DURBAN : Australia’s experienced bowling attack showed no signs of slowing down as the quartet of Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon helped the tourists beat South Africa by 214 runs in the first test to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
While Matt Renshaw earned the headlines with scores of 190 and 82 at Kingsmead, Australia’s bowlers dismissed South Africa twice to secure a comprehensive victory on Tuesday.
Hazlewood, 35, claimed career-best test figures of 6-49, supported by captain Cummins, 33, Starc, 36, and Lyon, 38, in a performance that underlined the value of experience and careful preparation.
Cummins said the team had worked extensively to ensure its leading bowlers were in peak condition for the series.
“Before that Darwin test (against Bangladesh in August) we did a lot of work, a big training block to get ahead of the eight ball and pay dividends down the track, which is, I guess, now,” he said.
Managing workloads and taking rest when needed have also been central to the attack’s longevity. Cummins added that reserve fast bowlers Scott Boland and Michael Neser, who have been training in the nets, were looking sharp.
Lyon, who has returned from a hamstring injury, said he felt fitter than ever despite approaching his 39th birthday.
“The amount of work that I’ve put in, I’ve never had any doubt that I’ll get back,” Lyon said, describing his demanding training programme.
“I haven’t had any alcohol for a fair while now, but I’m just trying to squeeze as much out of the lemon as possible that I can.”
He added that he believed he still had plenty of cricket ahead of him.
HAZLEWOOD BACK TO HIS BEST
Hazlewood has also regained his form after injuries ruled him out of the previous Ashes series, delivering a decisive performance across the final two days in Durban.
“It couldn’t have gone any better,” he said. “I’m a bit older than I used to be, but everything’s feeling good.”
Hazlewood now has 311 test wickets, moving past former Australia fast bowler Brett Lee into eighth place on the country’s all-time list.
Cummins praised his teammate’s versatility, particularly his ability to exploit both the new ball and reverse swing.
“He obviously gets spoken about a lot for his consistency, but I think that undersells him,” Cummins said. “He’s really skilful with the new ball, but once you get a reversing ball, he’s just as skilful; he can swing it both ways.”
The captain also highlighted Hazlewood and Starc’s willingness to adapt to whatever the team requires.
“They’re just, whatever the team needs, they’ll just roll up their sleeves and go to work,” Cummins said. “A captain’s dream.”
