Australia rolled for 218 in Gabba Test

Oliver Caffrey | December 18, 2022

Australia have lost 5-73 before lunch on day two of the first Test against South Africa to be all out for 218, giving them a 66-run first-innings lead at the Gabba.

After 15 wickets fell on Saturday, the game continued to move at a rapid rate as South Africa’s imposing pace attack quickly worked their way through Australia’s tail.

No.5 dasher Travis Head started the first session on 78 after an impressive counter-attacking knock late on day one, guiding Australia to 5-145 by stumps and within seven runs of South Africa’s 152.

But Head fell just short of a century in consecutive years at the Gabba after he was dismissed by giant left-arm paceman Marco Jansen for 92 on Sunday morning.

Young allrounder Cameron Green started in ominous fashion, middling three drives to the boundary, but was out to Jansen for 18 to continue his lean run.

Jansen made up for an ordinary innings with the bat to be the pick of the Proteas’ bowlers with figures of 3-32.

Star quick Kagiso Rabada was at his threatening and unpredictable best, expensive at times during the innings, but still finished with figures of 4-76.

Rabada set the tone for South Africa’s fightback, removing under-pressure David Warner for a golden duck and first ball of Australia’s innings.

Wicketkeeper Alex Carey finished unbeaten on 22, while Steve Smith’s 38 was Australia’s best score after Head’s decisive knock.