Big day for the bowlers and for Nathan Lyon
The sun is out early in Durban today and Australia will be hoping for new ball success in the first session.
It will also be a big day for Nathan Lyon after his batting heroics yesterday on a pitch taking turn.
Matt Renshaw was the toast of the touring side overnight after his epic 190.
Doubtless he will be particularly chuffed to be publicly complimented (on Instagram) by Steve Smith, who called it “some knock” and doubtless would have loved to play a similar hand himself. Later in the series, perhaps.
‘Boring’ Renshaw reflects on special ton
Former Australian batter Simon Katich called the innings one of the top three Test hundreds in the last decade while Renshaw admits he doubted he would ever play Test cricket again, let alone add to his 184 scored in 2017.
Katich told SEN today that he rated Renshaw’s 100 among the top three Test centuries of the last decade while Renshaw reflected on a hundred that came nine years and 280 days after his last century.
“It’s been a long time coming and I probably didn’t think I’d be in this situation after [missing] a couple of opportunities after that,” Renshaw told Kayo Sports.
“It’s special to help the team out in a pretty important Test match.
Renshaw’s runs to give Australia more food for thought
Matt Renshaw’s superb century in the middle order against South Africa has left Australia with another selection headache.
Does the Queenslander’s 190 in Durban suggest he is best placed at No.5, and if so, who is best to open alongside Travis Head?
Australia’s selectors were heavily criticised for the decision to bring Nic Maddinson back into the side after almost 10 years on Friday, and have him open the batting.
Maddinson’s 33-ball duck left several questions over the left-hander’s position, but what it did do is allow Renshaw to bat No.5 after he impressed there in the ODIs.
Revised hours of play
We will be going with the longer sessions today to try and make up for some of the lost time but there is every chance the players will be cleared from the field before the final hour of the day judging from the light issues from the first two days.
First session: 6.30pm to 8.45pm AEDT
Second session: 9.25pm to 11.40pm AEDT
Third session: 12am to 2am AEDT
Renshaw reigns over Kingsmead as Australia rediscover Test batting
Durban: Test tours of South Africa have often produced unexpected events for the Australian public to wake up to.
That was, of course, the way most discovered sandpaper gate in 2018, but there have also been plenty of others. Greg Blewett and Steve Waugh batting all day in Johannesburg in 1997, then Mark Waugh conjuring a Test victory from nowhere in the next game, at what was then Port Elizabeth.
In 2002, South Africa lost 16 wickets inside a day to end a game that seemed to be lasting at least another 24 hours. And 2009 saw the morning herald remarkable twin centuries for Phillip Hughes, also at Kingsmead.
To that roll call can now be added a monumental innings, 190 in all, from Matt Renshaw, with the help of the touring side’s stout-hearted tail.
Watch: Brettig recaps day two from Durban
Good evening
G’day everyone and welcome to our live blog for day three of the first Test in Durban.
I’m Roy Ward and I’ll be opening the bowling, in a blogging sense, as Australia attempts to bowl out South Africa after posting 390 in the first innings.
Play is due to start at 6.30pm AEDT.
Enjoy the evening to come.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
