Australia vs South Africa first Test: Brutal batting collapse exposes Aussie crisis

 Australia’s top order batting woes have once again been exposed on the opening day of the first Test against South Africa in Durban.

The heat was on the batting line-up after a shock defeat to Bangladesh in Darwin and the shock selection of Nic Maddinson, who was picked to open the batting in his first Test in a decade after beating cancer.

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It was expected Maddinson would bat in the middled order but he made a 33-ball duck as opener, while his partner Travis Head was caught out cheaply down the leg side.

South African great Herschelle Gibbs questioned Webster’s technique and Cricket.el’s veteran scribe Gideon Haigh labelled Maddinson’s selection as “George Bailey’s Hail Mary”.

Marnus Labuschagne made 37 but his plum LBW dismissal will do little to convince the No. 3’s critics that he has overcome technical issues and rediscovered form.

He combined with Steve Smith for a 60-run partnership before Smith was out for 25, surpassing Steve Waugh for third on the list of Australia’s all-time Test run scorers.

Alex Carey (14) and Beau Webster (4) barely troubled the scorers as Australia was left reeling at 5/120 after yet anoher top order collapse that will only heighten pressre on the team and selectors.

Maddinson would have been out on his 15th ball had South Africa reviewed for LBW