Philander six-for completes historic series win for South Africa
South Africa wrapped up the series 3-1 - their first home win against Australia since readmission - with a 492-run victory
03/30Result
4th Test, Australia tour of South Africa at Johannesburg, Mar 30 - Apr 3 2018
-
![South Africa]( "South Africa")
488 & 344/6d -
![Australia]( "Australia")
221 & 119 (46.4 ov)
Player of the Match
03/30Result
4th Test, Australia tour of South Africa at Johannesburg, Mar 30 - Apr 3 2018
-
![South Africa]( "South Africa")
488 & 344/6d -
![Australia]( "Australia")
221 & 119 (46.4 ov)
Player of the Match
Day 5
How South Africa came back from the Durban setback
Defeated in the first Test in Durban, South Africa shut out the noise and put in the hard work necessary to achieve a historic victory against Australia
Biggest Test win since 1934
Statistical highlights of the final day of South Africa's home summer, which culminated in a 492-run win against Australia
'A lot of us have to step up' - Paine
The Australia captain hopes the team, under a new head coach, will embrace a culture shift and start with a clean slate
'There was not one day did I not enjoy coming to nets' - Morkel
The fast bowler counted South Africa's first Test series wins in England and Australia since readmission as the highlights of his international career, and the 2015 World Cup semi-final defeat as a significant low point
In darkest hour, Australia start to listen
After years of either wilful or inadvertent ignorance, Australia have recognised the need for a change in attitude for the benefit of their most influential stakeholders: their fans
Day 4
Morkel takes SA closer to 3-1 after du Plessis ton
South Africa batted on and on in Johannesburg on the fourth day to push their lead past 600, before Morkel's strikes, as he battled a side strain, left Australia three down in a colossal chase
Sounds of Australian silence a marker of change
Throughout a 250-ball stay that would usually have attracted plenty of unflattering Australian commentary, Dean Elgar was mainly faced with an unusually silent visiting team
Du Plessis satisfies his needs, Elgar fulfils his wants
Du Plessis was coming off low scores which is why he needed the hundred more than he wanted it. Elgar didn't need a hundred because he already scored a big one in this series but he still might have wanted it
Day 3
Australia made to grind as SA lead crosses 400
Tim Paine and Pat Cummins showed fight with the bat, and Cummins was a constant threat with the ball, too, but South Africa remained firmly in control of the match, and almost certain to complete a historic home series win against Australia
Crafty Maharaj emerges from the shadows
The left-arm spinner tends to slip under the radar, but he is South Africa's second-highest wicket-taker in the series, and could well be in the spotlight in its final act, particularly given Morne Morkel's injury concerns
Morkel pulls up with injury in his final Test
He left the field 40 minutes before lunch on the third morning in Johannesburg for some treatment. The team management hope he could push on for the rest for the match
'Permanent' Paine shows stomach for fight
Since an injury in late 2010, Paine has fought his way back into the Tasmanian and Australian teams, before quickly assuming a senior role by dint of his deft glovework, neat, determined batting and the mind and temperament of a leader
Day 2
Bavuma, Philander leave Australia staring at follow-on
South Africa's last four wickets added 189 to shore up an already strong total before Australia's new look batting line-up went on a freefall
Bee-stung de Kock misses Shaun Marsh stumping
Keshav Maharaj's flight left Australia's No. 5 stranded outside his crease, but he lived to fight on (though not for too long) thanks to the timely efforts of a wicketkeeper-hating bee
Bavuma digs in for innings of character
He was left stranded five short of what would have been his second Test hundred, but Temba Bavuma did enough by then to answer many of the questions that have been raised over his place in South Africa's Test team
Cricket failings set scene for Australia's disintegration
The controversies of the past week won't be forgotten soon, but Australia's batting has been equally responsible for their freefall despite a win in Durban
Day 1
Australia find the will to fight after Markram 152
Aiden Markram capitalised on a bowling line-up lacking penetration, making 152, his highest Test score, and strengthening South Africa's position in their bid for their first home series win against Australia since 1970
Paine redefines Australia and captaincy
The new Australia captain wanted to foster an environment where players did not feel they had to conform to a narrow idea of what an Australian Test cricketer should be
What Australia lost, and what they gained
A hard-nosed battle without sledging left stump mics redundant and provided glimpses of new a Australia
Imperious Markram enters impervious bubble
The South Africa opener has the ability, like Jacques Kallis before him, to shut out everything and simply bat, and it's quite a feat that he's managed to do this so consistently across such an ill-tempered series
Others
Six before Paine: surprise captains
From New Zealand's Lee Germon, who debuted as New Zealand captain, to Floyd Reifer, who took charge of West Indies while they were in the middle of a contracts crisis
Kindness called for with South Africa on the cusp of history
It isn't on the forefront of anyone's minds right now, but South Africa have their best chance yet of winning their first home Test series against Australia since readmission
Smith's tears force Lehmann to step down as Australia coach
Darren Lehmann has announced that the Johannesburg Test will be his last as Australia coach, as the ball-tampering scandal that occurred in the Cape Town Test continues to take its toll on Australian cricket
Smith 'a good guy caught in a bad place' - du Plessis
South Africa's captain has expressed sympathy for Steven Smith, but was less charitable to David Warner, whom he hoped would 'reflect and see if he can change the way he has played the game'
South Africa aim to farewell Morkel with historic series win
Despite the tumult of the ball-tampering controversy, Australia have a Test to play, and a record of not having lost a series in South Africa since 1970 to keep alive
