WICKET!! Smith c Mulder b Jansen 25 (Australia 84/4)
The Proteas are now on a roll. A wicket with the last ball before lunch, and now Marco Jansen strikes with the first couple of balls after the interval.
And it’s the big one of Steve Smith, who is caught in the gully by that man Mulder, can’t keep him out of the game.
LUNCH: Australia 84/3 (Labuschagne 37, Smith 25*, Mulder 2/17, Jansen 1/15)
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Australia found the going tough against a disciplined Proteas attack in conditions offering enough assistance to keep the fast bowlers interested.
South Africa’s new-ball pair asked plenty of questions, and the pressure eventually told when Wiaan Mulder trapped Travis Head into edging behind before Marco Jansen removed returning opener Nic Maddinson for a painstaking 33-ball duck.
At 24/2, the Proteas were well on top and sensing a larger collapse. Their bowlers were relentless, with Jansen’s bounce and Anrich Nortje’s pace ensuring Australia never settled into a rhythm.
But Australia absorbed the pressure as Steve Smith (25*)and Marnus Labuschagne came to the rescue. The experienced pair weathered the storm, blunting South Africa’s attack with patience and composure while gradually rebuilding the innings as Smith took the attack to left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj with two sixes in one over.
Mulder, however, came roaring back for the Proteas by trapping Labuschagne (37) with the very last ball before the lunch interval to swing the momentum back in the home team’s favour.
The Proteas will feel much better at the break, knowing one more breakthrough before the ball softens could still expose the Australian middle order.
By: Zaahier Adams
6! 6!
Australia realise Keshav Maharaj is the dangerman for the Proteas, and the tourists’ leading batter Steve Smith is taking the attack to the left-arm spinner by striking him for two sixes in one over.
The Aussies are looking to shift gears with Smith and Marnus Labuschagne at the crease.
WICKET! Maddison b Jansen 0 (Australia 24/2)
Nic Maddison’s torturous return to Test cricket finally comes to an end. Marco Jansen rearranges his time and Maddison has to depart for a 33-ball duck!
WICKET! Head c Verreynne b Mulder 9 (Australia 17/1)
The Proteas decide to review this time after the ball brushes past Travis Head down the leg-side. The Aussie opener immediately points to his pocket, but Kyle Verreynne is not fazed, and advises captain Temba Bavuma to ask for the review.
Bavuma obliges, and the TV replays shows the ball has taken an edge through to Verryenne.
The Proteas have struck the first blow, and the Mulder experiment works.
REVIEW MISSED
The Wiaan Mulder experiement almost works out for the Proteas. Maddison is struck on the pads, and Mulder and the Proteas appeal vociferously.
Captain Temba Bavuma asks the men behind the stumps if height is an issue, and declines to ask for a review.
TV replays indicate that the Mulder’s delivery had pitched in line, and was going on to hit the stumps.
Early left off for the Aussies, and opportunity missed for the Proteas.
NEW BALL SURPRISE
Marco Jansen bowls the first ball of the series, and its a freebie down the leg-side for Australia to get underway with four byes as a sprawling Kyle Verreynne could not get a glove on it.
There is some swing away from the left-handed Maddison for Jansen, but its easily managed.
Proteas captain Temba Bavuma said at the toss that Anrich Nortje had been “bowling at the speed of light” in the nets, but instead its Wiaan Mulder that takes the new ball from the Umgeni End.
For a country that has produced some of the most menacing fast bowlers in the world, its a huge surprise to Mulder and his medium-pacers taking the new ball in the first home Test of the summer.
Is KG Rabada’s absence already being felt?
TOSS: Australia win the toss and opt to bat first
Australia skipper Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bat first under scorching skies in the opening Test of the Test Series against South Africa at Kingsmead Stadium on Friday.
Despite a visible green tinge across the pitch on a hot Durban morning, the visiting side opted to set a first-innings total, taking on South Africa’s bowling unit early on day one.
The clash marks a highly anticipated return to South African soil for Australia, who are looking to avenge their recent defeat in last year’s World Test Championship final. Cummins acknowledged the history between the two sides while confirming a key change in the Australian line-up due to injury.
“They got the better of us a year ago in the Test Championship,” said Cummins at the toss.
“We haven’t been here in South Africa for a while, but we’re pretty excited. Cameron Green is injured so Nic Maddinson comes back in — he’s really settled where his game’s at. There’s been a bit of a lull the last six months and we can’t wait to get started.”
For South Africa, captain Temba Bavuma was comfortable taking the ball first, looking to capitalise on early morning movement generated by the grassy surface before the pitch bakes under the sun.
“Looks a nice wicket, but we’ll try to exploit whatever moisture is there,” Bavuma noted. “I think with our bowling attack, our twin spinners have added an extra dimension to our bowling attack, so if the conditions suit them, they can come into the game.”
With the surface offering early encouragement for the seamers and twin spinners waiting in the wings for the home side, Australia’s openers face a crucial opening session as the first Test of the series gets under way.
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.
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.
