After every stunning Scott Boland performance of recent years, many of them in place of an injured Josh Hazlewood, a reasonable question does the rounds: why isn’t Boland the automatic pick in the Test side, and why does Hazlewood take precedence when fit? In truth, Hazlewood has given a dozen years of answers, but on the fifth day of the Durban Test he provided one more reminder with a career-best six for 49, overcoming South African resistance to bowl them out for 206 and seal an Australia win by 214 runs. Boland is good enough for a full-time spot, and may have been influential if picked.
But in the side selected, Hazlewood was essential as South Africa blunted his colleagues. In a noticeable dip given his brilliant past few seasons, Mitchell Starc had radar issues: better around the wicket, though without the swerving reverse swing from his last visit to the ground, but over the wicket he often went too steeply across the right-handers, or down the leg side. Pat Cummins bowled well but did not produce danger in the second innings, his only blow being self-inflicted thanks to Tristan Stubbs’ loose drive.
Nathan Lyon got some bite, and his overs cost nothing, but he was defended well and went wicketless. Three times, Australia needed something from somewhere. Hazlewood kept delivering.
It had started on the fourth evening, when Aiden Markram and David Bedingham looked completely comfortable, when Hazlewood bowled the perfect nip-backer length to hit Bedingham’s pad so plainly in front that the batter walked off without challenge. From a tough 73 for one, Australia produced a rush that made it 86 for four. The next morning, South Africa resumed control.
Markram is a fourth-innings specialist, with two hundreds against Australia in three prior attempts, and looked immovable. Wiaan Mulder defended with perfect compactness and clarity. They scored enough to avoid stagnation, but did not play unnecessary shots.
Occasional balls tested them, including another nip-backer that nearly took Markram’s off stump, but they gave every appearance of being able to bat for a draw if bad light brought an early close. After 25 overs of toil on the day, Australia needed something. And it was not just a matter of Hazlewood getting lucky with a catch down the leg side.
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