The twists and turns of this series have not been subtle. The first two Tests went from a 214-run victory for Australia to an-innings-and-31-run victory for South Africa. On the opening day of the decider in Cape Town there was a monumental swing in the space of just a few hours.
Australia were on the canvas. Aiden Markram and Marques Ackerman's opening stand stood at 158 in the 32nd over. The new ball was sprayed around, Travis Head had dropped a simple catch at cover before lunch, Nathan Lyon a much tougher one off his own bowling in the first over after the break. Pat Cummins' decision to bowl was looking like it would rank alongside Nasser Hussain at the Gabba and Ricky Ponting at Edgbaston.
At lunch, with the score reading 140 without loss from 27 overs, one Australian radio station opened their phonelines and there were some lively views on the state of the game. Those that went to bed shortly after will have woken to a rather different picture after a combination of spinners, the short ball and Mitchell Starc's new-ball swing induced two South Africa collapses: 5 for 29 and 4 for 2.
A rush of blood from Ackerman when in sight of his century opened the door for Australia. He had been keen to take on Lyon (and, well, all the bowlers) and had earlier swiped him over deep midwicket for six. But Lyon, back in the side at the expense of Scott Boland, kept his eyes on his feet and fired the ball wider.
Lyon had been brought on in the 11th over, a sign that Australia's initial plans had gone awry. But his craft was on full display when he defeated Temba Bavuma on the outside edge to take his off stump. Three times in the series Bavuma has fallen to offspin. He was out reverse sweeping Lyon at Kingsmead then gave a bat-pad chance to short leg off Matt Renshaw in the second innings. Between those he made what could still prove a series-defining 179. A single player's fortunes have swung like the series.
"[He was] clearly disappointed last week but raring to go this week," Starc said. "I think he was ready to get on that bus at about six o'clock this morning. He was fantastic today. He controlled that end for us throughout his spells today, got a few rewards, that ball to Bavuma. The Nathan Lyon we know and that's what helps this bowling attack tick."
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Bavuma's wicket had followed that of Markram, top edging Josh Hazlewood to long leg where Starc took a brilliant catch as the home side's wobble set in. Hazlewood would later repay the favour off Starc with a perfectly judged boundary parry to remove David Bedingham.
Amid all the talk of Australia's big three quicks, one point that sometimes gets overlooked is how superb they remain in the field. Both Starc and Hazlewood's catches were fantastic pieces of skill and athleticism for players who hurl themselves into the crease ball after ball. They were moments of inspiration that Australia were desperate for.
Their catches came as South Africa took on Australia's well-telegraphed short-ball ploy. It was reminiscent of how England refused to duck or swerve during the 2023 Lord's Test. Starc benefited twice in three balls when Wiaan Mulder flapped at a bouncer to leave South Africa 232 for 6. Such was the effectiveness of the plan at that stage that the new batter, Marco Jansen, was greeted without a single slip - an unusual sight on the opening day of a Test when a side has been put into bat.
"It's in the kit bag for us," Starc said of the short ball. "Obviously Pat being a bowling captain as well, there's a lot of discussions as we go through spells and that sort of thing. We clearly had to start trying a few different things. It wasn't our best stuff in the first two hours. There wasn't that sideways movement and swing that we thought, or that pace and carry. To try something different obviously brought about a few breakthroughs. From time to time through certain games, through certain conditions, that's what we can go into."
However, the tactic was not as effective to Jansen who has messed with Australia's lengths since getting a bail-trimmer from Hazlewood in the second innings in Durban. He counterattacked at St George's Park and was threatening something similar this time as he and Ryan Rickelton added 95.
Then came Starc armed with the second new ball. A few minutes earlier, coach Andrew McDonald had been picking it from the box carried by the fourth umpire. He clearly made a good choice. This one swung.
Two booming full away swingers trapped Rickelton and Kagiso Rabada, between which Jansen was yorked and Gerald Coetzee bowled off his pads. The timing of Rabada's lbw, coupled with a brief visit by the physio to see Starc, meant Australia did not have to come out to bat for an over. Amid it all, Cummins now has figures of 0 for 169 from 44 across his last two innings.
"It's two good cricket teams playing some hard-fought cricket," Starc said of the vast changes in momentum. "At times it's going to get away from the other. At times you're going to wrestle the momentum back, which we did today in the second half of the day. I dare say I'd expect some other certain swings through the Test match. We now have to go and bat and there a very good attack."
There's always hope that a series decider of this status lives up its billing. The opening day did not disappoint. What lies ahead is an enthralling prospect.