The South African cricket team toured Australia in November 2016 to play three Test matches.[1][2][3] South Africa won the series 2–1, with victories in Perth and Hobart.[4]
| South African cricket team in Australia in 2016–17 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 | ||
| Australia | South Africa | ||
| Dates | 22 October 2016 – 27 November 2016 | ||
| Captains | Steve Smith | Faf du Plessis | |
| Test series | |||
| Result | South Africa won the 3-match series 2–1 | ||
| Most runs | Usman Khawaja (314) | Quinton de Kock (281) | |
| Most wickets | Josh Hazlewood (17) | Kagiso Rabada (15) | |
| Player of the series | Vernon Philander (SA) | ||
In April 2016, Cricket Australia (CA) suggested that the third Test at the Adelaide Oval could be played as a day/night match, but there was some reluctance from the South African cricketers.[5][6] In June, CA confirmed that the Adelaide Test would be played as a day/night game.[7] Prior to the series, both teams played practice day/night matches.[8]
South Africa played 2 two-day day/night warm-up fixtures at the Adelaide Oval and the Melbourne Cricket Ground in preparation for the day-night Test match.[9]
Following the conclusion of the second Test, footage emerged of South Africa's captain Faf du Plessis apparently shining the ball using a sweet in his mouth.[10] He was charged by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for ball tampering and pled not-guilty.[11][12] Hashim Amla said that the situation was "ridiculous" and "a joke".[13] It was suggested that a hearing would take place after the conclusion of the third Test, as Cricket South Africa (CSA) had engaged legal representation for du Plessis.[14] However, on 22 November, du Plessis was found guilty of ball tampering, fined his match fee from the Hobart Test, but was allowed to play in the Adelaide Test.[15] After du Plessis was found guilty he said he disagreed with the verdict stating "I felt like I have done nothing wrong".[16] Du Plessis appealed the charge,[17] but that was rejected on 21 December 2016.[18] The initial penalties of losing his match fee and getting three demerit points stood, but he was not punished with a one-match ban.[18]
Squads edit
 Australia[19] |
 South Africa[20] |
|---|---|
Dale Steyn suffered a shoulder injury during the first Test and was ruled out of the rest of the series.[21] Dwaine Pretorius was added to South Africa's squad to replace Steyn.[22] Joe Burns and Callum Ferguson were added to Australia's squad for the second Test, while Shaun Marsh was ruled out with a broken finger.[23] Peter Siddle was ruled out due to a back injury and Jackson Bird was added to Australia's team as cover for him.[24]
For the third Test of the tour, Australia added Matt Renshaw, Peter Handscomb, Nic Maddinson, Chadd Sayers and Matthew Wade to their squad.[25] Joe Burns, Callum Ferguson, Peter Nevill and Joe Mennie were all dropped, while Adam Voges was ruled out with concussion.[25]
Tour matches edit
Two-day: Cricket Australia XI vs South Africa XI edit
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- South Africa XI won the toss and elected to bat.
- Players per side Cricket Australia XI 12 (11 batting, 11 fielding); South Africa 16 (11 batting, 11 fielding)
Two-day: South Australia XI vs South Africa XI edit
27–28 October 2016
Scorecard |
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- South Africa XI won the toss and elected to bat.
- 15 players per side (11 batting, 11 fielding).
50-overs: Victoria XI vs South Africans edit
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- South Africans won the toss and elected to field.
- Players per side: Victoria XI 12 (11 batting, 11 fielding); South Africans 15 (11 batting, 11 fielding).
Test series edit
1st Test edit
3–7 November 2016
Scorecard |
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- South Africa won the toss and elected to bat.
- Keshav Maharaj (SA) made his Test debut.
- Australia's collapse of 10/86 was their worst collapse after having an opening stand of 150 or more, and third worst by any team in Tests.[26]
- Dean Elgar and Jean-Paul Duminy's partnership of 250 is South Africa's highest partnership in Perth, the third highest overall in Perth, and their second highest against Australia.[27]
- This was Australia's first loss in the opening Test of the home series since 1988.[28]
- It was also Australia's first Test match loss at home since they lost in Perth against South Africa in 2012.[28]
2nd Test edit
12–16 November 2016
Scorecard |
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- South Africa won the toss and elected to field.
- No play was possible on day 2 due to rain.
- Callum Ferguson and Joe Mennie (Aus) both made their Test debuts.
- Australia's first innings total is their lowest at home for 32 years and their second-shortest innings at home in terms of balls faced.[29]
- This was South Africa's third consecutive Test series win in Australia.[30]
- This was South Africa's first win against Australia by an innings in Australia.[31]
3rd Test edit
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- South Africa won the toss and elected to bat.
- This was the third day/night Test match.
- Peter Handscomb, Nic Maddinson, Matt Renshaw (Aus); and Tabraiz Shamsi (SA) all made their Test debuts.
- Faf du Plessis became the first player for South Africa to score a century in a day/night Test match.[32]
- Usman Khawaja became the first player for Australia to score a century in a day/night Test match.[33]
References edit
- ^ "Future Tours Programme" (PDF). International Cricket Council. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
- ^ "Cricket Australia announces 2016-17 summer schedule with asterisk next to Adelaide test". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
- ^ "Four nations set to tour in blockbuster 2016-17 summer". Cricket Australia. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
- ^ "Australia fight back with pink-ball win". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
- ^ "Cricket Australia announces Gabba day-night Test against Pakistan amid uncertainty over Adelaide". ABC. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
- ^ "Adelaide day-night Test still uncertain". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
- ^ "Proteas agree to day-night Test". Cricket Australia. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
- ^ "Australia and South Africa to play day-night Test in Adelaide". Cricket South Africa. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
- ^ "Commonwealth Bank Test Series v South Africa - cricket.com.au". Retrieved 14 October 2016.
- ^ "ICC reviewing du Plessis footage for possible code breach". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
- ^ "ICC charges du Plessis over alleged ball tampering". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
- ^ "Faf du Plessis: South Africa captain charged with ball tampering v Australia". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
- ^ "Tampering claims 'a joke' - Amla". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
- ^ "Du Plessis hearing set to be delayed by lawyers". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
- ^ "Du Plessis found guilty, but free to play in Adelaide". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
- ^ "'I felt I did nothing wrong' - du Plessis". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
- ^ "'Won't back out of appeal' - Faf du Plessis". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
- ^ a b "Du Plessis loses appeal against ball-tampering verdict". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
- ^ "Mennie in Test squad, Khawaja recalled". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
- ^ "Shamsi, Maharaj in South Africa squad for Australia Tests". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
- ^ "Steyn ruled out of series with shoulder fracture". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
- ^ "Dwaine Pretorius called up to replace Steyn". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
- ^ "Australia call up Burns and Ferguson; injured Shaun Marsh out". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
- ^ "Siddle out of Hobart Test, Mennie in line for debut". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
- ^ a b "Renshaw, Maddinson, Handscomb to make Test debuts". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ "Worst collapses in Test Cricket". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
- ^ "South Africa partnerships against Australia". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
- ^ a b "Australia's first loss in season opener since 1988". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
- ^ "Australia hit 32-year low at home". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
- ^ "Abbott, Rabada bowl SA to series victory". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
- ^ "Consecutive series wins and maximum single-digit scores in a match". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
- ^ "Du Plessis ton leads South Africa fightback". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
- ^ "Khawaja bats through day to put Australia on top". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 November 2016.