South Africa captain Graeme Smith’s international cricket career is over and his side appear headed for their first Test series loss in five years.
The Proteas crumbled to 3-15 at tea on day four of the series decider in Cape Town, with Smith, Alviro Petersen and Dean Elgar all back in the stands after six overs.
Michael Clarke declared with a 510-run lead earlier in the second session, giving his team potentially 142 overs to roll the Proteas and avenge the Adelaide Oval angst that still lingers after 16 months.
Faf du Plessis batted for almost eight hours to secure a draw in Adelaide, but such a feat at Newlands seems impossible with Mitchell Johnson in the form of life.
David Warner continued his career-best form in Australia’s second innings of 5dec-303, smacking 145 on Tuesday to bring his series tally to 543 runs at an average of 90.5.
Smith suggested pre-match it was “just sad” that “rent a quote” Warner had taken the gloss off his side’s win in the second Test by questioning the legality of wicketkeeper AB de Villiers’ treatment of the ball.
How unpalatable must Smith have found it in his 117th and final Test as the belligerent opener became the first Australian to score two tons in a Test since Phillip Hughes in Durban five years ago.
Hughes’ two knocks were largely responsible for the defeat that triggered the Proteas’ most recent Test series loss.
It is hard to see how history will not repeat in this match, given how well placed Australia are to record their greatest achievement under Clarke’s captaincy.
Romantics had hoped for one last hurrah from Smith, who was given a guard of honour as he ended his stellar Test career some 12 years after it started against the same opposition at the same venue.
They were sorely disappointed.
Johnson, who first planted the seeds of retirement doubt in Smith’s mind when he made a fool of him with a rearing bouncer in the first Test at Centurion, again snared his scalp with a short-pitched assault.
Smith managed three runs before he fell tamely, popping up a simple catch to Alex Doolan at short leg.
He was given a round of applause by all at the ground, including the Australians, raising his bat and saluting the locals.
Ryan Harris trapped Petersen lbw for nine, while the second session ended with Elgar’s stumps being rattled by a fantastic delivery from Johnson.