First Test day three RECAP: ‘No doubt’ over Aussie order despite selection gamble

Thanks for tuning in for our live coverage of day three.

Steve Smith’s slips catching heroics have put the Aussies on top heading into day four against South Africa, who have plenty of work to do.

We’ll be back before the start of play on day four late this afternoon (AEDT).

Steve Smith left everyone in awe on Sunday night (AEDT), including teammate Nathan Lyon who labelled the star’s slip-catching heroics as “freakish” as Australia took control of the first Test against South Africa.

The vice-captain equalled Joe Root’s record of 220 Test catches when he caught captain Temba Bavuma for 3 off Lyon’s bowling, before overtaking the England star’s record with an amazing diving catch to dismiss David Bedingham.

Smith wasn’t done there and saved the best for last, anticipating a reverse-sweep from Kyle Verreynne after the lunch break and diving out with one hand.

The catch was described as “out of this world” by commentators, while Matt Renshaw exclaimed “oh my god Smudge” while Marnus Labuschagne screamed in excitement after watching Smith pull off another trademark effort.

“You can’t do that. That is not human. That is an unbelievable grab,” former South African bowler Vernon Philander said on commentary.

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South Africa started this Test match hot with the ball and had some periods of success with the bat – so where did things fall apart?

The hosts let the Aussies off the hook as Matt Renshaw piled on the runs, before some lapses in concentration in their first dig proved costly.

“I don’t think it was too much aggression. I think possibly more the timing of the dismissals weren’t great,” assistant coach Ashwell Prince said.

“Every time we looked like getting something going, we lost a wicket, and that you know kept setting us back a bit ... I think that’s the learning.

“Sometimes you’ve got to be able to absorb that intensity until you take the sting out of the attack, and then there’s runs to be had.”

South Africa now trail by 139 runs and Australia have all 10 wickets in hand in their second innings.

Australian great and former selector Mark Waugh has “no doubt” over the make-up of the batting order in the second Test.

While there was plenty of criticism around Nic Maddinson’s return and shock move to the top of the order – which was amplified after a horror 33-ball duck in the first innings – Waugh doesn’t see it changing yet.

Matt Renshaw’s game-changing 190 in the middle-order will likely see him stay there and Maddinson get another chance to open against South Africa.

“Brilliant innings [from Renshaw], by the way. Just a fantastic innings on a number of fronts ... but I think in the second Test, he’ll bat five,” Waugh said on Fox Cricket.

“I think he can equally bat well in both spots, to be honest. If he bats like that opening, he’ll make runs there as well. It probably just depends on what balance the selectors want and who’s in and out of form.

“They’ll give Maddinson another Test, so that won’t change. Maddinson will open in the second Test match. No doubt about that, Renshaw at five. We know that.

“I don’t think there’s a right or wrong answer either, just quietly.”

Kerry O’Keefe believes the selectors want to stick with Maddinson, who was a surprise inclusion after not playing first-class cricket for 18 months.

“It wasn’t a one-off thing with Maddinson. They’re going to persevere,” he said.

“They think he can do a job from the top of the order.”

Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon has lauded the “freakish” work from Steve Smith, who turned the Test on its head with his slips catching.

Smith took three catches and in the process, regained the all-time Test catches lead by a non-wicketkeeper from England star Joe Root.

One of them saw Smith anticipate a reverse sweep from South Africa’s Kyle Verreyne and stick one hand out, reeling it in.

“I’ve been very fortunate to have him stand at first slip or leg slip for the majority of my career and I’m extremely grateful for that,” Lyon said.

“He’s an incredible thinker of the game, but the way he moves and premeditates for those type of catches, they’re freakish – there’s not many people within that change room who would be able to pull off what he does.”

Lyon said there was more to it than just luck and skill.

“The amount of catches that he does at training is incredible,” he said.

“You look at the likes of when I first came into Test cricket – Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke – how much they caught balls, Steve is exactly the same.”

Australia’s big four bowling group – Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitch Starc and Nathan Lyon – have ticked over 600 wickets combined in Tests they have played together in a crazy milestone.

Starc, Lyon and Hazlewood all took two wickets each, while captain Cummins took 3-54 off his 15 overs in the first innings against South Africa.

Speaking to media post-game, Lyon labelled the milestone as “bloody special”.

“That is an extremely proud moment for the four of us to tick over 600 Test match wickets as a quartet,” the veteran off-spinner said.

“That’s pretty bloody special if you ask me.”

Simon Katich lauded the 38-year-old, who is coming towards the end of his career but is still holding down an end as the quicks work their magic.

“That is the beauty of Nathan Lyon,” he said on SEN.

“You can lock him in at an end when he is up and firing and the quicks can rotate in short, sharp bursts from the other end.”

Australia might have taken control in the first Test, but how many runs do they need on the board and will they have enough time to make them?

Bad light has stolen 60 overs of action in Durban and that will no doubt play on the minds of Pat Cummins and the Aussie batters in the second innings.

With the lead already at 139 runs heading into day four, former Test opener Simon Katich has revealed what he thinks the magic number is for the Aussies to remain safe and either walk away with a win or a draw.

“I think 300 should be pretty safe and you would expect the pitch to deteriorate and provide more spin,” Katich said on commentary.

“That figure seems about the mark given the way the Test has played out.”

Proteas great Vernon Philander agreed and noted the hosts could be forced to bat twice in the hardest part of the day twice.

“When the sun is out, it behaves a little easier, but when it is overcast, it certainly nips about,” he said.

“You have to factor in bad light coming into play on day four and day five, and the second factor is what target will be enough.”

Good morning! We’re back to run you through all the highlights and talking points from overnight in Durban after the conclusion of day three.

Australia are back in control and now have a 139-run lead over South Africa, but bad light forced a premature end to play once again.

Nic Maddison put his horror 33-ball duck in the rear-view mirror and started with a bang, hitting the first ball of the second innings for a boundary.

The returning batter, along with Travis Head, boosted the Aussies to 0-33 at the close of play after the bowlers rolled the Proteas for 284.

That’s all from us for tonight’s coverage.

The blog will be fired back up in the morning to run you through all the reaction and highlights from day three’s action.

Thank you for joining us. See you in the morning!

I gave him his credit after a solid run of shots but I may have jinxed him.

Marco Jansen has been caught by Travis Head, sending him out with 27 runs.

How much longer can South Africa hold on?