Proteas lose to Australia inside two days of first Test as batting woes continue

Australia now have a one-nil lead going into the second Test after winning what was the second-shortest Test match ever to be played Down Under.

The first day had seen the Proteas bowled out for 152 before Aussie vice-captain Travis Head swatted a positive 92 off 96 balls with wickets continuously falling around him as the hosts ended day one 145 for 5.

The Aussies added 73 runs before their innings came to an end halfway through the first session meaning the visitors trailed by 66 runs going into their second innings. Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen were the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4-76 and 3-32 respectively.

The second innings from South Africa was even more catastrophic than the first as the Aussie seamers ran riot on a green patch. Pat Cummins tore through the Proteas' batters with 5-42 while Mitchell Starc claimed the 300th wicket of his Test career when a trademark inswinger toppled the stumps of Rassie van der Dussen.

Khaya Zondo (36 not out) and Temba Bavuma (29) were the only two batsmen to show any significant resistance of substance before the Proteas ended with a paltry 99, leaving Dean Elgar's men with only 35 to defend.

One positive of their defence was Kagiso Rabada's four wickets off four overs for 13 runs. Of the Aussies' second innings, 19 runs came from extras with the ball going over the top of Proteas wicket-keeper Kyle Verreyne on four occasions due to the unnatural bounce of the pitch, which has come under scrutiny in the aftermath for over-favouring the bowlers.

Serious question marks continue to be raised in relation to the Proteas batting, which has seen them skittled out for less than 200 in eight Test innings in 2022.