# South Africa Test Tour Diary: Episode 5 - Box Office

An episode of [The Howie Games](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1146329262), 23 Oct 2026, 42 min.

Audio: https://enrichment.soundstack.com/4vjqq8/episode.flightcast.com/aw8web60agb6cjguqvp986dg.mp3

We go deep inside St George’s Cricket Ground in Gqeberha, where Scott Boland is doing Scott Boland things. We catch up with the man himself, soak up the atmosphere, venture into the crowd and step inside the Xhosa commentary box. Then, a sit-down with Vernon Philander. And boy, does he have aura! From the moment he ripped through Australia on his Test debut, he’s been something special. The South African skipper Temba Bavuma digs in. We love it. And then… the pressure mounts on the Aussies as all eyes turn to Marnus, as the fight of his career continues. The nerves are REAL. It's one all, and we are off to Cape Town for the Series decider. This is BOX OFFICE. COME ALONG FOR THE RIDE! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

## Transcript

[0:02] A listener production.
[0:05] You can obviously hear the band in the background.
[0:07] They have not stopped rain, hail or shine.
[0:09] They're famous here at St George's Park.
[0:18] The politicians are completely rewound, ready to play.
[0:20] In your headlines this morning, City of Tonne Mayor Nassip Moya has taken responsibility for what she describes as negligence.
[0:26] I'll have the full bulletin at 7 o'clock.
[0:31] Where's the sport?
[0:32] 6.33 in the morning, day three.
[0:35] Let's talk about Scotty Boland.
[0:36] Very good morning to you.
[0:37] Let's start things off with cricket news.
[0:39] Yes.
[0:39] South Africa's batting troubles continued on day two of the second test against Australia in Cibera, ending the day struggling at 97 for the loss of five wickets.
[0:50] There you go.
[0:51] There you go.
[0:51] That's it.
[1:10] The weather this morning is magnificent, beautiful.
[1:14] Pink sky as the sun rose here in Quebec.
[1:18] The big question, will either side have time to win this match?
[1:23] So three days of play, the big advantage the Australians have got.
[1:27] You know the story.
[1:29] They've got Scotty Boland.
[1:33] Oh, there we go again.
[1:35] It is Scott Boland once again.
[1:38] Yeah, an inspired selection, an inspired performance from Scotty Boland.
[1:41] His third wicket.
[1:43] He has been the man Australia have turned to and he has delivered.
[1:49] Welcome along, welcome along, one and all, to episode five of the South African Test Tour Diaries.
[1:54] Now, we left you at the end of day one after a fair bit of rain.
[1:59] And to be fair, day two did a drag.
[2:02] We got here at quarter past seven in the morning.
[2:05] I don't think play resumed till after 3pm.
[2:08] Not a great deal happened till late when Matty Renshaw pulled one out of the bank.
[2:17] What a catch that Matt Renshaw, the golden hand from the first test.
[2:22] Takes the best catch of his test career.
[2:25] Rickwood and can't believe it.
[2:26] Bolan's got four.
[2:28] So here we are for day three.
[2:29] The sun is out.
[2:30] You can probably hear the breeze.
[2:31] Pretty breezy.
[2:32] No thought of rain today.
[2:33] A full day's cricket ahead.
[2:35] Can't wait for that.
[2:36] Just making way up the stairs now into the broadcast meeting.
[2:39] Everyone's pumped.
[2:40] Let's get into some cricket, finally.
[2:43] How's this?
[2:44] Good, Phil.
[2:49] Let's use it.
[2:51] And hopefully we'll have 38 overs of cricket today.
[2:53] If I want a bit more, then we'll go to an interview with Scott Boland.
[2:57] That's how we will do it now at about half past eight.
[2:59] Do you want to do this now, Cole?
[3:02] Yeah.
[3:03] Do it now?
[3:03] Okay.
[3:03] Hey, mate.
[3:04] How are you?
[3:04] Good.
[3:05] How are you?
[3:05] Good to see the sun shining.
[3:07] Takes three minutes, mate.
[3:08] We'll get out of your head.
[3:09] Let's get out to the ground with Mark Howard.
[3:11] Here he is now with Scotty Boland.
[3:14] Happy days because there is no more rain.
[3:15] The sun is shining here and it was signing on this man, the Victorian Scotty Bowen.
[3:19] Scotty, congratulations on your performance.
[3:21] Thank you.
[3:22] Four for yesterday.
[3:22] Run us through your day.
[3:24] Um, yeah, we probably spent most of the day at the hotel, um, just waiting for a weather update.
[3:28] And then when we got the all clear to come, um, sort of got to the ground and we knew we were only going to have, uh, about 30 overs to bowl.
[3:35] So, um, yeah, to get a couple of wickets was nice, but everyone always says you never judge a wicket to it.
[3:40] Both teams are battered.
[3:41] So hopefully we can get batting and our batters can get in and get a decent total.
[3:45] Cheers, Scotty.
[3:46] Best of luck today.
[3:46] Appreciate your time.
[3:47] Excellent.
[3:47] Thank you.
[3:51] Always exciting to go to a new cricket ground, one you haven't been to, and this one made an instant impact on me.
[3:56] So the St George's Park Cricket Ground, there was a first test match played here in 1889.
[4:02] So it is historic.
[4:04] England beat South Africa by eight wickets in what was South Africa's first ever test match, and it is...
[4:09] It's a beautiful ground.
[4:10] So a quarter of the ground is completely open with a grass bank.
[4:13] And then people and many Australians sit in front of what is called Castle Corner over to my right.
[4:19] Now, Castle is the local beer.
[4:21] Gets pretty rowdy over there for obvious reasons.
[4:23] There's a couple of old pavilions.
[4:26] Based in one of the pavilions is a brass band.
[4:28] Now, this brass band has been going since 1994.
[4:31] I need to get over there at some stage because...
[4:34] They play and play and play.
[4:38] There is the Graham Pollock Pavilion, so I'm working here with Sean Pollock.
[4:41] Graham was his uncle.
[4:43] Runs for Pollock.
[4:44] This could be four runs.
[4:45] This could be his century.
[4:48] It's Massey chasing.
[4:48] It's going to beat Massey into the fence.
[4:50] And that's his 100.
[4:51] An absolute superstar of South African cricket.
[4:54] It's named after him.
[4:56] Beautiful surface here.
[4:58] Beautiful surface.
[4:59] They reckon the sea breeze or the non-sea breeze affects whether the ball swings or not.
[5:04] So go figure that out.
[5:05] The breeze always seems to be swirling.
[5:06] It is quite a windy venue.
[5:08] There's lights that can play day-night, one-day international cricket here.
[5:11] Probably for Australians...
[5:13] The most famous performance here was back in 1997 where the great M.E.
[5:17] wore, with Australia needing to chase 270 down to beat a pretty ferocious South African attack, including Alan Donald, just peeled off a lazy 116.
[5:27] And wore beautiful use of the feet down the ground.
[5:34] He's a beautiful player in form.
[5:36] There's his sanctuary.
[5:37] 15 boundaries, 1-6, 198 balls.
[5:41] Pure class on a difficult wicket.
[5:43] One of the great centuries.
[5:44] Australia got the job done.
[5:45] Eight down.
[5:46] Junior will have walked off.
[5:47] I can picture it now.
[5:48] Collar up.
[5:49] Probably the slashing jabat raised to the crowd.
[5:52] That 116 will certainly stay in the minds of a lot of people.
[5:56] And a standing ovation really has been.
[5:59] a great innings by the Australian batsman.
[6:01] So that's probably the highlight for Australians.
[6:03] Hopefully we get a highlight in this test match as well, but a wonderful, wonderful cricket ground, great atmosphere.
[6:07] And unlike Durban, where there was very little crowd, the crowd have come here.
[6:10] They're a very passionate, passionate cricket audience here in the Cape.
[6:15] Obviously, it's been explained to me that this broadcast on Super Sport is in English and Afrikaans, and the box next to us in Corsa.
[6:23] Now, those boys, do they get fired up?
[6:27] It's a passionate cricket box, that is.
[6:31] In Australian terms, if you're watching late at night, it's like having five bill lorries in the same comedy box.
[6:38] It's absolutely outstanding.
[6:56] Now this test match is broadcast in three languages.
[6:59] English, Afrikaans and Corsair.
[7:02] And these are the Bill Lories of Concha.
[7:05] I'm going to introduce them because they are the best.
[7:08] Did you get that?
[7:09] Yeah.
[7:15] I'm going to talk to you about the best commentators on the planet.
[7:17] I'm going to talk to you about the best commentators on the planet.
[7:42] Where are you from?
[7:42] Which state are you from?
[7:44] I am from Victoria, the same place as Scotty Boland and Shane Haunt.
[7:48] I don't understand what you guys are saying, but I can understand your passion and love for the game, and it makes me smile how much you guys love cricket, and your language and your people are beautiful, and it is a thrill for me to sit in here with you guys.
[8:01] I can't tell you how much.
[8:03] The average is, oh, this is amazing.
[8:06] Can you have something to say about this?
[8:07] Well, Scott Boland, he hardly plays in your side.
[8:10] Look at him, 86 wickets and a strike rate of 38 and an average of 18 is extraordinary.
[8:15] Skull would love it here.
[8:17] He loves people that are passionate about cricket, but he's far too old to travel.
[8:25] He's not going to love that.
[8:27] Can you do his love?
[8:34] Thank you, guys.
[8:35] I love everything you do.
[8:36] You are superstars and it is a privilege to be in the box.
[8:39] Enjoy the cricket and thank you for welcoming me into your magnificent country.
[8:43] I can't say thank you.
[8:45] In Corsa.
[8:45] Say in Corsa.
[8:46] In Corsa.
[8:47] Yeah, we have a lot.
[8:50] I've just stepped out of the box with Kaya and Tini, who you heard, in Corsa, who played 100 test matches for his country.
[9:04] I don't want to sound over the top here, but you're a long way from home.
[9:08] I've been very privileged to have a lot of experiences in this job, in sport, and the people you meet.
[9:13] But that was completely unscripted for those guys.
[9:16] I was doing a piece for you all about the different languages and then to be invited to sit down into their commentary in Corsa with those fellas.
[9:29] That's one of the coolest moments I've ever had in sports broadcasting,
[9:34] It's the same when you get to India and you hear the different broadcasts.
[9:37] You might not necessarily understand, although it's great when you hear Warne or Boland or Cummins or Hazelwood and you pick up on that.
[9:46] You don't have to understand what people are saying because you can see the passion and the enthusiasm and the vibrance, especially those guys that they have for the game of cricket.
[9:57] So all this stuff about sport, travelling boundaries and uniting people and whether you believe in all that or not...
[10:05] That was an example in there of just the beauty of cricket and how it can transcend borders and people and cultures.
[10:14] And I wind up here because I'm so pumped about that.
[10:18] That was...
[10:18] I'll never forget that.
[10:20] That was super cool.
[10:21] MUSIC PLAYS
[10:32] It is 1.14pm on day three.
[10:34] We're out in the back, what we call the breakout room.
[10:38] Pommy's over to the side, Nat's here, and the bloke beside me, who's putting more invoices in than anyone I've ever seen, he's doing cricket, he's on the TV, he's doing radio.
[10:48] He's a great South African cricketer.
[10:50] His name is Vernon Philander, and he just sat down, big Vernon, and said, oh, I'll be honest, you said, thank F I've got a break, and I said, well, maybe not, because I'm going to fire a few questions at you, big fella.
[10:59] How are you?
[11:00] Yeah, all good.
[11:01] Talk about invoices.
[11:02] I'm pretty sure you're one-up on me when it comes to that department.
[11:06] It's been a great delight to see South Africa having a bit of a fight back.
[11:10] Yeah, we don't need to get too carried away with any fight backs.
[11:13] This is going into an Australian audience, this podcast.
[11:15] Basically, Vern, it sort of follows the travel that we get to do here in South Africa and the test, but also the people we meet.
[11:23] And it's been an absolute treat to work with you.
[11:26] I've watched you play a lot of cricket.
[11:28] So to be here in Comanche with you has been a thrill for me.
[11:31] I just want to just review your career a little bit.
[11:35] That's not a bad shot.
[11:37] Fingers going up.
[11:39] That is a massive wicket for a man on debut.
[11:41] When were you told you were going to play your first Test match, can you remember who told you and how it made you feel?
[11:46] No.
[11:47] I got a call-up the night before the test match.
[11:49] I was part of the set-up, played Australia in an A-side game in Pottswirt, leading up to that first test match, obviously.
[11:55] And then Gary called me to be a part of the group.
[11:58] Gary said to me, hey, you're playing?
[12:01] And I think, to my surprise, he said to me, you're taking a new ball as well.
[12:05] So I was pretty chuffed when I got the call-up.
[12:08] I mean, as any cricketer would be.
[12:09] I think it's obviously a massive privilege to represent your country.
[12:13] But, yeah, the night before, didn't close an eye.
[12:17] We'll get to the way you perform momentarily because Australian audiences will remember it.
[12:21] I certainly do.
[12:22] But where did you grow up and was cricket on the horizon from a young age or not?
[12:26] Yeah.
[12:27] Look, I mean, I loved all my sport growing up in Ravensmeet, northern suburbs of Cape Town.
[12:32] I think for us as youngsters, it was more just probably to get more out of the classroom than anything else.
[12:37] So I think myself and a bunch of my mates, we played pretty much all the sports, rugby, cricket, cricket.
[12:42] football late on, you know, the golf bug bit me.
[12:47] But yeah, growing up as a youngster, I think I was always going to be, you know, ball-orientated.
[12:52] I mean, there was such a love for sport in general that it wouldn't have mattered what sport it was.
[12:57] But yeah, obviously, growing up...
[13:00] Watching the game, I think very early on, I had a taste of it, playing most of my junior cricket for the primary school, Wepner, and then moving on to the club, Tiger Bay Cricket Club, where I then got mixed with a lot of guys who have played Western Province B cricket and then probably saw a bit of potential in me.
[13:19] And yeah, I think from there onwards, just really started enjoying getting better and better and kept on challenging myself.
[13:26] Who was your hero when you were watching South Africa play cricket?
[13:28] Who were you like, right, he's my guy?
[13:30] Yeah, funny enough, I actually had a few guys that I looked up to.
[13:32] I think, obviously, Callis, you know, for his style of batting, his patience that he's, you know, always sown.
[13:38] And then from an attacking point of view, I always enjoyed Herschel Gibbs.
[13:41] Did you?
[13:42] Yeah, I think he was the one guy that really set the scene alight.
[13:45] And perhaps similar to him was Adam Gilchrist, you know, guys that could come in and really flick change.
[13:52] So those are guys that I really looked up to.
[13:54] And then later on in my life, I had Sean Pollock, Glenn McGrath,
[13:58] Have you only said Sean Pollock because he just walked into the room?
[14:01] No, absolutely not.
[14:02] I think it was more down to the fact that they had fantastic control.
[14:06] And, I mean, myself, you know, not having express pace, I had to make sure that, you know, I was always going to compete in terms of...
[14:14] Great control, great lining lengths.
[14:16] And, you know, there's so much that I've actually fed off them, you know, with regards to that skill set.
[14:22] And, yeah, I've moulded my own sort of game plan around that.
[14:25] And, yeah, they were fantastic, you know, role models to look up to.
[14:30] So your first test match, for those that aren't aware, Verne destroyed Australia in his first test match.
[14:37] Absolutely destroyed them.
[14:39] Australia were bowled out at one stage for 40...
[14:43] Seven?
[14:44] Seven.
[14:45] They should have been 21 all out, but we gave them a 26-run grace.
[14:51] You took five for nothing.
[14:52] You took a pile of wickets in the Test match.
[14:54] It was an extraordinary start to a Test career.
[14:56] It was like, all right, who's this new boat for South Africa?
[14:59] Right, he's just bowled us out for less than 50.
[15:00] It was a big appeal here.
[15:04] And gone.
[15:06] Whoa.
[15:07] Oh, picks out.
[15:09] That's got to be out.
[15:10] Gone.
[15:15] and Vernon Philander on debut has five wickets.
[15:19] Oh, an embarrassing total for the Australians.
[15:21] Fantastic performance from the South African bowling.
[15:25] Congratulations all round, 47.
[15:27] Doesn't roll off the tongue quite easily, I've got to say.
[15:30] Yeah, it was quite bizarre.
[15:32] I remember you boys batting first as an Australian.
[15:36] You got 287.
[15:37] Yeah.
[15:38] And then we got rolled for 96, I think it was, and it felt like a bit of an embarrassment.
[15:45] I mean, you know, yeah, I'm on my first test match, you know, having bowled decently in the first innings, but then to be rolled for 96, I still remember walking down those stairs and, you know, saying to Dale, wow, wow.
[15:59] We need to probably bowl them out for 150, between 150 and 180 to stand a realistic chance.
[16:06] But then, yeah, I think we had 45 minutes that everything just went our way.
[16:12] Went your way.
[16:14] Before we knew it, looked up at the scoreboard and your boys were 21 for nine.
[16:18] But I remember actually going down to Finleg where I was fielding.
[16:21] And Murph Hughes has this twin group.
[16:24] He does.
[16:24] I remember standing at Fine Leg and 96 all out, and the one bloke shouted, Hey, Philander, you're pretty much effed, aren't you?
[16:35] And at 21 for nine, I went down there and I just gave him the old ear.
[16:40] As we're discussing this, Australia's version of Vernon Philander, Scotty Bolan, has just knocked over Jansen here.
[16:46] Come on!
[16:47] That's out.
[16:48] That's caught a mid-wicket.
[16:50] Scott Bolan wins it.
[16:51] Just short of a test hundred, which is a shame.
[16:53] It would have looked great to see him get it.
[16:54] So he's got five.
[16:55] You bowl very similarly, but you had an incredible test career.
[16:58] Ricky Ponting came on this podcast a while back, and he said, undoubtedly, there is no shadow of a doubt, the greatest cricketer to ever play the game.
[17:07] was Jack Callis.
[17:08] Rick was really strong on it.
[17:09] Jack Callis is the best cricketer that's ever played.
[17:12] I don't care about all the other... Full stop.
[17:13] Full stop.
[17:15] 44 or 45 test hundreds.
[17:18] And 300 wickets.
[17:19] Either one of those careers is outstanding.
[17:21] Yeah.
[17:22] You take 300 test wickets every day of the week and you take 45 tests hundreds.
[17:26] He's got them both.
[17:27] 300 test wickets, averaged 56 with a bat, took a pile of catches.
[17:31] What was he like to play with, Jack Callis?
[17:34] Look, I think, first of all, you know what you're going to get from the guy.
[17:36] And that's probably the reason why he's one of the greatest cricketers that will probably walk this planet.
[17:44] Or a perspective, from a character perspective, he didn't say much.
[17:47] Right, so he's pretty quiet, Chad.
[17:48] But the minute he's entered the field of play, you know exactly what you're going to get from him.
[17:54] I think that's probably sentiment to the work that he's put in over the years.
[17:57] And, you know, he's become so consistent.
[17:59] It doesn't matter the format.
[18:01] You look at his numbers, those are just incredible numbers.
[18:03] Crazy numbers.
[18:04] So, yeah, you look at also, I mean, 290 Test match wickets.
[18:08] what is it, over 11,000 this match runs.
[18:12] At 56 or something.
[18:14] That's just ridiculous.
[18:15] So, yeah, I mean, in my book, probably the best all-rounder ever.
[18:20] Given the time frame that he's played as well, I think when we go back to Garfield service and those boys, probably a year of, you know...
[18:29] before my time, so I can't really speak for, you know, watching those guys.
[18:32] But having played alongside Callis, I mean, being in each... You probably want to be in East Changes more often than not because you just know what you're going to get from him.
[18:41] Ben, you were a big part of the infamous sandpaper test that...
[18:48] I don't know.
[18:50] It rocked Australian life, not just Australian sport.
[18:53] I think when the Prime Minister got involved, it meant the sanctions were really going to get ratcheted up.
[18:58] Just give me your thoughts on, during that test match, how you saw things unfolding.
[19:05] It's an extraordinary situation in Australian history, not just sport, I think.
[19:12] Yeah, I think my personal view on that would be I was, you know, personally disappointed, you know, having seen a foreign object being taken onto the field.
[19:22] But, yeah, I just think I feel the way they managed that whole scenario was completely bizarre from an Australian perspective.
[19:27] In what way?
[19:28] I still feel up until today, I mean, with what the ICC sanction would be, a one Mets ban or Mets fee, let's just leave it at that.
[19:37] I think, you know, there was just too much involvement from, you know, players wanting to have their say, management saying they didn't know about it.
[19:44] The one player that I actually feel, you know, sad about is probably Cameron Bancroft because I feel he was set up and at the end of the day,
[19:52] he's probably had to pay the bigger price out of the lot.
[19:54] So, I mean, I haven't seen him in Australia colors again.
[19:57] So, for me, that's probably the saddest part of that whole scenario.
[20:01] But I think just the way they managed it was quite bizarre.
[20:04] Another challenge in your career is coming in about four hours' time when we are playing paddle.
[20:10] I'll be happy not to do a calf or a hamstring.
[20:13] What have you got?
[20:15] You're a good chirper, I would say.
[20:18] As I picked that up in commentary, you give me a few around the years.
[20:21] What type of paddle player are you?
[20:22] And are you a sledger on paddle court?
[20:24] I'm not a big sledger, but I have to make this known to you.
[20:27] Right.
[20:28] Whatever I say, I normally back up.
[20:32] Mate, it's been a privilege to work with you and I look forward to getting sledged by you on the paddle court tonight.
[20:38] Good on you, Vern.
[20:38] Absolute privilege having you, champion.
[20:40] Thanks, mate.
[20:46] Oh, mate.
[20:48] So you're meant to be at university now?
[20:52] Good man.
[20:53] Taking the day off to watch Timber make 100?
[20:55] Yes, sir.
[20:56] How's it been?
[20:56] Good.
[21:00] They're good, huh?
[21:01] Oh, it looks good.
[21:09] It is 1.57pm.
[21:10] It's partway through day three.
[21:12] You can obviously hear the band in the background.
[21:14] They have not stopped rain, hail or shine.
[21:17] They're famous here at St George's Park.
[21:20] They're up and about because Temba Booma, the South African captain, is on 99th.
[21:28] Stark has been relieved.
[21:31] There's men back for the short ball, and the skipper, Patrick Cummins, has brought himself into the attack.
[21:37] Bavooma, the skipper, is on 99.
[21:40] Bat raised.
[21:41] It's short.
[21:42] He smacks it away to the square leg fence.
[21:46] The crowd are on their feet.
[21:48] Rips off his helmet, holds his bat to the entire stadium.
[21:51] A fifth-test century match.
[21:54] Fantastic for the Test match, for the series, for Temba.
[21:58] Just brilliant.
[21:59] Brilliant innings.
[22:00] And fantastic to see it here with the locals on their feet.
[22:04] They love the little guy.
[22:05] Why wouldn't they?
[22:06] What about it?
[22:06] What about it?
[22:07] What about it?
[22:15] Well done.
[22:18] Celebration for Stark as he gets a little edge.
[22:23] Timba Bavuma has played a magnificent innings.
[22:28] One to savour as the Australians come up to shake his hand as you would expect.
[22:35] He's best in the format.
[22:38] Showing why he is the leader of the side in so many ways.
[22:43] And they have decided to declare it.
[22:46] Well, the man beside me has played one of the great test innings.
[22:49] We've seen him in Australia back for three days, so we need to meet him, Timber.
[22:54] Congratulations, Skipper.
[22:55] Just your initial thoughts on the innings you played.
[22:58] Congratulations on such a wonderful innings.
[23:01] Thank you, Howie.
[23:02] Yeah, definitely one of my better ones.
[23:06] I think just looking at the situation of the game coming in at that time, looking at the conditions, heavily stacked in the bowlers' favour, and then the end result as well, the competitive score that we were able to get.
[23:20] So in terms of being able to contribute massively towards that, definitely one of my better knocks.
[23:30] I was watching up behind the band here and they were playing songs and then I can't sing Temba, but there was a song going around, Temba, Temba, Bavooma, which you would have been able to hear out in the middle.
[23:41] The home support was quite superb.
[23:44] Yeah, that's part of...
[23:46] I guess the character and atmosphere of playing here at St. George's, you've got the band and you've got the people singing along.
[23:51] So it's what we look forward to.
[23:53] I did get to hear some of the songs.
[23:57] I saw a little one.
[23:59] He also got stuck in there with the band.
[24:01] So, yeah, hopefully they keep making a noise.
[24:05] We give them a reason to scream and shout today.
[24:08] Being the captain of South Africa, so the hotel we're staying in, there's a group of 14-year-olds that are here up from Johannesburg on a tour to play cricket.
[24:17] They were pretty rowdy the first couple of days when there was no cricket being played, but I was asking them this morning, who's your favourite player?
[24:22] And it didn't matter what culture, what creed, where they had come from, they were all, it is Temba Bavuma.
[24:30] So you are playing an incredible role...
[24:32] inspiring the youth of South Africa.
[24:35] What does it mean when these guys come up to you and say, Temba, you are my favourite cricketer?
[24:39] All over this morning at breakfast, it's Temba, Temba, Temba.
[24:41] Yeah, it's humbling.
[24:45] I think, you know, earlier in my career, it was quite a daunting kind of thing to accept.
[24:51] Why was it daunting?
[24:54] It can feel like a lot.
[24:56] It can feel like a lot that you kind of carry on your shoulders, where your performances mean a lot more, you know.
[25:05] I think I always try to see myself as just a kid who just enjoyed cricket, but you kind of get reminded of, I guess, the other side, the significance of it all.
[25:15] I'm a lot more older.
[25:16] The grey hairs have allowed me to kind of...
[25:18] There's only a couple in the beard.
[25:19] You're okay.
[25:20] kind of carry all of that.
[25:22] But yeah, I guess that's part of me being in a pro to your shirt, being a captain, that you're not just for yourself, but I guess for all the millions of South Africans.
[25:31] Well, there's no doubt Southern Africa and South Africa have been celebrating your innings, and hopefully it sets up a test match win, but as I said, mate, all the
[25:37] All the feedback from Australia is people love seeing quality cricket and to see your innings.
[25:41] It kept a lot of people up late at night.
[25:43] You've got a lot of support there.
[25:44] So congratulations, mate, on one of the great test knocks and hopefully it results in a test match win for you and your side.
[25:49] We appreciate your time.
[25:50] Thank you, Owey.
[25:55] We have made it to day four of the second test match between South Africa and Australia.
[26:02] Yeah, in Kaebeja.
[26:03] It has got so much about it at the moment.
[26:05] South Africa looking to press for a victory, if they can, if they've got enough time.
[26:11] Taken, Rabada back into test cricket.
[26:15] Knocks out the man for a duck.
[26:17] And it is the perfect start for KJ in South Africa.
[26:21] That's out.
[26:22] Yes, it is.
[26:24] Marco is the boy.
[26:27] Edged.
[26:28] Catch taken.
[26:29] We've seen some specials in this test match.
[26:33] One-handed.
[26:34] Harmer reaches across, takes his second catch for the innings.
[26:39] Edge taken.
[26:40] He's got another one, Jansen.
[26:42] He's got his fifth.
[26:44] A wonderful five-wicket haul for Marco Jansen.
[26:47] And Australia are in all sorts here.
[26:52] This should be the close.
[26:54] It was swirling with the wind.
[26:56] It's been a strong breeze today.
[26:59] That's been going across the ground, so that wasn't an easy catch.
[27:02] And he had a lot of time to think about it.
[27:05] Australia bowled out for under 100.
[27:07] Very, very disappointing, Australia.
[27:10] Rolled for 99.
[27:12] South Africa.
[27:14] Looked like they're going to enforce the follow-on here.
[27:16] Australia just waiting for that decision from Tamba Bavuma.
[27:20] Oof.
[27:21] Jeez, that happened in a hurry.
[27:25] Just after lunch, Australia had been knocked over for 99.
[27:30] Marco Janssen was outstanding.
[27:32] I'm just wandering out into the middle, which you can probably hear is pretty windy out here, just to a piece for the television broadcast.
[27:40] The knives will be out.
[27:40] There's no doubt about that.
[27:42] Rank humiliation across the course of 43 overs and the indignity of being forced to follow on here in Quebec.
[27:51] It's the sort of batting performance which ripples right across the country.
[27:55] Now, it's not my area of expertise, but there will be some savage reaction because this is in prime time viewing back in Australia.
[28:05] I'm sure talkback...
[28:07] Radio will light up.
[28:08] Somehow you still need to be able to put up a fight.
[28:10] I just get a feeling.
[28:12] It's almost like they've just thrown in the towel.
[28:15] It's a pretty gutless batting performance there so far.
[28:17] There's a lot of issues technically at the moment, and South Africa exposed them.
[28:22] There's a number of players in this line-up that are playing for their careers in this innings.
[28:27] I had a quick chat to the journos upstairs and had a discussion with them about what their headlines would be, and it was all about the Australian batting order and whether changes need to be made.
[28:36] This man's covered cricket all around the world, Daniel Cherney.
[28:39] DC, what's the headline going to be in the papers tomorrow?
[28:42] Trouble for Australia's batting.
[28:43] Some big question marks on the likes of Travis Head's away record and Martin Slavishan, unfortunately, and that's some brilliance from South Africa's quicks.
[28:50] Thanks, mate.
[28:50] That's not really a headline.
[28:51] That's more than that.
[28:51] No, that's all right.
[28:52] Here we go.
[28:53] Here you go.
[28:54] Exclusive.
[28:55] Good on you, mate.
[28:56] I'm hooked, man.
[28:57] This man, been on tour all around the world.
[28:59] Courtney Walsh, not the West Indian fast bowler.
[29:01] How's your tour going, mate?
[29:03] Just trying to pen a little bit more for tomorrow.
[29:05] Feed the beast.
[29:06] What are you going with?
[29:07] Greg Chappell has a theory about batsmen that he suspects applies perfectly to the lament Manus is experiencing.
[29:12] So it's a Manus article.
[29:14] It's unfortunately a Manus article, but there's a few others getting out, but at number three, when you're making 14 and edging, what are you doing?
[29:23] Hundred and the seconds.
[29:24] Diddy up.
[29:25] Good on you, mate.
[29:26] Cheers, mate.
[29:28] Flip side of the equation, someone could be an absolute hero.
[29:31] Whether it's Marnus can bring himself back into form.
[29:35] Steve Smith really doesn't look well in the middle.
[29:38] Renshaw again, someone needs to stand up because at this stage, it looks like Australia in a massive hole.
[29:47] But who would have thought at the start of today's play...
[29:50] that Australia would be bowled out for 99 and would probably be heading back to the crease to take on their second inning, still with 160 overs to go in the test match.
[30:03] So I've got a bit of a break in commentary and I've just wandered out and sitting in the crowd here in the sunshine in Quebec.
[30:08] There's a decent crowd in today.
[30:10] I've had a couple of thoughts.
[30:14] Watching the cricket.
[30:16] One is I am very lucky, and I pinch myself and think, how the hell did I end up sitting here watching test cricket in South Africa?
[30:24] But the other thought I've had, so Nick Maddison came out, hit Rabada for two fours.
[30:29] And he's flared his bet out at it, dunded into the ground and raced off to the boundary.
[30:35] A beautiful cricket shot and impeccable timing.
[30:38] So Nick Maddison came out, smoked two fours, bang, Rabada knocked him over.
[30:43] That's out, is it?
[30:44] Yep, sure is.
[30:47] Phenomenal bowling from KG Rabada.
[30:49] Look at the carry through to the wicketkeeper.
[30:52] You might be able to hear them singing Rabada behind me.
[30:55] Oh, KG Rabada.
[30:59] Oh, KG Rabada.
[31:03] Oh, KG Rabada.
[31:05] It hurts me to sing that, boys.
[31:07] It hurts me to sing that.
[31:08] We love you, Owen.
[31:09] Good on you.
[31:09] Nice to meet you guys.
[31:10] Keep singing.
[31:11] Great to see you at the cricket.
[31:13] Sorry.
[31:16] Not what I expected.
[31:20] Singing KG Rabata songs, but the passion, you've got to get involved.
[31:24] Now, where was I with that story with Marnus before those boys started singing about Rabata?
[31:29] Rabata's one of the best that we've ever seen.
[31:31] He's bowling at a wicked pace too, 143 k's per hour.
[31:36] So it is a great atmosphere.
[31:38] Manus Labashain is walking out to bat.
[31:41] So now Manus Labashain has to deal with the threat that is Kohiso Rabada.
[31:50] Here, ladies and gentlemen, this is going to be entertaining.
[31:53] Can you imagine the pressure that he is under?
[31:56] So take it back a step.
[31:57] I would imagine the majority of people listening to this have at some stage played cricket.
[32:03] Man, woman, boy, girl, club, state, maybe international, maybe pub.
[32:12] But every single one of us has wandered out to bat at some stage and known that nervous, anxious feeling.
[32:19] Now, whether that's you've been thinking about it all week and you play against your best mate and you're just hoping for runs, whether you left the pub five hours ago and still a bit unsteady, but we all know that feeling of walking out to bat, and I think all of us know the disappointment, bang, when your innings finishes, your day's done, often you sit there and watch your mate runs.
[32:37] So there's that pressure that we've all felt.
[32:41] As I watch Marnus take guard here, I can't fathom the pressure he's under.
[32:47] And the media and people, talk back radio, they'll be saying Marnie should go.
[32:51] A lot of people thought after Mackay, he shouldn't be playing again.
[32:54] But he is.
[32:56] But Marnus is wandering out here with probably the weight of his career on his shoulders.
[33:00] So he grew up here in South Africa.
[33:03] Join the Howie Games, fantastic guy, exuberant guy, fantastic guest.
[33:07] He talked about how he arrived in Australia and he didn't speak any English.
[33:10] I mean, I could understand bits and pieces just from being a kid.
[33:13] So you're far from fluent.
[33:15] No, no, no.
[33:15] As in, like, I understood certain things.
[33:18] I could put things together, but I couldn't speak.
[33:21] Or definitely, like, in-class learning was chaos.
[33:24] Then he talked about that he had a net in the backyard and...
[33:30] And how much time he would spend in that net.
[33:32] And part of, you know, bless my parents, they're absolutely amazing, but part of the thing when they're looking for a house is we've got to find somewhere we can put a pitch in.
[33:42] I spent hours and hours out there, like mates come home from school and we play in the net, you know, bowling.
[33:49] Has he had a bowling machine?
[33:50] Had a bowling machine, yeah.
[33:52] So he's grown up wanting to play international cricket and he arrived on the scene and wow.
[33:58] How good was he?
[33:58] He was the number one ranked test batsman in the world.
[34:01] Just watching him get off the mark now, which is good news.
[34:03] He was the number one test ranked batsman in the world.
[34:07] He was averaging 60.
[34:09] But it is a numbers game.
[34:11] And in the last 46 innings, Mahan hasn't made 100 and he's averaged 25.
[34:17] Typically at number three.
[34:19] So as he's taking guard now to face Robata again...
[34:24] It can go opposite ends of the spectrum.
[34:27] It can go in the middle or it can go either of those opposite ends.
[34:30] Mahon could get knocked over here cheaply, which, having the privilege of knowing him, I hope that is not the case.
[34:37] And he may not play the third test.
[34:38] He may.
[34:39] He may never play test cricket again.
[34:41] Everything he's treasured in life, he's a man of faith too, Mahon.
[34:44] Everything he's treasured named for in life, bang, that's it.
[34:47] He goes back to playing for Queensland.
[34:49] He might go on the...
[34:51] franchise circuit, but he may never wear the baggy grin again.
[34:54] Conversely, if he can stick it out today, if he can make 100 and match saving innings, he can potentially play the greatest innings of his career and save the test match and save his career.
[35:10] So as you're listening to this, Mahan's fate will have been decided one way or the other.
[35:14] I hope it's the latter, that it's that career-defining innings.
[35:19] But the whole point of this, can you imagine the pressure he is under?
[35:23] How he clears his mind to face Robata, Jansen, Mulder, Harmer.
[35:29] How he clears his mind to just focus on this moment.
[35:33] Wow.
[35:34] Blows my mind.
[35:35] Blows my mind.
[35:36] And I get nervous going out in Barwonhead, C grade to bat, and getting knocked over and hating myself for a day.
[35:43] Trust me, Marnie feels it for a lot longer than a day.
[35:46] Good luck, Marn.
[35:47] Get some.
[35:48] Labershane down the ground.
[35:50] High ball.
[35:51] Yes, and getting back.
[35:53] Takes the catch.
[35:54] What the hell is that?
[35:56] Complete and utter madness from Madis Labershane.
[36:01] who really does get lost in this Bermuda Triangle.
[36:05] He's gone for 39.
[36:07] He can't take advantage of the gift that he was given.
[36:11] A day that saw Australia lose 13 wickets in quite disastrous circumstances, forced to follow on.
[36:20] The Aussies finish four for 156, trailing by 170 runs.
[36:24] And in amongst the carnage, three took the walk of shame.
[36:28] A love of shame.
[36:29] Wrenshaw and Webster were out twice on the same day of Test Cricket.
[36:36] Oh, 4.46am.
[36:39] I'm actually down in the hotel lobby going outside for a stroll in the dark.
[36:45] That's a story for another day.
[36:46] We'd sleep.
[36:47] But anyway, shattered for Marnie.
[36:50] Obviously, we talked yesterday about what it would mean for him and potentially his career.
[36:56] Who knows how that unfolds, but obviously disappointing.
[37:01] Boys showed a lot of fight.
[37:03] But again, a couple of late wickets at the end of yesterday is going to hurt.
[37:06] But today, new day.
[37:08] Scotty's out there.
[37:09] Trav's battered beautifully.
[37:11] Kezza and Smithy to come and the bowlers.
[37:13] So, hmm, someone could be a hero today.
[37:15] Someone could be a hero.
[37:17] Or we could go to Cape Town at one haul.
[37:25] Well, let's go and witness one of the great re-guard actions in the history of Test cricket, shall we?
[37:33] Well, it's an interesting concept.
[37:35] Yeah, well... Travis Head's finest hour.
[37:40] Alongside Alex Carey, a man with a heart the size of an elephant.
[37:45] Yeah, so that's basically... Gilchrist and... Langer.
[37:52] Langer against Pudistania.
[37:53] Yeah, yeah.
[37:55] Again.
[37:58] Yeah, but don't discount Scotty Boland doing a Jason Gillespie thing.
[38:02] It might be my Victorian bias.
[38:04] I can't see him peeling off 200.
[38:05] Never mind 200.
[38:07] Two hours would be good.
[38:08] Yeah, two hours would be good.
[38:10] Walk away from here, one up, and hold on in Cape Town.
[38:14] My air conditioner completely blew up last night.
[38:17] They put a temporary one in there.
[38:19] I got...
[38:21] I lost six wickets in the power play last night.
[38:23] I reckon I had about three hours sleep.
[38:25] That was a shocker.
[38:25] Yeah, well, don't worry.
[38:27] I'm getting worse every night.
[38:30] 1.30, 3.30.
[38:31] What's going on?
[38:33] I had a cup of tea at half past three.
[38:35] Oh, so did I. I rang my wife at four.
[38:39] She said, what are you doing up?
[38:41] I was like, oh, well.
[38:42] Anyway, she cheered me up.
[38:45] Oh, no good, is it?
[38:46] No.
[38:51] Kat, you all right, big fella?
[38:54] I'm ready.
[38:54] You ready, Bert?
[38:55] Let's go.
[38:56] I'm getting Jason Gillespie vibes.
[38:57] We're going to word him up.
[38:59] Scotty, you're back in the nose, huh?
[39:01] I saw your message last night.
[39:02] And I saw your reply yesterday.
[39:05] It was the easiest kink of ever before.
[39:10] Hey, Pete, just before you start, can I just say one thing?
[39:13] I know it's your meeting.
[39:14] Just to let you all know, it is raining in Jefferies Bay.
[39:18] I'm just letting you know it's 45 minutes down the coast and my surf buddies have said it is raining in Jefferies Bay.
[39:27] Can I just explain?
[39:28] Yes.
[39:29] They're very protective about their surf in Jefferies Bay.
[39:32] Are they?
[39:32] So when the waves are good, they send out a message saying it's raining.
[39:36] Okay.
[39:37] Now it's not like I want it.
[39:38] So there's actually no rain, but it's just good swimming.
[39:40] Well, okay.
[39:42] We'll see.
[39:42] Don't worry, Howard.
[39:44] Scottie's got it under control.
[39:46] If your guys collapse, then you can get to the system.
[39:48] Okay.
[39:49] It's gone.
[39:54] Taken by Aidan Markham at second slip.
[39:57] South Africa have won by an innings and 31 runs.
[40:02] Somehow, South Africa are able to punch back.
[40:06] Wow.
[40:07] That is why Test cricket is the best version of cricket.
[40:11] You can hear Kai Zon.
[40:13] We're talking about the winning moment in the background.
[40:16] Finish off and Simon Harmer celebrating.
[40:20] What a Test match.
[40:21] Travis Head is 13th Test 100.
[40:24] Just brilliant by Travis Head.
[40:28] This year he's settled into the opening position and now has his fourth hundred opening the batting for Australia in test matches.
[40:36] Scotty Boland batted for 187 minutes.
[40:39] Slashed away.
[40:40] Four.
[40:42] The Scott Boland continues his vigil.
[40:45] 58 balls now.
[40:46] Mulder, what a cricketer he is.
[40:48] Three massive wickets.
[40:49] Got him!
[40:52] That's him!
[40:53] Gone!
[40:55] It's Ben Mulder with the breakthrough.
[40:57] The huge wicket have aired.
[41:00] And then the Rolls-Royce Rabada with four.
[41:04] Oh, Rabada has Smith.
[41:06] A contest that has excited us from the day it began years ago.
[41:11] So for Australian fans, it'll be a disappointment.
[41:13] The South African fans are elation.
[41:20] for 33 in the first innings Marco Janssen he puts the final now in the coffin for South Africa
[41:27] But for cricket fans, of which no doubt you are one, we go to Cape Town, one of the great cities of the world, to Newlands, one of the great cricket grounds of the world, at one apiece.
[41:38] The Australian captain, Pat Cummins.
[41:40] Yeah, obviously a long way away from our best.
[41:43] I think last week we didn't start off too strong, but everyone contributed and lots of little things added up to a win.
[41:50] But, yeah, today just across the board, not enough of us contributed.
[41:54] Top two teams in the world.
[41:56] probably, you know, the series at one or similar to where we would have thought it was going to sit.
[42:00] It is perfectly set.
[42:01] So tomorrow morning, 8am flight to Cape Town.
[42:04] One apiece.
[42:07] Box office.

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