Pat Cummins stuns cricket world in 22-year first against South Africa

Pat Cummins became the first Aussie captain in 22 years to bowl first at the Gabba after winning the toss and sending South Africa in to bat in the first Test on Saturday. The pitch was way greener than we're used to seeing at the Gabba when the players arrived at the ground, with plenty of grass left on the wicket.

The juicy strip proved too good to refuse for Aussie captain Cummins, who won the toss and opted to bowl first. The gutsy decision will prove telling in deciding the outcome of the first Test, with Aussie legend Steve Waugh famously saying even if you want to bowl first, you think hard about it and always bat.

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"Looks like there's a bit of colour in the wicket, the crowd seems to be happy so we'll see how we go," Cummins said. "It might be a bit misleading, the colour, but it feels hard, sometimes here at the Gabba is just gets better and better so no matter what happens today hopefully it's a good batting wicket later on."

For his part, South Africa captain Dean Elgar said he was undecided about what he would have done if he won the toss. However Elgar admitted he probably would have chosen to bat first anyway.

"It does look a little greener than expected but it might play better than it looks," he said. Aussie great Ian Healy said of Cummins' call on SEN radio: "It was a courageous move because it can backfire on you, but he's backed his bowlers.

The call paid immediate dividends for Australia, with Mitchell Starc getting Elgar caught down the leg-side for just 3. Scott Boland then took two quick wickets to decimate the tourists and continue his incredible start to Test cricket, with South Africa going to lunch 4-84.

The Gabba clash is the first Test between Australia and South Africa since the infamous ball-tampering scandal of 2018. Cameron Bancroft was famously caught applying sandpaper to the ball during a Test match in Cape Town nearly five years ago.

David Warner and Quinton de Kock were also involved in a stairwell stoush causing significant tensions from the outset of the spicy series. Proteas fast bowler Kagiso Rabada was then given a two-match ban after the second Test for making contact with Steve Smith, before it was sensationally overturned.

Cummins said he believes the Australian team is less "abrasive" than in the past, saying their recent behaviour of the team spoke for itself. "We're really strong on who we are as a team, how we want to go about it," he said.

"The last 12 months have been a great example on that. We're pretty firm on how we want to act and conduct ourselves. Whatever gets thrown at us, won't change that."

Elgar said he hoped the three-Test series would be played in "good spirit". He added: "The history and tradition of South African and Australian cricket is so rich.

"There will be moments no doubt where there are going to be feisty encounters. Hopefully it doesn't reach a stage that we experienced in 2018."

Cricket fans react to gutsy Pat Cummins call

Cricket fans and commentators reacted with surprise to Cummins' decision to bowl first, even with the green nature of the pitch. Some suggested it had as much to do with the inexperienced South African batting lineup as much as the pitch.

With prolific legends Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis having all retired, Australia are dealing with a South African batting line-up even Cummins is unfamiliar with. The new-look Proteas will take confidence in knowing they have been successful on their last three Test tours of Australia.

Cummins is back in the Aussie XI after missing the second Test against West Indies, replacing luckless Queensland bowler Michael Neser as the only change. Victorian quick Scott Boland holds his spot after another memorable performance in last week's 419-run thumping of the West Indies.

Wicket-keeper Kyle Verreynne will bat at No.6 for South Africa, with the tourists going for a deep bowling line-up headed by star quick Rabada.

AUSTRALIA XI: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland.

SOUTH AFRICA XI: Dean Elgar (capt), Sarel Erwee, Rassie van der Dussen, Temba Bavuma, Khaya Zondo, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi.

with AAP

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