AUSTRALIA TOUR SA
Zaahier Adams|Published
Among the many aspects of Test cricket that make it the unique game that it is, one is that the true value of a side's first-innings total cannot be known until the other team has batted.
It is this hope that the Proteas will carry into the third day of this heavily rain-affected second Test at St George's Park.
For now, at 97/5, compiled across 43 overs spread across two days, the feeling will overwhelmingly be that it is not quite enough.
They will hope to add a few more on the third morning, particularly with captain Temba Bavuma still unbeaten on 41 at the crease, but they will also hope that the surface, which has significantly assisted the Australian bowlers, continues to play in this manner for the remainder of the Test.
"We still have to bowl as well. The ball is moving around and I think the ball will move around as the Test match goes on," Proteas batting coach Ashwell Prince said when asked whether the Test, and subsequently the series, was already out of reach.
"There's already some divots out there. Obviously, weather conditions before the match, plus during the match, with moisture, rain, pitch may be starting out a bit softer than usual. So, there are divots already developing on the surface.
"If the sun comes out, that might firm up and the ball might move around a little bit faster, maybe. We don't know. So, we say you can only tell what the pitch does until both teams are batted."
While Scott Boland (4/31) undeniably bowled superbly, exploiting the seamer-friendly conditions to perfection, the three Proteas wickets to fall on Monday were also the result of batters playing loosely away from their bodies.
Debutant Marques Ackerman was caught behind after going hard at a fullish Boland delivery before Matthew Breetzke appeared stuck in one-day mode as he too was caught behind, flashing loosely outside off stump.
Ryan Rickelton was also guilty of hanging his bat out in the corridor of uncertainty when shouldering arms would have been the preferred option.
It was only Bavuma who showed the necessary temperament and application, providing a copybook example for the remainder of the Proteas batting line-up to follow.
"Tough conditions today and yesterday. Leaving the ball is important. And Temba has done that really well," Prince said.
"I think where Temba has played really well today, you know, getting into the 40s is, you know, I see a lot going on on TV in terms of analysis, obviously, breaking things down.
"But I think a big part and a big positive in Temba's play today was decision-making. You know, there tends to be a lot of discussion about technique and technical things. But I think decision-making so far from him was exceptional.
"At the moment, the skipper's out there digging deep, standing up, long way to continue tomorrow. And hopefully you'll have a few partners digging in with him. And that's why we love this format."