Australia struggle as Nortje and Jansen make their mark

Nic Maddinson's shock selection as an opener backfired, but Matt Renshaw's move to the middle-order paid dividends for a rejigged Australia batting-order on an intriguing first day of this much-anticipated Test series.

There may have not been the on-and-off field fireworks befitting this rivalry in Australia's return to Test cricket in South Africa since the 2018 sandpaper scandal. Nonetheless, in front of a smattering of fans, a see-saw battle ensued like so many previous contests between the teams.

Australia's under-pressure batting order struggled for much of the opening day against South Africa's disciplined seam attack on a Kingsmead surface offering extra bounce and movement. They were in big trouble at 124 for 6 following familiar woes with Maddinson falling for a 33-ball duck while Marnus Labuschagne and Steven Smith were dismissed either side of lunch.

But Renshaw showed grit and a solid technique to thwart South Africa's push after shifting down to No. 5 following Maddinson's surprise selection as an opener. He had only filled the position four times previously during the 2023 tour of India with modest results. Renshaw had returned to Test cricket against Bangladesh in August as an opener, but seemingly relished this opportunity to finish 46 not out from 115 balls. He received strong support from skipper Pat Cummins with the pair combining for an unbroken 63-run partnership before bad light ended a day's play where only 65.2 overs were bowled.

Playing their first Test match in almost a year, South Africa were left frustrated by the seventh-wicket partnership and also the decision from the umpires to stop play 50 minutes into the final session. Their seam attack consistently threatened with Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder and Anrich Nortje, who returned to Test cricket after three-and-a-half years, claiming two wickets apiece. Spinners Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer were wicketless from 21 overs although the surface is expected to turn significantly later in the match.

With allrounder Cameron Green ruled out with injury and Maddinson selected over the ill Cooper Connolly, all 11 Australia players were 30 and above to further raise questions about the team's future.

While the day ended amid bleak conditions, Cummins had no hesitation to bat under sunny skies when the coin fell in his favour. All eyes were on Maddinson, who played all three of his previous Tests almost a decade ago and returned to first-class cricket after 579 days, having last played in March 2025.

Maddinson's selection was quite remarkable after he had undergone treatment for testicular cancer last year. He could not produce a fairytale return after being pinned down by Jansen and Mulder, who was handed the new ball because of his swing prowess.

Without Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi, Jansen loomed as South Africa's talisman but he could not initially find his radar in a relief for Maddinson, who constantly fell across to the off side. He had a major slice of luck in the fourth over after being hit on the pads by Mulder but South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma decided not to review, believing there had been an inside edge. But Maddinson did not hit the ball and ball-tracking confirmed that it would have smashed into leg stump.

With Maddinson unable to score, the pressure fell on Travis Head, who had mostly been watching from the non-striker's end. He could not find rhythm and fell in disappointing fashion on a successful review for a relieved Bavuma after tickling Mulder down the leg-side.

Maddinson's 50 minutes of misery ended when he got a thick inside edge to an attempted cut shot off Jansen that knocked back the off stump, his Test average dropping to 5.4.

Labuschagne and Smith steadied Australia with a 60-run partnership during a dominant passage before the lunch break. Smith had walked out to little hostility from the sparse fans in the terraces in low-key scenes after the hype over Australia's Test return to South Africa. He counter-attacked by whacking Maharaj for a couple of sixes and his presence rubbed off on the much-criticised Labuschagne, who clung on to his spot in the XI having not made a Test century since the 2023 Ashes tour.

Labuschagne settled nicely after a shaky start until he fell on the last ball before lunch when he was trapped lbw by Mulder. He trudged off the field having reviewed unsuccessfully and Australia slumped further on resumption when Smith was caught in the gully having been roughed up the ball before by a pumped-up Jansen.

Renshaw and Alex Carey were forced to dig deep during an attritional period of play. Carey battled to 1 off 20 balls, while Renshaw survived a brute of a delivery from Jansen with South Africa's appeal for caught behind unsuccessfully reviewed.

Carey and Renshaw tried to put the foot down against Harmer, selected to support Maharaj, as the shackles were finally broken. But the return of a fired-up Nortje produced an edge from Carey to second slip and he had Beau Webster caught behind on review two balls later to put South Africa in a position of strength.

Renshaw and Cummins revived Australia with strong application as they batted through increasingly darkening skies. Nortje reverted to a short-ball tactic, but the batters held firm until play was called off as Australia felt considerably better about their situation compared to a few hours earlier.