‘Very grateful’: Test cricket’s tribute to the fallen police
By Malcolm Conn
It was a day of sadness before the joy of cricket at the Gabba on Saturday, with Nathan Lyon later paying a heartfelt tribute to the fallen police and neighbour who were killed at Wieambilla, three hours west of Brisbane, last Monday.
The Australian players were close by when a delegation of six police officers arrived to be part of a minute’s silence to honour Constables Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow before the usual welcome to country and national anthems before each Test.
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The Australian players offer their support to grieving police officers before the start of play on Saturday.Credit:Getty
Head leads fightback as bowlers dominate the first Test in Brisbane
By Malcolm Conn
Travis Head went into full counterpunch mode as South Africa fought fire with brimstone during the rapidly moving first Test in Brisbane.
The dashing left-hander was 78 not out (off 77 balls) as Australia went to stumps on the first day at 5-145 in reply to 152, the fifth time in a row South Africa have been bowled out for 180 or less.
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Travis Head takes to the South African bowling attack on Saturday.Credit:AP
Thunder chaos rumbles through the air at the Gabba
By Malcolm Knox
When a professional adult cricket team is bowled out for 15 runs, whatever the format, it can quicken the game’s pulse in other parts.
Australia and South Africa turned up for a Test match at the Gabba yesterday, but the air was vibrating with talk about the previous night’s Big Bash League game in Sydney, when the Thunder had been dismissed for what looked like a misprint.
No, it was true. All 10 wickets in 35 balls. Likening that scorecard to under-9s was an insult to the kids. Fifteen! It had everyone’s attention. Again, that upstart Twenty20 was cannibalising Test cricket.
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Australian captain Pat Cummins celebrates after dismissing South Africa’s Rassie van der Dussen.Credit:AP
Wicket record tumbles at Gabba, pressure intensifies on Warner
By Tom Decent
The Gabba pitch has come under scrutiny after more wickets fell on the opening day of the first Australia and South Africa Test than ever before at the venue as greats of the game debated whether David Warner can salvage his Test career after a rare golden duck.
But according to Nathan Lyon, Warner has the full support of the Australian dressing room.
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David Warner reacts after being dismissed for a golden duck.Credit:Getty
Greetings, everybody
By Ronny Lerner
Hello everyone and welcome to our rolling coverage of the second day of the first Test between Australia and South Africa from the Gabba.
And what a swashbuckling start to this contest we were treated to yesterday!
Day one certainly belonged to the bowlers as 15 wickets in total fell, with the quicks doing most of the damage as Mitchell Starc (3-41), Scott Boland (2-28), Pat Cummins (2-35), Anrich Nortje (2-37), Kagiso Rabada (2-50) and Marco Jansen (1-15) combined for 12 poles.
But the bowlers didn’t have it all their way, with almost 300 runs also being scored in what was an action-packed opening to the series.
Australia’s Travis Head was the standout with the willow, careering to 78 not out off just 77 balls in a highly entertaining innings which featured 13 fours and a six.
He will be eyeing off his sixth Test ton and his second in as many matches (he could be aiming for a hat-trick had he not gone out for 99 in Perth).
The Aussies will resume on 5-145, seven runs behind South Africa (152).
Travis Head.Credit:Getty
