gold underneath the surface, he digged, over by over, to demolish the hopes of an Australian comeback into the series. He finished with 5 for 21. Australia collapsed worse than a pack of cards; all out for 85 in the first innings. Only two batsmen reached double-figures and the numbers began to haunt them. It was that kind of a day when you would wake up, put the TV on and the highlights were on. It all happened quick and fast.

Bavuma and Quinton de Kock then added insult to injury. The latter reached a hundred and Josh Hazlewood’s 6 for 89 bowling performance did not value much. South Africa finished at 326 all out, but Australia in response collapsed again. Abbott had made his presence known, with six wickets; Rabada picked four. Australia lost by an innings and 80 runs. It was 2-0. It was humiliation. “I’m embarrassed to be sitting here to be honest with you,” said an embarrassed Steven Smith after the Test series loss. “I need players that are willing to get in the contest and get in the battle and have some pride in playing for Australia and pride in the baggy green.”

Few days afterwards Rod Marsh resigned as Chairman of the Selectors. The 3-0 whitewash in Sri Lanka and the series loss to South Africa at home had taken its toll. Something big was on the cards.

An incredible achievement for South Africa

Then the lot was shuffled. Six changes were named for the Adelaide Test. On the other hand, South Africa had to fight for their captain. Faf du Plessis was charged with ball-tampering. Mints, chewing-gum and the controversy that followed certainly took the ‘shine’ away from South Africa’s glory. He was reprimanded by ICC but allowed to play the third Test. South Africa and du Plessis hoped for a whitewash.

Quite coincidentally or not-so, for what was perhaps written somewhere, du Plessis against all odds: boos from The Adelaide Oval crowd, fingers pointed at him, with his team in a precarious situation rose to score a memorable century. Stephen Cook, with more than a point-to-prove and a place-to-save in the squad came fighting with one of his own. Yes, the third Test’s result did not go in South Africa’s favour but that does not take away the glory, the unity, the fight, the affordable earned wide smile, the exult of triumph, and the trophy too from them.

That red ruby-colored series trophy they hold, is fitting and the characters around it, are the ones who have brought it near them. There were no ABs or Steyns to get them this win. Yet the Proteas have ticked the checkbox for the challenge Down Under as won. No consolation can wipe off the weight of their incredible achievement.

Image Courtesy: Getty Images

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