South Africa vs Australia 1st Test: Day 1 Wrap 'Maddening Selections'

Australia endured a disastrous day with the bat in Durban, finishing at 6/187 after winning the toss and electing to bat. Menners questions the selectors’ decision to promote Nic Maddinson to open, as Australia’s top order collapsed to 6/124 before Matthew Renshaw (46*) and Pat Cummins (33*) fought back with an unbeaten 63-run partnership. Steve Smith made history by passing Steve Waugh on Australia’s all-time Test run-scoring list, while South Africa’s bowlers kept the pressure on before bad light brought an early end to play.

Timecodes
(1:00) Australia’s disastrous start and the selection controversy
(2:06) Why Nic Maddinson opening the batting makes little sense
(4:13) Historic stats: Australia’s oldest-ever Test XI and Maddinson’s return
(5:00) Maddinson’s painful duck and Travis Head’s early dismissal
(6:46) Steve Smith’s milestone and Marnus Labuschagne’s frustrating exit
(8:22) South Africa’s bowling dominance and Australia’s middle-order collapse
(10:24) Renshaw and Cummins rescue Australia from 6/124
(12:43) Day one assessment: South Africa on top, but Australia still fighting