First time in 149 years: Australia achieved a unique record in the first Test against South Africa

Australia’s Steven Smith takes an evasive action against a rising ball during the first day of the first Test cricket match between South Africa and Australia in Durban, South Africa, Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. (AP Photo) Australia fielded the oldest playing XI in their men’s Test history for the first Test against South Africa in Durban on Friday, with all 11 players aged 30 and over. It was the first time in 149 years that Australia’s men’s Test XI had not included a player under the age of 20.Captain Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bat, with Australia’s playing eleven averaging 34.59. According to cricket statistician Ric Finlay, as quoted by News18, it was the seventh oldest Test XI of all time and the oldest in the last 100 years.At the age of 38, spinner Nathan Lyon was the oldest member of the team, while Matt Renshaw (30) was the youngest. Five players were aged 35 or over: Lyon, Steve Smith (37), Mitchell Starc (36), Alex Carey (35) and Josh Hazlewood (35).Australia’s regular opening rotation ensured that the team included at least one under-30 player for months at a time. However, that changed with the recall of Nic Maddinson (34) for the Durban Test.Maddinson was playing his first Test since December 2016. He featured in just three Tests, all that year.Australia’s 18-man squad has an average age of around 32.6, with only three players under 30. Cooper Connolly (23) is the youngest, followed by Cameron Green (27) and Sam Harper (29). Green is a regular in the playing XI but has struggled for form of late.Meanwhile, South Africa’s pace attack, without their predecessor Kagiso Rabada, restricted Australia to 187/6 before poor light and rain brought an early end to the first day of the opening Test at Kingsmead in Durban on Friday.Despite Rabada’s absence, Anrich Nortje, Wiaan Mulder and Marco Jansen made good use of the early movement to bounce back on a grass-tinged pitch after Australia opted to bat. Mulder struck first by dismissing Travis Head for nine before Jansen ended Maddinson’s 33-ball scoreless run on his return to Test cricket, leaving Australia at 24/2.Marnus Labuschagne, who scored 37, and Smith, who made 25, leveled the innings with a 60-run partnership for the third wicket from 94 balls. Smith, who swung past Steve Waugh to become Australia’s third-highest run-scorer in men’s Tests, hit two sixes off spinner Keshav Maharaj before Jansen dismissed him after lunch.Australia won the toss and elected to bat in the first match of the three-Test World Test Championship series.