Brand goes big as Australia flip through Test plans

None of the five frontline pacers bowled over ten overs, Green did not feature, and Renshaw's recovery saw positive signs

CSA Invitation XI 318 for 7 (Neil Brand 152, du Plessis 41, Hazlewood 1-17) vs Australia

Neil Brand holds a curious part in South African cricket history after captaining their third-string Test side that was sent to New Zealand in early 2024 when the SA20 was prioritised in the same World Test Championship cycle from which South Africa would emerge champions with victory over Australia in the final at Lord's.

On a sleepy Saturday in Potchefstroom, Brand scored a superb century with an initially compact and latterly more expansive innings, highlighted by some crisp driving among his 16 fours before closing out the day with a flurry of sixes to pass 150. Alongside a docile JB Marks Oval pitch, the knock ensured the Australians had a day of reasonable toil in the field ahead of the first Test in Durban next week.

"There's a lot of heroes in that team for me, so nice to play against them," Brand said. "It's amazing, someone like Nathan Lyon talking to you about batting is awesome, he's someone I've always admired as a cricket player. They are a world-class bowling unit and got the best batter in the world in Steve Smith as well so it's awesome to be on the same field as them."

When asked about the Lyon conversation, Brand added: "He was asking if he was getting shape on the ball...I was like, 'you're the best spinner ever, don't know why you asking me'."

Brand's innings notwithstanding, overall it was a relatively low-intensity day, far removed from what will greet Australia on the opening day at Kingsmead, with players rotating on and off the field, including captain Pat Cummins, and local cricketers helping with the sub fielding. The visitors took the field in a variety of headware including training caps and wide-brims, with Mitchell Starc sporting his ODI baseball cap at the start. The score does not look overly flattering to Australia given the relative strength of the opposition, but they were operating with a number of pre-set plans.

Australia bowled first by agreement and workloads were spread around with 11 bowlers used in total and none of the quicks bowling more than 10 overs. As expected, Cameron Green did not feature with significant doubt around his availability for the opening Test after picking up an abdominal injury in the final ODI. Lyon and Matthew Kuhnemann got through 26 overs between them ahead of a Test where there is the prospect of spin on offer, although the pair playing together still seems unlikely.

"Everyone had a good bowl out [there] and the fielders had the 90 overs, fast bowlers and spinners got enough out of it, so it was a good hit out," Kuhnemann said. "Me and Nathan had a good session yesterday as well, so sort of back-to-back days, so probably 30 overs under our belts in the last couple of days, so it as really nice."

Matt Renshaw also did not field at all following the blow on the wrist he took three days ago but faced throwdowns in the nets during the morning and, currently, is not considered a doubt to take his place in the Test side.

After a couple of balls of Starc's opening over the Australians knew it was a flat surface, although at times there was a little bit of turn on offer. By midway through the day, there were occasions when no slips were in position with ring fielders and a variety of close catchers standing in front of the bat to the seamers.

Josh Hazlewood struck first when he had Lesego Senokwane, one of two players with international experience alongside Brand, neatly held low down at first slip. Cummins claimed the second before lunch when he trapped Tshepang Dithole lbw during a four-over spell which finished when Brand took him for consecutive boundaries to close out the session.

Kuhnemann had Joshua Richards caught at mid-on and Lyon removed Jiveshan Pillay lbw when he missed a pull. But Jorich van Schalkwyk, a highly-regarded member of South Africa's recent Under-19 sides, joined Brand in a fifth-wicket stand of 74 before he was bowled round the legs attempting to paddle sweep Connolly.

During the final session Starc went around the wicket for a spell searching for some reverse swing although there was barely any, in the process telling the spinners not to get the rough side of the ball sweaty. Cummins, meanwhile, did not bring himself back for a second spell until the 75th over.

Brand, who was dropped on 66 by a leaping Smith at midwicket, brought up his century from 144 balls when he flicked Marnus Labuschagne into the on side, removing his helmet and raising his bat to the home dressing room.

Australia took the second new ball at the 80-over mark and Beau Webster became the 11th bowler used although may have wished he wasn't after being taken for 41 in five overs as Brand had a dip before the close with Australia to bat tomorrow.

Michael Neser, who replaced Cummins, became the sixth bowler to claim a wicket when Jean du Plessis was lbw for a neat 41. Brand continued to cash in towards the end of the day as he drove Webster straight down the ground six, pulled Connolly for another over deep midwicket then flicked Webster disdainfully over the leg side.

The final over the day saw every Australian fielder posted on the boundary. Whether it will be an omen for next week remains to be seen.