The opening day of the World Test Championship (WTC) final between Australia and South Africa at Lord's has sparked intense debate and varying opinions from cricket experts. After a day dominated by bowlers, former Australian opener Matthew Hayden has weighed in, giving Australia a significant advantage. According to Hayden, Australia holds an "80 per cent" chance of winning the WTC final after Day 1, a verdict largely based on South Africa's perceived lack of intent with the bat.
South Africa won the toss and elected to bowl, a decision that initially seemed to pay dividends. Kagiso Rabada spearheaded the attack, claiming a remarkable 5-51 to help dismiss Australia for a modest 212. Marco Jansen provided valuable support with 3-49. Australia's innings was rescued by a 79-run fifth-wicket partnership between Steve Smith (66) and Beau Webster (72). However, the Australians collapsed, losing their last 5 wickets for just 22 runs.
Despite South Africa's strong bowling performance, their batting display faltered. Mitchell Starc struck early, dismissing Aiden Markram in the first over. The South African innings never gained momentum, and they limped to stumps at 43-4, trailing by 169 runs. Starc finished the day with 2-10, while Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood each took a wicket.
Hayden was particularly critical of South African captain Temba Bavuma's slow start, noting his inability to score freely. He emphasized that Bavuma's lack of aggression set a negative tone for the rest of the batting lineup. Hayden stated that South Africa needed to show more intent on Day 2, and any signs of aggression would help them. However, he warned that Australia would be firm favorites if South Africa continued their defensive approach.
Sanjay Bangar, another expert, offered a contrasting view, acknowledging Australia's strong position due to their comeback in the final session where they took nine wickets. Bangar highlighted the Smith-Webster partnership as crucial in Australia's recovery. However, he also pointed out South Africa's fight back, but losing four wickets later handed the advantage back to Australia.
Other analysts echoed Hayden's concerns about South Africa's lack of intent. Despite Rabada's five-wicket haul, the South African batters failed to capitalize on the advantage. Mitchell Starc's first-over strike set the tone for Australia's fightback, and the pace trio of Starc, Cummins, and Hazlewood proved too challenging for the South African top order.
The conditions at Lord's also played a significant role on Day 1. The cloudy conditions in the first half of the day favored the bowlers, while the sunny conditions in the second half made batting slightly easier. However, neither team could fully capitalize on the conditions, resulting in a day dominated by the bowlers. With 14 wickets falling, it was evident that the match was evenly poised, despite Hayden's assessment.
Ultimately, Day 2 will be crucial in determining the outcome of the WTC final. South Africa needs to show more intent and aggression with the bat, while Australia needs to maintain their disciplined bowling performance. The match is far from over, and both teams have the potential to turn the tide in their favor.
