Former Australia captain Allan Border said on Fox Sports’ coverage, “There’s too much variation in the bowlers’ favour,” rating the pitch a “three out of 10”.
Australia’s spinner Nathan Lyon was more charitable.
“The wicket, maybe everyone is saying it’s probably too many but it just shows the quality of the bowlers who are running out here,” he said.
It was only Australia’s second Test win in two days, the other being nearly a century earlier when the hosts defeated the West Indies at the Melbourne Cricket Ground during the 1930/31 series.
Australia’s batsmen handled the conditions a little better, with Travis Head being named player of the match, hitting a blistering 92 before the hosts were bowled out for 218 in their first innings before lunch.
Head rated it as one of the most challenging innings he had played.
“The (Australia) bowlers did an incredible job to keep the chase short,” said Head, who was caught for a duck in the second innings.
Australia had South Africa three for two at lunch, then 66 for seven at tea on the second day, with only Temba Bavuma (29) and Khaya Zondo able to put up resistance.
The pair put on a 42-run partnership before Lyon trapped Bavuma lbw.
Zondo opened the batting with an unbeaten 36 after being run out by the partners.
Australia’s third seamer Scott Boland hastened the defeat of the Proteas by dismissing wicket-keeper Kyle Verreynne and all-rounder Marco Jansen for a three-ball duck.
South Africa have to wonder what could have happened had they given Australia 50 more runs to chase.
As it was, he dealt another blow to Australia’s struggling opener David Warner’s confidence ahead of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, with Rabada caught at slip for three after dismissing him for a duck on the first day.