{
  "id": 12699211,
  "title": "Aussies hit back at ex-players in build-up to first South Africa Test",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/aussies-hit-back-at-ex-players-in-build-up-to-first-south-africa-test",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-07T19:48:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-08/australia-south-africa-first-test-durban-travis-head/107241292"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Australian players are criticizing the present Test squad, according to Travis Head. He asserts that the game has transformed since they played, explaining the decline in batting averages. Head accuses the critics of unfairly judging the current team, particularly after Justin Langer's abrupt departure as coach in 2022. He emphasizes that the current players are strong enough to cope with such criticism. Despite acknowledging the respect they hold for the past players, Head stresses that the current generation is facing a different game. Test batting averages have plummeted by nearly 20% since the end of the 2010s, and the Sheffield Shield has experienced a similar decline since the 2000s. While critics attribute this drop to the growth of T20 cricket, Head attributes it to changes in wicket conditions.",
  "summary": "Travis Head accuses former Australian players of levelling unfair criticism at the current Test squad, saying the game has changed significantly since they played.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 8,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "Ghana warns medical travellers to South Africa to obtain visas for treatment beyond 90 days",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/ghana-warns-medical-travellers-to-south-africa-to-obtain-visas-for",
        "published": "2026-10-07T16:29:33.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Adom Online",
        "title": "Ghana cautions medical travellers to South Africa over visa requirements",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/ghana-cautions-medical-travellers-to-south-africa-over-visa",
        "published": "2026-10-07T17:31:28.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Chronicle Ghana",
        "title": "Ghana advises medical travellers to SA to obtain visas for prolonged treatment",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/ghana-advises-medical-travellers-to-sa-to-obtain-visas-for-prolonged",
        "published": "2026-10-07T17:40:43.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Euronews",
        "title": "Southern right whales return to South Africa, drawing crowds to the coast",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/southern-right-whales-return-to-south-africa-drawing-crowds-to-the",
        "published": "2026-10-07T19:45:58.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Maverick",
        "title": "Watch – Secrets in South Africa: American spooks and an alleged Afghan tik trafficker",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/watch-secrets-in-south-africa-american-spooks-and-an-alleged-afghan",
        "published": "2026-10-07T19:46:31.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News",
        "title": "Aussies hit back at ex-players in build-up to first South Africa Test",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/aussies-hit-back-at-ex-players-in-build-up-to-first-south-africa-test-12703821",
        "published": "2026-10-07T19:48:04.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "IOL",
        "title": "South Africa's tailings dams: A regulatory nightmare with deadly consequences",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/south-africas-tailings-dams-a-regulatory-nightmare-with-deadly",
        "published": "2026-10-07T19:54:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}