Australia has taken a 1-0 series lead over South Africa after Josh Hazlewood’s six wickets powered them to a 214-run victory over the Proteas in Durban.
Here’s how the Australian team rated individually across the five days in Durban.
Matt Renshaw – 10
Played one of the best Test innings by an Australian in the past decade with 190 in the first innings, and followed up with a percussive 82 in the second as the tourists built their lead. He was just as delighted by claiming the wicket of Temba Bavuma with his off spin. Whether he stays in the middle or moves back to opening, he has made a spot his own this week.
Josh Hazlewood – 9
It’s a big call for someone with as many Test wickets as he has, but Hazlewood has never bowled better than during this game. Relentlessly accurate at good pace, he utilised new ball seam, bounce and also reverse swing at times to confound almost every Proteas batsman. His one-two punch with the second new ball sealed the game, and figures of 6-49 were a new personal high mark.
Pat Cummins – 9
An outstanding game with the ball and the captaincy. Over his time in the job, Cummins has become gradually more inventive, perhaps starting with the 2023 ODI World Cup in India. Here he used all his tricks to achieve a win on a pitch that required patience, even using six spinners in the second innings and being rewarded with two key wickets for Renshaw. As a paceman, he has seldom bowled faster, strong evidence of his refreshment by a year of lighter duties after a back injury.
Mitchell Starc – 7
A sturdy match if not quite as eye-catching as those for Hazlewood and Cummins, Starc’s major contribution was to get rid of Proteas batting ace Aiden Markram in both innings. His big right boot also created the footmarks that allowed Nathan Lyon and Renshaw to prosper.
AP Photo/Themba Hadebe
Nathan Lyon – 7
Outstanding batting contribution to the game-winning lower-order partnership with Renshaw, and bowled better than his two-wicket haul suggested. Spoke of all the hard work and discipline he had acquired to try to extend his career, and it paid off in unexpected ways this week.
Steve Smith – 6
Made a pair of starts and also had to reckon with a blow to the helmet that compelled him to be assessed for concussion. But it will be Smith’s incredible catching that lingers in the memory, particularly two anticipatory takes to catch chances from reverse sweeps off Lyon. As the bowler put it, Smith’s skills are freakish, further underlined by his day five snaffle of Kyle Verreynne.
Nic Maddinson – 6
Was given an enormously tough task to open the batting in his first red ball game in over a year, and a 33-ball duck was difficult to watch. But he hooked his first ball of the second innings powerfully to the boundary, and with a rapid-fire 48 gave the second innings a sprint start. Will get another opportunity in the second Test.
Alex Carey – 6
Tidy behind the stumps as ever, and a couple of starts with the bat. Claimed a wonderful legside catch to end a stubborn stand between Wiaan Mulder and Markram on day five. Carey will want to make another big score soon, and his best chance to do that will be by playing assertively.
Marnus Labuschagne – 5
Two identical scores, 37 off 58 balls, demonstrated two things. Labuschagne is hitting the ball very well, and looking to score, which is exactly what Australia want from him. But he is also in his head about going from starts to big scores. It’s been over three years now since his previous Test century. Somehow Labuschagne needs to find a way to calm his mind and lock in like Renshaw.
Beau Webster – 5
Wasn’t needed much with the ball and got a second-ball duck on day one. But contributed handily in the second innings and remains a useful utility option for the touring side. Webster is open about his place being up for debate every game, and his current tenure may hinge on the availability of Cameron Green to bowl.
Travis Head – 3
A pair of low scores and has looked somewhat out of sorts, struggling to find his timing and spooning an unconvincing front edge to mid-on in the second innings. Still believes his best value to the side is by opening the batting, and had plenty of spiky things to say pre-game about those past player critics who think otherwise.
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Daniel Brettig is The Age’s chief cricket writer and the author of several books on cricket.Connect via X.