South Africa's first home Test since winning the 2025 World Test Championship began on a positive note at Durban's Kingsmead cricket ground. The Proteas, without key bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi, welcomed back Anrich Nortje to the Test team after a three-year absence. Nortje made an immediate impact, zipping the ball in at speeds of around 145km/h despite his match rustiness. His efforts reduced Australia to 124-6, with the scalps of wicketkeeper Alex Carey and seventh man Beau Webster.
The Proteas started the lengthy home Test summer by hastily reducing the Australians to 24 for two after dismissing openers Travis Head and Nic Maddinson. Marco Jansen and Wiaan Mulder opened the bowling, with Mulder sending Head packing for just nine from 19 balls. Maddinson survived an early leg before wicket (LBW) shout from Mulder but was later dismissed for a duck after a successful review by the Proteas.
Maddinson's stay at the crease was brief, lasting only 33 balls in his first Test appearance for the Baggy Greens in a decade. He was called up to Australia's Test squad after Josh Inglis withdrew with a fractured right finger, and Cameron Green was ruled out with an abdominal strain. The 34-year-old recently recovered from testicular cancer and played his first cricket match in September since successfully undergoing treatment.
The Proteas maintained their upward trajectory with the ball when they landed double blows on Australia's batting lineup with the wickets of Marnus Labuschagne just before lunch and Steve Smith just after lunch time. Mulder was responsible for the dismissal of Labuschagne, trapping him LBW for 37 runs. Smith followed his partner for 25 off 53 balls in his first Test match in South Africa since playing a starring role in the 2018 Sandpapergate saga.
After the exits of Carey and Webster courtesy of Nortje, the Baggy Greens mounted a fight-back through captain Pat Cummins and Matt Renshaw. When bad light stopped play just under two hours before the scheduled conclusion, the pair had put together a 63-run stand to drag their country to 187 for six. Renshaw was the primary aggressor in this, with 46 runs to Cummins' 33.
Proteas Test batting coach Ashwell Prince expressed confidence in the team's bowling combination, stating that they have multiple options to take 20 wickets. The team will look to pick off the rest of the Aussie batting line-up when play resumes on Saturday. The Proteas will be desperate to snap the partnership between Cummins and Renshaw, with the hopes that they can then quickly skittle the rest of Australia's batting lineup.
The first Test match between South Africa and Australia has gotten off to an exciting start, with both teams looking to make a strong statement. The Proteas will look to build on their momentum, while Australia will aim to regroup and push for a strong finish. The match is expected to be a closely contested encounter, with both teams having a lot to prove.
Key points
- Anrich Nortje's return to Test cricket after a three-year absence has been impressive, with the paceman taking 2-40.
- The Proteas reduced Australia to 124-6 before the visitors fought back with an unbeaten 63-run stand between Pat Cummins and Matt Renshaw.
- The match is expected to resume on Saturday, with the Proteas looking to snap the partnership between Cummins and Renshaw.
