Australia vs South Africa Live ஸ்கோர், 1st Test of Australia tour of South Africa, 2026

Just a glimpse of what's to come - Well, there's been plenty of talk about the 2018 series between these two teams, and just as we did then, the caravan now moves from Durban to Gqeberha for the 2nd Test between South Africa and Australia. The Aussies have asserted their dominance, but the Proteas are known to fight back, and we might have a really cagey 2nd Test. Australia hold firm to the pole position in terms of the World Test Championship table, and South Africa are now 3rd, desperate for a win in order to get back into the top two, but it won't be all that easy. The 2nd Test is scheduled to begin on Sunday, October 18, at 8 am GMT, but you can join us a lot sooner, as usual for the build-up. Cheers!

The Australian skipper - Pat Cummins says that it was a great performance, and what Matt Renshaw did in the first innings was great. He reckons that he has a brilliant side and they did a great job. He says that they have played a lot of Tests and he felt really good that the result went their way. He adds that getting a lead in the series always feels good and ends by saying that Josh Hazlewood is a brilliant bowler and that he did a great job as well, and feels that he can be brought in to bowl at any stage in the innings.

The captain of South Africa - Temba Bavuma says that this isn't the way they wanted to start, but lauds the Australians for the way they dominated, and even after a bobble in the first innings, they managed to get ahead in the game. Bavuma also mentions that the biggest difference between the two teams was that Renshaw went on and scored a big ton, whereas the Protea batters got starts and didn't convert. On the bowling front, Bavuma says that they will try to learn from the opposition as well and correct their mistakes. On the defeat, Bavuma says that they have done well as a unit and also won their last Test in Durban against Sri Lanka, and just need a few tweaks.

Player of the Match - Matt Renshaw has been given the accolade for a match-winning performance of 272 (190 and 82) runs and 2 wickets in the fourth innings as well. Renshaw says that he is feeling a bit tired as it has been a long Test. He adds that he tried to build partnerships and tried to stay in the middle as long as possible. When asked about conditions, he says that they were good and he tried to adapt to the conditions. He reckons that he got a bit lucky in the second innings, as he got a few edges and ends by saying that he felt good about getting wickets with the ball and he feels that he was a bit lucky overall as well.

The Presentation ceremony...

Hazlewood shines late - There were plenty of positives for Australia, not necessarily just with the bat, but plenty of applause has been given to the bowlers as well. It was a well-rounded bowling effort in the first innings to set things up. However, in the final innings, it was Josh Hazlewood who stood head and shoulders above the rest, picking up a career-best 6/49 as he dismantled the Protea top and lower order.

Markram's resistance not enough - It was a pretty under-par batting display from South Africa's top order in their first innings. Aiden Markram and David Bedingham got starts but were unable to turn those into something substantial. The middle order kept chipping in with the runs, but again not one even got into the 40s apart from Bedingham. Needing 421 for the win, it was always going to be a pressure chase, but once again, South Africa's batters stumbled. Bedingham got into the 40s and got out just as he did in the first innings, and Markram was left to do all the heavy lifting. Markram and Wiaan Mulder looked good out there in the first session on Day 5, but once Mulder fell, the wheels came off. Markram faced 237 balls for his 75 before eventually succumbing to the mounting pressure and the hosts were handed a heavy defeat, the first one for Temba Bavuma as Test captain of South Africa.

Renshaw dominates the headlines - Australia came into this Test match with a new opening combination and a vulnerable-looking middle order. However, they seem to have found the solution to their recent middle-order woes thanks to Matt Renshaw. The southpaw hit a towering 190 in the first innings to take Australia from a precarious position to a position of promise, and then another fiery 82 in the third innings helped his side stretch the lead beyond 400 runs. Not only that, but Renshaw picked up a couple of key wickets as well in the final innings, sealing a fine all-round display.

Shades of the 2018 series - We all know that the 2018 Test series between South Africa and Australia became famous for all the wrong reasons, but as Australia did there in the first Test at Durban, they demolished South Africa, sealing the win by a huge margin of 214 runs. South Africa did then go on to win all 3 remaining Test matches, and we have 2 remaining here, so who knows? For now, Australia look like a much more settled side than the hosts and have thoroughky deserved the series lead.

OUT! TAKEN! Josh Hazlewood finishes with a six-wicket haul. He bangs it short, on off, Anrich Nortje tries to pull it but gets a top edge. The ball lobs towards short cover. Nathan Lyon runs forward and completes the catch. Australia seal a thumping 214-run victory over South Africa and lead the series 1-0.

FOUR! Streaky! Shaping away, outside off, Anrich Nortje looks to slap it but gets a thick outside edge. The ball goes through the slip and the gully fielder for a boundary.

Angling in, on off, Anrich Nortje tucks it to mid-wicket.

Good length, on off, Keshav Maharaj looks to flick it but edges it to the gully fielder.

Angling in, on off, Keshav Maharaj punches it to cover.

Fullish, shaping in, Anrich Nortje leaves it alone.

Anrich Nortje is the last batter in for South Africa.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! An appeal but turned down. Australia think that the umpires are going upstairs to have a look at the fairness of catch, but in the end, Pat Cummins has to review it. Good length, angling in, just outside off. Aiden Markram looks to block it but misses and Alex Carey takes the catch. He appeals for a caught behind but nothing from the umpire. They send it upstairs to have a check. Ultra Edge does show a slight spike and replays show that the catch was clean too, just inches above the ground. Aiden Markram's marathon innings comes to an end and Australia are just one wicket away from victory now.

A bit of nip back in, outside off, Aiden Markram leaves it alone.

Fullish, outside off, Aiden Markram leaves it alone.

Bangs it short, outside off, Aiden Markram leaves it alone.

Fullish, on off, Aiden Markram blocks it to the gully fielder.

A double wicket maiden from Josh Hazlewood and Australia are just two wickets away now. Mitchell Starc continues...

Angling in, on off, Keshav Maharaj fends it to mid on. A big over for Australia.

Keshav Maharaj is the next batter.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! One brings two, and that's a fifer for Josh Hazlewood. He bangs it a surprise bouncer, on off, Simon Harmer is caught by surprise. He tries to sway away from it. The ball just brushes his gloves and lobs towards the keeper, Alex Carey, who makes no mistake. South Africa are crumbling under the relentless pressure.

A tad fuller, just outside off, Simon Harmer leaves it alone.

Hits the deck hard, on off, Simon Harmer stabs it to cover.

Simon Harmer walks in to bat now.

OUT! TIMBER! This is beautiful bowling from Josh Hazlewood. This one pitches just outside off and nips in sharply. Marco Jansen leans on and looks to block it but the ball goes through the gate between his bat and his pads and rattles over the top of middle. Josh gets the big breakthrough. Australia are just 3 wickets away from victory now.

Much fuller, on off, Marco Jansen eases it to point.