Former Australian opener David Warner has slammed Australia’s disappointing batting performance after Pat Cummins’ side went down to a crushing defeat against South Africa in the third and final Test at Newlands on Saturday. Australia, who headed into the final day with a target of 288 runs to secure victory and claim the series, experienced a horrible day following a disastrous batting that totally put them on the backfoot from the very beginning.
They were folded for 111 runs, handing South Africa a comprehensive 176-run victory. By lunch, Australia had slumped to 60/7, putting the result largely in South Africa’s favour. Unhappy with the way Australia approached the chase, Warner did not hold back in expressing his disappointment, calling the team's approach as 'un-Australian'.
“I’m just upset; it’s terrible, it’s un-Australian, there’s no fight whatsoever, it’s disgraceful ... it’s on the line, and this is the way they’re playing. I think it’s deplorable,” he said on Fox Cricket.
“The batters have let the bowlers down all series, yes (Matt) Renshaw showed fight in the first Test, but I think the batters have been disgraceful.
Australia’s chase itself got off to a rocky start after they lost two wickets in the first over, making things utterly complicated at the very start. Simon Harmer was the hero for South Africa, with his six-wicket haul creating big hurdles for Australia in their chase. Meanwhile, the series win has also taken South Africa to the No.1 spot on the ICC rankings.