WTC player ratings: From the captain's heroics, to a batting failure that could re-shape the order
The Tasmanian all-rounder continues to impress in a range of scenarios with the bat, the ball and in the field. Australia's first innings would have been far worse without him, even if Webster made a scratchy start. He was less successful in the second innings, but deserves to keep his place in the West Indies.
Josh Hazlewood: 6
The ever-reliable Hazlewood bowled solidly in each innings without quite looking to be at his best. He helped Starc add priceless runs to give South Africa a trickier chase than they might otherwise have had.
Alex Carey: 6
The keeper-batsman dropped a catch he would have expected to snaffle on the first evening, though it wasn't overlay costly. But he made critical runs on the second evening to lift Australia out of the mire at 7-73 and otherwise kept tidily.
Nathan Lyon: 4
'The GOAT' bowled serviceably without results. Lyon might have had more success had he been switched around to bowl into the footmarks at the Nursery End a little earlier in South Africa's chase, but he also allowed the Proteas to play him too often off the back foot.
Marnus Labuschagne: 4
Labuschagne was drafted up to open, and hinted at promise in both innings before flirting outside off stump twice to keep his Test place very much open to question. He fielded well with plenty of energy. Should he be dropped, there is still plenty of time for the 30-year-old to return.
Travis Head: 3
The aggressive left-hander played in typical fashion without his usual effect, glancing down the leg side in the first innings and then getting bowled by a nip-backer in the second. He wasn't afforded much of a buffer from the new ball by the top order. He also pulled off a sharp run out.
Usman Khawaja: 2
The 38-year-old veteran was well beaten by Kagiso Rabada in both innings and showed a few signs of struggles, such as missing or mistiming his pet pull shot. He wants to keep playing through to the end of the Ashes, but needs a complementary opening partner.
Cameron Green: 1
Green's long stint in county cricket reaped plenty of runs but not much preparation for the class of Rabada on a seaming surface. He's a gifted batter but may not be the answer at number three, particularly once he returns to the bowling crease.
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Shadman Islam set the tone, first putting on 24 for the opening wicket with Anamul Haque and then 36 more with Mominul Haque. But it was his third-wicket partnership — a sturdy 68-run stand with captain Najmul Hossain Shanto — that truly swung momentum Bangladesh's way. Shadman's knock of 76 was fashioned with composure and clarity, the left-hander repelling spin and pace alike with soft hands and a watchful eye. He looked set for three figures before Milan Rathnayake trapped him in front, but by then the groundwork had been laid. Mushfiqur Rahim together with his skipper — both centurions in the first innings — steadied the ship and nudged the lead beyond 150, blunting Sri Lanka's hopes of a late-evening flurry. Earlier in the day, it was off-spinner Nayeem Hasan who turned the tide for the tourists in Sri Lanka's first innings. With the hosts perched on a commanding 6-470 and threatening to surge ahead, Nayeem swooped in. His five-wicket haul — his fourth in Test cricket — helped bowl Sri Lanka out for 485, a lead of merely 10. The prized wicket was Kamindu Mendis, who was coasting on 87 — scarcely playing a false stroke — when Nayeem found extra bounce and subtle turn to kiss the outside edge, Litton Das gobbling up the catch with glee. "My variation was the key," Nayeem said. "Main thing is I tried to bowl at one area and keep changing the seam position. When you do that over a long period of time, your discipline pays off." Hasan Mahmud proved a perfect foil, bowling with control and reverse swing under the afternoon sun, finishing with three wickets and keeping the pressure on from the other end. Visitors Bangladesh hold the upper hand at the end of the fourth day of the series-opening Test against Sri Lanka, reaching 3-177 in their second innings to lead by 187 runs. With seven wickets in the hutch and the pitch beginning to show signs of wear and tear, the tourists will fancy their chances of pulling off a rare Test victory overseas and pocketing some precious World Test Championship points in the process. Having eked out a slender first-innings lead of 10 runs, Bangladesh batted with the sort of positive intent on Friday that suggests they were not content to merely survive. Shadman Islam set the tone, first putting on 24 for the opening wicket with Anamul Haque and then 36 more with Mominul Haque. But it was his third-wicket partnership — a sturdy 68-run stand with captain Najmul Hossain Shanto — that truly swung momentum Bangladesh's way. Shadman's knock of 76 was fashioned with composure and clarity, the left-hander repelling spin and pace alike with soft hands and a watchful eye. He looked set for three figures before Milan Rathnayake trapped him in front, but by then the groundwork had been laid. Mushfiqur Rahim together with his skipper — both centurions in the first innings — steadied the ship and nudged the lead beyond 150, blunting Sri Lanka's hopes of a late-evening flurry. Earlier in the day, it was off-spinner Nayeem Hasan who turned the tide for the tourists in Sri Lanka's first innings. With the hosts perched on a commanding 6-470 and threatening to surge ahead, Nayeem swooped in. His five-wicket haul — his fourth in Test cricket — helped bowl Sri Lanka out for 485, a lead of merely 10. The prized wicket was Kamindu Mendis, who was coasting on 87 — scarcely playing a false stroke — when Nayeem found extra bounce and subtle turn to kiss the outside edge, Litton Das gobbling up the catch with glee. "My variation was the key," Nayeem said. "Main thing is I tried to bowl at one area and keep changing the seam position. When you do that over a long period of time, your discipline pays off." Hasan Mahmud proved a perfect foil, bowling with control and reverse swing under the afternoon sun, finishing with three wickets and keeping the pressure on from the other end.
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Tom Decent
Tom Decent is a journalist with The Sydney Morning Herald. New cycle, old questions: Australia's big 'reset' in the Caribbean Australia's three-Test tour of the West Indies shapes as a defining reset, with key selection calls ahead of a new WTC cycle and home Ashes. 2 hours ago Tom Decent Latest
