Josh Hazlewood took 6-49, his career-best figures, as Australia beat South Africa in Durban to go 1-0 up in the three-match series and end the Proteas’ 12-match unbeaten run. Hazlewood dismissed Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer and Anrich Nortje on the final day, beating his previous best of 6-67 against India in 2017.
Australia scored 390 and 314-6 declared. South Africa made 284 and 206. The world champions resisted until an hour into the afternoon session on the final day, with Aiden Markram batting admirably for 237 deliveries. Australia eventually broke through. The result leaves the question of whether South Africa were simply rusty or whether this match reveals something deeper, with England due to visit over Christmas.
“I would like to see more fight,” said Proteas coach Shukri Conrad. “I don’t know if it is alarming [but] it is concerning.”
Rusty batters or something more?
South Africa’s run to the 2025 World Test Championship final at Lord’s attracted plenty of attention. They played only 12 Tests, the fewest of any team, and qualified after drawing at home against India and losing in New Zealand. They then beat West Indies, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
There is some mitigation for this defeat. It was their first Test in almost a year, and most of their batters had played only one domestic red-ball match to prepare. Australia also came off an eight-month break of their own and lost to Bangladesh at home, a point Conrad was keen to make. Last summer’s win over Australia and a 2-0 series success in India also show that this team can beat the world’s best.
However, this Test reinforced a worrying trend among the batters. Tristan Stubbs and Ryan Rickelton are fine white-ball players, but Stubbs’ two Test centuries came against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, and Rickelton’s against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. In the first innings, Stubbs top-edged a pull to fine leg two overs after Mulder had been bounced out. In the second, he played a loose drive at a wide delivery. Rickelton drove and edged at a wide ball late on day two and nicked a pull in the fourth over on day four.
Wiaan Mulder scored 367 not out against Zimbabwe last year, but Bangladesh are the only other side against whom he averages more than 30. His 110-ball stay for 29 on the final day, before he was strangled down the leg side, was at least encouraging. Kyle Verreynne, by contrast, lasted only three balls before nudging Matt Renshaw’s part-time spin to slip. His Test average of 30.14 falls to 28 against Australia and 15 against both England and India.
Conrad said that “a few of the guys need to step up”.
“The real disappointment was the batting in the first dig on a really good wicket,” Conrad said. “Yes, a world-class attack, but quite a few guys getting starts and not kicking on.”
Markram and Nortje the positives
Markram’s defiant knock in the fourth innings was the clearest positive for the Proteas. He batted for almost six hours for 75 runs before edging Mitchell Starc through to Alex Carey in the afternoon session. David Bedingham also looked comfortable at number three, although he was among those who failed to make the most of their starts, falling after reaching 49 and 46.
The defeat was not solely the batters’ fault. Temba Bavuma, who suffered his first defeat as captain in this match, allowed the game to drift on day two as Australia moved on from 124-6 to 390 not out. Renshaw played brilliantly for his 190 but was never seriously challenged, casually farming the strike and protecting Nathan Lyon during their ninth-wicket stand of 134.
Judging South Africa’s bowlers against Australia’s formidable attack, the most successful quartet Test cricket has seen, is hardly fair. Still, the Proteas bowlers lacked the relentless pressure their counterparts applied. Anrich Nortje was impressive, taking four wickets in his first Test since March 2023. His last spell was quicker than his first, and he hit Steve Smith on the helmet with a bouncer on day four. Mulder offered little after his new-ball spells, and Marco Jansen was quiet after dismissing Nic Maddinson and Smith on day one.
The return from injury of premier quick Kagiso Rabada, who was seen bowling at lunch on day five, cannot come soon enough. Spinners Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj also drew Conrad’s criticism.
“Anrich’s return was phenomenal and really pleasing,” Conrad said. “If we were brutally honest, our spinners were not as sharp as they normally are.”
The second Test starts in only five days’ time in Gqeberha, and South Africa must hope this defeat was only down to rust. The alternative would be far more concerning.