Eight years on from the Sandpaper Gate, Australia return to Cape Town for the final Test match with the series tantalisingly poised at 1-1.
Pat Cummins and co. fell off a cliff after their sensational performance in the first outing of the red-ball series, losing by an innings and 31 runs in a rain-disrupted match at Gqeberha.
Two days on from the start, they had South Africa in all sorts at 92-5. But, a courageous century from skipper Temba Bavuma (179 off 334), expertly accompanied by Marco Jansen (85 off 100) and Simon Harmer (82 off 157) helped the hosts mount a mammoth 425-9d.
They then castled Australia for just 99, turning the tables courtesy of a five-for from Jansen (11-2-33-5). And despite losing a whole session on day five, they levelled the series bundling the visitors for 295. Travis Head's first Test century on away shores, nor Scott Boland's 166-ball blockathon, was enough to salvage the Test.
In front of what's expected to be a hostile crowd returning as ghosts from the past, South Africa will have their tails up entering the contest as the more settled side while Australia ponder selection dilemmas across both disciplines.
After all, they've won three of the last four Tests against the Aussies at this picturesque venue.
Selection headaches for Australia
On the eve of the Test, Nic Maddinson - whose selection could possibly go down as one of the most head-scratching calls made by the decision-makers at Cricket Australia - along with Sam Harper, were sent back home to prepare for the next round of the Sheffield Shield.
Steve Smith is touch-and-go after spending most of last week with an ongoing neck issue. He faced a hit in the nets and trudged off grudgingly after a while.
Cameron Green and Josh Inglis are available for selection after having missed out due to an abdominal strain and a broken finger, respectively.
Marnus Labuschagne's down-the-ground foray whilst on 39 trying to save the match was one of the major talking points of the second Test match. The act of blowing caution into the wind with one result completely out of question on day four imposed more questions of the decision-making than the technical frailties of the batters, and Marnus was at the heart of it all.
"I think the hardest thing about opening or batting three is actually getting yourself in. The ball is normally doing a fair bit. You've got fresh bowlers, and he's actually doing the hard bit," remarked Cummins after the defeat when asked about Marnus' immediate future in the XI.
"He's getting to 30s. I think he's got to find a way to turn those into bigger scores – 30s aren't going to win you too many matches. But it's certainly not a technique error. Maybe some decisions (where) the game demanded something a little bit different."
Matt Renshaw, traditionally an opener, could replace Maddison at the top in the meantime, with Green slotting in a number five.
And what of Nathan Lyon? Should he return, will Australia drop their best bowler from last week? Cummins remained tight-lipped on the XI but the bottom line for his side will be to respect conditions, regardless, and get back to the basics.
The latest South Africa vs Australia Test match odds are available on LiveScore Bet
South Africa need weight off their allrounders
While Bavuma played one of his finest knocks, and both Harmer and Jansen completed a rescue act, the win papered over the lack of contributions from the specialists in the lineup.
South Africa's new-look top order featuring Marques Ackerman and David Bedingham couldn't rough up the new ball.
The hosts have excellent allrounders that infuse depth and first-class batting pedigree, but if they are to win the series, their willow-wielders at the top will have to do the bulk of the heavy lifting against one of the deadliest bowling attacks ever assembled.
Gerald Coetzee has been named from the start, replacing the injured Anrich Nortje.
South Africa skipper Bavuma hailed his partnership-breaking abilities on match day eve, “I think he’s probably the closest guy in terms of like-for-like for Anrich. In terms of the role Anrich plays in a bowling attack as an enforcer, Gerald does have an extra bit of pace.”
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Player's Total Runs, Innings 1 - Temba Bavuma: Over 28.5
Bavuma's innings at Gqeberha wasn't a magic trick. It was an act of surrender to the rigours of Test cricket, as he met the ball right under the eyes and assumed control.
Form is the not his only friend at the moment. Amongst active players set to participate in the final meeting at Cape Town, Bavuma has top-scored with 374 runs in seven Tests at the venue.
He has two centuries and a half-century to his name, with an impressive 46.75 average. A favourable entry point at second-drop and the batting-friendly conditions should help his case in posting another notable score.
Recommended Bet: Player's Total Runs, Innings 1 - Temba Bavuma: Over 28.5
Match Winner: South Africa
A batting lineup that hasn't quite discovered itself. A Newlands wicket that has proved unlucky since 2009.
All of that, against a purring South Africa side aware of the dry conditions and carrying momentum into the third Test, with Kagiso Rabada fit and firing on all fronts.
It's all for the current Test Championship holders to lose.
Recommended Bet: Match Winner: South Africa
