The wicket is so green that it is difficult to distinguish it from the field. Not just the one filled with grass. The bounce is also a bit uneven. South Africa was all out in both sessions on the first day, and Australia also lost 5 wickets later. But Auji Batter Head’s innings are exceptional and special.
Even before the start of the series, the atmosphere was that the fight was about the pace of attack of the two teams. On the first day itself, it was visible on the auxiliary wicket. South Africa was bowled out for 152 runs on the first day of the Brisbane Test. Australia’s run at the end of the day was 145 for 5.
Australia’s three pacers Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Scott Boland crushed the top and middle order of the Proteas. Starc’s number of Test victims stands at 299 with three wickets. Later, Nathan Lyon also joined them. The experienced off-spinner took three wickets on this wicket too. This includes the wicket of South Africa’s top scorer Kyle Verreiner (64).
Later, the Protea pacers also tested the Australian batting. But the in-form Travis Head once again showed his class. His innings of 13 fours and 1 six took Australia to the lead in a brilliant counter-attack.
Australia won the toss and sent South Africa into bat at the Gabba on Saturday (December 17). Success also catches quickly. Protea captain Dean Elgar (3) was caught behind the wicket by Starc’s leg stump. Cummins dismissed Rassie von der Dassen for 5 runs. Another opener Saral Ervia was shaky from the start. After scoring the first run off 19 balls, he eventually fell to Scott Boland for 10 runs. Cameron Greene took a great catch in the foul. Just one ball later, Boland sent Khaya Zondo back for zero runs.
South Africa lost 4 wickets for 27 runs. Temba Bavuma and Kyle Verena tried to pull the team from there. Bavuma holds on to the wicket, and Verena continues to play shots. They did not lose any more wickets before lunch. After lunch, the two went further. When the duo’s century is close, Starc is back on the attack. Bavuma (70 balls 38) pulled the ball to the stumps by playing a little cross-bat.
After breaking this pair of 98 runs, South Africa’s innings collapsed. No other batsman from the next side could stand. The lion stopped Verena who scored 64 runs with a great slider. South Africa lost the last 6 wickets for 27 runs.
However, South Africa started well with the ball. David Warner fell victim to Kagiso Rabada on the first ball of the innings. Warner has dismissed the first ball for the second time in Test cricket. In-form Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuchen also failed today. Both scored 11 runs.
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Australia lost 3 wickets for 27 runs led by Steve Smith and Head. Head scored a half-century in 48 balls in a natural game. Smith returned with 36 runs but Head ended the day unbeaten on 78 runs. The left-hander hit 13 fours and 1 six in the 77-ball innings.
Summary Score:
South Africa 1st innings: 152 in 48.2 overs (Elgar 3, Ervia 10, von der Dussen 5, Bavuma 38, Jondo 0, Verena 64, Jansen 2, Maharaj 2, Rabada 10*, Norkia 0, Ngidi 3; Starc 14- 1-41-3, Cummins 12.2-3-35-2, Bowland 11-2-28-2, Green 3-0-20-0, Lyon 8-2-14-3).
Australia 1st innings: 145/5 in 33.1 overs (Warner 0, Khawaja 11, Labuchen 11, Smith 38, Head 78*, Boland 1; Rabada 11.1-1-50-2, Ngidi 7-1-24-0, Jansen 5-1-15-1, Norkia 8-1-37-2, Maharaj 2-0-17-0).