1st Time In 149 Years: Australia Achieve Unique Feat vs South Africa. A Glaring Concern Pops Up

Australia registered an unusual record in the first Test against South Africa© AFP

The first Test between Australia and South Africa made headlines for all the wrong reasons on Day 1, be it due to the poor turnout in Durban, the early stoppage of play or the under-par performance of the Australian batting lineup. The latter appears to be turning into a chronic issue. Bar Steve Smith, Travis Head and occasionally Alex Carey, Australia's batting in recent Tests has been largely inconsistent. On Friday, Australia registered a unique first that highlights the problem with their batting even more.

For the first time in their Test cricket history, Australia fielded an entire XI of players over the age of 30. Right from the first-ever Test match in 1877, which Australia had played in 149 years ago, such a feat had never occurred before the Durban Test.

With Cameron Green out injured, Australia went in with 30-year-old Matt Renshaw and handed a comeback to 34-year-old Nic Maddinson in Durban. The duo played alongside the established old guard of Smith, Head, Marnus Labuschagne and Alex Carey.

The unique first also stresses Australia's glaring batting concerns, with young talent not being able to break into the Test XI. Australia are still hunting for a long-term replacement for Usman Khawaja at the top, and the likes of Labuschagne have survived despite a long run of poor form.

While Australia's famed bowling quartet of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon is still going strong, the same cannot be said of their batters.

Maddinson, who made his Test comeback in Durban after nearly 10 years, summed up Australia's batting worries. Thrown in to open, Maddinson got out for a duck after facing 33 balls, making it the third-longest duck by an opener in Test history.

Australia ended Day 1 on 187/6, with resistance coming late in the day from Renshaw and skipper Pat Cummins.

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