David Warner slams former side as ‘un-Australian’ and ‘disgraceful’ after 111 all out seals South Africa series win

David Warner says Australia showed “no fight whatsoever” after they were bowled out for 111 in Cape Town; South Africa won the deciding Test by 176 runs to take the series 2-1 and go top of the world Test rankings

David Warner branded Australia’s performance “un-Australian” and “disgraceful” after they were bowled out for just 111 to suffer defeat in the deciding Test in Cape Town.

South Africa won by 176 runs, took the series 2-1 and knocked Australia off the top of the Test rankings.

Set 288 on the final day, the tourists were 60-7 by lunch.

Warner, who opened for Australia until retiring from Test cricket in 2024, did not hold back on Fox Sports.

“It is terrible. It is un-Australian. There is no fight whatsoever. It is disgraceful,” Warner said. “The batters have let the bowlers down all series. Matt Renshaw showed fight in that first Test, but I think the batters have been utterly disgraceful.”

Renshaw was caught down the leg side off Kagiso Rabada in the opening over, a dismissal that drew little sympathy from Warner.

“Renshaw was burgled down the leg side. It is on the line and this is the way they play,” he said. “It is deplorable.”

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Rabada trapped Marnus Labuschagne lbw in the same over, then had Travis Head caught by Marco Jansen at gully with Australia 22-3. It was his 350th Test wicket, reached in just 13,808 balls – fewer than anyone before him.

Labuschagne’s lean run continued, with the batter now having gone 49 Test innings without a century. Australia were also without Steve Smith, who missed the match through injury.

Australia’s collapse continued when Cameron Green pushed Simon Harmer into the covers and called Josh Inglis through for a single that was never on. Inglis was run out, prompting former South Africa captain Graeme Smith to criticise the decision on Sky Sports.

“Never a run. A bad call from Green,” he said.

Harmer then ripped through the remaining batting order, taking the final six wickets for just 16 runs. Alex Carey was caught at backward point attempting a reverse-sweep, while Cooper Connolly edged behind just two balls later. Mitchell Starc followed, his 25-ball duck ending with a catch at short leg.

Harmer finished with match figures of 10-120, claiming the first 10-wicket haul of his Test career.

Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon offered some resistance, keeping South Africa at bay for 17.2 overs. Cummins battled for 90 deliveries to make 11 before Harmer trapped him lbw and then bowled Josh Hazlewood. Lyon remained unbeaten on 33, finishing as Australia’s top scorer.

Harmer was player of the match, despite not beginning the series as South Africa’s first-choice spinner.

“It was just dealing with expectations. Putting that to one side and understanding what I had to do,” he said.

“The way KG [Kagiso Rabada] took three wickets, after that it was about playing for a draw for them. To be able to bowl in that situation, guys around the bat, the theatre, creating pressure, goes a long way and makes my job easier.”

It was Marco Jansen, though, who was player of the series after scoring 198 runs and taking 13 wickets.

“Very intense series. A lot of pressure, lot of ebbs and flows,” he said. “Standing here tired but awesome series to be a part of.

“Takes a lot out of you, proud of the boys. Happy to have got the series win.”

On bowling alongside Rabada and Harmer, Jansen added: “Seeing KG running and doing his thing with flow, Harmer turning the ball also puts a good kind of pressure on you to do well for the guy next to you.”

Smith reserved his biggest praise for Rabada, whose pace bowling disrupted the Australians from the very start on the series’ decisive Saturday.

“KG is the leader of this attack,” he said. “He is so integral to the performance of this team.”

Australia skipper Cummins acknowledged that his team gave themselves no chance – but defended the level of ability within the squad.

“Within the first hour the game was away from us and we did not give ourselves a chance,” he said. “We are a really good side but playing tough opponents away from home is always difficult.

“We came here thinking we were good enough to win but we ‌couldn’t do it.”

Australia next face a four-Test series at home against New Zealand, starting in December, and South Africa turn their attentions to their three-Test series against England next month.

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