Remember the worry about life without Kagiso Rabada? It did not last long. On SA v Australia day one, the Proteas’ seamers shared the work so evenly that nobody needed to be a hero, and by early afternoon Australia were 124/6 and looking for somewhere to hide. Only a stubborn stand from Matt Renshaw and Pat Cummins, and then the Durban gloom, saved them from worse.
Australia closed on 187/6 from 65.2 overs after bad light, followed by rain, ended play at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium with 24.4 overs of the day still to bowl. For the world champions, that is a very good Friday.
How SA v Australia day one unfolded
Australia won the toss and Cummins chose to bat. Temba Bavuma’s side struck first through the all-rounder Wiaan Mulder: Travis Head edged behind to Kyle Verreynne for 9.
Then came the strangest innings of the day. Nic Maddinson, recalled to the Test side, faced 33 balls without scoring before Marco Jansen bowled him. At 24/2 the visitors were already in a hole.
Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith climbed out of it for a while, adding 60 for the third wicket. But the session turned on its final ball, when Mulder trapped Labuschagne lbw for 37. Australia reviewed, and the decision stood on umpire’s call. Lunch came at 84/3.
The second session started the same way. Without a run added, Smith edged Jansen to Mulder at gully. Smith made 25, Australia were 84/4, and two wickets had fallen either side of the break.
Nortje’s comeback, in three balls
This was Anrich Nortje’s first Test in three years, and his moment arrived after lunch. Alex Carey, on 14, edged him to Aiden Markram at second slip. Two balls later Beau Webster nicked behind to Verreynne for 4, a wicket South Africa needed their last review to win.
Two wickets in three balls, and 124/6. Nortje finished with 2-40, and told reporters afterwards, Reuters reported, that he had feared the wickets might not come for weeks. Pace like his, back in Test whites, is a different weapon for Bavuma to hold while Rabada is out. If you want the long view of what South Africa are missing, our Rabada numbers piece lays it out.
The fightback, and the light
Australia’s lower order refused to fold. Renshaw, who reached 46 not out from 115 balls, found a partner in his captain, and Cummins dug in for 33 not out from 72 balls. Their unbeaten stand is worth 63 and counting, and it has turned a collapse into a contest.
That is the honest caveat on a South African day. Six down for 187 is good. Bowling them out for under 200 on Saturday morning would be better, and the new ball is not far away.
The bowling was shared evenly, which is the real story. Mulder took 2-31, Jansen 2-35 and Nortje 2-40. Simon Harmer sent down 14 overs for 34 without luck, and Keshav Maharaj also had a turn without a wicket. Whether two spinners was the right call will be judged on days four and five, not on a seamers’ Friday.
Why it matters
Australia arrive as the side South Africa beat in the 2025 World Test Championship final, and this series counts towards the 2025-27 table, so every session carries weight. If the format is new to you, here is how the World Test Championship works.
Selection felt like the big gamble before the toss: Rabada out, Nortje back, two spinners in. Our first Test preview set out those calls, and the Proteas Test team page has the squad. One day in, the seam gamble looks sound.
What happens next
Day two starts on Saturday 10 October, with four Australian wickets to take. Get Renshaw early, and the Proteas bat on a surface their bowlers have already shown has life in it. Let him reach three figures with Cummins, and Australia have a total. Either way, set the alarm.