Last Updated on 4 minutes ago by Charbel Coorey
South Africa are seeking a strong response in Gqeberha after they were outplayed by Australia in Durban, but will the weather be kind?
A cloud(s) (literally) hangs over the first two days of this Test. Rain is expected, and it remains to be seen whether there will be enough play to allow for a result at St George’s Park.
Gqeberha weather forecast: Expect delays in 2nd SA vs AUS Test at St George’s Park
According to BBC Weather, rain is expected to fall for a lot of Sunday, with “light rain and a moderate breeze” the official forecast. Chances of precipitation are above 50% for a lot of the day.
Monday morning (day two) looks worse with a 100% chance of precipitation until midday. Conditions are then expected to clear by the afternoon with temperates hovering in the late teens.
Clear conditions are then forecast for the remaining three days. Whether there can be a result depends on the freshness of the pitch and how effective the pace attacks will be with the new ball in particular.
Given the rise of two and three-day Tests in recent years, a result either way is not beyond the realms of possibility. Kagiso Rabada is set to return which boosts South Africa’s hopes, while Australia’s great attack will be full of confidence after their Durban performance.
Proteas coach Shukri Conrad has called on the batters to perform. He says South Africa are too reliant on Temba Bavuma and Aiden Markram, as well as lower-order runs.
“This has been coming for a while,” Conrad said after the Durban loss.
“If you look at our performances back home, when there was something in the wicket [for the bowlers], against good attacks we’ve been heavily reliant on Temba [Bavuma] and Aiden [Markram], and then lower-order runs.
“You only need to go back to Centurion, you go back to the final at Lord’s, David (Bedingham) has obviously shown glimpses but we were always heavily reliant on lower-order runs.”
In terms of the World Test Championship (WTC), Australia currently sit top with a percentage of 81.82. South Africa dropped from second to third with a percentage of 60.
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