Warner criticises Australia after South Africa win third Test in Cape Town on final day
David Warner condemned his former team-mates after South Africa beat Australia by 176 runs to win the three-Test series 2-1 in the third Test in Cape Town on day five of the match. Speaking on Fox Sports after the first session, Warner described Australia's performance as "terrible", "utterly disgraceful" and "un-Australian".
Third Test, Cape Town (day five of five) South Africa 329 & 387: Mulder 115, Rickelton 101 Australia 429 & 111: Lyon 33*; Rabada 3-39; Harmer 6-16 South Africa won by 176 runs; won series 2-1. Warner, who retired from Test cricket in January 2024, criticised the batting across the series as he reacted to the collapse on the final day.
Chasing 288 to win, Australia lost two wickets in the first over to Kagiso Rabada and never recovered; Rabada took three wickets in the first half hour and added the key scalp of Travis Head, caught at slip, during a first spell that left him the fastest bowler to 350 Test wickets. Josh Inglis had earlier been run out for four after being called through by Cameron Green, an event that accelerated the collapse.
Spinner Simon Harmer then exploited the situation, removing Alex Carey, who was caught reverse sweeping with two runs to his name, and Cooper Connolly, who was out for a two-ball duck. Australia were 60-7 at lunch, a position that prompted Warner's sharp criticism: "It is terrible," he said. "It is un-Australian. There is no fight whatsoever. It is disgraceful."
Warner added: "The batters have let the bowlers down all series. [Matt] Renshaw showed fight in that first Test but I think the batters have been utterly disgraceful." He also commented on the dismissal of Matt Renshaw: "Yes, Matt Renshaw was burgled down the leg side, [but] it is on the line and this is the way they play," Warner said. "It is deplorable."
After lunch Australia adopted an ultra-defensive approach, producing only one scoring shot in 50 minutes while Pat Cummins faced 40 balls before scoring a run. When Green did take on Harmer he was bowled through the gate, and number 10 Nathan Lyon finished as the innings' highest scorer with 33 not out as Harmer completed a career-best 6-16 and Australia were dismissed for 111.
Rabada's first spell returned three wickets for 14 runs as he targeted the stumps and found seam movement, while Harmer used significant turn to finish the match with figures of 10-120. The result completed a series in which South Africa recovered from difficult positions to secure victory across three fluctuating Tests.
South Africa regain the top spot in the world Test rankings and have moved up to second in the current Test Championship standings, with their chances of back-to-back wins described in the report as boosted; Australia now face a packed schedule, including four home Tests against New Zealand starting in December, a five-Test tour of India, the 150th anniversary Test against England in March and next summer's Ashes.
