Renshaw and Cummins steady Australia as Maddinson fails in Durban first Test

Matt Renshaw and Pat Cummins steadied Australia as the tourists reached 187 for 6 at the close of the first Test against South Africa in Durban on 9 October 2026, after Nic Maddinson was dismissed for a 33-ball duck.

The selection of Maddinson, chosen by selectors George Bailey and Tony Dodemaide and retained by coach Andrew McDonald, has been widely questioned after he had not played first-class cricket since March 2025 and had not performed well at that level since March 2024. Selectors had defended his inclusion by pointing to his strength against spin, but he was deployed as an opener against South African pace on a bouncy surface; Australia also have Jake Weatherald contracted at home, Matt Renshaw available, an Australia A squad in India and a full Sheffield Shield round of openers in domestic action.

Maddinson was spared an early lbw when an appeal to Wiaan Mulder after 15 balls was not reviewed by South Africa, but he was later bowled by Marco Jansen as the score moved to 24 for 2; Travis Head had already nicked Mulder earlier in the innings. The opener’s innings featured few scoring shots and ended with the bottom edge hitting the stumps.

Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne rebuilt the middle order with a stand of 60 by lunch, Labuschagne looking particularly sharp with an early flick through midwicket and Smith attacking Keshav Maharaj with two successive sixes in one over. Labuschagne was given out lbw to a ball that ball-tracking showed as a marginal impact in line but going on to hit the middle stump, and three balls and about 40 minutes later Smith was caught at gully after a delivery from Jansen struck his glove; Smith made 37 and Labuschagne 25.

Anrich Nortje produced a probing spell of short-pitched bowling that unsettled the Australian top order and, after Nortje’s change of angle, Alex Carey edged a fuller ball to slip for 14. Beau Webster’s dismissal followed, and by that stage Temba Bavuma had already used two reviews.

With Renshaw and Cummins at the crease Australia batted beyond the tea interval, taking their partnership to 63 before the early close; Renshaw finished on 46 and Cummins contributed with disciplined hitting despite Nortje’s pace. By the time bad light ended play Australia had faced only 65.2 overs.

Australia head into day two with time remaining in the match but a clear need for their bowlers to provide support if Renshaw’s 46 is to be turned into a substantially larger first-innings total and for the tourists to maintain a foothold in the Test.