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“Either way, Australia’s captain Pat Cummins ended up batting on for somewhat longer than most expected, keeping the third innings going until the lead was 420 and South Africa’s chase would not begin until after the tea break.”

“Oh, and some poor batsmanship from South Africa’s batsmen.”

“Meanwhile, Australian great David Boon has copped some cheek from the SuperSport commentators - a fan was spotted wearing an Australian one-day throwback top from 1980s.”

“These queries will be made still more urgent should South Africa make the most of their day one inroads and consign Australia to a third defeat in the space of five Test matches.”

“By recalling NSW veteran Nic Maddinson into Australia’s Test squad to face South Africa, selectors have made that gamble.”

“Australia, who rested several of their regulars for the tour, claimed the series 3-0 and now move on to South Africa for three ODI fixtures that begin in Durban on Thursday.”

“The final match of the series will be played at Harare on Sunday before the tour rolls on to South Africa for three ODIs and three Tests.”

“The pitchforks were out for Australia’s chairman of selectors George Bailey when Nic Maddinson trudged off for an ugly 33-ball duck on day one of the first Test against South Africa in Durban.”

““When you’ve got the Australian cricket team competing against South Africa in South Africa, No.1 and No.2 going at it, I was expecting a bigger crowd, but no, they’ve been pretty quiet to be honest.””

“By stumps, the Australian lead was 139, Nic Maddinson had avoided a pair, and the major opposition now appeared to be Durban’s fading light, as much as any rearguard from a South African side that seemed intent on playing more hastily than Matt Renshaw had…”

“That is the stark reality playing out in the background of Australia’s first Test in South Africa in eight-and-a-half years.”

“Usman Khawaja spoke to Test captain Pat Cummins and Cricket Australia boss Todd Greenberg about the contents of his forthcoming memoir before the team departed for South Africa, where the host broadcaster has re-aired controversial ‘sandpaper’ footage on the…”

“…lacks’ unbeaten run at Eden Park - which dates to France’s 23-20 win in 1994 - sits among the most incredible unbeaten streaks at home in the history of world sport (there were two draws in the 53-match run, against South Africa in 1994 and the Lions in…”

“Remember when, indeed … Australia’s Test team is back in South Africa this week, where that imbroglio kicked off eight years and seven months ago.”

“Durban: For all the changes to the Australian team and international cricket since the fateful 2018 South Africa tour, one theme runs consistently from that episode to the one about to begin at Kingsmead.”

“South African cricket’s broadcast partner is using footage from the infamous ball-tampering scandal to promote coverage for the upcoming Test series, in an indication of the hot reception Australia will receive over the next month.”

“The match itself, which South Africa won by 492 runs to win the series 3-1, was the kind of pummelling to be expected when the Australians’ minds were elsewhere.”

“Pat Cummins expects great things of Steve Smith in his first Test matches in South Africa since the infamous 2018 tour, even if the captain concedes he has no guarantees that his deputy will see it through to the end of 19 Tests over the next 10 months.”

“… been told everything – I suspect that’s the case.”A former Cricket Australia director As an incredulous prime minister Malcolm Turnbull conveyed his disappointment at the team’s behaviour to a shocked nation, CA’s integrity boss at the time, Iain Roy, was in…”

“Pat Cummins has opened the door for Mitchell Marsh to make a comeback to Test cricket as soon as the series in South Africa, believing the white-ball bruiser still has it in him to change red-ball games, like he did at Headingley in the 2023 Ashes.”

“…their first one-day clash of the season against Victoria on Saturday, the Test No.3 also felt he still had a role to play in Australia’s limited overs side ahead of next year’s World Cup, despite being omitted from the squads to face Zimbabwe and South…”