Travis Head struck a belligerent half-century to present Australia the higher hand on day one of many series-opening Test towards South Africa after the house facet’s bowlers dominated on a inexperienced Gabba wicket on Saturday.
Australia skittled South Africa for 152 after dwelling captain Pat Cummins received the toss and elected to discipline, with 15 wickets falling on a roller-coaster day.
The hosts completed 145 for 5 at stumps, with Head marching off unbeaten on 78 from 77 balls after combining with Steve Smith (36) in a 117-run partnership.
“Entertaining day of cricket. We fought hard, lost a couple of wickets at the end but we will take that on a very tough wicket,” Head mentioned.
“We tried to be as positive as we could, and just hung in.”
Bowled out on the cusp of tea, with solely Kyle Verreynne (64)and Temba Bavuma (38) surpassing 10 runs for South Africa, the vacationers rallied with early wickets.
Pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada dismissed Australia’s under-pressure opener David Warner for a duck with the primary ball of the innings, with Khaya Zondo leaping excessive to carry down a one-handed catch in shut.
All-rounder Marco Jansen then dismissed South Africa-born quantity three Marnus Labuschagne together with his first ball for 11.
Usman Khawaja was additionally gone for 11, caught within the slips off Anrich Nortje’s second ball by substitute fielder Simon Harmer.
Smith and a counter-attacking Head then thwarted the Proteas for a lot of the ultimate session till Smith was bowled by Nortje.
Rabada wrapped up the day together with his second wicket, having nightwatchman Scott Boland caught behind for one run.
Despite the 2 late wickets, Australia shall be happy with their first day’s work given the vagaries of the pitch.
Paceman Mitchell Starc and spinner Nathan Lyon had earlier taken full benefit with three wickets apiece.
It may need been worse for South Africa however for Verreynne and Bavuma who constructed a defiant 98-run partnership after the Proteas crashed to 27 for 4 below a fierce tempo assault.
Starc broke their stand by bowling Bavuma and South Africa promptly collapsed, dropping their final six wickets for 27 runs.
Left-armer Starc completed with 3-41, one in need of a milestone 300 wickets, whereas Lyon had 3-14.
Lyon’s dismissal of Verreynne, with Smith taking the catch at slip, made the Australian duo essentially the most prolific bowler-fielding pair within the nation’s historical past with a report 52 dismissals.
Australia’s third seamer Boland earlier took two wickets in three balls, eradicating opener Sarel Erwee for 10 and quantity 5 Zondo lbw for a duck.
South Africa captain Dean Elgar gave Starc the primary wicket on a platter when he gloved a ball down the leg-side to be caught behind for 3.
Cummins took two wickets, together with quantity three Rassie van der Dussen, who was caught behind for 5.
Australia skittled South Africa for 152 after dwelling captain Pat Cummins received the toss and elected to discipline, with 15 wickets falling on a roller-coaster day.
The hosts completed 145 for 5 at stumps, with Head marching off unbeaten on 78 from 77 balls after combining with Steve Smith (36) in a 117-run partnership.
“Entertaining day of cricket. We fought hard, lost a couple of wickets at the end but we will take that on a very tough wicket,” Head mentioned.
“We tried to be as positive as we could, and just hung in.”
Bowled out on the cusp of tea, with solely Kyle Verreynne (64)and Temba Bavuma (38) surpassing 10 runs for South Africa, the vacationers rallied with early wickets.
Pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada dismissed Australia’s under-pressure opener David Warner for a duck with the primary ball of the innings, with Khaya Zondo leaping excessive to carry down a one-handed catch in shut.
All-rounder Marco Jansen then dismissed South Africa-born quantity three Marnus Labuschagne together with his first ball for 11.
Usman Khawaja was additionally gone for 11, caught within the slips off Anrich Nortje’s second ball by substitute fielder Simon Harmer.
Smith and a counter-attacking Head then thwarted the Proteas for a lot of the ultimate session till Smith was bowled by Nortje.
Rabada wrapped up the day together with his second wicket, having nightwatchman Scott Boland caught behind for one run.
Despite the 2 late wickets, Australia shall be happy with their first day’s work given the vagaries of the pitch.
Paceman Mitchell Starc and spinner Nathan Lyon had earlier taken full benefit with three wickets apiece.
It may need been worse for South Africa however for Verreynne and Bavuma who constructed a defiant 98-run partnership after the Proteas crashed to 27 for 4 below a fierce tempo assault.
Starc broke their stand by bowling Bavuma and South Africa promptly collapsed, dropping their final six wickets for 27 runs.
Left-armer Starc completed with 3-41, one in need of a milestone 300 wickets, whereas Lyon had 3-14.
Lyon’s dismissal of Verreynne, with Smith taking the catch at slip, made the Australian duo essentially the most prolific bowler-fielding pair within the nation’s historical past with a report 52 dismissals.
Australia’s third seamer Boland earlier took two wickets in three balls, eradicating opener Sarel Erwee for 10 and quantity 5 Zondo lbw for a duck.
South Africa captain Dean Elgar gave Starc the primary wicket on a platter when he gloved a ball down the leg-side to be caught behind for 3.
Cummins took two wickets, together with quantity three Rassie van der Dussen, who was caught behind for 5.