Australia left-armer Mitchell Starc, who took three of South Africa's five second-innings wickets, told cricket.com.au they tried almost everything with the ball to dislodge the South African opener as he took full advantage of the best batting conditions in the second half of the match.

Steve Smith led an Australia fightback to put the defending champions on 190-5 at tea on the opening day of the World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord’s on Wednesday.Smith scored 66 before being dismissed by part-time spinner Aiden Markram and featured in a 79-run fifth wicket partnership with Beau Webster as Australia steadied their innings after South Africa had taken four wickets before lunch.

South Africa’s path to Lord’s has been criticised by some, but, as Harry Latham-Coyle writes, the imperfect World Test Championship final against Australia brings a chance to rejuvenate a format under

Cummins also backed 38-year-old opener Usman Khawaja to rediscover his best after a challenging six months in seaming conditions in Australia (against India) and at Lord's (in the WTC final) either of his take down of Sri Lanka's spinners in Galle.

Assistant coach Daniel Vettori insists Australia have not given up hope of retaining their World Test Championship crown after South Africa finished the third day at Lord's in a commanding position.