South Africa vs Australia 1st Test Day 1 Highlights: Bad light forces early stumps; Cummins, Renshaw revive AUS innings

South Africa vs Australia 1st Test Day 1: Australia reach 187/6 at stumps on Day 1 of the first Test against South Africa in Durban after bad light forces an early end to play.

South Africa vs Australia 1st Test Day 1 Live Score: Follow Latest Updates (AFP)

South Africa vs Australia 1st Test Day 1: Australia reach 187/6 at stumps on Day 1 of the first Test against South Africa in Durban after bad light forces an early end to play. Pat Cummins and Matt Renshaw lead the recovery after the visitors suffer a top-order collapse....Read More

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• 9 Oct 2026, 07:33:37 PM IST

  Early Stumps on Day 1!

  Stumps on Day 1 in Durban! Australia finish at 192/6 after a challenging day against South Africa, with Pat Cummins and Matt Renshaw holding firm to give the visitors some hope after a top-order collapse.

  Can the pair lead Australia's recovery on Day 2?

• 9 Oct 2026, 06:59:47 PM IST

  Umpires still in middle!

  The umpires are still in the middle, while some of the Proteas players have decided to stay in the dugout, and a few have returned to the dressing room. There is still some hope for the play to resume.

• 9 Oct 2026, 06:54:39 PM IST

  Bad light stops play!

  The play has been stopped due to the bad light. The umpires double-checked as the players were already walking off the field.

• 9 Oct 2026, 06:48:23 PM IST

  Cummins switching gears a bit!

  A couple of boundaries for Pat Cummins in the same over! He is using Anrich Nortje's pace to get some valuable runs. The two batters have spent enough time in the middle, and now getting runs is what they are aiming for.

• 9 Oct 2026, 06:44:09 PM IST

  50-run stand!

  A 50-run stand between Pat Cummins and Matt Renshaw! This is getting frustrating for the Proteas bowlers here. However, the pair needs to stay till the end of the day's play to cause some worry for the hosts. AUS 177/6

• 9 Oct 2026, 06:27:38 PM IST

  Australia 165/6

  The two batters have faced 100 balls now, and they are in no mood to give up easily. Matt Renshaw is already set in the middle, and now he has to find ways to score runs with Pat Cummins playing second fiddle to him. AUS 165/6

• 9 Oct 2026, 06:10:09 PM IST

  Action resumes!

  We are back after the tea break! Pat Cummins and Matt Renshaw have the job to resume the rescue mission from here.

• 9 Oct 2026, 05:45:18 PM IST

  Australia 149/6 at Tea

  Another session belonged to South Africa as Marco Jansen started off with the wicket of Steve Smith right after lunch break, while Anrich Nortje doubled the damage by striking twice in the same over to remove Alex Carey and Beau Webster. Pat Cummins and Matt Renshaw are in the middle, and they have faced 66 balls in this stand, but the rescue mission is far from over. AUS 149/6 at Tea

• 9 Oct 2026, 05:32:43 PM IST

  Cummins, Renshaw on rescue mission!

  The two batters are now looking to frustrate the Proteas bowlers and build a partnership. Pat Cummins is more than capable with the bat, but the responsibility is greater on him as captain, while Matt Renshaw also needs to make this opportunity count as he looks to cement his place in the side.

• 9 Oct 2026, 05:05:25 PM IST

  Nortje strikes twice in an over!

  Anrich Nortje gets another one as Beau Webster had a dramatic 2-ball stay in the middle, a boundary on the first ball and got dismissed on the second. An excellent review from Temba Bavuma and Nortje gets his second in the same over to run riot.

• 9 Oct 2026, 04:59:14 PM IST

  Alex Carey falls!

  Anrich Nortje ends Alex Carey's resistance with Aiden Markram taking a sharp catch at the second slip. It's a big wicket for South Africa as Carey had the resume to rescue the Aussies from here, but now the onus shifted to Renshaw. AUS 120/5

• 9 Oct 2026, 04:57:03 PM IST

  Not much for spinners!

  As expected, the Day 1 surface doesn't have much for the spinners, and it is only giving Renshaw and Carey the breathing space from the wrath of the pace bowlers. However, at this point, the Proteas also need to break this partnership to strengthen their hold before the two batters start feeling settled. AUS 120/4

• 9 Oct 2026, 04:47:29 PM IST

  Drinks Break!

  Drinks break! The two batters have now spent 69 balls at the crease, but it has been a testing period with the Proteas bowlers keeping up the pressure and offering very little to score freely. Alex Carey has succumbed to pressure in the past, and with the Day 1 conditions favouring the bowlers, this is proving to be an even tougher challenge for the Australian pair.

• 9 Oct 2026, 04:28:18 PM IST

  100 up for Australia!

  100 up for Australia! Alex Carey and Mat Renshaw are in the middle, surviving for now. The runs are not coming easily as the Proteas bowlers are exploiting the bounce on the track, which isn't allowing the batters to drive freely.

• 9 Oct 2026, 04:10:33 PM IST

  Smith only behind Ponting and Border now!

  Steven Smith has moved to third on Australia's all-time Test run-scoring list, overtaking Steve Waugh's tally of 10,927 runs. Only Ricky Ponting (13,378) and Allan Border (11,174) are ahead of him.

• 9 Oct 2026, 04:01:49 PM IST

  Pressure mounting!

  The pressure is evident in the Australian batters' body language. Alex Carey has bailed them out on several occasions, but the Proteas bowlers are in fine rhythm, making the most of the assistance on offer with disciplined bowling.

• 9 Oct 2026, 03:49:24 PM IST

  Steve Smith GONE!

  South Africa is all over Australia as their best batter, Steve Smith, is on his way. He was expecting the ball to come in, but it didn't as Smith edged it to the slip and Wiaan Mulder made no mistake, grabbing it. Australia are in some deep trouble with two wickets falling in quick succession. Marnus Labuschagne got out on the cusp of lunch, and now Smith after it. AUS 84/4 in 26.3 overs

• 9 Oct 2026, 03:45:32 PM IST

  Post-lunch action begins!

  We are back for the second session, and it's Matt Renshaw who joins Steve Smith in the middle as Australia are in dire need of a solid stand to stabilise things.

• 9 Oct 2026, 03:32:25 PM IST

  Australia's growing reliance on Smith!

  If we compare this Australian batting line-up to the ones that have travelled to South Africa in the past, this might be the weakest of the lot, with the over-reliance on Steve Smith growing with every series.

• 9 Oct 2026, 03:19:49 PM IST

  Labuschagne falls!

  On the cusp of the lunch break, Marnus Labuschagne is trapped in front by Wiaan Mulder and South Africa get the third wicket! Much-needed scalp and the Proteas get the third breakthrough. The right-hander walks back after scoring 37 runs off 58 balls.

  Australia 84/3 at Lunch Break

• 9 Oct 2026, 02:49:19 PM IST

  Aditya Maheshwari will now take over!

  Hi, this was Vishesh Roy, who took you through the large part of the opening session and now my colleague Aditya will be here to take you through the remainder of the opening day of the Durban Test.

  As we speak, Smith and Labuschagne continue to score at a brisk pace and the run rate has gone past 3.5

  Australia 76/2 in 22.1 overs

• 9 Oct 2026, 02:38:08 PM IST

  Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne hold the fort!

  Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne are now slowly and steadily coming into their own and stitching a solid partnership for Australia. The duo are mixing caution with aggression. Smith and Labuschagne are putting their experience to use to keep the Proteas attack at bay.

  South Africa 63/2 in 19.4 overs.

• 9 Oct 2026, 02:07:15 PM IST

  Smith and Marnus in the middle!

  Australia's two most experienced batters, Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith, are in the middle, and the duo would hope to see out the tough phase and help the visitors to post a respectable total in the first innings.

  Australia 30/2 in 12.2 overs.

• 9 Oct 2026, 01:54:22 PM IST

  Maddinson's painful stay ends!

  Nic Maddinson's painful stay in the middle ends, and he walks back for a 33-ball duck! Marco Jansen bowls a good length delivery, and Maddinson goes for the cut, only to manage an under-edge onto the stumps. This is now turning into a solid opening four for the Proteas.

  Australia 24/2 in 11th over

• 9 Oct 2026, 01:52:56 PM IST

  Head walks back!

  The first wicket for the Proteas is here. Wiaan Mulder bowled an in-swinger on the leg-stump and Head falls into the trap. He gets a faint tickle and has to walk back after scoring 9 off 19 balls. The umpire didn't raise his finger but Verreynne managed to convince Bavuma to go for the review and South Africa are rewarded. What a breakthrough!

• 9 Oct 2026, 01:33:04 PM IST

  FOUR! Head breaks the shackles!

  Wiaan Mulder drifts onto the pads, and Head just flicks the ball away for a four! Finally, some respite after a string of dot deliveries. Meanwhile, Maddinson is yet to get off the mark.

  Australia 17/0

• 9 Oct 2026, 01:26:01 PM IST

  Runs hard to come by!

  Neither Wiaan Mulder nor Marco Jansen is giving anything away, and the runs have been hard to come by for both Travis Head and Nic Maddinson! The latter has played 22 balls but is yet to get off the mark.

  Australia 12/0 in 6 overs.

• 9 Oct 2026, 01:17:25 PM IST

  Maddinson survives!

  Wiaan Mulder wraps Maddinson onto the pads and goes into a big appeal. However, Richard Kettleborough quickly turns it down, and there's no review from South Africa. The replays show that there was no inside edge, but one reckons that the ball did a little too much and was going down leg.

  Oh well, well! The replays show three reds; had South Africa reviewed, they would have got their first wicket! Maddinson is a lucky chap to still be out there.

  Australia 9/0 in 4 overs.

• 9 Oct 2026, 01:07:20 PM IST

  FOUR! Head up and about!

  Wiaan Mulder too drifts onto the pads. The ball is just too straight, and Head just glides it towards the fine leg region and is rewarded with a boundary. Poor start from the Proteas!

  Australia 8/0 in 1.2 overs.

• 9 Oct 2026, 01:02:20 PM IST

  FOUR LEG BYES!

  Marco Jansen drifts onto the pads, and a late swing takes it past the keeper! Four leg byes and Australia are up and running in Durban! The replays show that the ball somehow managed to get the touch of Maddinson's thigh pad, evading a diving Verreynne behind the stumps.

  Australia 4/0

• 9 Oct 2026, 01:01:05 PM IST

  Head and Maddinson opening!

  Travis Head and Nic Maddinson are the two openers for Australia. There's a lot at stake for the latter as he's making a comeback to the Test squad despite not playing a first-class match for more than a year. Marco Jansen with the new ball for the Proteas. And with this, the game begins!

• 9 Oct 2026, 12:55:20 PM IST

  Time for the national anthems!

  It's time for the national anthems! Australia up first, and it will be followed by South Africa! Let's go! The match is set to begin.

• 9 Oct 2026, 12:53:15 PM IST

  South Africa players walk out!

  The South African players are making their way to the middle! The match is just less than 10 minutes from getting underway. However, the crowd hasn't turned up at the venue! Just a few people are sitting in the stands, and the majority of them are Australian supporters. Let's just hope that the fans turn up in numbers for this high-profile series.

• 9 Oct 2026, 12:43:15 PM IST

  What did Cummins say about Maddinson?

  Ahead of the series opener in Durban, Matthew Hayden had criticised Nic Maddinson's inclusion in the squad, calling out the selectors for “promoting the greatest pile of mediocrity”. However, the Australian management went ahead and included the left-hander in the playing XI.

  When asked about Maddinson at the toss, Cummins said, “I think he's really settled where his games are. He's shown good form. No Australian has had a lot of cricket in the last six months, but I feel like he's really well-placed.”

  Maddinson's last Test appearance came way back in 2016, and he also didn't play a single Sheffield Shield game in the last season. A true trial by fire awaits the left-hander, who is making a comeback to the Australian setup after 10 years.

• 9 Oct 2026, 12:34:08 PM IST

  Australia win TOSS!

  Australia captain Pat Cummins wins the toss, opts to bat first in Durban. No Cameron Green and Cooper Connolly as the visitors decide to give Nic Maddinson a go in the series opener. Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon are all part of the playing XI. Beau Webster is playing as the all-rounder.

  South Africa had announced their playing XI yesterday with Kagiso Rabada missing out as he's yet to fully recover from his injury. The hosts are going in with two spinners - Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer.

• 9 Oct 2026, 12:27:26 PM IST

  What to expect from the pitch?

  Shaun Pollock and Vernon Philander feel the pitch will play well for the batters, highlighting an unknown factor in the contest as it is being played in October. There aren't many Tests played in October in South Africa.

  Philander loves the green tinge on the surface, saying the moisture is set to assist the pacers early on. However, both Philander and Pollock reckon that the captain who wins the toss will surely look to bat first as the pitch is expected to break up as the game progresses.

• 9 Oct 2026, 12:22:04 PM IST

  Toss coming up!

  We are just 10 minutes away from the toss! The flip of the coin will be crucial, and whoever wins the toss should look to bat first and hope to put a big score on the board.

• 9 Oct 2026, 12:17:10 PM IST

  The biggest Test for South Africa

  This is the first time in this WTC cycle that South Africa are playing a three-match Test series. In the last cycle, when the Proteas won the Test Mace by beating Australia in the final, South Africa didn't play a single three-match series, and there was much criticism of how the team made it to the final.

  However, the next two months will be the litmus Test for Temba Bavuma and co as they take on Australia and England.

• 9 Oct 2026, 12:13:07 PM IST

  The Sandpaper Gate!

  This is the first time Australia have toured South Africa for a Test series since the infamous Sandpaper Gate. Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were all handed bans for the ball tampering saga. The series quickly unravelled, and Tim Paine had to be made captain for the final Test.

  It has also come to light that Usman Khawaja will make some revelations about the entire saga in his upcoming autobiography; however, Pat Cummins is not sweating over it, saying the former Australian opening batter can tell his side of the story.

• 9 Oct 2026, 12:03:25 PM IST

  Where will the live streaming be available?

  The 1st Test between South Africa and Australia will be available for live streaming on Fancode app and website. On TV, the series opener will be broadcast live on the EuroSport channel.

• 9 Oct 2026, 12:00:36 PM IST

  Hello and welcome!

  Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the 1st Test between South Africa and Australia. The three-match series will get underway at Kingsmead, Durban on Friday. The contest is expected to be a true-blue spectacle!