Australian seamers strike to put South Africa in trouble

PERTH: Josh Hazlewood took two wickets as the Australian bowling attack dominated the opening session of the first cricket test and South Africa struggled to 78-4 at lunch.

Skipper Faf de spent some time on crease scoring on 37 with Temba Bavuma  before departing on Mitchell Starc’s delivery. The pair shared an unbroken fifth wicket partnership of 49 runs after the South Africans slumped to 32-4.

Pace spearhead Mitchell Starc triggered the top-order collapse when he dismissed South African opener Stephen Cook for a duck on the fourth ball.

Hazlewood, Starc's new ball partner, claimed the prized wicket of Hasim Amla without scoring, then opener Dean Edgar for 12, caught by wicketkeeper Peter Nevill.

Peter Siddle, in his recall to the Australian lineup, had JP Duminy caught behind for 11, leaving the South Africans reeling after they won the toss and elected to bat at the WACA ground.