Follow UsAustralia’s ploy to promote Cameron Green to No.3 in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final against South Africa at Lord’s backfired as the returning batter lasted just three balls in the final before succumbing to the bowling of Kagiso Rabada.
After a nudge towards fine leg (that yielded a boundary) and a leave second ball, Green looked to work a straight ball from Rabada through the on-side. However, the ball seamed away from him ever so slightly, catching the outside edge.
The ball was flying away from Aiden Markram at second slip, and the ball was dying too, but the Proteas opener took a fantastic low grab to send the returning Green packing. It was a perfect slip catch as Markram was clearly blinded and distracted by the third slip fielder diving to his left. Still, Markram kept his cool and completed a fine catch.
The dismissal reduced Australia to 16/2 from 12/0. Earlier in the same over, Usman Khawaja perished for 0 off 20 balls, making it the joint-third slowest duck by an Australian opener in history. He was dismissed thanks to another fine slip catch, this one taken by David Bedingham.
South Africa won the toss and opted to bowl. At the time of writing this, Australia were 18/2, with Marnus Labuschagne unbeaten on 10.