Australia fight back in a first test before bad light ends play

On the opening day of the first test between Australia and South Africa, the tourists managed to fight back and reach 187-6 before bad light ended play early on Friday. Captain Pat Cummins and Matt Renshaw formed a crucial 63-run partnership, with Renshaw four runs away from a half-century and Cummins still at 33 not out. The match was halted one hour early due to windy and gloomy conditions, with the umpires consulting light meters before making the decision to call off the day's proceedings after an additional 45 minutes.

South Africa's Anrich Nortje, who returned after nearly four years away from first-class cricket, made an immediate impact by taking two wickets in three balls, shifting the momentum in his team's favor. Nortje, who played two wickets for 40 runs off 13.2 overs, spoke highly of his performance, stating that it brought some much-needed excitement to the game.

Meanwhile, Australian cancer survivor Nic Maddinson, who returned to the crease after a decade-long absence due to his battle with cancer, failed to score a run in his first test appearance. This marked the longest duck by an Australian opener in test history and the third-longest by any test opener.