Australia lead South Africa by 139 runs on day three of the first Test in Durban. The Australian side posted a total of 390 during their first innings, while South Africa replied with 284.
Matt Renshaw anchored the Australian batting effort by scoring 190 runs in their opening turn. Pat Cummins claimed three wickets, supported by two apiece from Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.
Nathan Lyon also took two wickets, bowling 19 overs at a rate of less than three runs per over. The Australian bowling quartet, consisting of Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins and Lyon, has taken 607 wickets together in Test cricket.
This group's tally exceeds the 415 wickets taken by England's quartet of James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali in 31 Tests. Mitchell Starc maintained an average pace of 141.21km/h during the 2026 season.
The quartet delivered 34% of their balls full in the first 20 overs, with only 19 deliveries pitched fuller than six metres between the 20th and 60th overs. Steve Smith, aged 37, has recorded 223 Test catches, which is three more than Joe Root.
Smith, who maintains a catch percentage of about 77%, dismissed Temba Bavuma and Kyle Verreynne before catching Tristan Stubbs. South Africa's David Bedingham scored 49 runs, while Aiden Markram was out for 37 and Marco Jansen managed 26.
Australia remains unbeaten in their last nine Test series, including a 4-1 victory over England last winter. Josh Hazlewood and Cummins missed all five and four of the Ashes Tests last winter, respectively.
Nathan Lyon is 39 years old and Mitchell Starc is 37 years old.
