Australia marked a significant historical milestone during the opening day of the first Test against South Africa at Kingsmead in Durban on Friday. For the first time in 149 years, the Australian men's Test side took the field without a single player in their 20s, with every member of the starting XI aged 30 or older.
The selection resulted in an average age of 34.59 for the team. According to cricket statistician Ric Finlay, this lineup ranks as the seventh-oldest Test XI in the history of the sport and represents the most senior Australian side assembled in approximately a century. The team's composition shifted following the recall of 34-year-old Nic Maddinson, who made his first Test appearance since December 2016.
A veteran lineup faces South African pace
The veteran squad features five players aged 35 or older, including spinner Nathan Lyon, who at 38 is the oldest member of the side. He is joined in the senior bracket by Steve Smith (37), Mitchell Starc (36), Alex Carey (35), and Josh Hazlewood (35). Matt Renshaw, at 30, serves as the youngest member of the current playing XI. This shift in personnel comes as the broader 18-member squad maintains an average age of 32.6, with only three players under the age of 30.
After captain Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bat, the experienced lineup faced a challenging day against the South African pace attack. Despite the absence of Kagiso Rabada, the hosts utilized the movement and bounce on the grassy Kingsmead surface to restrict Australia to 187/6 before play was curtailed by rain and poor light.
Smith reaches personal milestone amidst testing conditions
Wiaan Mulder provided the initial breakthrough by dismissing Travis Head for nine, while Marco Jansen accounted for Maddinson, who departed for a scoreless 33-ball innings. Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith attempted to rebuild the innings, combining for a 60-run partnership off 94 balls. During his knock of 25, Smith surpassed Steve Waugh to become Australia's third-highest run-scorer in men's
The match serves as the opening fixture of a three-Test World Test Championship series. With the first day’s play cut short, Australia will look to build on their total when conditions allow for the resumption of the contest.
