South Africa succumbed to one of the worst collapses in recent Test history, ending on 55 all out before lunch on the opening day of the Cape Town New Year’s Test.

Subscribe to the Wisden Cricket YouTube channel for post-match analysis, player interviews, and much more.

It was Mohammed Siraj, and his swing-bowling masterclass, that led the way, giving India a dream opening session in their first assignment of 2024. It is now the lowest total against India in Tests.

Here’s how the collapse unfolded:

3.2 Aiden Markram c Yashasvi Jaiswal b Mohammed Siraj  2 (10)

Aiden Markram tries to poke at a length ball gradually seaming away. Soft hands, but a thick edge still flies off the bat towards the slip cordon. Yashasvi Jaiswal, at third slip, flies to his left to grab a sharp catch. “Just the perfect length”, says Ravi Shastri.

5.3 Dean Elgar b Mohammed Siraj 4 (15)

Dean Elgar, playing his final Test, gets a delivery angling away from him. He tries to cut it, but doesn’t factor in the subtle late movement. It cuts into him – Elgar, centurion in the last game, only manages to drag it onto his stumps, and looks up in disappointment.

8.3 Tristan Stubbs c Rohit Sharma b Jasprit Bumrah 3 (11)

Rohit’s ploy to stand at backward short-leg works. Tristan Stubbs, on Test debut, tries to fend away an angling Jasprit Bumrah delivery, but only manages to pop it to a helmeted Rohit, himself stationed at the position.

9.2 Tony de Zorzi c KL Rahul b Mohammed Siraj 2 (17)

Not exactly a magic ball. Siraj shapes one into Tony de Zorzi, but it drifts into his pads. The left-hander, slightly stifled, only manages to tickle it on its way, with wicketkeeper KL Rahul completing an easy offering.

15.2 David Bedingham c Yashasvi Jaiswal b Mohammed Siraj 12 (17)

Another peach! David Bedingham is lulled into the shot, but the extra lift surprises him. Siraj, rolling his fingers on the ball, manages to move the ball slightly away from him to get the nick. Jaiswal completes another catch in the slips.

15.5 Marco Jansen c KL Rahul b Mohammed Siraj 0 (3)

Siraj completes five with a beaut. Pitched on seam and slightly moving away, it compels Jansen to have a push at the delivery. He only manages a feather edge, offering an easy one to Rahul.

17.5 Kyle Verreynne c Shubman Gill b Mohammed Siraj 15 (30)

Slightly overpitched, but still in the batter’s range. Kyle Verreynne tries to go hard at it, but only manages a thick edge that flies to the slip cordon. A pumped-up Siraj celebrates with a punch in the air. “What’s happening here”, yells Sanjay Manjrekar.

19.6 Keshav Maharaj c Jasprit Bumrah b Mukesh Kumar 3 (13)

Mukesh joins the party. Keshav Maharaj, in search of some quick runs, tries to take on Mukesh, but ends up ballooning a pull shot straight to short midwicket. A dolly, really.

22.6 Nandre Burger c Yashasvi Jaiswal b Jasprit Bumrah 4 (11)

Jasprit Bumrah helps clean up the tail. Nandre Burger, no feet movement, tries to slash at a delivery outside off, but only manages to get a healthy edge that flies to Jaiswal (again) in the slips.

23.2 Kagiso Rabada c Shreyas Iyer b Mukesh Kumar 5 (13)

The slip cordon is in action again to end South Africa’s embarrassment. Kagiso Rabada goes after Mukesh Kumar, but the attempted shot flies behind where Shreyas Iyer completes a tumbling catch.

Related tags:

IndiaSouth Africa Series Editorial