Key events
45th over: Australia 127-6 (Renshaw 19, Cummins 0) This is good from Harmer. The drift and turn away from him means Renshaw needs to hit against the spin if he wants to milk a single. Once he’s beaten on the outside edge. Can Harmer keep him on strike so Cummins faces Nortje. No, Renshaw drops and runs and takes on Bavuma, who does well to fire the ball back to the keeper’s end, but Cummins was quicker and gets in safe. A direct hit might have been interesting.
44th over: Australia 126-6 (Renshaw 18, Cummins 0) Nortje from round the wicket into Renshaw finds a thick outside edge, but it’s played with very soft hands so lands well short of the cordon. Renshaw then drops and runs. Not sure his skipper will be pleased with that. He has two balls to navigate here against uber quick bowling. Cummins back away, almost taking out the square leg umpire, but manages to get his bat down in time to keep it out. Even elite cricketers show fear at times! He backs away again, meeting it with an inside edge that thwacks his pads. But he survives.
Gary Naylor writes in:
Hi Daniel. I saw the first hour, which was pretty ordinary, Marco Jansen and Wiaan Mulder not finding a consistent line and Maddinson looking unsure as to which end of the bat to hold. Tuning in later (do people still say that?) it’s been marvellous stuff, Carey and Renshaw fighting hard, but this bowling is superb. Sure there’s a bit in the surface, but lines, lengths and seam position are perfect. as is the hard, professional aura that clings to every Saffer.
Well, as a Saffer myself, I couldn’t agree more with the above.
43rd over: Australia 125-6 (Renshaw 17, Cummins 0) Harmer needs to hold a tight line as Nortje causes chaos at the other end. He does so. Renshaw takes a single off the first ball which gives Harmer five to new man Cummins. He’s mixing up his pace and the flight, and even the angle as he closes the set by going over the wicket. Cummins keeps him out.
WICKET! Webster c Verreynne b Nortje 4 (Australia 124-6)
Ultra edge spikes and that’s a double for the big quick! Wow, what a comeback! Three years out of the team he has bagged two wickets in three balls to leave Australia reeling. The ball before was on Webster’s pads and was clipped to the boundary. The second was outside the off stump and slightly shorter. Webster wasn’t in position to play it and the tame prod caught the merest of edges. Verrynne was convinced so Bavuma went upstairs and was vindicated.
42nd over: Australia 124-6 (Renshaw 16, Cummins 0)
Has Nortje bagged a second in the over?
The South Africans are convinced. The umpire is not so Webster, the new man, holds his breath as Bavuma reviews…
WICKET! Carey c Markram b Nortje 14 (Australia 120-4)
Nortje deserves this! Brilliant, brilliant pace bowling. The classic combo of banging in some bouncers before sending in the fuller one. Carey doesn’t move his feet as he prods at it. Nortje, from over the wicket across the left-hander, moves it just enough at serious pace, and it flies off the edge to Markram who makes a sharp catch look routine at second slip.
41st over: Australia 120-4 (Renshaw 16, Carey 14) Harmer has settled into a nice rhythm here against the lef-handers. There’s a shout for lbw against Renshaw but it was sliding down leg on the angle from round the wicket. He’s targeting the stumps, hoping to get one to rag back to the top of off, but Renshaw is watchful. Just one run off that over, a driven single down the ground from Carey.
40th over: Australia 119-4 (Renshaw 16, Carey 13) Nortje from round the wicket into the left-hander digs one in and turns Renshaw into an S. File that under R for ripsnorter. The next one is also dug in but this time Renshaw ducks. What will the follow up be? It’s a gem. Fuller around fourth stump, it just about misses the prodding edge. There’s another nasty bouncer before a wayward one that’s called wide, but that was brilliant fast bowling.
39th over: Australia 118-4 (Renshaw 1pm 6, Carey 13) Harmer brings his length back a touch as he tries to avoid being swept. Renshaw adds three runs to his tally, first with a two flicked off his legs and then with a single down to deep cover.
Thanks Martin.
Hi everyone, I’ll be your guide to the close.
Is this delicately poised? Like all hours of cricket, this one has the potential to be a big one.
Harmer to continue against the just about settled pair.
Martin Pegan
That’s drinks in the middle session as Australia slowly rebuild after losing Steve Smith from the third ball after lunch. Daniel Gallen is in the hot seat and ready to guide us through the second half of the day. Thanks a lot for following along so far and enjoy the rest of the day’s play …
38th over: Australia 115-4 (Renshaw 13, Carey 13) Carey swings hard at a fuller ball from Nortje and is fortunate not to have connected. But he makes amends with the next ball to pick up two runs behind point.
Australia might working their way back off the ropes in Durban. But in Queensland their women’s team has sealed a commanding victory in an ODI against Bangladesh. Phoebe Litchfield smashed 77 off 57 deliveries as Australia raced to the 167-run target set by Bangladesh.
37th over: Australia 113-4 (Renshaw 13, Carey 11) Simon Harmer is called into the attack for the first time today. Australia will be happy to have two of their better players against spin now at the crease. Renshaw immediately sweeps a fuller delivery fine and to the rope. Then has his heart in his mouth as he takes a big stride forward to sweep again. The ball crashes into the front pad and Verreynne leads the appeals. But South Africa are down to their last review and decide not to risk losing it now.
36th over: Australia 107-4 (Renshaw 7, Carey 11) Nortje continues around the wicket. Carey nudges the ball on the off side and sets off for a quick single. He has to dive to make his ground as the throw narrowly missed the stumps. But he looked home.
35th over: Australia 105-4 (Renshaw 6, Carey 10) Australia bring up their 100 with back-to-back singles to Carey then Renshaw. But it has cost the tourists four wickets even after winning the toss and electing to bat. Carey picks off Jansen with one of the shots of the day so far as he leans into a straight drive and hammers the ball to the rope.
34th over: Australia 98-4 (Renshaw 5, Carey 4) Nortje takes over from Mulder and starts around the wicket to Carey. The keeper-batter punches a fuller ball straight down for three. Nortje responds by asking Renshaw a few questions with the ball rising from the back of a length.
33rd over: Australia 95-4 (Renshaw 5, Carey 1) Jansen digs in a shorter ball and Renshaw has to rise up on to his toes to try to keep the ball down. The batter is forced to find away with his head down as the ball clips something on the way through to the keeper. South Africa appeal and are so confident they ask for a review. But replays show the ball brushed the arm guard and the Proteas have one review left. Maiden over.
32nd over: Australia 95-4 (Renshaw 5, Carey 1) Mulder comes around the wicket to Carey and somehow the keeper survives. He slashes at a barely wide delivery outside off-stump and the inside edge carries the ball past the leg-stump and just short of leg slip. A huge let off for Carey and South Africa are tightening the screw.
31st over: Australia 95-4 (Renshaw 5, Carey 1) Renshaw clips two behind square as Jansen gets the ball to rise out of the pitch. Well played from the Australian who is settling well.
30th over: Australia 93-4 (Renshaw 3, Carey 1) Renshaw knuckles down to see off Mulder before taking a leg bye off the thigh pad.
29th over: Australia 92-4 (Renshaw 3, Carey 1) Jansen angles the ball into Carey but it flicks off the thigh pad and races away to the fine leg boundary. The keeper plays with a watchful eye from there as Australia start on the long road to rebuilding their innings… again.
Claire Montgomery has been in touch to ask how to sign up for the Spin.
James Wallace penned the latest edition of the free weekly cricket newsletter, where he noted Faf du Plessis said “It doesn’t look like proper cricket” as Canada’s Super60 tournament raised a few eyebrows.
Have you heard about Schrödinger’s six? When a cricket ball has spawned off the edge of the bat and flown all of 35 metres, is that really a six at all? How about when it comes in a hulking yet virtually empty 50,000-seater stadium in Canada, the ball smashed into the empty stands and kerplunking down the vast swathes of unpopulated seats to be retrieved by a clinically unbothered fielder?
Sign up for more of the same from the Spin …
28th over: Australia 88-4 (Renshaw 3, Carey 1) Mulder was the pick of the South Africa bowlers in the first session and gets his chance again with a pair of fresh batters at the crease. The seamer keeps targeting the stumps but Renshaw glances to fine leg for two then adds a single to mid-on. Carey gets off the mark with one to fine leg.
27th over: Australia 84-4 (Renshaw 0, Carey 0) Marco Jansen gets the crucial wicket of Steve Smith to put South Africa right on top. The tall left-arm quick had the ball rising up into Smith’s ribcage when coming over the wicket and perhaps rattled the batter with a blow to the hand before dismissing him next ball. Carey comes in at No 6 and Jansen almost has him out first ball. The fuller delivery smacks into Carey’s pad but was tracking down leg and South Africa hardly consider the review.
WICKET! Smith c Mulder b Jansen 25 (Australia 84-4)
Jansen angles the ball into Smith and a straight bat defence can only find an edge. Mulder is back in the action as he grasps the simple chance at gully. That’s two wickets in four balls either side of lunch to turn the game on its head.
Matt Renshaw is in the middle at Kingsmead Cricket Ground with Steve Smith taking strike and Marco Jansen ready to bowl to over the wicket. Here we go …
There seems to be plenty of interest in Australia’s return to South Africa, at least based on the messages landing in my inbox. I enjoyed this one from Ettiene Terblanche:
“I’m in Jhb where it is probably as hot as, but less humid than, Durban. What a pleasure to have Test cricket on in this glorious summer. Thanks for the coverage … not everyone is allowed to stream telly while they’re working. I’m sad that Kingsmead is relatively poorly attended. Durban has had a rough 24 hours, but I think the future of test cricket is tenuous in RSA. The public needs re-education on the niceties of the longform game. Libraries and long rooms seem to be suffering similar fates, eh?:
On a more positive not for batters, Steve Smith has overtaken Steve Waugh for the third most runs by an Australian in Tests. Smith has amassed 10,945 runs in 126 Tests and would surely love to reach a 38th century on his return to South Africa.
Nic Maddinson looked shaky during his shock Test return as he survived an early shout for lbw when South Africa chose not to call for a review. He was finally dismissed when chopping on when still yet to score after facing 33 deliveries – now Australia’s longest innings for a duck by an opener on record.
Lunch: Australia 84-3
The first session of Australia’s first Test in South Africa for eight years might not have had the fireworks of their last tour. But the contest has quietly lived up to the hype. South Africa struck early to dismiss Travis Head for nine and contained the recalled Nic Maddinson to a duck from 33 deliveries. Marnus Labuschagne (37) and Steve Smith (25 not out) worked hard to rebuild the innings with a 60-run stand before that came to an end as the impressive Wiaan Mulder (17 for 2) struck with the last ball before lunch. South Africa take the session on points – even if I was about to say the opposite before that last wicket flips the script just enough.
WICKET! Labuschagne lbw b Mulder 37 (Australia 84-3)
Mulder angles the ball into Labuschagne and Australia’s No 3 plays around the ball. The umpire is quick to raise the finger and an unusually reluctant Labuschagne asks for a review. The ball passes painfully close to the inside edge without touching the bat on the way through to the pads. Replays show the ball strikes the pads barely in line with the stumps as it goes to umpire’s call. And Labuschagne is gone from the last ball before lunch. He was looking good too.
25th over: Australia 84-2 (Labuschagne 37, Smith 25) Labuschagne and Smith keep the strike turning over with five consecutive singles before a dot ball. The pick of the bunch comes from Labuschagne as he leans back and cuts to the sweeper. Maharaj takes time to reset the field but South Africa will squeeze in one more over before lunch.
24th over: Australia 79-2 (Labuschagne 34, Smith 23) Labuschagne pushes his luck as he leaves a straighter delivery from Mulder. But he is showing promising signs as he steps across his stumps to clip a fuller ball from off-stump down to fine leg.
23rd over: Australia 78-2 (Labuschagne 33, Smith 23) Smith has taken a liking to Maharaj and eases a fuller delivery to fine leg for two, then punches through cover for a comfortable single. Labuschagne immediately adds a single through cover and there are few signs of the No 3 getting bogged down as he has so often against top quality bowling in recent years.
Guy Hornsby is another signed up member of the Anrich Nortje fan club. I suspect the South African quick has won a few more admirers today.
“It’s a wonderful sight seeing Anrich Nortje running into the crease in whites again, Martin. He’s looked the most controlled of the quick bowlers this morning, and is up and around 150kph too. Well, it’s wonderful if you’re not batting. I dream of Rabada bowling in tandem with him this series. I hope both their bodies hold together this winter, even if that means they’ll be facing England soon enough.”
22nd over: Australia 74-2 (Labuschagne 32, Smith 20) Mulder replaces Nortje and immediately pitches the ball up more to Smith. The Australia No 4 picks up a single to square leg that also brings up the 50-run partnership with Labuschagne.
21st over: Australia 72-2 (Labuschagne 32, Smith 19) Maharaj bounces back after going for a pair of sixes as he tosses the ball up to Smith and gives up a single to mid-off. Labuschagne is beaten in flight then swings hard at the next delivery. The power in the latter stroke perhaps saves the No 3 as a thick edge sails wide of first slip and just reaches the rope ahead of the fielder.
20th over: Australia 67-2 (Labuschagne 28, Smith 18) Labuschagne helps a straight ball from Nortje on its way with a glance to the fine leg rope. Hit and run from Labuschagne as he whips the ball to Bavuma at mid-wicket then scampers through for a quick single. The South Africa skipper hits the stumps but Australia’s No 3 was well inside his crease. Labuschagne ends the over with another boundary from a straighter delivery as he clips the ball behind square.
19th over: Australia 57-2 (Labuschagne 25, Smith 17) SIX! Smith steps forward and clobbers Maharaj over long-on. There was hardly any backlift as that was a show of strength. Smith targets Maharaj again as he waits for the ball to arrive then unleashes a huge hit into the stand beyond long-off. The Australians might target the left-arm spinner with South Africa naming only the three quicks.
18th over: Australia 45-2 (Labuschagne 19, Smith 5) Nortje continues and Labuschagne immediately turns over the strike with a flick off the pads to deep fine leg. Smith digs out a yorker directed at his heels to pick up a single to mid-on. Australia’s runs trickling in better since the drinks break.
17th over: Australia 43-2 (Labuschagne 18, Smith 4) South Africa turn to spin with Keshav Maharaj thrown the ball. Jansen was showing signs of fatigue after eight overs and the hosts have few other options with two specialist spinners in the side. Maharaj gives the ball plenty of flight that allows Smith to take two to deep point and a single behind square. Labuschagne picks up one when easing the ball to mid-off.
16th over: Australia 39-2 (Labuschagne 17, Smith 1) Nortje avoids the much feared live blogger’s curse with a ripping over. Labuschagne is right in the contest as he exaggerates each leave. But he is forced to defend a short, straighter delivery that somehow completely misses his bat. Maiden.
I have always been a fan of Anrich Nortje and found him to be one of the more pleasant, down to earth cricketers when I met him a few years ago during the T20 World Cup. Can bowl too! As he’s reminding Australia today.
Eamonn Maloney has some similar sentiments: “Last I saw Anrich Nortje he looked like white lightening reincarnated, any reason you wouldn’t open with him rather than a 130kph trundler with a shaky top order? No matter, they’re shaky enough to get themselves out.”
