Australia 187/6 as bad light and rain called off day one of the opening Test at Kingsmead.
The 11‑man side, all over 30, is the oldest in Australian history—first time since 1877. Captain Pat Cummins chose to bat after winning the toss. The squad’s average age 34.59, with Nathan Lyon 38, Steve Smith 37, Mitchell Starc 36, Alex Carey 35, Josh Hazlewood 35, and Nic Maddinson 34. Ric Finlay said it was the seventh‑oldest XI ever and the oldest in a century.
South Africa’s pace bowlers used the early bounce. Mulder dismissed Travis Head for nine, Jansen sent Maddinson for a golden duck in 33 balls, leaving Australia 24/2. Labuschagne and Smith steadied with a 60‑run partnership, but Smith’s 25 before lunch saw him surpass Steve Waugh to become Australia’s third‑highest run‑scorer in men’s Tests.
Smith’s wicket by Jansen came after he hit two sixes off Keshav Maharaj. South Africa’s absence of Rabada left the attack open, yet Nortje, Mulder and Jansen exploited the conditions, keeping the innings’ 94‑ball third‑wicket stand respectable.
With the first day cut short, the teams will resume on day two. Australia will look to carry the momentum into the next two Test matches of the World Test Championship series.