{
  "id": 15033266,
  "title": "Proteas urged to wear down Australia's bowling machines in second Test",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/proteas-urged-to-wear-down-australias-bowling-machines-in-second-test-15033266",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-16T19:53:35.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-17/proteas-urged-wear-down-australias-bowlers-in-second-test/107278752"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the second Test of the three-match series, the South African cricket team is urging their batters to tire out the Australian bowling attack, with an emphasis on wearing down their opponents. Only Aiden Markram managed to score 50 in the first Test, leaving South Africa to lose two batters for the upcoming game against Australia.\n\nLive-blogging of the second Test is set to commence at Gqeberha, starting on Sunday night. South Africa has vowed to improve their efforts in wearing down Australia's bowlers after their meek performance in the first Test. The Proteas are expected to bring back pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada for the second Test in Gqeberha, following his impressive showing on their last tour in 2018.\n\nHowever, the hosts have highlighted the need for their batting department to mend the gap between the teams after the series-opening 214-run defeat. Aiden Markram's 50 was the only half-century scored by South African batters in the first Test, while seven others managed to score between 30 and 49 runs across both innings.\n\nCoach Shukri Conrad admitted to pulling the last strands of his hair in frustration as he axed both Tristan Stubbs and Kyle Verreynne. South Africa's number three David Bedingham spoke about the relentless nature of Australia's attack, emphasizing the importance of taking Australian bowlers beyond 80, 100, and 120 overs.\n\nBedingham noted that while Australia's bowlers are essentially machines, everyone gets tired eventually. He added that if South Africa can be four or five runs down early, it might change the dynamics of the game. Meanwhile, Rabada is almost certain to play in the second Test, as the Proteas strive to avoid their first home series defeat since England toured in 2019-20.",
  "summary": "South Africa's batting failures in Durban lead to changes for second Test as Proteas set themselves to put more overs into Australia's pacemen in Gqeberha.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "SABC News",
        "title": "Rabada primed to bring the heat in second test, Wade warns Australia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/rabada-primed-to-bring-the-heat-in-second-test-wade-warns-australia",
        "published": "2026-10-16T07:30:56.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Maverick",
        "title": "RABADA RETURNS: Proteas make key tweaks for crucial second Test against Australia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/rabada-returns-proteas-make-key-tweaks-for-crucial-second-test",
        "published": "2026-10-16T09:54:54.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Citizen",
        "title": "Australia’s bowlers are ‘machines’, but Proteas batters are hungry to hit back, says Bedingham",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/australias-bowlers-are-machines-but-proteas-batters-are-hungry-to-hit",
        "published": "2026-10-16T15:56:01.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News",
        "title": "Proteas urged to wear down Australia's bowling machines in second Test",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/proteas-urged-to-wear-down-australias-bowling-machines-in-second-test",
        "published": "2026-10-16T19:53:35.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Sydney Morning Herald",
        "title": "Money talks: Why Australia can afford to have the oldest Test team since the 1920s",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/money-talks-why-australia-can-afford-to-have-the-oldest-test-team",
        "published": "2026-10-16T22:30:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Age",
        "title": "Money talks: Why Australia can afford to have the oldest Test team since the 1920s",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/money-talks-why-australia-can-afford-to-have-the-oldest-test-team-15060777",
        "published": "2026-10-16T22:30:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}