For three months now the Australian cricket team have been under siege from critics. In August they were humiliated 3-0 in the Tests in Sri Lanka, before last month suffering their first ever 5-0 ODI whitewash in South Africa.
There have been calls from fans for Steve Smith to be axed as skipper. We’ve had pundits and cricket followers question the positions of every player in the Test line-up bar Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, David Warner and Smith, although the latter pair still have been hammered for their batting performances in Sri Lanka.
Against this backdrop of ratcheting public pressure, Australia have fronted up for what shape as two very challenging Test series at home. For the first time in more than 20 years, Australia faced the very real possibility of losing two home series in one summer.
South Africa have won their past two Test series in Australia and own the best pace attack in the game. Meanwhile, Pakistan are arguably the world’s top Test team, fresh from drawing 2-2 with England on the road, a result which underscored their ability to prosper outside Asia.
Australia could not afford to have a poor opening day of the Test summer. Had the scoreboard for day one been reversed, and it was South Africa who trailed by only 137 runs with ten wickets in hand, Australia’s Test team would be getting butchered by all and sundry. The Roar would be flooded with readers demanding the entire team be forced to walk the plank.
Instead, Australia withstood the mounting pressure and produced a near-perfect day of Test cricket. Shy of grasping two half-chances in the field which went down, there is little more Australia could have wished for.
On a WACA pitch which offered fantastic pace and lift, Australia’s quicks found the right length far more often than their South African counterparts. Stephen Cook, Hashim Amla, JP Duminy, Dean Elgar and Faf du Plessis each were caught behind after getting neither fully back nor properly forward to pace deliveries on a testing length.
Josh Hazlewood was the standout, maintaining his trademark suffocating line and length for all but a brief spell just after tea. Mitchell Starc could not find the same effective fuller length owned by Hazlewood and Siddle.
But Starc has become such a natural wicket taker that it mattered little he was well below his best. The left armer still finished with the wonderful figures of 4-71, taking his record to 69 wickets at an average of 21 from his past 14 Tests.
Nathan Lyon again did what so few other spinners are capable of in Australia – he contributed significantly on a day one pitch. Temba Bavuma and Quentin De Kock had constructed a rearguard stand of 71 when Lyon got a dipping delivery to leap off the pitch and kiss Bavuma’s inside edge.
The diminutive South African batsman had played a composed innings which showcased his tight technique. At the other end, De Kock compiled a gorgeous knock. The 23-year-old wicket-keeper batsman may just be the best player aged 25 or younger in world cricket.
He was finally undone on 84 by a surprisingly rapid bouncer from Hazlewood, which saw De Kock lob a miscued pull shot to midwicket. It was the easiest of catches, unlike the three stunning grabs pulled off earlier in the innings.
Australia’s fielding managed to eclipse its brilliant bowling. On just the fourth ball of the day, Mitch Marsh stretched high to his left at gully to reel in a fizzing edge off the blade of Stephen Cook.
Then first slip Adam Voges made a scorching edge from du Plessis appear like an elementary take.
Short leg Shaun Marsh capped off a magnificent fielding display by Australia when he flung himself to scoop up Bavuma’s arcing inside edge millimetres off the turf. Everything was falling Australia’s way. Having rolled South Africa for just 242 – at least 120 runs shy of a par score on this pitch – Australia cantered to 0-105 at stumps.
It wasn’t as easy as that scoreline makes it appear. Opener Marsh scratched around at the crease like an old chook for the first 45 minutes before gaining a modicum of fluency. Warner twice top edged attempted cross bat strokes to the boundary.
His biggest wedge of fortune came in the sixth over when he was found to have been trapped in front by Philander on review.
The replay also showed the Proteas seamer over stepping so Warner survived. At that stage Marsh was tied in knots and a wicket would have brought to the crease Usman Khawaja, who is under the spotlight after being dumped in Sri Lanka.
South Africa would have had 15 more overs to make further inroads into the Australian batting and add some balance to the contest. We may look back on Philander’s no ball as the most significant moment in this match. Already it has cost South Africa 56 runs, an enormous penalty when you’ve put up a poor first innings total.
Warner could almost put this Test out of South Africa’s grasp by lunch today if he plays with the same freedom as he did last night in reaching 73 from just 62 balls. The left hander adores the WACA – he has made 744 Test runs at 106 in Perth – and also owns a commanding record against the Proteas of 822 runs at 75.
South Africa’s pace attack boasts such quality that they could storm back into this Test in the first session. Or Warner could trample all over them and set Australia on course for a rousing victory after months of heavy scrutiny. Whatever the case, this wonderful WACA pitch should ensure we see more tremendous cricket today.
Tanmoy kar
Guest
From 0/105 Australia reached 0/158 but after that they collapsed and lost all 10 wickets in 86 runs to be all-out for only 244 In the 2nd.Innings South Africa reached 2/93 so far and in a better position now as Australia has to bat last.
Brissie Boy
Guest
Cracking day of Test cricket but a crowd of 12 382, the lowest crowd ever for Day 1 of a South African Test at the WACA, was a bit disappointing. Thought the opening day figures for each test here made interesting reading: 2005: 14 000 (approx) (December) 2008: 13 679 (December) 2012: 15 961 (November, Ponting's last Test) 2016: 12 382 (November)
Cliff (Bishkek)
Guest
And SA have returned the favour. This Aussie Team is a joke. All talk and no action. And the selectors - the biggest joke of all!!
Cliff (Bishkek)
Guest
So all the pundits go - Australia dominated SA - all the big talk - and then look at today - SA take four quick wickets. This Ausie Team is absolute rubbish when it comes to sticking their head down and arse up. Smith is a "nothing".
BurgyGreen
Guest
Shaun Marsh did really well to tough it out and get through to stumps (aided somewhat by the SA bowlers' refusal to pitch the ball up and look for the nick) but how awful did his technique against the short ball look? The way he turns his back to it looks seriously dangerous - he really needs to sort that out.
Brian
Guest
The facilities at the Adelaide Oval are far better then those at the WACA. Adelaide also has a much longer tradition of hosting Test Cricket then Perth which didn't even host a match in 2014-15 from memory
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Saffers too short but lordy where do you bowl to Davey Warner? A modern great. Got a feeling SAffers will tighten things up and get a few early ones to bring this back a bit. If they don't they are in for a big big chase.
The Bush
Roar Guru
This post is hilarious. "The days of blokes batting all day long is long long gone. The class has died in Australian Cricket. The last guy I saw do that (bat all day) was VVS Laxman. He actually valued his wicket unlike Warner and pals " Warner literally batted all day the last time he played at the WACA. The fact that you actually referenced Warner about this makes this the best post I'll read all day.
Nudge
Guest
Fair points, but why does Adelaide draw 25,000 on a working Thursday in late November when there population is a lot less than Perth?
Michael Keeffe
Roar Guru
Spot on
Michael Keeffe
Roar Guru
It's what happens when you schedule test cricket in early November on a school day and working day. If you scheduled this same test the week before Christmas or mid January you would get a great a packed house. Lots of people can't get the day off work in November. Watch the difference between the first day of the Gabba test last year 5th of November against the Kiwi's and the first day of their test this year in school holidays in December. The attendance difference will be massive. Even on Saturday's in November most fans are taking their kids to junior cricket and then there is club cricket on in the afternoon. Wrong time of year for test matches, they should primarily be in the school holiday period.
Dreadly
Guest
"Great Day 1 from the Aussies as I predicted yesterday prior to the start of play." No don piper. You predicted this; Don Piper said | November 3rd 2016 @ 11:44am | ! Report my predictions for the Aus batting order: Warner – out poking at one point early 8 runs (two fast 4s and then out) S Marsh LBW 10 runs Uzzy LBW very early 3 runs Smith – will waste time and then be caught behind for around 15 Voges – 18 – will be there at lunch LUNCH Mitch Marsh 3 runs LBW Nevill 23 runs Caught WK Siddle 32 runs caught field Starc 38 runs bowled Hazelwood 14 runs bowled Lyon 9 runs LBW
DJW
Guest
Good start. The fielding was very impressive and the bowling was good. Warner road his luck a fair bit in his innings, quite a few loose shots, but when the come off it's happy days. Shaun Marsh managed to keep his wicket which allows Warner to continue to be attacking. Protected the rest of the line up from having to face the new ball yesterday.
Nudge
Guest
Voges has done that a couple of times in the last few years Don. So to Smith. Ali from Pakistan did it a month ago. Warner is in cracking form. Obviously don't mind making a goose of yourself I see mate
Sideline
Guest
I heard that one of Maharaj's strengths, and the apparent reason they included him, is his economy. He went for 16 of his two overs yesterday, so that's not a great start. Apparently the SA's though the pitch might break up in the last 2 days.
BurgyGreen
Guest
It was an excellent first day but we really have to make it count - we're batting last on this pitch. Need to keep going and get 550+ and look to win by an innings. It is absolutely key that Warner doesn't think his job is done and throw his wicket away early today. It's his responsibility now to get a big ton.
Don Piper
Guest
Hear hear!
Don Piper
Guest
Great Day 1 from the Aussies as I predicted yesterday prior to the start of play. I am expecting us to go into lunch 1 down and then collapse near tea The days of blokes batting all day long is long long gone. The class has died in Australian Cricket. The last guy I saw do that (bat all day) was VVS Laxman. He actually valued his wicket unlike Warner and pals.
Pedro the Maroon
Guest
Watching de Kock makes me wish we had a 6 or a 7 who could bat. Remember when we had Mr Cricket coming in at 6 and then Gilly at 7? makes me all misty-eyed just thinking about it. It's time the selectors actually picked our best team - not the team that ticks all their pre-determined boxes..
Pedro the Maroon
Guest
Starc at full fitness and rhythm is a scary thought if he were only at 75% yesterday. Quick short and nasty. And then full and swinging at 145kph. And at the other end Hazelwood and Sidds bowling immaculate line and length. One more world class quic would be great - such Cummins as Pattinson. Let's hope Marsh goes n with it today after weathering the Steyn storm yesterday. Soft older ball should be just what the doctor ordered to make hay for 2-3 hours before the reverse swing comes into play. 400 is a pass score.