Live Update: Australia in command after bowlers hunt as a pack to eke out 106-run lead Steven Smith backed up the bowlers by claiming four catches, two of them stunning efforts, that lifted him past Joe Root for the most Test catches by a non-wicketkeeper The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins, India vs Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 The smile of a champion – Mohammed Siraj picked up five wickets in a ten-ball period, India vs Sri Lanka, Asia Cup final, Colombo, September 17, 2023 Alyssa Healy poses with the trophy after Australia retained the Ashes, England vs Australia, 3rd ODI, Women’s Ashes, Taunton, July 18, 2023 A general view of the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Pakistan v Sri Lanka, 3rd match, Jaipur, October 17, 2006 A general view of the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, Punjab Kings vs Delhi Citals, IPL 2024, Mullanpur, March 23, 2024 The Haryana Cricket Association’s Bansi Lal Stadium in Lahli, Haryana v Rajasthan, 1st semi-final, Ranji Trophy 2011-12, Rohtak, 1st day, January 10, 2012 Stumps Australia 390 and 33 for 0 (Maddinson 17*, Head 10*) lead South Africa 284 (Bedingham 49, Cummins 3-54, Hazlewood 2-54) by 139 runs Pat Cummins and Steven Smith produced outstanding performances to overwhelm a lacklustre South Africa batting line-up on day three in Durban before new opener Nic Maddinson enjoyed a confidence boost as Australia gained a stranglehold of the opening Test.
After claiming a first-innings lead of 106 runs, Australia were 33 for no loss in their second innings with Maddinson unbeaten on 17 and Travis Head on 10. Only 5.4 overs were bowled in the innings before bad light stopped play for the third straight day. When the innings started, all eyes were on Maddinson, who had a disastrous return to Test cricket with a 33-ball duck in the first innings.
But he swaggered to the crease and cracked a pull shot to the boundary off Marco Jansen on the first ball of the innings – his first Test runs since December 29, 2016. Maddinson, whose three previous Tests were all in late 2016, smashed another boundary later in the over before flicking Wiaan Mulder for six over deep square-leg. Ashwell Prince admits his batters were off the mark after being bowled out for 284 against Australia in Durban Australia are in the box seat – which seemed unlikely when they struggled with the bat on the opening day – but will be wary of bad light potentially restricting days four and five too.
Brilliant bowling and fielding on day three suffocated South Africa, who peared set to be bowled out before tea until a rearguard from Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer halted Australia’s push. They enjoyed a 52-run stand before Maharaj added to South Africa’s list of tame dismissals when he gifted Mitchell Starc a second wicket, hitting straight to cover. Harmer and Anrich Nortje added a valuable 35 more for the tenth wicket to eat into the deficit but it wasn’t enough to mask a rough batting effort from South Africa, who lacked plication and discipline in their first Test match in almost a year.
Cummins spearheaded Australia’s attack, consistently challenging the batters as he regularly hit speeds of 140kph and above. He finished with 3 for 54 from 15 overs, with all four frontline Australia bowlers taking at least two wickets. Smith backed up the bowlers by claiming four catches, which lifted him past Joe Root for the most Test catches by a non-wicketkeeper.
Nathan Lyon is all praise for Steven Smith’s catching and the bowling unit’s performance in the Durban Test against South Africa His first three were sublime. With great anticipation, Smith moved into position to snare skipper Temba Bavuma, who had unfurled a reverse-sweep off Nathan Lyon . Smith then pulled off a stunning catch to dismiss David Bedingham , diving across first slip – it was the record No.
221 of his Test career. He saved his best for the third, again moving quickly as he plucked an outrageous one-handed catch off Kyle Verreynne’s attempted reverse-sweep off Lyon. It was a dispointing batting display by South Africa, who started both sessions strongly before losing wickets in clumps.
There was little resistance other than Bedingham and Aiden Markram’s 84-run second-wicket partnership, while Mulder and Tristan Stubbs put on 56 runs for the fifth wicket. Bedingham seemed at ease after being elevated to No. 3, a position he had never previously batted at in Test cricket, but was left frustrated after falling for 49 – the top score in the innings.
After a wretched day two, where their attack was helpless against an impregnable Matt Renshaw before the late wicket of opener Ryan Rickelton for a duck, South Africa had looked to bat for the long haul in perfect conditions. The Kingsmead surface had flattened, with little of the extra bounce and movement that proved quite difficult for Australia’s batters on the opening day still in play. With a day of toil in the field looming, Australia aimed to strike with what was still a new ball after only 8.4 overs were bowled when bad light cut short day two.
David Bedingham’s 49 was the highest score by a specialist batter in South Africa’s first innings, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 3, Durban, October 11, 2026 Resuming at 27 for 1, South Africa started well with the runs flowing off the bats of Markram and Bedingham under sunny skies. But they were never confident against Cummins, who was only four deliveries into his first spell before day two ended. On the day, he had a big lbw shout against Markram turned down, and he wisely did not call for the review with replays showing the ball was heading over the stumps.
He then conjured steep bounce when he had Bedingham in a tangle, but the leading edge flew over the slips for a boundary. Markram loomed as a key having saved some of his best performances against Australia, averaging over 60 from five previous Tests compared to his career mark of 35.5. He moved to 37 until a loose stroke saw him edge a 144kph length delivery to first slip, with Starc’s decision to bowl around the wicket proving a masterstroke.
Having entered the attack 40 minutes into the day’s play, Lyon found his groove right away, which was a far cry from his South Africa counterparts Maharaj and Harmer, who were counter-attacked in Australia’s first innings. South Africa’s scoring stalled and the pressure took its toll on Bavuma, who made just 3 from 27 balls before falling to Lyon. Nic Maddinson recovered from a horror first innings to score his first Test runs since December 2016, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Durban, 3rd day, October 11, 2026 Just before lunch, Lyon thought he had taken a second wicket when Mulder edged to Marnus Labuschagne at first slip, but third umpire Richard Illingworth deemed the ball had touched the turf.
Mulder was out to citalise after the interval and combined well with Stubbs to steady South Africa. Lyon was unable to rediscover his accuracy, while the introduction of Head’s part-time spin did not pay dividends with Mulder smashing his first ball into the grassbanks over square leg. Right when Australia needed a spark, Cummins stepped up like he has done on so many occasions.
He bent his back and conjured extra bounce to deliver a 143kph bouncer that bamboozled Mulder, who tried in vain to get out of a pull shot, only to hit straight to midwicket. Cummins then completely outwitted Stubbs with a short-ball tactic that had the impatient batter holing out to deep fine-leg. His stranglehold over South Africa’s batters finally eased when he tired late in the spell as Jansen counter-attacked with a trio of boundaries in the space of five balls.
But Jansen’s flurry was all too brief as he tamely hit Josh Hazlewood to mid-off in a poor dismissal. Although perhs he was still in a daze having moments earlier watched from close range Smith’s unbelievable catch to dismiss Verreynne. Steven Smith backed up the bowlers by claiming four catches, two of them stunning efforts, that lifted him past Joe Root for the most Test catches by a non-wicketkeeper Pat Cummins celebrates a wicket, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 3, Durban, October 11, 2026 chopped on!
Maddinson’s struggles end. Good length, fifth stump, Maddinson tries to create a cut shot that’s not on, too close and not short enough, he gets a thick inside edge and it crashes into off! Nic Maddinson’s return to Test cricket was dispointing, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Durban, 1st day, October 9, 2026 an peal for caught down the leg side given not out.
Verreynne is confident. South Africa review . Full, shing down leg, he tries to glance and there’s a spike as it passes the bat!
It came off the edge and he’s got to go! A bad ball gets a wicket. Head is annoyed.
He tried to flick it with power but just got a little tickle. A good review this time. Another miss by the umpire though Travis Head was strangled down leg, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 1, Durban, October 9, 2026 THAT IS TOAST!
Marnus is despondent, takes the review. It’s a faint lift of the bat and a nod. First replay in, could impact have saved him?
Fullish length ball, slight wobble seam, beats the inside-edge of the full-faced block. Marnus was well forward and got hit around the knee-roll. OHMY, impact umpire’s call but only marginally , would go on to hit off as per Hawk-Eye.
Touch unlucky for Marnus but the ocs there did him no favours. That’ll be lunch with the session arguably shared edged and taken at gully! That blow on the hand rattled him .
Good length, angled in, straightening a touch, pushes at it from the crease, gets a thick edge and it’s taken easily at gully Marco Jansen roughed up and ripped out Steven Smith after lunch, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 1, Durban, October 9, 2026 edged and taken at slip! No double for Renshaw. A wicket for Harmer .
The break probably did him. Tossed up wide of off, spinning away, he drives but gets a thick edge and it’s easily taken at slip by Markram Matt Renshaw got out for 190 after tea, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 2, Durban, October 10, 2026 Matt Renshaw celebrates his first Test fifty in nine years, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 2, Durban, October 10, 2026 You could hear that was out before you could see that was out! Clink off the edge and taken at second slip.
Boy is Nortje pumped! This is a bona-fide Test dismissal. Full ball around off at 143, bit of a change in length as it’s been into-the-pitch stuff a lot.
Carey stuck on the crease a touch, looks to punch it down the ground. Got an on-drive earlier, tried to go the other side with the full-faced drive. Low catch for Markram, and Australia are five down Anrich Nortje roars in celebration, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 1, Durban, October 9, 2026 Nicked off?
Nortje convinced, not given. Only one review left… Bavuma takes it.
Beautiful seam-up ball at 146ks, landed just outside off and seamed away a touch. Small stride across from Webster, kept bat relatively close to body. Looked to defend towards cover, ball finished just over knee-roll height.
So, he was defending slightly on the up, doesn’t do much wrong but gets a feather on it, Ultra-Edge confirms edged and taken at second slip! Good length, shing away, Cummins pokes at it with no footwork, gets a thick edge and it floats knee high to Markram who pouches it nicely Wiaan Mulder shed the ball away to dismiss Pat Cummins, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 2, Durban, October 10, 2026 bowled him! Wobble seam, pitching on leg, nipping across, Starc went to work leg side expecting she and it nips past the edge and crashes into middle and off.
Still plenty in this pitch. Lyon reviews and starts walking off. Early ‘T’, probably because there are three reviews left.
Was a full ball just in front of the crease. 136ks, from around the wicket. Both of Lyon’s feet were in the crease, he tried to flick it with a closed bat-face and got hit in front of middle.
Hitting low on middle. Plumb lbw but no Cowan, no Dentury for Lyon. Match-changing partnership though, 134 off 286 South Africa begin their long home summer, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 1, Durban, October 9, 2026 Team Australia at the National Anthem, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 1, Durban, October 9, 2026 Nic Maddinson’s return to Test cricket was dispointing, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Durban, 1st day, October 9, 2026 Marco Jansen roughed up and ripped out Steven Smith after lunch, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 1, Durban, October 9, 2026 chopped on!
Maddinson’s struggles end. Good length, fifth stump, Maddinson tries to create a cut shot that’s not on, too close and not short enough, he gets a thick inside edge and it crashes into off! edged and taken at gully!
That blow on the hand rattled him . Good length, angled in, straightening a touch, pushes at it from the crease, gets a thick edge and it’s taken easily at gully TOAST. Lyon reviews and starts walking off.
Early ‘T’, probably because there are three reviews left. Was a full ball just in front of the crease. 136ks, from around the wicket.
Both of Lyon’s feet were in the crease, he tried to flick it with a closed bat-face and got hit in front of middle. Hitting low on middle. Plumb lbw but no Cowan, no Dentury for Lyon.
Match-changing partnership though, 134 off 286 Travis Head was strangled down leg, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 1, Durban, October 9, 2026 Wiaan Mulder shed the ball away to dismiss Pat Cummins, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 2, Durban, October 10, 2026 an peal for caught down the leg side given not out. Verreynne is confident. South Africa review .
Full, shing down leg, he tries to glance and there’s a spike as it passes the bat! It came off the edge and he’s got to go! A bad ball gets a wicket.
Head is annoyed. He tried to flick it with power but just got a little tickle. A good review this time.
Another miss by the umpire though THAT IS TOAST! Marnus is despondent, takes the review. It’s a faint lift of the bat and a nod.
First replay in, could impact have saved him? Fullish length ball, slight wobble seam, beats the inside-edge of the full-faced block. Marnus was well forward and got hit around the knee-roll.
OHMY, impact umpire’s call but only marginally , would go on to hit off as per Hawk-Eye. Touch unlucky for Marnus but the ocs there did him no favours. That’ll be lunch with the session arguably shared edged and taken at second slip!
Good length, shing away, Cummins pokes at it with no footwork, gets a thick edge and it floats knee high to Markram who pouches it nicely bowled him! Wobble seam, pitching on leg, nipping across, Starc went to work leg side expecting she and it nips past the edge and crashes into middle and off. Still plenty in this pitch.
Anrich Nortje roars in celebration, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 1, Durban, October 9, 2026 Matt Renshaw celebrates his first Test fifty in nine years, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 2, Durban, October 10, 2026 You could hear that was out before you could see that was out! Clink off the edge and taken at second slip. Boy is Nortje pumped!
This is a bona-fide Test dismissal. Full ball around off at 143, bit of a change in length as it’s been into-the-pitch stuff a lot. Carey stuck on the crease a touch, looks to punch it down the ground.
Got an on-drive earlier, tried to go the other side with the full-faced drive. Low catch for Markram, and Australia are five down Nicked off? Nortje convinced, not given.
Only one review left… Bavuma takes it. Beautiful seam-up ball at 146ks, landed just outside off and seamed away a touch.
Small stride across from Webster, kept bat relatively close to body. Looked to defend towards cover, ball finished just over knee-roll height. So, he was defending slightly on the up, doesn’t do much wrong but gets a feather on it, Ultra-Edge confirms Matt Renshaw got out for 190 after tea, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 2, Durban, October 10, 2026 edged and taken at slip!
No double for Renshaw. A wicket for Harmer . The break probably did him.
Tossed up wide of off, spinning away, he drives but gets a thick edge and it’s easily taken at slip by Markram an peal for caught down the leg side given not out. Verreynne is confident. South Africa review .
Full, shing down leg, he tries to glance and there’s a spike as it passes the bat! It came off the edge and he’s got to go! A bad ball gets a wicket.
Head is annoyed. He tried to flick it with power but just got a little tickle. A good review this time.
Another miss by the umpire though Travis Head was strangled down leg, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 1, Durban, October 9, 2026 chopped on! Maddinson’s struggles end. Good length, fifth stump, Maddinson tries to create a cut shot that’s not on, too close and not short enough, he gets a thick inside edge and it crashes into off!
Nic Maddinson’s return to Test cricket was dispointing, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Durban, 1st day, October 9, 2026 THAT IS TOAST! Marnus is despondent, takes the review. It’s a faint lift of the bat and a nod.
First replay in, could impact have saved him? Fullish length ball, slight wobble seam, beats the inside-edge of the full-faced block. Marnus was well forward and got hit around the knee-roll.
OHMY, impact umpire’s call but only marginally , would go on to hit off as per Hawk-Eye. Touch unlucky for Marnus but the ocs there did him no favours. That’ll be lunch with the session arguably shared edged and taken at gully!
That blow on the hand rattled him . Good length, angled in, straightening a touch, pushes at it from the crease, gets a thick edge and it’s taken easily at gully Marco Jansen roughed up and ripped out Steven Smith after lunch, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 1, Durban, October 9, 2026 You could hear that was out before you could see that was out! Clink off the edge and taken at second slip.
Boy is Nortje pumped! This is a bona-fide Test dismissal. Full ball around off at 143, bit of a change in length as it’s been into-the-pitch stuff a lot.
Carey stuck on the crease a touch, looks to punch it down the ground. Got an on-drive earlier, tried to go the other side with the full-faced drive. Low catch for Markram, and Australia are five down Anrich Nortje roars in celebration, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 1, Durban, October 9, 2026 Nicked off?
Nortje convinced, not given. Only one review left… Bavuma takes it.
Beautiful seam-up ball at 146ks, landed just outside off and seamed away a touch. Small stride across from Webster, kept bat relatively close to body. Looked to defend towards cover, ball finished just over knee-roll height.
So, he was defending slightly on the up, doesn’t do much wrong but gets a feather on it, Ultra-Edge confirms edged and taken at second slip! Good length, shing away, Cummins pokes at it with no footwork, gets a thick edge and it floats knee high to Markram who pouches it nicely Wiaan Mulder shed the ball away to dismiss Pat Cummins, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 2, Durban, October 10, 2026 bowled him! Wobble seam, pitching on leg, nipping across, Starc went to work leg side expecting she and it nips past the edge and crashes into middle and off.
Still plenty in this pitch. Lyon reviews and starts walking off. Early ‘T’, probably because there are three reviews left.
Was a full ball just in front of the crease. 136ks, from around the wicket. Both of Lyon’s feet were in the crease, he tried to flick it with a closed bat-face and got hit in front of middle.
Hitting low on middle. Plumb lbw but no Cowan, no Dentury for Lyon. Match-changing partnership though, 134 off 286 edged and taken at slip!
No double for Renshaw. A wicket for Harmer . The break probably did him.
Tossed up wide of off, spinning away, he drives but gets a thick edge and it’s easily taken at slip by Markram Matt Renshaw got out for 190 after tea, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 2, Durban, October 10, 2026 Matt Renshaw celebrates his first Test fifty in nine years, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 2, Durban, October 10, 2026 The cover drive giveth, the cover drive taketh away! Scrambled seam, back of length at 144ks, from around the wicket. It was just outside off.
Actually, from the side-on replay, it looked like a length ball that got extra bounce. Either way, Markram was on the back foot and tried to drive on the top of the bounce through cover. Got big on him and the edge floated to Renshaw above the bread-basket.
A kid in the stands hides his face in his hands as the bowler who’s looked the most unlikely to strike, strikes Aiden Markram fell against the run of play, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 3, Durban, October 11, 2026 edged and taken by Webster at third! 138kph, full, angled across, he drives hard at it and gets a thick edge, Webster takes it fingers pointing up infront of his eyes. Width was offered, his eyes lit up, but he edges reaching for it Josh Hazlewood hung the ball wide to dismiss Ryan Rickelton, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 2, Durban, October 10, 2026 Smith takes another stunner at second slip!
Cummins strikes with extra bounce. Back of a length, climbing steeply outside off, Bedingham tries an ill-advised back foot drive with a vertical bat, gets a thick edge, it flies high towards Renshaw at first and Smith flies like Superman infront of him to pluck it with two hands and complete a forward somersault. Stunning reverse sweep straight to an alert Smith at slip!
Great moving by Smith to read it and get across! Tossed up outside off, the pressure built to the point where Bavuma tried to reverse sweep, Smith saw him she and moved early two paces to his right and was perfectly placed to catch it as it ballooned from high on the bat to him at chest height! Brilliant work from Smith.
Great pressure from Lyon Steven Smith took a smart catch to punish what could have been a proactive reverse sweep from Temba Bavuma Steven Smith took a smart catch to punish what could have been a proactive reverse sweep from Temba Bavuma, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 3, Durban, October 11, 2026 Okay, this might be a brain fade. Just the hooting from the Aussie fielders tells you all you need to hear . Cordon and bowler ran to Hazlewood at fine leg with childlike joy.
134ks short ball around off, Stubbs took it on with a pull. Did try to keep it down but from shoulder-height, that was tough. Circumstances made it only worse.
Top edge went low towards deep fine leg, Hazlewood came forward and took it low to the left Pat Cummins bounced out Tristan Stubbs, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 3, Durban, October 11, 2026 Pat Cummins turns Bang Cummins to bounce Mulder out . Banged into the pitch at 143ks. Well outside off, Mulder’s instinct was to pull it with power.
He then pulled out, was halfway into the leave with the bat sticking out horizontally around his shoulder. Then ball hit bat, rather than the other way around. Hit low too and ballooned for a bit, midwicket (Connolly, subbing for Starc) ran in and took a dolly.
Flat pitch, easiest day to bat on, and this gets manufactured, how good! Wiaan Mulder was one of the four top-six batters who made between 30 and 50, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 3, Durban, October 11, 2026 Smith takes another stunner off a reverse sweep! Insane fielding!
A one-hander this time! Tossed up wide of off, he reverse sweeps and strikes it well, Smith moves to cover it with one pace and then sticks out the right hand to pluck it! Outrageous reaction and skill.
The best of his three today Don’t reverse sweep when Steven Smith is at slip, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 3, Durban, October 11, 2026 spooned to mid-off! Awful dismissal . Back of a length, wide of off, he tries to muscle it over wide mid-on with a flat batted pull and some extra bounce causes a miscue, it floats to Head at mid-off who takes a regulation chance Two things you can try finding from that: laughter or sympathy.
It is so tame it’s sad. Full, wide 140ks ball. Again, fingers rolling over the ball but not pace off.
Might’ve lost a lot of pace off the pitch. Maharaj got on one knee for another cover drive with a horizontal bat, probably like he played first ball of the over. Way too early on the shot, spooned to cover Beau McGrath gets his man.
Very English dismissal that. 124ks scrambled seam ball on a length, landed around off and may have straightened. Nortje looked to defend straight.
Ball shaves the outside edge and goes to first slip. After being taken down for a few, Webster ends the tailenders’ wagging Aiden Markram fell against the run of play, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 3, Durban, October 11, 2026 The cover drive giveth, the cover drive taketh away! Scrambled seam, back of length at 144ks, from around the wicket.
It was just outside off. Actually, from the side-on replay, it looked like a length ball that got extra bounce. Either way, Markram was on the back foot and tried to drive on the top of the bounce through cover.
Got big on him and the edge floated to Renshaw above the bread-basket. A kid in the stands hides his face in his hands as the bowler who’s looked the most unlikely to strike, strikes Two things you can try finding from that: laughter or sympathy. It is so tame it’s sad.
Full, wide 140ks ball. Again, fingers rolling over the ball but not pace off. Might’ve lost a lot of pace off the pitch.
Maharaj got on one knee for another cover drive with a horizontal bat, probably like he played first ball of the over. Way too early on the shot, spooned to cover Josh Hazlewood hung the ball wide to dismiss Ryan Rickelton, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 2, Durban, October 10, 2026 edged and taken by Webster at third! 138kph, full, angled across, he drives hard at it and gets a thick edge, Webster takes it fingers pointing up infront of his eyes.
Width was offered, his eyes lit up, but he edges reaching for it spooned to mid-off! Awful dismissal . Back of a length, wide of off, he tries to muscle it over wide mid-on with a flat batted pull and some extra bounce causes a miscue, it floats to Head at mid-off who takes a regulation chance Wiaan Mulder was one of the four top-six batters who made between 30 and 50, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 3, Durban, October 11, 2026 Pat Cummins bounced out Tristan Stubbs, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 3, Durban, October 11, 2026 Smith takes another stunner at second slip!
Cummins strikes with extra bounce. Back of a length, climbing steeply outside off, Bedingham tries an ill-advised back foot drive with a vertical bat, gets a thick edge, it flies high towards Renshaw at first and Smith flies like Superman infront of him to pluck it with two hands and complete a forward somersault. Stunning Pat Cummins turns Bang Cummins to bounce Mulder out .
Banged into the pitch at 143ks. Well outside off, Mulder’s instinct was to pull it with power. He then pulled out, was halfway into the leave with the bat sticking out horizontally around his shoulder.
Then ball hit bat, rather than the other way around. Hit low too and ballooned for a bit, midwicket (Connolly, subbing for Starc) ran in and took a dolly. Flat pitch, easiest day to bat on, and this gets manufactured, how good!
Okay, this might be a brain fade. Just the hooting from the Aussie fielders tells you all you need to hear . Cordon and bowler ran to Hazlewood at fine leg with childlike joy.
134ks short ball around off, Stubbs took it on with a pull. Did try to keep it down but from shoulder-height, that was tough. Circumstances made it only worse.
Top edge went low towards deep fine leg, Hazlewood came forward and took it low to the left Steven Smith took a smart catch to punish what could have been a proactive reverse sweep from Temba Bavuma Steven Smith took a smart catch to punish what could have been a proactive reverse sweep from Temba Bavuma, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 3, Durban, October 11, 2026 Don’t reverse sweep when Steven Smith is at slip, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 3, Durban, October 11, 2026 reverse sweep straight to an alert Smith at slip! Great moving by Smith to read it and get across! Tossed up outside off, the pressure built to the point where Bavuma tried to reverse sweep, Smith saw him she and moved early two paces to his right and was perfectly placed to catch it as it ballooned from high on the bat to him at chest height!
Brilliant work from Smith. Great pressure from Lyon Smith takes another stunner off a reverse sweep! Insane fielding!
A one-hander this time! Tossed up wide of off, he reverse sweeps and strikes it well, Smith moves to cover it with one pace and then sticks out the right hand to pluck it! Outrageous reaction and skill.
The best of his three today Beau McGrath gets his man. Very English dismissal that. 124ks scrambled seam ball on a length, landed around off and may have straightened.
Nortje looked to defend straight. Ball shaves the outside edge and goes to first slip. After being taken down for a few, Webster ends the tailenders’ wagging edged and taken by Webster at third!
138kph, full, angled across, he drives hard at it and gets a thick edge, Webster takes it fingers pointing up infront of his eyes. Width was offered, his eyes lit up, but he edges reaching for it Josh Hazlewood hung the ball wide to dismiss Ryan Rickelton, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 2, Durban, October 10, 2026 The cover drive giveth, the cover drive taketh away! Scrambled seam, back of length at 144ks, from around the wicket.
It was just outside off. Actually, from the side-on replay, it looked like a length ball that got extra bounce. Either way, Markram was on the back foot and tried to drive on the top of the bounce through cover.
Got big on him and the edge floated to Renshaw above the bread-basket. A kid in the stands hides his face in his hands as the bowler who’s looked the most unlikely to strike, strikes Aiden Markram fell against the run of play, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 3, Durban, October 11, 2026 reverse sweep straight to an alert Smith at slip! Great moving by Smith to read it and get across!
Tossed up outside off, the pressure built to the point where Bavuma tried to reverse sweep, Smith saw him she and moved early two paces to his right and was perfectly placed to catch it as it ballooned from high on the bat to him at chest height! Brilliant work from Smith. Great pressure from Lyon Steven Smith took a smart catch to punish what could have been a proactive reverse sweep from Temba Bavuma Steven Smith took a smart catch to punish what could have been a proactive reverse sweep from Temba Bavuma, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 3, Durban, October 11, 2026 Smith takes another stunner at second slip!
Cummins strikes with extra bounce. Back of a length, climbing steeply outside off, Bedingham tries an ill-advised back foot drive with a vertical bat, gets a thick edge, it flies high towards Renshaw at first and Smith flies like Superman infront of him to pluck it with two hands and complete a forward somersault. Stunning Pat Cummins turns Bang Cummins to bounce Mulder out .
Banged into the pitch at 143ks. Well outside off, Mulder’s instinct was to pull it with power. He then pulled out, was halfway into the leave with the bat sticking out horizontally around his shoulder.
Then ball hit bat, rather than the other way around. Hit low too and ballooned for a bit, midwicket (Connolly, subbing for Starc) ran in and took a dolly. Flat pitch, easiest day to bat on, and this gets manufactured, how good!
Wiaan Mulder was one of the four top-six batters who made between 30 and 50, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 3, Durban, October 11, 2026 Okay, this might be a brain fade. Just the hooting from the Aussie fielders tells you all you need to hear . Cordon and bowler ran to Hazlewood at fine leg with childlike joy.
134ks short ball around off, Stubbs took it on with a pull. Did try to keep it down but from shoulder-height, that was tough. Circumstances made it only worse.
Top edge went low towards deep fine leg, Hazlewood came forward and took it low to the left Pat Cummins bounced out Tristan Stubbs, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 3, Durban, October 11, 2026 Smith takes another stunner off a reverse sweep! Insane fielding! A one-hander this time!
Tossed up wide of off, he reverse sweeps and strikes it well, Smith moves to cover it with one pace and then sticks out the right hand to pluck it! Outrageous reaction and skill. The best of his three today Don’t reverse sweep when Steven Smith is at slip, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 3, Durban, October 11, 2026 spooned to mid-off!
Awful dismissal . Back of a length, wide of off, he tries to muscle it over wide mid-on with a flat batted pull and some extra bounce causes a miscue, it floats to Head at mid-off who takes a regulation chance Two things you can try finding from that: laughter or sympathy. It is so tame it’s sad.
Full, wide 140ks ball. Again, fingers rolling over the ball but not pace off. Might’ve lost a lot of pace off the pitch.
Maharaj got on one knee for another cover drive with a horizontal bat, probably like he played first ball of the over. Way too early on the shot, spooned to cover Beau McGrath gets his man. Very English dismissal that.
124ks scrambled seam ball on a length, landed around off and may have straightened. Nortje looked to defend straight. Ball shaves the outside edge and goes to first slip.
After being taken down for a few, Webster ends the tailenders’ wagging chipped to mid-on off a leading edge! Soft dismissal Full on leg, it just straightened a touch as Head tried work it square, it floats of a leading edge straight to mid-on. Easy catch for Bavuma.
Head can’t believe what he’s done. He closed the face too soon chipped to mid-on off a leading edge! Soft dismissal Full on leg, it just straightened a touch as Head tried work it square, it floats of a leading edge straight to mid-on.
Easy catch for Bavuma. Head can’t believe what he’s done. He closed the face too soon chipped to mid-on off a leading edge!
Soft dismissal Full on leg, it just straightened a touch as Head tried work it square, it floats of a leading edge straight to mid-on. Easy catch for Bavuma. Head can’t believe what he’s done.
He closed the face too soon Around 45 overs have been lost across three days’ play, which needs to be factored into teams’ calculations Bad light stopped play early under grey skies, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 1, Durban, October 9, 2026 His four catches, including two stunning efforts at slip, helped the visitors take a 106-run lead in Durban Don’t reverse sweep when Steven Smith is at slip, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 3, Durban, October 11, 2026 Aiden Markram fell against the run of play, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 3, Durban, October 11, 2026 Steven Smith backed up the bowlers by claiming four catches, two of them stunning efforts, that lifted him past Joe Root for the most Test catches by a non-wicketkeeper Pat Cummins celebrates a wicket, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 3, Durban, October 11, 2026 His century at No. 5 in Durban has given Australia a boost, but it also gives them another selection puzzle Matt Renshaw celebrates his second Test century, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 2, Durban, October 10, 2026 Ashwell Prince admits his batters were off the mark after being bowled out for 284 against Australia in Durban Nathan Lyon is all praise for Steven Smith’s catching and the bowling unit’s performance in the Durban Test against South Africa Point Deductions England were deducted 2 points for slow over-rate in the match against India on 10th July 2025 Pakistan were deducted 8 points for slow over-rate in the match against Bangladesh on 8th May 2026 England were deducted 12 points for slow over-rate in the match against New Zealand on 18th June 2026 West Indies were deducted 2 points for slow over-rate in the match against Sri Lanka on 07th July 2026 Pakistan were deducted 11 points for slow over-rate in the match against England on 12th September 2026 A view of Harrup Park, Australia A v India A, Quadrangular A-team one-day series, final, Mackay, September 4, 2016 The magnificent Melbourne Cricket Ground in full bloom, Victoria v Queensland, FR Cup, MCG, February 6, 2008 A general view of the Adelaide Oval, South Australia v Tasmania, Sheffield Shield, 3rd day, Adelaide, November 24, 2013 A wide angle view of England’s match against South Africa at the Kensington Oval in Barbados, England v South Africa, Super Eights, Barbados, ril 17, 2007 A general view of Trent Bridge during the fourth Test, England v Australia, Trent Bridge, August 25, 2005 The Hagley Oval drew a big crowd , England v Scotland, World Cup 2015, Group A, Christchurch, February 23, 2015 A view of Harrup Park, Australia A v India A, Quadrangular A-team one-day series, final, Mackay, September 4, 2016 The clouds linger over the SSC in Colombo, before the rain fell to force a draw, Sri Lanka v England, 2nd Test, Colombo, December 13, 2007 The Galle Fort is in view as Shane Warne bowls, Sri Lanka vs Australia, 1st Test, Galle, 2nd day, March 9, 2004 A wide-angle view of The Wanderers, South Africa v West Indies, 5th ODI, Johannesburg, February 3, 2008 The clouds linger over the SSC in Colombo, before the rain fell to force a draw, Sri Lanka v England, 2nd Test, Colombo, December 13, 2007 The Galle Fort is in view as Shane Warne bowls, Sri Lanka vs Australia, 1st Test, Galle, 2nd day, March 9, 2004 The final day of the season unfolds under autumn sun at Old Trafford, Lancashire v Middlesex, County Championship, Division One, Old Trafford, September 26, 2014 After the rain the sun shone at Headingley, England v New Zealand, 2nd Investec Test, Headingley, 2nd day, May 25, 2013 After the rain the sun shone at Headingley, England v New Zealand, 2nd Investec Test, Headingley, 2nd day, May 25, 2013 A general view of Trent Bridge during the fourth Test, England v Australia, Trent Bridge, August 25, 2005 The magnificent Melbourne Cricket Ground in full bloom, Victoria v Queensland, FR Cup, MCG, February 6, 2008 A general view of the Adelaide Oval, South Australia v Tasmania, Sheffield Shield, 3rd day, Adelaide, November 24, 2013 The final day of the season unfolds under autumn sun at Old Trafford, Lancashire v Middlesex, County Championship, Division One, Old Trafford, September 26, 2014 After the rain the sun shone at Headingley, England v New Zealand, 2nd Investec Test, Headingley, 2nd day, May 25, 2013 A wide-angle view of The Wanderers, South Africa v West Indies, 5th ODI, Johannesburg, February 3, 2008 The clouds linger over the SSC in Colombo, before the rain fell to force a draw, Sri Lanka v England, 2nd Test, Colombo, December 13, 2007 The Galle Fort is in view as Shane Warne bowls, Sri Lanka vs Australia, 1st Test, Galle, 2nd day, March 9, 2004 The clouds linger over the SSC in Colombo, before the rain fell to force a draw, Sri Lanka v England, 2nd Test, Colombo, December 13, 2007 The Galle Fort is in view as Shane Warne bowls, Sri Lanka vs Australia, 1st Test, Galle, 2nd day, March 9, 2004 The Hagley Oval drew a big crowd , England v Scotland, World Cup 2015, Group A, Christchurch, February 23, 2015 A wide angle view of England’s match against South Africa at the Kensington Oval in Barbados, England v South Africa, Super Eights, Barbados, ril 17, 2007 After the rain the sun shone at Headingley, England v New Zealand, 2nd Investec Test, Headingley, 2nd day, May 25, 2013 Steven Smith backed up the bowlers by claiming four catches, two of them stunning efforts, that lifted him past Joe Root for the most Test catches by a non-wicketkeeper Pat Cummins celebrates a wicket, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 3, Durban, October 11, 2026 SA v Aus 1st Test 2026 – Preview: World Test Championship final rematch could she next year’s decider Marco Jansen celebrates after having Marnus Labuschagne caught behind, Australia vs South Africa, World Test Championship final, 2nd day, Lord’s, June 12, 2025 South Africa offspinner on the Kingsmead wicket and the fierce contest he expects between the two teams SA vs AUS 2026/27, SA vs AUS 1st Test Match Report, October 09 – 13, 2026 – Australia in command after bowlers hunt as a pack to eke out 106-run lead SA vs AUS 2026/27, South Africa vs Australia Match Report: Steven Smith backed up the bowlers by claiming four catches, two of them stunning efforts, that lifted him past Joe Root for the most Test catches by a non-wicketkeeper Steven Smith backed up the bowlers by claiming four catches, two of them stunning efforts, that lifted him past Joe Root for the most Test catches by a non-wicketkeeper Rid Fire: What about those reverse sweeps? Prince: We need to learn to absorb opponents’ intensity Tristan Lavalette is a journalist based in Perth Day 4 – Session 1: Australia lead by 154 runs.
How bad light could she the South Africa vs Australia Test ‘Oh my god, Smudge’ – Smith seizes the ball and the day for Australia South Africa feel the sting instead of taking it out Renshaw’s versatility gives Australia oons, and a dilemma Rid Fire: How good is Smith at slip? What about those reverse sweeps?
