A vintage display from Steve Smith in the slips cordon and a fine performance from Australia’s esteemed bowling attack furthered the tourists’ ascendancy on day three of the first Test against South Africa in Durban.
Record-breaking quartet put Australia in full control against South Africa
Australia 390 & 33-0; South Africa 284
Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins and Lyon share nine wickets
As a fractured news environment demonstrates, observations can be made from just about any perspective. One view of Australia’s Test team could focus on age, with the principal bowlers all having more than 33 years to their names. Another could focus on them all having more than 300 wickets.
At the first Test in Durban, an unprecedented achievement by Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon is continuing, one that they began in Mackay two months ago: being the only quartet in history to walk on to Test fields as members of the 300 club. By the end of day three they had taken another nine, South Africa bowled out for 284, trailing by 139 runs by the time bad light stopped play with Australia 33 without loss.
Continue reading...‘Oh my god, Smudge’: Smith’s ridiculous catch sparks disbelief as Aussie breaks Test record
Steve Smith has been on fire in the field for Australia, producing three of the best catches you will ever see.
Aussie young gun’s stunning 131 seals ODI series win as Bangladesh star makes history
Georgia Voll has smashed an unbeaten century as Australia continued their dominance over Bangladesh with a nine-wicket victory in the second day/night ODI.
Under-fire Aussie’s bright start as lead grows after Smith’s freakish ‘out of this world’ acts
Nic Maddinson (17*) and Travis Head (10*) made a bright start with the bat, but bad light once again halted Australia’s charge on day three of the first Test in Durban.
Heroic act despite torn hamstring seals thriller; reigning champs’ brutal statement – Shield Wrap
A WA batter has defied a hamstring injury to prove the hero in an epic finish to seal a thrilling comeback; while South Australia started their Sheffield Shield title defence in brutal fashion.
Moment we’ve been ‘crying out for’… and how it exposed Bazball’s most enduring ‘cop out’
When Simon Katich walked into Kingsmead Stadium on Friday, he was swift to pull his mobile phone out to capture a monument to one of his fondest memories as a cricketer.
Matt Renshaw’s epic 190 helps Australia turn tables on South Africa in Durban
Renshaw’s century was his first in Tests for nine years
Lyon helps build second-highest ninth-wicket partnership
If the choice to ask Nic Maddinson to open in Durban was a bust, the upside for Australia was that it pushed Matthew Renshaw down to number five. From there, the Queenslander returned from 10 years on the periphery to the centre of the spotlight in the first Test against South Africa, with an innings of 190 that saved Australia from peril, settled them into stability, then lifted them to dominance.
Staunch support from the lower order was the other part of the equation, as Renshaw batted through two extended sessions until he was last man out, just after tea, with Australia’s 390 followed by South Africa’s 27 for one before stumps.
Continue reading...Where monster ton ranks among Aussie epics as ‘bullseye’ sparks new selection dilemma
Matt Renshaw’s marathon century put Australia ahead of the game on a remarkable second day’s play in the first Test against South Africa in Durban.
‘His moment’: Renshaw’s decade-long Test journey comes full circle with epic redemption
In the third coming of Matthew Renshaw as a Test cricketer, the versatile batter demonstrated the importance of resilience and perseverance with a critical century against South Africa that could yet swing the series Australia’s way.
Records shattered as marathon century, wild stand inspire Aussie ‘recovery for the ages’
Matt Renshaw’s incredible 190 lifted Australia to a position of strength on day two of the first Test in Durban with the tourists bowled for 390 from 137.2 overs before bad light stopped play with South Africa 1/27.
‘Franchise cricket isn’t as rewarding’: Jonathan Trott on Lions pride and England ambitions
Former Test batter and Afghanistan coach is taking the Lions abroad and is telling his players to ‘be smart’
Jonathan Trott pretty much entered Ashes folklore from the outset, scoring a series-winning century on his Test debut at the Oval back in 2009. Less spoken about, but just as relevant to the latest move in his upwardly mobile coaching career, is the first time he pulled on an England shirt two years earlier.
Drafted into the Twenty20 side for a low-key home series against West Indies, Trott knew only Ian Bell from Warwickshire and, out of his comfort zone, walked away with scores of nine and two. The difference two years on? Playing cricket in the finishing school of the Lions setup that he has recently taken charge of.
Continue reading...Major selection headache looms after Aussie bombshell. One man might have to pay the price
There was a silver lining to Australia’s shock decision to recall Nic Maddinson and promote him to the top of the order for the first Test against South Africa.
‘Throwing darts’: Great rips Aus selection gamble as image exposes glaring cricket problem
Australia’s latest selection gamble has come under fire after another shaky batting display against South Africa, with Pat Cummins’ call to embrace the “grind” again put to the test.
Captain Cummins leads vital fightback as all too familiar Aussie tale rears ugly head
A fighting 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 first Test against South Africa in Durban at 3.22pm local time.