Australia v South Africa: Travis Head, Steve Smith save hosts at the Gabba
Australia’s batting hurricane threatened to blow South Africa out of the first Test before the hosts suffered a late blow on day one in Brisbane. Re-live all the action here.
Cricket
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cricket. Followed categories will be added to My News.
England may have ‘Bazball’ but Australia has ‘Travball’ – the batting hurricane threatening to blow South Africa out of the first Test.
The fearless Travis Head revived memories of Adam Gilchrist at his counter-punching best when he strode out to the Gabba’s green mamba deck at 3-27 and then proceeded to treat one of the world’s best bowling attacks with utter disdain.
Old fashioned green top chaos took over for most of day one of the opening Test match in Brisbane, after Pat Cummins gambled on choosing to bowl first and South Africa capitulated to be all out for 152 in less than 50 overs.
The carnage continued when it was Australia’s turn to strap themselves in and face the music with David Warner bounced out by Kagiso Rabada on the very first ball of the innings, and Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja following him back to the sheds in quick succession to make it well and truly game on at the Gabba.
That was until Head took the Test by the scruff of the neck in a crucial last session and, along with Steve Smith (36), piloted Australia to 5-145 at stumps and back into control of what had been – until he took the wind out of South Africa’s sails – a gripping contest.
But the late losses of Smith, bowled by a superb prune from Anrich Nortje, and nightwatchman Scott Boland meant there’s still plenty of work to do for Australia on day two to build a match-shaping lead, even though the hosts are just seven runs behind with Cameron Green and Alex Carey still to come.
Nathan Lyon said on a day where 15 wickets fell, Australia had got through on top.
“It was a brilliant day of Test cricket for the spectators to be honest. You’ve got arguably the two best bowling attacks in world cricket going at each other. You’re going to expect wickets, especially on day one with the bit of moisture in the wicket,” said Lyon.
“To be honest, I’m pretty happy with where we are. I thought Travis Head was absolutely exceptional, to go out there and play and his game and with a lot of courage.
“I have always known he’s been able to bat like this. I’ve seen it plenty of times. Trav is extremely happy off the field and I think that makes a big difference. Little Milla is only three months old and I think being a father can give a different perspective of life.”
Head, who finished unbeaten on 78 from 77 balls, crunched his way to his latest half century off just 48 balls in front of a bumper 29,306 crowd at the Gabba and as Greg Blewett predicted last week, the left-hander shapes as the man to fight fire with fire when Australia clash with ‘Bazball’ revolutionaries England on next year’s Ashes tour.
England staged a north v south six-hitting derby at training the day before their third Test against Pakistan, and it’s obvious Head is a free spirit who views Test cricket in exactly the same way.
It was exactly 12 months ago at the Gabba when Head announced himself as a Test phenomenon when he smashed 152 against England off just 148 balls.
Head ended up player of the Ashes after a hundred in the final Test in Hobart where he came to the crease at 3-12 and single-handedly swung the match with another rapid-fire retort.
When asked at the start of the summer whether the aggressiveness of his Hobart rescue mission was a fluke, Head said it was in his blood.
Already this summer there’s been a 99 in Perth and 175 in Adelaide. ‘Travball’ has arrived.
“I think I’ve had a lot of experience at first-class level and there have been moments where I have been able to walk out and be able to do that (counter-punch after early wickets),” he said.
“I hold a lot of pride in being able to stem momentum when the bowlers are on top.”
Warner became the latest victim of the Gabba’s first ball curse, with Rabada echoing Mitchell Starc in last year’s Ashes, who knocked over England opener Rory Burns with the first cherry of the match.
Suddenly the Proteas believed at 1-0 and pressure is mounting on Warner to make runs in the next two Tests to continue his career past the Sydney Test and into next year’s overseas tours of India and England.
Warner momentarily took his eye off the ball as he fended off the well-aimed short ball from Rabada, with short leg Khaya Zondo taking a brilliant one-armed leaping catch over his head from point-blank range at short leg.
In the same position earlier in the day, Australian fieldsman Head shelled a sharp chance which would have gifted Starc his 300th Test wicket.
Head had two grabs at trying to nab a prod from Rabada, but couldn’t collect, and Starc was forced out of the attack and will now have to wait until the second innings for the rare milestone.
Wife Alyssa Healy was watching on with the Australian women’s cricket team in India as Starc expertly carved through Proteas captain and key wicket Dean Elgar, before bowling danger man Temba Bavuma and edging off Keshav Maharaj in a faultless three-wicket performance which deserved to have the milestone added to it.
Nathan Lyon was equally superb in taking 3-14 off eight overs and suffocating the South African resistance – namely when he had the fighting Kyle Verreynne caught by Steve Smith for a 64 which at one point threatened to rescue the Proteas.
Re-live all the day one action from the first Test at the Gabba
6.45PM: SMITH, BOLAND BLOW ON STUMPS
Steve Smith’s incredible rear-guard is over six minutes before stumps.
The former skipper gets an absolute beauty with shadows creeping across the pitch, Anrich Nortje ripping through the gate to hit the top of off.
Smith can’t stop shaking his head and we don’t blame him.
Scotty Boland walks out as nightwatchman and what an ovation - and survives four balls!
What an incredible day’s play at the Gabba.
6.30PM: 100 PARTNERSHIP, AUSSIE MOW DOWN TOTAL
What a fightback from Australia.
Steve Smith and Travis Head bring up a potential match-winning 100-run partnership, rescuing the Aussies from annihilation at the Gabba.
Head has fought fire with fire after a shaky start, going at better than a run a ball in his innings.
Today’s play is mirroring South Africa and England’s Old Trafford Test earlier this year. The Proteas fought back with the ball early after posting 151 in the first innings but that was as good as it got for them.
Should Smith and Head survive to stumps, it will be a huge moral and scoreboard victory for the hosts.
100 run partnership up between Smith and Head at almost a run a ball 👠#AUSvSA
— Tone (@toekneeveee) December 17, 2022
6.04PM: SMITH, HEAD LAUNCH FIGHTBACK
The 100 is up for Australia, and Steve Smith and Travis Head are scoring at a rapid rate to turn this match firmly back in favour of the hosts.
They’re scoring at better than five an over, and when you’re dealing in numbers as small as South Africa’s first innings total of 152, scoring at a rate that quickly can change the match rapidly.
Australia have feasted on the bowling of Keshav Maharaj, who has gone for 17 runs from his two overs, in a major pressure-release from the high-octane fast bowling barrage. Nathan Lyon picked up three wickets for Australia, but he came in to clean up a tail after the damage had been done by Boland, Starc and co.
With an hour to go today, Australia have moved to 3-100 and trail by just 52 runs. Australia have two set batsmen, and two fast-scoring batsmen, with the luxury of some batting in the shed in the form of Cameron Green and Alex Carey.
You’d be confident in backing Australia’s middle and lower-order to deliver more runs across the course of the series, so it really feels like South Africa desperately need a wicket – or more – in the next 60 minutes.
"Have some of that, Smudge!" #AUSvSApic.twitter.com/pBddTWSGLB
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 17, 2022
5.35PM: WILL AUSSIES MIRROR PROTEAS?
It was around this time – the 14 over mark and onwards – where South Africa enjoyed the most fruitful partnership of their innings.
With the sting taken out of the new ball, which had delivered four wickets inside the first hour, Temba Bavuma (38) and Kyle Verreynne (64) added 98 for the fifth wicket, batting for the best part of 23 overs.
Australia has suffered a similar collapse of their own, with David Warner (0), Usman Khawaja (11) and Marnus Labuschagne (11) all falling to the express pace of South Africa’s attack.
But since Khawaja’s dismissal to the scorching bouncer from Anrich Nortje, Steve Smith and Travis Head had added 19 runs in just under six overs.
They’re scoring at a tick above three runs an over, and if they can get through to stumps – as South Africa were able to do, reaching lunch – Australia will feel they’re in a strong position to close out day one.
5.04PM: PROTEAS KO AUSSIE TOP ORDER
Ooooooooh boy – this is serious fast bowling.
Anrich Nortje has been brought into the attack and he does not wait long to make an impact, sending down a fearsome bouncer with his second delivery to bounce Usman Khawaja out for 11.
Khawaja goes into survival mode but gets a thick edge to the substitute fielder in the slips.
Nortje is bowling with genuine pace right now, climbing past 140km/h and that is not fun to face at all.
And it has put Australia in exactly the same hole as South Africa were in five hours ago – they’re 3-27.
Gabbatoir #ausvsa
— Tim Michell (@tim_michell) December 17, 2022
4.59PM: WICKET! RUN MACHINE GONE CHEAPLY
Marnus Labuschagne goes for 11 to the giant Marco Jansen.
Jansen, with his first delivery, gets a beautiful bit of movement away from Labuschagne and gets a thick edge which flies to Dean Elgar at second slip.
After a wild start, with David Warner sent packing for just the second golden duck of his Test career, Australia appeared to have settled down a touch on this tricky wicket.
The two Queensland stars, Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja, know better than most how to deaden the impact of a juicy Gabba deck and they’d gone about their business with typical calm and without too much concern.
When on 10, Labuschagne survived a tight LBW call – tight enough for South Africa to opt for a review.
Lungi Ngidi does well to beat the bat of the world’s most in-form batsman, but replays confirm the on-field decision that the ball is just sneaking over the top of the stumps.
Labuschagne survived then, but South Africa had their man so soon after.
It brings Steve Smith to the crease, and Australia facing a nervous final hour of play.
Jansen gets Labuschagne with his first ball... #AUSvSApic.twitter.com/jLzFgcae12
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 17, 2022
4:45PM: WARNER’S WOES
Just how big an issue is David Warner’s form right now?
Inarguably one of Australia’s greatest ever openers, Warner is in the midst of a worrying form slump this summer. In fact, it’s a form slump that you could argue stretches back as long as Covid.
Warner hasn’t scored a Test century since January 2020, and most people would look at that date and recognise that a lot has happened in the world since the last time the Bull ripped off his helmet and celebrated a ton by looking up at the sky.
Since the start of the last Ashes, Warner averages just 21.8 when taking the first ball of an innings. They’re the sort of numbers you do not associate with the swashbuckling opener who has made a career out of bullying bowlers around the world.
At 36, time is not exactly on Warner’s side to turn it around. But does he have enough credits in the bank to ensure that he goes out on his terms?
4.20PM: WARNER ROCKED IN GOLDEN STUNNER
Wow! David Warner goes first ball!
This feels like it could be a nightmare session for Australia’s batsmen, but it’s a dream start for South Africa.
After being skittled for 152, Kagiso Rabada sends down a vicious bouncer and Warner can only fend the ball away and pop up a difficult chance at bat pad.
Khaya Zondo leaps high and takes a fantastic one-handed grab above his head, giving David Warner just his second-ever Test golden duck.
How much carnage do we coming in the next two hours?
Zondo pulls it in! 😱
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 17, 2022
Rabada removes Warner off the first ball of the innings! #PlayOfTheDay#AUSvSA | @nrmainsurancepic.twitter.com/7nwJkAqD0X
FIRST INNINGS: AUSSIES SKITTLE PROTEAS
And it’s all over before tea for South Africa, all out for 152.
Pat Cummins strikes the final blow, sending a short ball directed at Lungi Ngidi which he fends to gully and the ultra-safe hands of Cameron Green.
Ngidi notched just three, while fast bowling partner Kagiso Rabada finishes unbeaten on 10 – one of just four players to reach double figures.
“It feels below par, but you don’t like to make too much of a comment before both sides have batted,” says Allan Border in the most diplomatic manner possible on Fox Cricket.
The point to be made here is that this wicket definitely has some demons in it, and South Africa has a fast bowling attack that is very capable of making the most of those demons.
A treacherous session is coming up for David Warner, Usman Khawaja and potentially Australia’s middle order. Warner, in particular, will have a major point to prove after his international struggles have been raised in the press in recent weeks – and his lengthy Test century drought.
3.42PM: THE END IS NIGH FOR SOUTH AFRICA
Is Nathan Lyon going to spoil Mitchell Starc’s 300 party? He might!
The off-spinner has come from nowhere to have 3-8, with Anrich Nortje his latest victim - falling for the famous Gabba bounce as Lyon gets one to spit up off the green deck.
Nortje fends it away, but it holds up nicely for Travis Head at silly mid-off.
South Africa are 9-145... and Starc’s wait for wicket 300 might have to extend into the Proteas’ second innings.
3.25PM: STARC MOVES TO 299, LYON ADDS ANOTHER
Mitchell Starc removes Keshav Maharaj to move within one wicket of 300 Test scalps.
Brilliant delivery from the left-armer, coming around the wicket to the right-hander, drawing Maharaj forward, edging to Steve Smith at second slip.
And it gets worse for South Africa - and even better for Smith - with Verreynne gone for 64, drawn into a false shot by Nathan Lyon.
Lyon pushes one through a little bit quicker, and Verreynne is forced onto his back foot and jams down to squeeze a chance to Smith at first slip.
Smith makes no mistake, and South Africa’s resistance has quickly fallen to pieces. They’re 8-139 now with only the tail left to salvage something today. 20 minutes until tea.... can they survive?
Mitchell Starc had 300 in his sights - only for Travis Head to spill a sharp chance at bat pad off Kagiso Rabada.
3.15PM: LYON ROARS ON GREEN MONSTER
Cameron Green just doesn’t drop catches.
The big all-rounder snaps up a tough chance off a crafty piece of bowling from Nathan Lyon.
South Africa’s version of the Empire State building, Marco Jansen, is drawn into an attacking shot, lofting the ball to mid-wicket. It’s a horrible shot from the big fella whose instructions would have been to see off Lyon.
Fox Sports commentator Ian Smith was dumbfounded by Jansen’s decision to attack Lyon.
“Nathan Lyon has only bowled three overs in this spell, bowled one (over) before lunch, I’m not quite sure why Jansen felt the need to do something - he’s only getting himself out (by playing that shot).”
2.49PM: STARC BREAKS STUBBORN PARTNERSHIP
Mitchell Starc gets the breakthrough at the Gabba!
Starc draws Temba Bavuma forward and a little inside sends the Kookaburra into the stumps.
Australia has been too short in the second session and Starc is rewarded for pitching the pill up, ending a stubborn partnership between Bavuma and Kyle Verreynne.
Starc moves to 298 Test match wickets, two away from the magical 300 mark.
“The resistance is broken,” said Adam Gilchrist.
Mark Waugh says Starc was rewarded for pitching the ball up.
“And just that fuller length and it might have just nipped back a fraction, Bavuma pushing at it gets an inside edge onto the stumps.
“He’s (Starc) a captain’s delight, he so often bowls the money ball. Beautifully bowled from Starc.”
Bowled! Starc with a peach to Bavuma! #AUSvSA
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 17, 2022
2.15PM: CUMMINS SENDS SCARE ROUND GABBA
Australia just breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Australia captain Pat Cummins - who missed the host’s last Test match through injury, sends a scare around the Gabba after falling at the popping crease in the second over after lunch.
The paceman’s back foot lands awkwardly, sliding out from under him. We seen South Africa’s batsmen slipping and sliding on this green deck that looks more like a covering of moss.
Thankfully - THANKFULLY - the skipper bounced up to his feet after the tumble, walking away with nothing more than a bruised ego.
“Pat Cummins with those extra long spikes ... already missing a Test this summer because of his quad, he’s just caught the side of his shoe,” said Isa Guha in the Fox Sport commentary box.
“That is super dangerous... just be thankful it wasn’t worse than it was.”
Ian Smith reflected what we were all thinking.
“Oh that’s dangerous, that’s dangerous. That is awful, you do not like to see that at all. It is such a great sight to see him get up from that.”
While Cummins may have escaped injury, South Africa is inflicting scoreboard pain on his side.
Little known middle order batsman Kyle Verreynne posted his half century - and isn’t he going at a clip, striking over 80.
His batting partner Temba Bavuma is again proving a thorn in Australia’s side, digging in after watching his top order collapse in the morning session.
2.00PM: SECOND SESSION UNDERWAY
South Africa did extremely well to fight back late in the first session, but still face a mountain to climb to post a competitive first innings total - and know that they’re one wicket away from being into a fairly long tail.
Australia introduced Nathan Lyon late in the first session, and in his one over he was able to generate considerable turn. So that could be an interesting battle to keep an eye on, if he’s thrown the ball again.
All the damage in the opening couple of hours was done by Australia’s quicks, with Scott Boland grabbing two and both Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins grabbing a single scalp.
How important will the opening half-hour be here? It goes without saying, but South Africa need one of Bavuma or Verreynne to go on and score a century and put the pressure back on Australia’s bowlers.
1.30PM: AUSSIES WELL ON TOP AT LUNCH
Pat Cummins’ bold decision to bowl first at the Gabba appears to have been justified, with South Africa under siege in the first Test.
Scott Boland starred yet again with 2-10 off six overs, with his cult hero status spreading around the country.
Mitchell Starc broke the Test open when he claimed the crucial first wicket of South African captain Dean Elgar (3), while skipper Cummins also chimed in with a wicket.
But then the South Africans finally found some resistance.
At lunch, the Proteas are 4-84, with Temba Bavuma muscling up with 21 not out and Kyle Verreynne unbeaten on 35.
Cummins took a gamble upon looking at the green mamba Gabba pitch and decided to back in himself and his quicks.
Not since New Zealand in the mid 1980s has a captain won the toss, elected to bowl and won the Test in Brisbane.
- BEN HORNE
1.05PM: VERREYNNE’S GREAT ESCAPE AS HEAD MISFIRES
South Africa have been creeping along nicely, but they very nearly came undone by the juicy Gabba deck once again -but for a different reasons.
Verreynne pushed off for a quick single before being sent back by Bavuma, and in turning around in the middle of the pitch he lost his footing and was left completely stranded as Travis Head picked up the ball at short mid-wicket.
Head fired off a throw – with Alex Carey not yet in the frame – and Verreynne would’ve been well short of his ground had there been a direct hit.
Fortunately for the South Africans, the throw was wide and this fifth-wicket partnership marches on towards lunch.
South Africa have improved to 4-65 – which doesn’t make for great reading, but considering they were 4-27 a little under an hour ago, it’s been a productive fightback from these two.
12.50PM: PROTEAS STEM BLEEDING AFTER BRUTAL HOUR
We are half an hour away from the lunch break, and South Africa are firmly on the ropes.
But they’ve managed to stem the bleeding somewhat after Scott Boland’s brilliant double-wicket over reduced them to 4-27 inside the first hour of play.
Temba Bavuma and Kyle Verreynne have played with a bit more positivity and added 27 runs for the fifth wicket. Their first task is to make it through until lunch and then reassess about how to go about saving this Test match.
South Africa has a bowling line-up every bit as potent as Australia’s, and they’ll also be looking forward to having a go on this seam-friendly wicket.
But they’ll need to give Rabada and co something to bowl to. And that will require a shaky middle order and long tail wagging considerably over the next few sessions.
“If South Africa can get to lunch four-down, they’ll have dodged a few bullets,” says Mark Waugh on Fox Cricket.
“If they can be 4-80 at lunch, or 4-70, they’ll be pretty happy with that.”
12.25PM: PROTEAS IN SHAMBLES AFTER BOLAND CARNAGE
South Africa are in shambles!
Three wickets gone inside the first hour, and it’s Scott Boland who continues his genuinely freakish start to his Test career.
Bowling a full length, he has Sarel Erwee on the drive. That dangerous territory on a wicket this lively, and Erwee’s thick edge flies fast and low to the man with probably the safest hands in the Australian side: Cameron Green.
The big youngster doesn’t drop many in the gully, and he takes a fine grab here to send Erwee on his way for 10.
“Anytime you get three wickets in the first hour, it’s a good start,” says Mitchell Starc, with South Africa 3-27.
“There’s plenty in (the wicket).”
Worse was to come. With Khaya Zondo lasting just two balls before becoming Boland’s second victim.
It was an absolute gem which traps Zondo LBW, jagging back off a good length to beat the middle-order batsman all-ends-up.
Zondo goes for a two-ball duck, before he quickly reviewing in the hope of a technological saviour. And to be fair, it does look a touch high.
But the video replays confirm that enough of the ball is crashing into the bails – and Zondo departs on an umpire’s call.
The tourists are 4-27 now and lunch looks a long way away.
12.10AM: WICKET! CUMMINS JOINS THE PARTY
Australia smell blood in the water here, and they’re making good on Pat Cummins’ decision to bowl first this morning.
In fact, it’s Cummins himself who does the damage.
A perfect length draws No.3 Rassie van der Dussen into a shot – and the ball moves just enough off the seam to take an edge, before being caught by Alex Carey.
Van der Dussen departs for just 5.
A classic Pat Cummins dismissal, and it leaves South Africa in a world of pain. We’re not even an hour into play this morning and the tourists are 2-27.
There are plenty of question marks about South Africa’s batting line-up, and Australia have already made their way into the Proteas’ middle order. Danger signs.
Not much van der Dussen could do here, an absolute 👠of a delivery from the Australian captain!
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) December 17, 2022
📺 Watch #AUSvRSA on Ch. 501 or stream via @kayosportshttps://t.co/P7VuDZMs28
📠BLOG https://t.co/fAD7LJJlUO
📲 MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/5RmhratvSLpic.twitter.com/bLq3MRqIms
12.05AM: AUSTRALIA MAKE KEY SWITCH
Eight overs down for Australia, and Pat Cummins has made an early change to his bowling attack.
Scott Boland has the ball in his hands now – and is owner of one of the most extraordinary bowling records in Test cricket history.
Boland proved his heroics from last summer were no fluke when he blitzed the West Indies in last week’s day-night Test, and arrives at the Gabba with the incredible Test record of 21 wickets at an average of just 10.33.
He replaces Mitchell Starc in the attack. Despite picking up the key wicket of Dean Elgar, Starc was a touch wayward early. He’s done his job, though, and let's see if Boland can keep the pressure on.
11.50AM: WATCH: STARC SNARES KEY WICKET
297 FOR STARC
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) December 17, 2022
Terrific delivery and South Africa lose their captain early pic.twitter.com/sMqE52mQFl
11.44AM: STARC BLOWS AWAY PROTEAS SKIPPER
Mitchell Starc has the very early breakthrough – with the first ball of his third over.
And it’s a big wicket, continuing the big quick’s stranglehold over South African captain Dean Elgar.
Starc angles one into the body and Elgar attempts to work it down the legside, only to strangle it a touch – and he feathers a catch to Alex Carey.
He departs for just 3, and South Africa are 1-12 on a wicket that looks like it has plenty of demons in it.
“That’s a bonus… Yes he’s got the wicket but you wouldn’t call it good bowling. But you’ll take it,” says Allan Border.
It brings Rassie van der Dussen to the middle.
11.35AM: CUMMINS’ WILD FIRST OVER, STARC DENIED
Pat Cummins took the new ball alongside Mitchell Starc – despite the temptation to give Scott Boland an early look at the juicy Gabba deck.
Cummins gets off to a rocky start, with two leg-side deliveries making their way to the boundary via four leg byes.
There’s a trap you can fall into at the Gabba, especially when the wicket looks like it will do all the work for you… because the key is to stick to the methods that work for you on a normal day of cricket.
“He’ll be disappointed with that over, Pat Cummins. A pretty loose over. Un-Pat Cummins-like,” says Mark Waugh on Fox Cricket, who suggests Boland might have been the better early option.
“Scott Boland is one guy who can land it on a handkerchief and does bowl a fuller length.”
Luckily there’s no better bowler in the world to make those little adjustments than Cummins.
Starc thought he might have grabbed the early breakthrough with a caught-behind chance off Dean Elgar, but was turned down.
A muted appeal from Australia was sent upstairs, but replays confirm it was a bump ball from the South African skipper that was sent through to Alex Carey.
11.10AM: WEATHER AND PREDICTIONS
We are moments away from the first ball of the morning, so have a look at how our experts expect things will play out - and what to expect from the next five days.
WEATHER
Day one – 27 and sunny
Day two – 26 and sunny
Day three – 28 and sunny
Day four – 27 and sunny
Day five – 27 and sunny
KEY MAN
AUSTRALIA
MARNUS LABUSCHAGNE – If he can keep his incredible form rolling from the West Indies run-fest, it will soften up an outstanding but underprepared South African attack.
SOUTH AFRICA
DEAN ELGAR – If the South African captain doesn’t score runs, the Proteas’ gamble to pick five specialist bowlers is in grave danger of exploding on the tarmac.
PREDICTIONS
ROBERT CRADDOCK: Australia will win a low-scoring Test series 2-0 with a familiar theme being Australia wriggling from 4-90 to 300, which will be enough to see them home against a moderate South African batting team.
BEN HORNE: Australia will win 3-0 inside 11 days across all three Tests. The South African batting line-up simply won’t give their bowlers a chance to compete.
10.50AM: AUSSIES BOWL FIRST ON GREEN GABBA DECK
Australia has won the toss and elected to bowl first on the Gabba’s green mamba pitch.
The Brisbane wicket looks almost the same colour as the outfield and with cloudy skies also overhead, Australia will back its pace attack led by Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland to cause damage to South Africa’s inexperienced batting order.
Australia won last year’s Gabba Test bowling first - albeit England had elected to bat - with Starc famously taking a wicket off the very first ball of the match.
“Looks like there’s a little bit of colour in the wicket,” said Cummins, who comes into the XI after missing last week’s West Indies demolition through injury.
“It might be a bit misleading the colour, but it feels hard. No matter what happens today hopefully it’s a good batting wicket.”
The last visiting captain to win the toss, bowl first and win at the Gabba was New Zealand’s Jeremy Coney back in 1985, according to cricket.com expert Louis Cameron.
England skipper Nasser Hussain famously got sucked into thinking there might be a bit of nip in the green wicket and was fretting about taking 20 wickets with the Kookaburra ball when he made his ill-fated decision to bowl first at the Gabba.
Cummins replaces Michael Neser in the only change for the Australians, while South African skipper Dean Elgar said he would’ve opted to bat first regardless.
CONFIRMED TEAMS
Australia: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland
South Africa: Dean Elgar (capt), Sarel Erwee, Rassie van der Dussen, Temba Bavuma, Khaya Zondo, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi
10.30AM: TEST GREATS’ BOLD CALL OVER GABBA SHOCK
Bowl first at the Gabba? Surely not… Nasser Hussain still has nightmares about making that wrong decision two decades ago.
But Australian greats Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer reckon it’s the way to go today, having viewed a Gabba wicket that is greener than any they’ve seen before.
“It is very rare as a team playing here to think about bowling first but whoever wins the toss will definitely bowl first,” Ponting said on Channel 7 ahead of the toss.
“Now there is even a little more cloud cover which will make it harder for the batters.”
Added Langer: “I’d very be surprised whichever captain wins the toss doesn’t bowl first. We say that but I’d be very, very tempted to bowl first on the greenest Test wicket ever.”
Watch Australia v South Africa. Every test match live and ad-break in play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
Australian quick Mitchell Starc suggested the first session was likely to be dangerous, but poured a bit of cold water on the plan to bowl first.
“From all reports it’s been green to start with but it gets better,” Starc told Seven.
“If you get through the first session as a batting unit, it gets better, you can cash in.
“It doesn’t really deteriorate, the forecast isn’t overly hot. Likewise if you get the balls in the right areas it can certainly do a bit. Certainly got that tinge but it is quite firm. You don’t read into the colour of it.”
10AM: PROTEAS PREDICT GABBA ‘GREEN MONSTER’ PAIN FOR AUSSIES
South Africa believe Australia has played into their hands as they plot a bang or bust mission on an eye-popping green top at the Gabba.
The fiery Proteas will risk losing to win by unleashing a four-pronged pace attack on Australia and may even tempt cracking the Nasser Hussain curse and choose to bowl first if given the chance.
Australia are ready for an onslaught and the likes of Marnus Labuschagne even practiced for the fight for survival on Friday, facing extra bouncy indoor cricket balls designed to imitate the way the South Africans might slingshot them through in the anticipated first rematch since Sandpapergate.
For the Proteas’ 150km/h cartel, the Gabba has made them feel they’re home on the Kingsmead wicket at Durban, nicknamed ‘The Green mamba’ after the highly venomous striking snake.
“It looks like this grass we’re standing on at the moment,” a delighted South African captain, Dean Elgar said from the outfield.
Here is a close up of the Green Eyed Gabba Monster. (Pic purloined) pic.twitter.com/euuN6JOXuD
— Peter Lalor (@plalor) December 16, 2022
“The green colour doesn’t scare us. This is one of the wickets where if you get in you can really capitalise. But from a bowling point of view you know there’s a length you really need to hit and you can get some rich rewards.
“The wicket does look a little friendly for our bowling unit which is nice. We come from South Africa where the wickets are pretty green and juicy. From a personal point of view, I don’t really shy away from that and I know our batters don’t away from that either. It should be interesting. “
South Africa will play five specialist bowlers including quicks Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje and 22-year-old left-arm destroyer, Marco Jansen.
Australia know the quality of a rapid left-armer, with Mitchell Starc only four scalps away from 300 Test wickets, and have put extra preparation into facing Jansen – who represents a major point of difference from any fast man they’ve faced over recent summers.
- BEN HORNE
GREEN SET TO LAUNCH AFTER SECRET INJURY BATTLE
Pat Cummins has revealed Cameron Green took minor hamstring soreness into the start of the Test summer, but is now ready to launch into top gear against South Africa.
Green looked slightly out of sync with bat and ball against the West Indies.
The lack of game time he received on account of Australia’s dominance is some cause for concern heading into a clash against the heavy-duty Proteas, who possess the firepower to expose the home side’s top order.
But Cummins declared he is set to make a point of upping Green’s involvement as a go-to wicket-taking option against South Africa to match the quality Australia are expecting to face, and the fact the young all-rounder now has more miles in his legs.
“Somewhere (at a ground like) here I’ll probably rotate the bowlers around to get him a shot with a swinging ball,” Cummins said.
“He bowled beautifully here last year. He got the big wicket of Joe Root (in the Ashes).
“Coming into the series (against the Windies) he wasn’t under any restrictions but he’s still coming off a hamstring injury.
“We don’t really want to burn him in the first couple of games. So any overs he didn’t bowl in the first two Tests hopefully means he can bowl a few more here.”
In Perth, Green bowled 23 overs to prove the hamstring soreness picked up in the first ODI against England last month was extremely minor.
But in Adelaide, he was only required to bowl six first innings overs, and struggled for rhythm with the bat as well, scoring 9 off 42 balls having been forced to watch his teammates bat for 300 straight overs without needing to put the pads on himself.
The Australians are confident the Windies’ series is just another crucial part of Green’s development as a prodigy who is learning his craft on the run at Test level.
Green shapes as a huge point of difference in this series, given South Africa are playing five bowlers and do not have an all-rounder to balance the line-up.
“He’s great, he’s had really good preparation like everyone else,” said Cummins.
“Everyone is so eager to perform which is how you want everyone to be.
“Two Tests matches into the summer and it feels like he’s hardly got a bat.
“He’s got a huge role to play this series, like he does every series. We’ll probably get more overs into him than the first two Test matches as well. He’ll be a huge part of the summer.”
More Coverage
Originally published as Australia v South Africa: Travis Head, Steve Smith save hosts at the Gabba
Selectors to drop big Test hint as Green injury fears linger
Australian selectors will provide an early steer on potential replacements for Cameron Green when they unveil an Australia A squad, as fears linger over the all-rounder’s fitness.
Carey’s answer to keeper challenge
The day after the man who took his World Cup spot scored an impressive ton in Perth, Alex Carey answered back with a classy knock.