33 balls, 0 runs - Maddinson's record-breaking duck on Australia return

Australia selected 23‑year‑old Cooper Connolly to replace the injured all‑rounder Cameron Green, naming a full XI whose average age is 30 – the oldest lineup in the side’s history. The only new addition to an ageing batting order that carried over from last winter’s Ashes is 30‑year‑old Matt Renshaw, who made his Test debut a decade ago. The side is colloquially referred to as “Dad’s Army”, a tag that underscores its advancing years. By the midpoint of day 1 in the highly anticipated series, Australia stood at 127 for six. Renshaw was the sole front‑line batter still at the crease, alongside 37‑year‑old Steve Smith, 35‑year‑old Alex Carey and three 32‑year‑olds – Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne and Beau Webster – who had all been dismissed. Labuschagne, who had compiled 37 before being lbw to Wiaan Mulder on the final ball before lunch, has now gone 44 Test innings without recording a century. This match constitutes the third of a possible 21 Tests Australia could play before the conclusion of next summer’s Ashes. The schedule represents an unprecedented congestion of fixtures: a series against the current World Test champions, a four‑test home series against New Zealand, a five‑test tour of India, a potential World Test Championship final, and the latest instalment of the Ashes against England. The pace attack comprises Mitchell Starc (36), Josh Hazlewood (35), Pat Cummins (33) and Nathan Lyon (38), each bowler nearer to the end of his career than its start. Australia have fielded a formidable unit; however, not every player gets to experience such a fairy‑tale run. Read the full story at BBC News →