Live updates: South Africa vs Australia, second Test, day five from St George’s Park in Gqeberha

Marco Jansen was a pain in the neck for all Australia’s batters on day four, while we all know Marnus Labuschagne can cause a crick in the most sturdy of spines at the best of times – which these most definitely are not.

But it was the literal pain in the neck that felled Steve Smith on a tough day for Australia batters.

Here’s the quick hits from day four.

There’s no hiding it, but day four represented a low point in Australia’s recent Test batting history, bundled out for 99 and being asked to follow on for just the third time this century, before going on to lose four wickets in their second innings to put them on the cusp of defeat.

Here’s how it all went down.

In the history of Test cricket, just four sides have ever responded to the ignominy of being asked to follow on by coming back and winning the match.

Australia, in the 40 times they have been asked to do so, has never managed it.

They have, however, drawn 11 pf those matches and that surely is the only hope that the Aussies have on day five at St George’s Park.

Hello everyone and welcome to the final day of the second Test from Gqeberha, as Australia stares down the barrel.

My name is Simon Smale, Dean Bilton and Henry Hanson are with me and it’s safe to say that if we are to be still with you for the entirety of the next seven hours or so, we’re going to need a fightback of epic proportions from an Australian team that has wilted in the face of South Africa’s fast-bowling.

Travis Head is nearing a century but was streaky as Danish bacon at times, while Steve Smith has a literal pain in his neck and is likely to be under-strength as a result.

The Aussies still trail by 170 runs. The situation is bleak.

But stranger things than this have happened in Test cricket. I once saw Monty Panesar survive 35 balls alongside Jimmy Anderson in Cardiff save a Test.

And, with all the respect and love for Monty in the world, if he can survive that long, then Australia’s far more accomplished lower order batters can do their part too.