LunchSouth Africa 84 for 4 (Bavuma 21*, Verreynne 35*) v Australia
Australia’s attack justified Pat Cummins’ decision to bowl first on a Gabba green top and reduced South Africa to 27 for 4 in the first hour of this highly anticipated Test series. But it wasn’t just he bite of the bowlers that South Africa could blame. Their batting woes were in sharp focus as they played more to the venue’s reputation than reality, with questions over their technical nous surely not far away.
On a pitch where the ability to leave is key, Dean Elgar was strangled down the leg side to a delivery he needn’t have touched. His opening partner Sarel Erwee was drawn into a drive from a ball he could have watched through.
Their wickets came after a wayward start by Australia, who were perhaps also sucked in by the surface. Mitchell Starc and Cummins were guilty of bowling a little too short and struggled to find their lines early on, but still caused problems for the openers.
Starc thought he had Elgar in his second over when the South African captain jammed his bat into the turf as the ball slid under it and Alex Carey caught it. The soft signal was not out and an umpire referral confirmed Elgar was safe. But Starc had Elgar in his next over when the South African captain tried to nudge a 140kph rib-tickler through to Carey. It was his 297th Test wicket.
At the other end, a tentative Erwee took 19 deliveries to get off the mark. With Rassie van der Dussen new to the crease and back from an injury, South Africa seemed stuck.
Van der Dussen, who broke his left index finger in England in August, hit the first convincing shot of the morning when, in the seventh over, he drove Starc wide of mid-off and ran four as Marnus Labuschagne gave chase. Erwee followed suit with a stunning straight drive but run-scoring opportunities were limited as Australia adjusted their approach.
In his fifth over, Cummins found the right line outside off and forced van der Dussen to play at a delivery in the channel. He was squared up and nicked off.
Then, Scott Boland got into the thick of things. He had Erwee caught low down by Cameron Green in the gully and in the same over, had Khaya Zondo given out lbw to a delivery that rose on him and hit him on the back pad. Zondo reviewed but was out on umpire’s call.
All eyes turned to Temba Bavuma, who has not batted in a competitive game since the T20 World Cup. Luckily for him, Kyle Verreynne’s aggressive instincts came out early and he tucked into two short balls from Green, one of them with an upper cut for six. The pair remained fairly frenetic, offering two run-out chances early that Australia may regret not capitalising on.
Bavuma could have been found short of his ground when he defended to gully and appeared to want the run with Verreynne halfway down the pitch. An overthrow meant they were safe. Then, Verreynne was nearly run-out at the striker’s end when he slipped halfway down the pitch but Travis Head missed the chance from square leg.
Verreynne was unfussed and went on to chase a wide half-volley over the slips and reverse-sweep Nathon Lyon to keep South Africa ticking over. At lunch, the Bavuma-Verreynne stand had grown to 57.
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo’s South Africa correspondent