Marnus downed on the stroke of lunch | 01:51
Dane Heverin from Fox Sports activitiesOctober 10th, 2026 1:26 am
A combating partnership from Matt Renshaw (46*) and captain Pat Cummins (33*) saved Australia from embarrassment before bad light brought an early end to the opening day’s play of the primary Take a look at against South Africa in Durban at 3.22pm native time.
The tourists reached stumps, which have been known as at 3.58pm native time, at 6/187 with 65.2 overs bowled on day one as Australia’s latest batting woes once once more reared their ugly head following the shock name to pick Nic Maddinson ahead of teenager Cooper Connolly backfired.
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Renshaw and Cummins’ unbroken 63-run partnership ensured that Australia weren’t skittled too cheaply after Cummins received the toss and selected to bat on a floor that’s expected to spin because the match goes on.
MATCH CENTRE: Scorecard from the primary Take a look at
South Africa picked two tweakers in Keshav Mahraj and Simon Harmer, but their three quicks – Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder and Anrich Nortje – nabbed two wickets apiece because the Australians, who’ve been bowled out on day one six of the final seven occasions they have batted first in a Take a look at match, crumbled once more.
Travis Head was the primary to go, caught down the leg aspect on evaluate for 9.
Then his new opening accomplice – his third in as many Tests – fell 15 balls later for a painstaking 33-ball duck when he attempted to chop Jansen and chopped onto his personal stumps.
It was the third longest duck by a Take a look at opener ever and the second longest ever by an Australian – only eclipsed by Mike Whitney again in 1981.
Maddinson dealt 33-ball duck in return | 00:45
Former Australian leg spinner Kerry O’Keeffe even quipped on Fox Cricket that Maddinson really suffered a pair as he should have been out for a 15-ball duck with the hosts failing to evaluate an lbw shout off Mulder.
Maddinson, who had not performed a first-class match for 18 months resulting from a battle with testicular most cancers, endured the longest hole of any Australian between opportunities to don the saggy green as Australia has performed 90 Tests since he final featured within the 2016 Boxing Day Take a look at against Pakistan.
The wait will feel even longer when the 34-year-old tries to get off the mark within the second innings.
Australia appeared set to take the ascendancy into the lunch break, however, as Marnus Labuschagne (37) and Steve Smith (25) combined for a 60-run stand before Labuschagne was trapped lbw by Mulder on the final ball before lunch.
The pair’s intent to keep the rating board ticking over made for a gripping contest as they brought up their 13th 50-run stand in Take a look at cricket.
Labuschagne, who scored a century within the warm-up sport, struck six boundaries as he impressively clipped the quicks via the leg aspect, while Smith launched left-arm spinner Maharaj over long on and long off in the identical over to ensure the participant of the ODI collection didn’t settle into his groove.
In doing so, Smith overtook Steve Waugh (10,927) and moved into third place on Australia’s all-time Take a look at leading run scorers listing – behind Allan Border (11,174) and Ricky Ponting (13,378).
But the Proteas clawed again the momentum because the caterers have been plating up lunch.
Labuschagne shut up store, invited the pressure and he was unable to be saved on evaluate with umpire’s name for affect meaning the on discipline decision of out stood.
Maddinson exposes selectors ‘gamble’ | 01:18
Three balls after the break, the hosts turned the day on its head when Jansen discovered Smith’s outdoors edge after wrapping him on the gloves the previous supply.
The towering left-arm fast’s around the wicket ploy labored wonders as his further bounce created an uncomfortable angle for Smith – who was not given a very hostile reception by the Durban crowd in his first Take a look at in South Africa since Sandpapergate in 2018.
South Africa’s skill to land double blows was essential as Nortje removed Alex Carey (14) and Beau Webster (4) within the space of three balls to capitalise on a fiery spell within the middle session where the speed gun was repeatedly pushing above 145km/h.
Carey was caught within the slips, while Webster became the second Australian to be despatched packing caught behind on evaluate.
From then on, it was the Renshaw and Cummins show.
The previous surprisingly slid right down to No.5 with Maddinson taking the opening spot he had occupied upon his return to the Take a look at aspect in Mackay in August, but checked out home within the middle order – where he has been a success for Australia in white-ball cricket previously yr.
Renshaw struck only three boundaries on the primary day as he took 115 balls to compile his unbeaten tally of 46 with old style patience and a willingness to defend.
Cummins confirmed the identical spirit.
The skipper was hurried up by Nortje when he first came to the crease, but gutsed it out to ensure his group was not in a disastrous place heading into day two.
“Who’s going to open the 2nd innings!” | 00:27
Watch it stay: On Fox Cricket (channel 501), and streaming on Kayo, from 5.30pm (AEDT)
Australia: Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Matt Renshaw, Alex Carey (wk), Beau Webster, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
South Africa: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, David Bedingham, Temba Bavuma (c), Tristan Stubbs, Wiaan Mulder, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje.
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