Quick hits: Starc's six balls of fury after Cummins's questionable call
Mitch Starc produces one of the most destructive spells of his storied Test career as the Aussies fight back late on day one. Here are the quick hits from Cape Town.
Fri, 11 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, IAW 117, AAW 4/121
Mon, 14 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, ZIM 235, AUS 8/294
Mon, 14 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, IAW 7/148, AAW 2/178
Wed, 16 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, IAW 161, AAW 5/168
Thu, 17 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, ZIM 272, AUS 6/356
Thu, 17 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, INU 6/182, AUU 7/175
Thu, 17 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, WAU 9/238, SAM 0/58
Fri, 18 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, QUE 7/335, VIC 7/339
Sat, 19 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, ZIM 8/271, AUS 9/272
Sat, 19 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, IAW 6/239, AAW 235
Sat, 19 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, WAU 115, TAS 1/117
Sun, 20 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, INU 7/341, AUU 239
Mon, 21 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, QUE 358, NSW 6/359
Tue, 22 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, IAW 6/338, AAW 8/341
Tue, 22 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, INU 4/255, AUU 254
Tue, 22 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, SAM 7/383, TAS 8/376
Wed, 23 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, SAF 8/297, AUS 230
Thu, 24 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, IAW 6/364, AAW 9/362
Thu, 24 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, INA 334 & 199, AUA 171 & 200
Thu, 24 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, VIC 212, NSW 257
Sat, 26 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, SAF 9/365, AUS 333
Mon, 28 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, INU 494, AUU 217 & 229
Mon, 28 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, SYW 4/168, QUW 167
Mon, 28 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, VIW 8/293, SAS 7/290
Mon, 28 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, WAW 6/236, TAW 232
Tue, 29 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, SAF 4/145, AUS 9/322
Wed, 30 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, IAW 364 & 257, AAW 176 & 164
Wed, 30 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, SYW 174, QUW 4/285
Wed, 30 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, WAW 7/273, TAW 7/299
Thu, 1 Oct, 2:00 pm, Final score, VIW -, SAS -
Thu, 1 Oct, 11:00 pm, Final score, INA 167 & 9/310, AUA 358 & 4/173d
Tue, 6 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, INA 149, AUA 274
Tue, 6 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, QUW 9/266, BAW 7/196
Wed, 7 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, INU 315 & 0/11, AUU 174 & 151
Fri, 9 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, AUW 3/168, BAW 166
Fri, 9 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, INA 206, AUA 275
Sat, 10 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, VIC 244 & 224, SAM 508
Sun, 11 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, AUW 1/222, BAW 6/220
Sun, 11 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, INA 275, AUA 226
Sun, 11 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, NSW 9/500d, TAS 245 & 5/402
Sun, 11 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, WAU 175 & 8/201, QUE 307 & 68
Mon, 12 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, VIC 241, SAM 311
Mon, 12 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, HHW 7/127, ACM 100
Mon, 12 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, SSW 3/136, BHW 90
Mon, 12 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, MRW 7/138, PSW 4/139
Mon, 12 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, STW 3/79, MSW 78
Tue, 13 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, SAF 284 & 206, AUS 390 & 6/314d
Tue, 13 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, NSW 158, TAS 203
Tue, 13 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, WAU 246, QUE 261
Tue, 13 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, SSW 3/78, ACM 7/77
Tue, 13 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, ASW 4/183, PSW 8/182
Tue, 13 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, STW -, BHW -
Wed, 14 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, AUW 2/175, BAW 172
Wed, 14 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, MRW 4/180, MSW 6/179
Wed, 14 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, ASW 5/165, HHW 8/136
Fri, 16 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, BHW 4/86, ACM 83
Sat, 17 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, SAM 7/397, QUE 271
Sat, 17 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, HHW 5/136, PSW 8/166
Sat, 17 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, STW 5/122, MRW 9/121
Sat, 17 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, ACM 4/129, MSW 6/132
Sat, 17 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, SSW 9/105, ASW 6/143
Sun, 18 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, AUW 8/165, NZW 2/162
Sun, 18 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, MRW 2/132, HHW 8/129
Sun, 18 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, BHW 129, ASW 6/139
Sun, 18 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, STW 2/93, PSW 92
Sun, 18 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, SSW 8/155, MSW 5/158
Sun, 18 Oct, 7:15 pm, Live score, AUW -, BAW -
Tue, 20 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, AUW 7/167, NZW 8/127
Tue, 20 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, ASW 6/116, PSW 5/118
Tue, 20 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, STW 9/152, SSW 6/153
Tue, 20 Oct, 7:15 pm, Live score, AUW -, BAW -
Wed, 21 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, SAM 203 & 145, QUE 238 & 4/114
Wed, 21 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, PSW 7/134, SSW 8/149
Thu, 22 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, SAF 9/425d, AUS 99 & 295 f/o
Thu, 22 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, AUW -, NZW 2/11
Thu, 22 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, TAS 241 & 236, VIC 207 & 266
Thu, 22 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, WAU 339 & 9/244, NSW 6/440d & 5/262d
Thu, 22 Oct, 7:15 pm, Live score, AUW -, BAW -
Sat, 24 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, TAS 137, VIC 7/304
Sat, 24 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, WAU 293, NSW 8/371
Tue, 27 Oct, 12:00 am, Live score, SAF 329, AUS -
Wed, 28 Oct, 11:00 am, Game not started, SAM versus WAU
Thu, 29 Oct, 3:40 pm, Game not started, MRW versus STW
Thu, 29 Oct, 7:10 pm, Game not started, MSW versus HHW
Fri, 30 Oct, 10:30 am, Game not started, TAS versus NSW
Fri, 30 Oct, 11:45 am, Game not started, AU6 versus ONG
Fri, 30 Oct, 7:05 pm, Game not started, EN6 versus AU6
Fri, 30 Oct, 7:10 pm, Game not started, BHW versus SSW
Sat, 31 Oct, 11:00 am, Game not started, QUE versus VIC
Sat, 31 Oct, 3:40 pm, Game not started, ASW versus MSW
Sat, 31 Oct, 7:10 pm, Game not started, PSW versus MRW
Sun, 1 Nov, 3:40 pm, Game not started, STW versus BHW
Sun, 1 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, SSW versus HHW
Mon, 2 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, MSW versus PSW
Wed, 4 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, HHW versus MRW
Thu, 5 Nov, 3:40 pm, Game not started, ASW versus BHW
Thu, 5 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, STW versus PSW
Fri, 6 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, MSW versus SSW
Sat, 7 Nov, 2:30 pm, Game not started, WAU versus ENG
Sat, 7 Nov, 3:40 pm, Game not started, MRW versus ASW
Sat, 7 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, BHW versus HHW
Sun, 8 Nov, 1:40 pm, Game not started, SSW versus STW
Sun, 8 Nov, 5:10 pm, Game not started, PSW versus MSW
Tue, 10 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, HHW versus ASW
Wed, 11 Nov, 10:30 am, Game not started, NSW versus SAM
Wed, 11 Nov, 10:30 am, Game not started, VIC versus WAU
Wed, 11 Nov, 11:30 am, Game not started, QUE versus TAS
Wed, 11 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, PSW versus STW
Thu, 12 Nov, 3:40 pm, Game not started, MSW versus BHW
Thu, 12 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, MRW versus SSW
Fri, 13 Nov, 2:30 pm, Game not started, AUS versus ENG
Sat, 14 Nov, 3:40 pm, Game not started, HHW versus BHW
Sat, 14 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, PSW versus ASW
Sun, 15 Nov, 11:00 am, Game not started, SSW versus MRW
Sun, 15 Nov, 2:30 pm, Game not started, AUS versus ENG
Mon, 16 Nov, 10:00 am, Game not started, NSW versus SAM
Mon, 16 Nov, 11:00 am, Game not started, QUE versus TAS
Mon, 16 Nov, 2:00 pm, Game not started, VIC versus WAU
Mon, 16 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, STW versus MSW
Tue, 17 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, ASW versus SSW
Wed, 18 Nov, 2:30 pm, Game not started, AUS versus ENG
Thu, 19 Nov, 3:40 pm, Game not started, HHW versus PSW
Thu, 19 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, BHW versus STW
Fri, 20 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, ASW versus MRW
Sat, 21 Nov, 12:00 pm, Game not started, HHW versus STW
Sat, 21 Nov, 3:30 pm, Game not started, SSW versus PSW
Sat, 21 Nov, 7:15 pm, Game not started, AUS versus ENG
Sun, 22 Nov, 10:30 am, Game not started, NSW versus QUE
Sun, 22 Nov, 3:40 pm, Game not started, BHW versus ASW
Sun, 22 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, MSW versus MRW
Mon, 23 Nov, 1:30 pm, Game not started, WAU versus TAS
Tue, 24 Nov, 11:00 am, Game not started, SAM versus VIC
Tue, 24 Nov, 7:15 pm, Game not started, AUS versus ENG
Wed, 25 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, MRW versus BHW
Thu, 26 Nov, 3:40 pm, Game not started, STW versus ASW
Thu, 26 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, SSW versus MSW
Fri, 27 Nov, 7:15 pm, Game not started, AUS versus ENG
Fri, 27 Nov, 9:10 pm, Game not started, PSW versus HHW
Sat, 28 Nov, 3:40 pm, Game not started, MRW versus MSW
Sat, 28 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, STW versus SSW
Sun, 29 Nov, 12:00 pm, Game not started, BHW versus PSW
Sun, 29 Nov, 3:30 pm, Game not started, ASW versus HHW
Sun, 29 Nov, 7:15 pm, Game not started, AUS versus ENG
Tue, 1 Dec, 7:10 pm, Game not started, versus
Wed, 2 Dec, 7:15 pm, Game not started, AUS versus ENG
Thu, 3 Dec, 10:30 am, Game not started, NSW versus WAU
Thu, 3 Dec, 10:30 am, Game not started, VIC versus QUE
Thu, 3 Dec, 11:00 am, Game not started, SAM versus TAS
Thu, 3 Dec, 7:10 pm, Game not started, versus
Sat, 5 Dec, 7:10 pm, Game not started, versus
Wed, 9 Dec, 1:20 pm, Game not started, AUS versus NZL
Sat, 12 Dec, 8:10 pm, Game not started, MER versus PER
Mon, 14 Dec, 11:00 am, Game not started, SAS versus WAW
Tue, 15 Dec, 10:00 am, Game not started, ACM versus SYW
Tue, 15 Dec, 3:00 pm, Game not started, SLW versus AUW
Tue, 15 Dec, 7:15 pm, Game not started, BRI versus SYS
Wed, 16 Dec, 11:00 am, Game not started, SAS versus WAW
Wed, 16 Dec, 7:15 pm, Game not started, SYT versus ADE
Thu, 17 Dec, 10:00 am, Game not started, ACM versus SYW
Thu, 17 Dec, 11:30 am, Game not started, AUS versus NZL
Thu, 17 Dec, 7:15 pm, Game not started, HOB versus BRI
Fri, 18 Dec, 3:00 pm, Game not started, SLW versus AUW
Fri, 18 Dec, 7:15 pm, Game not started, MES versus ADE
Sat, 19 Dec, 10:30 am, Game not started, TAW versus VIW
Sat, 19 Dec, 7:15 pm, Game not started, SYT versus SYS
Sun, 20 Dec, 3:00 pm, Game not started, SLW versus AUW
Sun, 20 Dec, 7:15 pm, Game not started, PER versus HOB
Mon, 21 Dec, 10:30 am, Game not started, TAW versus VIW
Mon, 21 Dec, 7:15 pm, Game not started, MES versus BRI
Tue, 22 Dec, 7:15 pm, Game not started, SYS versus MER
Wed, 23 Dec, 7:15 pm, Game not started, ADE versus SYT
Thu, 24 Dec, 7:15 pm, Game not started, MER versus HOB
Sat, 26 Dec, 10:30 am, Game not started, AUS versus NZL
Sat, 26 Dec, 6:05 pm, Game not started, SYS versus BRI
Sat, 26 Dec, 9:15 pm, Game not started, PER versus MES
Sun, 27 Dec, 7:15 pm, Game not started, SYT versus MER
Mitch Starc produced one of the most destructive spells of his storied career and Josh Hazlewood took a special catch as the Aussies fought back from what looked to be a calamitous early call.
Here are the quick hits from day one of the third Test between Australia and South Africa in Cape Town.
It was already a horror morning for Australia.
Having sent the South Africans in to bat in what looked to be pristine conditions, Cummins was in need of quick wickets to validate what always looked to be a bizarre decision.
Instead, Proteas openers Marques Ackerman and Aiden Markram made light work of Australia's much-vaunted bowling attack, flying towards 100 at close to five runs an over.
But finally, a chance presented itself, with Markram mistiming a drive and finding Travis Head in the covers.
It was an absolute dolly, but the Australian somehow put it down, the ball slipping through his fingers and hurtling to turf.
By lunch, the South Africans had flown to 0-140 from 27 overs, suggesting Cummins's call may well take a place among Test cricket's all-time clangers.
Ackerman went to lunch having plundered his way to a 75-ball 82.
Playing just his second Test, the southpaw made a mockery of Australia's aging attack, including taking Starc for four consecutive boundaries for the first time in the quick's Test career.
He looked odds on for a maiden Test ton — but things tightened up after the first break.
Growing increasingly impatient, he faced 18 balls for his next 13 runs before charging down the track and running past a Nathan Lyon off break.
Alex Carey broke the stumps with little fuss and Ackerman was out for 95.
The 30-year-old was filthy with himself, throwing his head and grimacing on his way from the middle.
And not long after, Markram was following his opening partner back to the pavilion after also turning down a golden opportunity for a Test ton, having top-edged a Josh Hazlewood short ball to be caught on the boundary for 78.
Even so, it was a 158-run partnership that guaranteed a dream morning for the South Africans.
The Proteas were cruising — until they weren't.
Having lost Temba Bavuma and Matthew Breetzke before tea, South Africa's collapse continued when Josh Hazlewood took a remarkable boundary catch early in the evening session.
The big fast bowler steadied himself as a David Bedingham top edge flew his way, before contorting his body, rising high and plucking the ball from the air.
Landing with his foot perilously close to the rope, Hazlewood was composed enough to release the ball and then complete the catch inside the field of play.
And only two deliveries later, Starc had a second for the over, having Wiaan Mulder caught behind with another short ball.
Suddenly, South Africa had lost 4-29 and that explosive start was a distant memory.
Marco Jansen and Ryan Rickleton then came together to steady the ship, with a 95-run partnership, but the day's momentum swings weren't done there
With twilight beginning to set in, Rickleton and Jansen looked to be cruising towards stumps.
But with Starc about to get his hands on the second new ball, the set pair would have been well aware they weren't out of the woods just yet.
And sure enough, Australia's premier spearhead proceeded to produce a devastating two-over spell.
First, he had Rickleton plumb in front to a searing swinging yorker before bowling Jansen with something similarly venomous just two balls later.
He then castled the newly-arrived Gerald Coetzee for a golden duck with the first ball of his next over, setting up a hat-trick delivery against number 11 Kagiso Rabada.
The South African survived the initial thunderbolt, but was helpless to the second, out LBW to yet another stunning Starc special.
Starc had four wickets in the space of six deliveries and South Africa was all out for 329 as stumps were called on a ridiculous, topsy-turvy day of Test match cricket.
Given the questionable decision to start the Cape Town Test on a Tuesday, there may well have been a few sick notes handed in ahead of day one at Newlands.
So, it seemed slightly unfair for the broadcast cameras to pick on the two spectators who had definitely shown up to work.
Sitting in surely the most ideally-located office block in world cricket, overlooking the oval from behind the hill, they were pictured with their eyes firmly fixed on the action unfolding below them.
Caught out, it wasn't long before their heads were back in their work.
Despite being a weekday, day one in Cape Town provided an engaged, colourful crowd, and undoubtedly the best of the series — both in and out of the ground.
Prior to a pulsating day in Cape Town, a dodgy neck robbed cricket fans of one of the most eagerly awaited returns in the sport's history.
Having struggled through a couple of ginger net sessions, Steve Smith was unable to prove his fitness in the hours before play on day one, succumbing to the neck issue that had troubled him in Gqeberha.
With David Warner retired and Cameron Bancroft years out of the Test team, it meant that none of the three Sandpapergate antagonists would feature at the venue where Australian cricket was thrown into crisis eight years earlier.
Smith's late withdrawal saw Australia make four changes, with Josh Inglis, Cam Green, Lyon and Cooper Connolly all coming into the side.
Remarkably, the last time Australia made as many alterations during a single series was after that very same Cape Town Test, when Bancroft, Smith and Warner began serving their suspensions.
- quick
- starc
- fury
- ball
- cummins
- mitch
- spell
- test


