"Painful": The 5 key talking points after Aussie top order collapses on opening day

The Australian top order failed to fire on Day 1 in Durban as South Africa looked threatening with the ball.

Matt Renshaw came to the crease at 4/84 and steadied the ship, partnering with Pat Cummins for a steady 63 runs before bad light halted play.

At stumps, the Aussies found themselves at 6/187 with Renshaw 46* and Cummins 33*.

Here are SEN Cricket’s key talking points after a massive day of cricket at Durban.

The Nic Maddinson selection

Despite no red ball cricket for 18 months, Nic Maddinson was added to the Australian squad due to injuries to Cameron Green and Josh Inglis, and then was not only picked in the XI but was elevated to open with Matt Renshaw moved down the order to five. After a gruelling 33 balls without scoring he chopped on for a duck, cueing an onslaught of debate about his selection and the wisdom of the selection panel.

Bharat Sundaresan on commentary labelled it, “One of the more painful stays in the middle we’ve seen from an Australian for a while." Simon Katich argued, “It’s very difficult to justify how that decision is not disrespectful to Shield Cricket” given the players that were overlooked. Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg defended the selectors on SEN during the lunch break, saying: “Clearly our selectors have a firm view that he’s a high talent, and that’s why they’ve picked him.”

Labuschagne gets a start but can’t go on with it – again

Marnus looked in good touch in the opening session, moving to 37 which included six boundaries. But a lapse in concentration on the last ball before lunch saw him dismissed LBW to Mulder, As Simon Katich said at the lunch break: “He did all the hard work and now it’s another chance gone begging. He can’t too many liberties with the position he’s in. The wolves are still at the door.”

Two wickets in four balls swings momentum South Africa’s way

Smith and Labuschagne had steadied with a 60-run partnership, but both were gone within the space of four balls either side of lunch. Jansen rattled Smith with a blow to his hand and got him caught in the gully off the next ball. Smith had moved to number three for all-time Australian Test runs.

Nortje strikes twice in the over

He hadn’t played Test cricket for nearly four years, but South African quick Anrich Nortje returned with a bang to remove Carey and Webster in the same over, leaving Australia reeling at 6/125.

Renshaw and Cummins fight back before bad light ends the day early

A 63-run stand between the Queenslander and the captain saw Australia steady to 6/187 before bad light stopped play at 3:23pm local time, just under an hour into the final session of the day.

And another thing - The crowd – or lack thereof

It was a weekday in October, but the empty stands at Kingsmead were a jarring sight for Test Cricket fans and gave a visual insight into the challenge the longest form of the game is facing in South Africa. Hopefully the crowds improve as the match moves into the weekend.

Day 2 coverage continues live on the SEN network from 6:00pm (AEDT).