Australia vs South Africa 3rd Test: 5 talking points

A fantastic series had an anti-climax as Australia managed to stop the Proteas juggernaut to churn out a seven-wicket victory in the day-night Test at Adelaide. The series was gone and lost but they managed to save face with a victory to make the series scoreline more pleasing to the eye at 2-1.

While the series was all about how the Proteas turned up, without their captain and strike bowler, and trumped Aussies on their home turf, Adelaide was all about Aussie seamers establishing their authority over the South African batsman and Usman Khawaja, who played a brilliant innings to win the Man of the Match.

Australia surprised themselves with this performance, least expected after their debacle at Perth and Hobart, but it seems like they had found the balanced side this time around. The debutants, Renshaw and Handscomb, had a brilliant outing and is set to get more chances this summer while Maddinson, the third debutant barely got a chance to showcase his talents after Rabada gave him a great welcome to International Cricket. 

Here are the talking points from the day-night Test at Adelaide.

---

#5 Australia make the ball talk

Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood were spot on in the first two Tests, but did not find the pressure building from either side unless they were bowling in tandem. In Jackson Bird, they found an able first change bowler, who was tight and created doubts in the mind of the batsmen.

Starc revelled with pace and swing and Hazlewood let rip with seam movement, akin to Philander, at a greater pace. Even South Africa's most experienced batsman, Hashim Amla had no answers to Hazlewood and was dismissed by him 5 times in the series.

Lyon also came to the party at Adelaide, troubling de Kock, who had tormented him right through the series. He found the sharp turn and flight late in the evening on Day 3 and made it count by pricing out 3 wickets.