1st Test: Australia beat SA by 118-runs, here're records broken
After a 5-1 whipping in ODI series and 2-1 defeat in the T20Is against India, Australia are now piling more misery on South Africa. The visitors thrashed the Proteas by 118 runs in their own backyard in the first Test match at Durban. Here is the list of records that were broken in this match.
Proteas have never beaten Australia at home in a series
South Africa faced an uphill task as they needed 417 runs in fourth innings to win the match. Proteas were bundled out for 298. Aiden Markram (143) and de Kock (83) were the only two batsmen who showed resistance. Since readmission, SA have never won a Test series at home against Australia. Out of the 7 series, Australia have won 5 and drawn 2.
Smith continues his fine run in Test cricket
Steven Smith has now scored at least one 50+ score in all the 20 Test series he has played. Only England's Marcus Trescothick has scored at least one 50+ score in more consecutive series. Trescothick had 50+ scores in all the 23 Test series that he played. Dean Elgar has 14 Test wickets and Smith is the only player he has dismissed twice.
Smith now has 10,000 runs in international cricket
Australian skipper Steven Smith is now the quickest Australian to reach the 10,000 run landmark in international cricket. The 28-year-old needed just 232 innings to reach the big milestone. The earlier record was held by Aussie batting great Matthew Hayden, who needed 239 innings to reach the feat.
Who says spin doesn't work in South Africa
28-year-old Keshav Maharaj is the first South African spinner since 1958 to claim a 5-wicket haul in the opening innings of a home Test match. No spinner has taken more than 6 wickets in a Test match at Durban since South Africa's readmission to the sport. Keshav Maharaj's 9 wickets in this Test is the new record.
Markram is turning to be South Africa's ray of hope
Markram's century was the second fourth-innings century in Durban since 1992. The only other was by Herschelle Gibbs when he scored 104 also against Australia in 2002. The Proteas had chased down 335 in that Test. Markram has hit three centuries and has got out twice in the 90s in his short Test career of 12 innings. Markram averages over 60.
