Australia dominate opening day in Perth

Reuters - Australia ripped through South Africa’s top order in the first hour, dismissed the tourists for 242 by tea and reached 105 without loss at close on the back of some Dave Warner fireworks on the opening day of the first test on Thursday.

Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma scored battling half centuries for South Africa after they were reduced to 32-4 but there was no doubt the standout performers on the first day of the Australian cricketing summer were wearing baggy green caps.

Left-arm quick Mitchell Starc, playing with an open wound on his leg after a nasty training accident that disrupted his preparations, struck in the first over and ended up with figures of 4-71.

Fellow pace spearhead Josh Hazlewood pitched in with 3-70 and the Marsh brothers, Mitchell and Shaun, both took spectacular catches on their home ground.

Warner, who provided some of the few highlights of Australia’s recent one-day international series humiliation at the hands of the South Africans, then took the fight to the tourists with the bat.

After a reprieve when he was lbw off a Vernon Philander no-ball, the pugnacious opener smashed the South African bowlers around the WACA, the ground where he announced his arrival as a test batsman with a brilliant 180 against India in 2012.

The 30-year-old lefthander brought up his 21st test half century when he slashed the ball through extra cover for his 10th four off the 39th delivery he had faced and will resume on 73 alongside Shaun Marsh, unbeaten on 29.

South Africa had arrived for the three-test series full of confidence after their limited-overs triumph and having emerged victorious on their last two visits to Australia with both trips featuring big wins at the WACA.