Rossouw shows his power
Plays of the day from the first Twenty20 between Australia and South Africa in Adelaide
Daniel Brettig
05-Nov-2014
Ben Dunk made just 2 on his international debut but held on to a good catch behind the stumps • Getty Images
The proper six
When Ben Cutting was caught late in Australia's innings, the long-on fielder who took the catch 80 metres away would have been sitting somewhere in the stands had the match been played at the Matador Cup venue of North Sydney Oval. That dismissal provided context for the telling blow struck by Rilee Rossouw when Shane Watson trundled in for the last ball of South Africa's sixth over. Swinging hard and making perfect contact, the ball carried over the field, over the rope and into the crowd at long on - a carry of around 90 metres.
When Ben Cutting was caught late in Australia's innings, the long-on fielder who took the catch 80 metres away would have been sitting somewhere in the stands had the match been played at the Matador Cup venue of North Sydney Oval. That dismissal provided context for the telling blow struck by Rilee Rossouw when Shane Watson trundled in for the last ball of South Africa's sixth over. Swinging hard and making perfect contact, the ball carried over the field, over the rope and into the crowd at long on - a carry of around 90 metres.
The debutants
Australia's scheduling of a home Twenty20 international on the same day the Test team returned from the UAE opened up numerous gaps in the squad, allowing for Ben Dunk and Nathan Reardon to make their international debuts. Their T20I caps were presented by Michael Hussey, who himself started his international career as a result of players being rotated through the Australian ODI squad in the mid-2000s. South Africa's squad also lacked a few familiar names, allowing Reeza Hendricks and Kagiso Rabada to play their first international match. None will remember it for individual reasons, but Hendricks and Rabada were delighted to finish on the winning side.
Australia's scheduling of a home Twenty20 international on the same day the Test team returned from the UAE opened up numerous gaps in the squad, allowing for Ben Dunk and Nathan Reardon to make their international debuts. Their T20I caps were presented by Michael Hussey, who himself started his international career as a result of players being rotated through the Australian ODI squad in the mid-2000s. South Africa's squad also lacked a few familiar names, allowing Reeza Hendricks and Kagiso Rabada to play their first international match. None will remember it for individual reasons, but Hendricks and Rabada were delighted to finish on the winning side.
The drop
Imran Tahir has pained memories of Adelaide Oval, having worn match figures of 0 for 260 in the 2012 Test match between Australia and South Africa. Fourth ball of the match he was again cursing his fortunes at the venue, turfing a straightforward chance offered by Cameron White to deep backward square leg. Tahir had time to ponder his error, and bowled far better than he had done two years before, beating Dunk in flight for his first wicket at the oval and a respectable return of 1 for 31.
Imran Tahir has pained memories of Adelaide Oval, having worn match figures of 0 for 260 in the 2012 Test match between Australia and South Africa. Fourth ball of the match he was again cursing his fortunes at the venue, turfing a straightforward chance offered by Cameron White to deep backward square leg. Tahir had time to ponder his error, and bowled far better than he had done two years before, beating Dunk in flight for his first wicket at the oval and a respectable return of 1 for 31.
The arrival
Three years and numerous back and foot injuries after his fabled Test match debut in South Africa, Pat Cummins finally played an international match on home soil. He has a new and different bowling action, reducing his chances of placing undue stress on his back, though the adjustments appear also to have robbed him of some of his earlier pace and swing. Nonetheless it was a welcome sight for an Australian crowd to actually witness Cummins bowling in the flesh, after a wait so long they could have been forgiven for assuming he was a CGI creation seen only on TV.
Three years and numerous back and foot injuries after his fabled Test match debut in South Africa, Pat Cummins finally played an international match on home soil. He has a new and different bowling action, reducing his chances of placing undue stress on his back, though the adjustments appear also to have robbed him of some of his earlier pace and swing. Nonetheless it was a welcome sight for an Australian crowd to actually witness Cummins bowling in the flesh, after a wait so long they could have been forgiven for assuming he was a CGI creation seen only on TV.
Daniel Brettig is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @danbrettig