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Good test for both batting line ups here, one would think on paper, Aust has more runs in their line up, though SA bowling attack looks to have more X factor to theirs. Rabada is a class act, always a handful for Aust, Jansen is a bean pole leftie,  who Aust batsmen will be facing for the fist time. Norjtie is very quick from all accounts, whilst  Ngidi big n strong.

Aust looks like having Cummins back, Starc has looked dangerous, but due for a rotation sooner then later.....would love to see Morris play, won't happen, who out of Boland or Neser plays?.....could do with Neser perhaps due to his batting and being a local lad. Reckon Green will show his class in this series, no way Aust will be 4/400 when Green comes in, or chasing quick runs......the fella will step up and hopefully score that maiden test ton....just needs to believe in himself....quality players always rise v quality opponents.....reckon Green will show his test quality ilk.

Aust to win 2/1.....with all games getting a result due to inconsistent batting line ups and consistent bowling attacks.

 

Great to see Day 1 at the Gabba is a sellout.Has been for over a week now.

So Boland has been announced as the 3rd seamer assuming that Cummins is back, so Neser drops out.
Don't get me wrong, Boland thoroughly deserves to play this game but was there any necessity to make this public announcement 4 days out from the game, giving South Africa time to prepare and also not seeing the final  pitch and conditions?. I thought it would be better to keep the opposition guessing, particularly with someone like Lance Morris in the squad. If Morris was ever going to be given a spot it would be on a fast bouncy Gabba track where he terrorised the Queensland batsmen a few weeks ago

The SA batting outside of their skipper Elgar and to a lesser extent Bavuma (is Markham out here as well?) are a bit of an unknown especially in Australian conditions.
Their 4 prong pace attack of Rabada, Nortje, Jansen & Ngidi is exciting and will be suited to the Gabba you would think.
The question for their selectors is do they play one of their spinners in Maharaj or Harmer for a bit of variety as well or do they strengthen their batting line up with an extra batsman?
Their wicketkeeper Verreyne is pretty capable with the bat coming in at either 6 or 7.

What an amazing first day at the Gabba. 15 wickets for 297. The pitch was not easy for batting and I don't know if it will settle down over the next few days. If Head and Co can somehow eke out a lead of around 100, that will put South Africa under a heap of scoreboard pressure in their second innings. From South Africas point of view, they will be looking at bowling Australia out for 200 or less. Great to see some competitive test cricket after the lop sided West Indies series.

What a delivery by Nortje.. Bowling Steve Smith top of ,off stump..

One has to earn one's century on this pitch lads. Having said that for the visitors, Elgar has disappointed.

2 day test match, good to see the bowlers get a look in for a change.....who knows it may be short lived with a MCG road after Xmas. Head's innings of 92 obviously got Aust to a match winning lead.....good spread of wickets between the Aussie attack.....another 40-50 to chase and SA could of easily won.....rather see a 2 day test then a 5 day 1000 run road for fudge all wickets....

I agree Freeze and i read all the articles about how bad the Gabba wicket was. FFS batters have it easy enough and now they cry when there is a wicket they have to work on to score runs, what would they do in the days when wickets were uncovered

Agree it's become a bit of a batters game these days, happy that we won, but really, this Brisbane pitch was a disgrace, as much of a disgrace as a pitch that resembles the Kwinana freeway and produces huge scores with few wickets. neither type of pitch should be tolerated, the Brisbane curator should be sacked. Barely 2 days of cricket, but at least Brisbane got it's test on a weekend unlike Perth that had to start on a bloody Wednedsay, just mind boggling, and they wonder why Perth had such a low attendance. One might be forgiven for thinking there's some sort of conspirisy afoot by the governing body, Cricket East Australia.