Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden didn’t mince words while analysing South Africa’s approach on the opening day of the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia at Lord’s. Despite winning the toss and putting Australia in to bat under overcast conditions, Hayden felt the Proteas lacked the aggressive mindset required in a high-stakes contest.
South Africa’s bowlers did a commendable job early on, bundling Australia out for 212. Kagiso Rabada led the charge with a fiery spell, finishing with 5 for 51 in 15.4 overs, while Marco Jansen added three crucial wickets. At that stage, Temba Bavuma’s decision to bowl first seemed justified. But with the bat, South Africa faltered dramatically.
By stumps, they were tottering at 43 for 4, trailing by 169 runs, undone by the pace trio of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood. Hayden pointed to a lack of intent, particularly from skipper Bavuma.
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“South Africa started strong, but the energy dipped when they came out to bat. The final session belonged entirely to Australia. Conditions fluctuated, but South Africa didn’t respond aggressively enough. Temba Bavuma, as captain, didn’t set the tone with the bat. That’s a dangerous sign against a top-class pace attack in helpful conditions,” Matthew Hayden observed.
He stressed that South Africa must show more urgency and positive intent in their batting on Day 2. “Even the couple of boundaries at the end offered a glimpse of what’s possible. But if they don’t come out fighting, Australia will dominate from here,” he warned.
Echoing Hayden’s sentiment, former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar acknowledged the early struggle for Australia but highlighted their comeback.
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“The Proteas dominated the first session, but the Smith-Webster partnership steadied Australia. South Africa gave the momentum away by losing four quick wickets late in the day. With the pitch offering so much seam movement, 212 is more than competitive,” Sanjay Bangar explained.
He added that for South Africa to claw back into the contest, a mental reset is essential on Day 2 — one built on belief, aggression, and resilience.
