When people ask why cricket lovers are prepared to spend five days watching test cricket, they need not look further than the first test match between the Proteas and Australians, which ended today.

When the Proteas landed in Australia, they were brimming with confidence after handing Steve Smith and his ODI team a crushing 5-0 series defeat in South Africa……….but fast forward to the land Down Under and a slightly different Australian team awaited our guys.

The first test match started on Thursday at the WACA stadium in Perth and any South African who lives in or has visited Perth, will know that it’s like being back home. Maybe it’s the huge South African population living in the city, maybe it’s the weather or maybe it’s visiting places like Kings Park and hearing Afrikaans being spoken that makes you forget you’re in another country.

With that, the WACA stadium has always been kind to the Proteas, who have never lost a test match there.

The Proteas left out fast bowler, Morne Morkel for the debutant, Keshav Maharaj, whilst the Australian top bowler, Mitchell Starc returned after injury and Peter Siddle, who has inflicted enough damage to our team in years gone by, was also back in the squad.

Proteas captain, Faf Du Plessis won the toss and elected to bat first and soon, the visitors were in trouble on 32/4. Quinton De Kock (84), Temba Bavuma (51) and Faf Du Plessis (37) managed to save face for the Proteas, who were eventually bowled out for 242 runs in 63.4 overs.

Mitchell Starc led the Aussie attack with 4-71 and was well supported by Josh Hazlewood with 3-70 and Nathan Lyon with 2-38. 

The Aussies went in to bat and at stumps, were 105/0 (137 runs behind) with openers David Warner on 73 and Shaun Marsh on 29 still at the crease.

It was only Day 1 and already our heads were hanging low. The pendulum seemed to be swinging in the Aussies favour.

But as they say, each day brings with it new hope and lady luck certainly followed the Proteas to the WACA on Day 2.

David Warner just missed out on his 100, when he fell to Dale Steyn with his score on 97. He was soon followed by Khawaja and Smith before Shaun Marsh lost his wicket after scoring 63 runs. There was not much to write home about from an Australian point of view, with four ducks on their scorecard.

For the visitors, it was a different story, with Vernon Philander bagging 4-56, debutant Maharaj 3-56 (including the big wicket of Steve Smith) and Rabada, 2-78.

The Proteas second innings got underway and soon, the visitors were 45/2, with Cook and Amla both back in the dressing room.

Cometh the hour…..and many more hours…..and with it, centuries for Dean Elgar (127) and JP Duminy (141), who literally batted the Proteas, with good supporting roles by De Kock (64), Philander (73), Maharaj (41) and Du Plessis (32), to a commanding lead of 538 runs, by the time they declared with the score on 540/8.

The Aussies bowlers were severely punished with Hazlewood, Siddle and Mitchell Marsh each getting two wickets. 

The Aussies were left to chase 539 runs for victory. They started off well, but lost Warner and Shaun Marsh with the score on 52. Khawaja (97) and Smith managed to steady the ship somewhat before Smith lost his wicket, followed two runs later by Adam Voges. Peter Nevill (60 not out) did his best to hang around, but the Proteas bowlers had the final say and bowled the Aussies out for 361 and in doing so, winning the first test by 177 runs.

Man of the Match, Kagiso Rabada, got another 5-wicket haul (his fourth in 9 Test matches), with the remainder of the wickets being shared between most of the Proteas bowlers.

The Proteas go 1-0 up in the three-test match series.

The second test match commences on 12 November at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart with the third test match starting at the Adelaide Oval on 24 November.

If this test match is anything to go by, then we’re in for a cracker of a series.