As many as 15 wickets fell on day 1 of the opening test between Australia and South Africa in Brisbane. South Africa were bundled out for a below-par score of 152 in their 1st innings, with Starc and Lyon picking up 3 wickets apiece.
In reply, the South African bowling attack did not let Australia run away with the test match as they took 5 Aussie wickets for 145.
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Australia won the toss and elected to field first on a Gabba pitch looking as green as the outfield. Mitchell Starc gave them the perfect start as he dismissed the South African captain, Dean Elgar, strangled down leg. Rassie Van der Dussen got out, edging to the keeper Alex Carey off the bowling of Pat Cummins.
Boland then struck a double blow to the Proteas as he removed both Sarel Erwee and Khaya Zondo in the same over, which left them reeling at 27 for 4. White-ball skipper Temba Bavuma and Kyle Verreynne stitched a crucial partnership to stem the flow of wickets.
They almost scored a hundred runs together, with Verreynne being the aggressor, scoring 64. Starc removed Bavuma against the run of play as the batsman played onto his stumps. This induced another collapse as the Proteas lost their last 6 wickets for just 27 runs.
South Africa had a long tail with four pacers as Nathan Lyon and Starc took care of the tailenders. Australia got off to the worst possible start as the struggling Warner was dismissed for a golden-duck by Rabada.
Australia slipped to 27/3, with Labuschagne and Khawaja sent back to the pavilion. At this stage, Head and Smith rescued the Aussie innings with a century stand. After playing cautiously early on, both batsmen scored at a brisk rate, with Head being the main aggressor.
He brought up his half-century and the partnership crossed 100. With Australia edging ahead, Nortje returned for his final spell and dismissed the well-set Steve Smith, while Rabada removed the night-watchman Boland to finish on 145/5.
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