Australia v South Africa, 1st Test, Day 1 - 5 Talking Points

Powerful performances from the bowling attack led by Mitchell Starc and a blistering knock from David Warner in the saw hosts Australia suppress South Africa’s resilience and finish on top at the end of the day one of the first Test at WACA, Perth.

The visitors won the toss and chose to bat first on the unusually cool day at WACA. But, unfortunately, the Proteas top order could not take advantage of the opportunity as South Africa got off to a bad start. They had a horrible start and lost their top four – Dean Elgar, Stephen Cook, Hashim Amla and JP Duminy – for cheap scores.

Temba Bavuma and skipper Faf du Plessis brought some stability and the South African innings finally looked to be back on track. Wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock ten cracked an entertaining 84 and helped the scoreboard go past the 200 run mark. However, the Australia quickly wrapped up the innings and bowled the visitors out for 242 to give Australia a sizable amount of over to bat in the last session.

David Warner and Shaun Marsh quickly leapt on the opportunity on offer and scored runs at a quick pace to take their team to a comfortable 105 for no loss at the end of the day.

1.Mitchell Starc gives the perfect start:

Left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc gave a superb start to the opening Test claiming opener Stephen Cook for a duck off the fourth delivery in the 1st over of the match. Starc started off with good pace with all of his first three deliveries clocking over 145 KMPH.

The tall fast bowler turned on the heat right from ball one. His first ball, a 147 KMPH bullet was safely left. His second ball, another 145 KMPH delivery saw the ball bounce from the chest level straight into the hands of Peter Nevill. The third ball, a prelude to the wicket taking delivery nipped out from the off stump length and missed the outside edge of the bat.

But, after surviving the superb out-swinger, Cook was undone by another away going delivery and was caught at gully by Shaun Marsh. The pace and bounce of the track showed its effect straightway taking a thick edge and went to the gully region where Marsh put in  a dived full-length air to take the catch to completely the dismissals.

2.Keshav Maharaj makes his debut:

Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, whose selection in the team made a bit of buzz, today made his Test debut. The26-year-oldd was a surprise name picked in the squad for the tour. Many eyebrows were raised after he was chosen ahead of a list of spinners on the South African radar namely Imran Tahir, Robin Peterson, Dane Piedt, Simon Harmer and Aaron Phangiso.

His road to making his debut wasn’t easy. He had to live in the shadows for more than a couple of seasons despite performing well. He lost his opportunity mainly due to the strong competition from the already established spinners mentioned above. His first class performances have been noteworthy in recent years. In the 2014-15 season, he was sixth on the first-class wicket charts with 36 at 29.38. Last season he was seventh with the same number of wickets at 32.

His debut would also have been an emotional moment for his family. The Dolphin’s cricketer is of Indian descent and his father Athmanand Maharaj played for South Africa during the dark period of the apartheid. He was also the part of the team which travelled to India for the ‘Freedom tour’.

3.Top order flunks:

The South African top order crumbled badly after the dismissal of their opener Stephen Cook in the first over. Josh Hazlewood and peter Siddle swung into action and made the other three of the top four – Hashim Amla, Dean Elgar and JP Duminy – depart in quick succession to reduce the visitors to 32/4.

Amla, coming out to bat the crucial number 3 position, also was dismissed for a duck by Hazlewood just an over after Cook’s departure. Few overs later, the right armer pocketed Elgar caught behind in the 8th over while Siddle snapped Duminy in a similar fashion.

This poor show from the batting order gave the Australian and early advantage which they capitalised without making any mistake during the day’s play.

4.De Kock fights back

Wicket-keeper batsman Quinton de Kock rescued South Africa from the early rubble formed by the top order collapse. The left-hander walked in at No. 7 and hit a solid 84 run knock to helped South Africa reach a respectable position in the first innings.

Following the failure of the top four, Temba Bavuma and skipper Faf du Plessis took hold of the situation and carried forward the innings. Unfortunately, Du Plessis could not go further than making 37 and was dismissed in the 28th over making way for the young left-hander to come in to bat.

He quickly got into the act without showing any signs of pressure and collected run at quick pace, forging a 71 run stand with Bavuma for the 6th wicket. Bavuma’s fall in the 44th over opened the gate for the Aussies once again but De Kock’s straightforward batting approach remained a concern for the bowling side. De Kock’s scintillating innings finally came to an end in the 61st over, when he miscued a pull shot and scooped a catch in the hands of mid-wicket.

5. Flashy Warner goes bang-bang:

South Africa folded up for just 242 in 63.4 over, leaving 21 overs for the Australians to bat in the last session. The hosts made no mistake in using the opportunity to bat and end the day on a solid note with 105 for no loss.

All the credit to this superb end goes to Warner who struck 73 runs off just 63 balls in a sparkling display aggressive batting. His knock, which was studded with 13 sixes and a superb six off Dale Steyn, gave no chance to the South African bowlers and neutered the new ball threat in style.