Sports
Veteran bowling quartet and Steve Smith put Australia in charge against South Africa
October 11, 2026 at 09:59 PM · Updated 4d ago
Coverage
4 reports · over 17 hours
AJAl Jazeera English
Steve Smith breaks Test fielding record as Australia dominate South Africa
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BNBBC News
Australia v South Africa: Bad light thwarts Durban Test despite ICC changes
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BNBBC News
Australia v South Africa: Pace attack and Steve Smith put tourists in charge
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TGThe Guardian
Record-breaking quartet put Australia in full control against South Africa
(opens the publisher’s site)Australia moved into control of the first Test in Durban on day three, dismissing South Africa for 284 and taking a 139-run lead.
- Captain Pat Cummins took three wickets, with Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon taking two each as South Africa fell from 82-1 to 284.
- Steve Smith claimed several catches to move back above Joe Root as the non-wicketkeeper with the most Test catches, 223.
- The quartet became the first bowling attack in history with each member holding 300-plus Test wickets, taking their combined tally to 1,650.
- Australia ended the day at 33-0, leading South Africa by 139 runs with two days remaining.
- Bad light has halted play repeatedly in the Durban Test, with more than 60 overs lost across the first three days.
- The stoppages come despite an ICC rule change permitting the use of the pink ball in Test matches.