Proteas vs Australia 3rd test Day 1 review

The 1st day of the Proteas vs Australia 3rd test was rain and bad light affected one as only 47 overs of play were possible. The day started with Australia winning the toss and choosing to bat 1st on a slow and dry SCG pitch both teams went with 2 spinners.

The day started off with Proteas taking advantage, getting the early wicket of Warner for 10 runs. That was the only success they had as Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne put together a partnership of 135 for the 2nd wicket. Nortje did end the day with his and Protea's 2nd wicket, that of Labuschagne, for a well-played 79.

Usman Khawaja ends the day unbeaten on 54 not out and the Aussies will be hoping he can convert it into a big hundred as they look to take an early advantage in this test.

The Proteas bowlers apart from Nortje were not at their best today. Rabada and Jansen bowled a bit too short. They need to pitch the ball up tomorrow to create more chances and Maharaj and Harmer need to make more use of foot marks being created by the fast bowlers. I would have Harmer operate from the across end that Jansen is bowling so he can exploit the rough created by the left-arm fast bowler's foot marks and Maharaj from the other end so he can exploit the rough created by the right-arm fast bowlers. This will allow them to trouble the batsman and also challenge the batters outside edge more.

The Proteas captain also needs to be more attacking with his field placing and get more catches close in to create pressure on the batsman and force them to play loose shots which will create wicket-taking opportunities.

Aussie will want Khawaja and Smith to settle in and bat as long as they can so they can post a massive first innings score and look to bat once and then come out and look to bowl the Proteas out twice and the Aussies will be confident of doing that as the Protea's batting order is low on confidence and have struggled so far throughout this series.

I look forward to getting a full day of action on day 2. hoping the rain stays away and I'm going with SA to take advantage, get some early wickets, and put Australia under pressure for the first time this series.

These are stats from day 1

Writer: Ebrahim Yusuf Omar

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