AUS vs SA: Simon Katich criticises Dean Elgar’s decision-making in MCG Test 

• Simon Katich criticises Dean Elgar’s strategies and choices in second Test.
• Australia declared their first innings at 575/8.
• South Africa was just 15/1 in seven overs before stumps due to rain.

Former Australia opener Simon Katich has called South Africa captain Dean Elgar‘s strategies and choices in the ongoing second Test match between South Africa and Australia at the MCG “awful.”

Australia declared their first innings at 575/8 after starting day three of the Test at 386/3, leaving South Africa with a huge amount of runs to score if they want to prevent the Test and the three-game series from being decided early.

Having earlier been knocked for a pitiful 189 in the first innings, South Africa was just 15/1 in seven overs before stumps on Wednesday due to rain, with Elgar being bowled out for a duck by Pat Cummins.

“Elgar’s strategy and judgement yesterday, in my opinion, were horrible. With the fields he laid out, bowlers were unable to exert any pressure. The field (Elgar) was then set up with a short leg and no protection on the leg side, making it impossible for them to bowl the new ball at the proper length. “You can attack the stumps at the MCG for being bowled, being LBW, and inserting the keeper and slips into the action. Despite being superb, Jansen hardly received the ball, “on the SEN Breakfast show, Katich claimed.

Anrich Nortje, a tearaway fast for South Africa, was effective despite being struck by a low hanging spider-cam. He consistently bowled beyond 150 km/h in sweltering heat to earn 3/92 in 25 overs. But the other bowlers didn’t do much to help him.

Kagiso Rabada, a leader in pace, grabbed 2/144, while Marco Jansen and Lungi Ngidi each claimed a wicket but gave up 89 and 98 runs, respectively. Keshav Maharaj, a left-arm spinner, failed to claim a wicket despite giving up 135 runs in 41.5 overs.

“Nortje was outstanding yesterday, and it was all due to the pace and aggression he displayed throughout the game. If Nortje had received strong support, the outcome might have been different “I found (Kagiso) Rabada to be underwhelming since he gave up more than five runs per over while never applying any pressure. (Lungi) Ngidi probably shouldn’t have participated because he failed to generate any pressure “finished Katich.

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