Former Australia batter Matthew Hayden said that South Africa and especially captain Temba Bavuma needed to show more intent when they came out to bat on Day 2 of the World Test Championship final on Thursday. South Africa had skittled out Australia for 212 runs, courtesy of Kagiso Rabada’s five-for and Marco Jansen’s 3 wickets but the Aussie quicks also made an impact, reducing the Proteas to 43/4 at Stumps on day 1.
“I’m not entirely convinced it was Australia’s day. South Africa won the first session, and Australia’s comeback in the final session—nine wickets in all—was surprising. The conditions were odd: cloudy for half the day and sunny for the other half. Batting should have been easier, but it wasn’t. I’d say maybe 80% in Australia’s favour, largely because of South Africa’s lack of intent. That started with Temba Bavuma. As a captain, it’s not just about bowling changes—it’s also about setting the tone with the bat. He showed little vigour, and that’s dangerous when facing three world-class fast bowlers in conditions that suit them,” Hayden said on JioHotstar.
“They need to come out with more intent on Day 2. Any signs of aggression—even those few boundaries late in the day—will help. But if they don’t, Australia will come into Day 2 as firm favourites,” he added.
Former India batter Sanjay Bangar also echoed Hayden’s thoughts, saying the Proteas needed tp show more positive intent.
“There’s a gap in skill sets, no doubt. Someone like Steve Smith—with over 10,000 Test runs—can switch tactics instantly, adjusting to fields and conditions. That confidence doesn’t come overnight. But if South Africa needs to do anything differently, it’s this: be more positive. When your approach is positive, your feet move better, and once your feet are in the right place, you control the ball better—whether scoring or defending. Steve Smith was exceptional—when conditions were tough, he pushed the pressure back on the bowlers. Also, someone like Ngidi had an off day and leaked runs. Australia’s bowlers didn’t offer any width. If South Africa want to score square, they must first find a way to create that width—and that comes with intent,” Bangar said on JioHotstar.