Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Eight years after sandpaper became an unlikely symbol of Australian cricket’s darkest hour, South Africa found a few ways to remind Steve Smith and his teammates of the scandal that rocked their 2018 tour. A supermarket took sandpaper off its shelves. The broadcasters promised to keep a close eye on proceedings. But when Smith walked out to bat in Durban, the anticipated hostility from the stands was conspicuous by its absence.
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Instead, it was South Africa’s fast bowlers who made Australia uncomfortable on the opening day of the first Test on Friday, reducing the visitors to 124 for six before a late fightback took them to 187 for 6 when bad light ended play prematurely.
SA vs AUS 1st Test Day 1 Highlights | Scorecard
Ahead of Australia’s first Test tour of South Africa since the ball-tampering scandal, supermarket chain Pick n Pay Hypermarket announced that sandpaper would be unavailable in its stores until October 31. Broadcaster SuperSport, meanwhile, took a pointed dig at the visitors with a social media post declaring: “Our cameras will be sharp.”
The references were impossible to miss. During the third Test of Australia’s 2018 tour, television cameras caught Cameron Bancroft using sandpaper on the ball at Newlands in Cape Town. Smith, then captain, and vice-captain David Warner were also implicated in the scandal, which led to lengthy suspensions and a reckoning over Australian cricket’s culture.
Smith returned to South Africa for the first time since that episode, but the reception was far less dramatic than the build-up might have suggested.
Graham Hudson, 28, the son of former South African Test cricketer Andrew Hudson, was among the spectators at Kingsmead. He felt the past should no longer define the players involved.
“It was a long time ago. The punishment has been done. It is in the past now,” he told foxsports.com.au.
“It was blasted in the media, I think, a bit too much, and at the end of the day we want good cricket, we want competition, we want the best players to be playing and I feel like that is what we have got.”
There was no noticeable heckling as Smith made his way to the crease. He responded by taking the attack to South Africa’s bowlers, striking two sixes off spinner Keshav Maharaj before falling for 25 shortly after lunch, edging Marco Jansen to gully.
The home side’s quicks, however, ensured Australia had little time to settle. Wiaan Mulder trapped Marnus Labuschagne lbw for 37 off 58 balls with the final delivery before lunch, ending a 60-run partnership with Smith.
Jansen then removed Smith, while Anrich Nortje made an immediate impact on his return to first-class cricket after almost four years away from the format. The 32-year-old struck twice in three balls after tea, having Alex Carey caught at second slip before Beau Webster edged behind. Australia were suddenly 124 for six.
Earlier, Travis Head had fallen for nine, caught behind off Mulder, before Nic Maddinson’s remarkable Test comeback ended in a 33-ball duck. The 34-year-old, returning after treatment for testicular cancer, was bowled by Jansen.
Australia captain Pat Cummins and Matt Renshaw offered resistance late in the day, adding an unbeaten 63 for the seventh wicket. Renshaw was left on 46, four short of a half-century, while Cummins remained unbeaten on 33.
But the final word belonged to the conditions and Nortje’s pace. A bouncer that sailed over Renshaw’s head prompted the umpires to consult the light meters, and play was abandoned with an hour still scheduled to remain.
Sandpapergate may have dominated the pre-match conversation. On the field, South Africa’s pace attack ensured the cricket did the talking.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
