Smith, rookies make for winning brew

The first day of a new series is like a test tube, where all the ingredients are mixed to see how they react to one another and what they make, but hopefully to avoid an explosion.

Amir did time, now his time has come

The last time Mohammed Amir appeared in Australia, he became the second-youngest man to take five wickets in a Test innings. He was 17. He returns aged 24, with only 15 more Tests to his name.

Carbine Club opens its doors to women

Another bastion of male exclusivity has fallen. On Tuesday, the Carbine Club voted to break with 55 years of tradition to admit two women. They are Peggy O'Neal, the president of Richmond football club, and Nicole Livingstone, an Olympic silver medalist in swimming and now a media figure.

Time, not money, the reason for split with Nine: Brayshaw

Now that James Brayshaw has hung up his two most prominent caps, at Channel 9 and as chairman of North Melbourne, he admits that having several of them jammed on his head at once took a toll that he hopes he can remediate.

The truth is out there Mr Bogut, you just have to look

• COMMENT

Andrew Bogut is a formidable basketballer, who played a manful role in Australia's gallant tilt at the windmills in Rio. He is also, more than most sportspeople, socially engaged. I could say, quirkily, doubtfully, provocatively engaged, but he would say the same of my world view.

For now, victory is enough

What a difference a day-nighter makes.

Australia fortifies its edge

Cricket is a game of cosmic connections, or coincidences, as you will, of mysterious causes and effects. Shine will make a ball swing. But not always, and not predictably. Almost any substance will make it shine. Out-of-form players, who can least afford unplayables and shockers, cop them. If Richard Kettleborough says it's out, it is. If Aleem Dar says it's out, it's not.

As night falls, a light at last

S​uddenly, Australia could do no wrong, or not much. From consecutive balls in the middle of this day, Peter Handscomb scored the first of his 54 impressive debut runs and Usman Khawaja the 100th of his epic 138 not out, and both brought the Adelaide Oval crowd to their feet. Even Matt Renshaw's 10 had been worth a mini-ovation; it had defused the new ball's threat, forestalled another collapse and made all that followed possible. It was that sort of day.

Boiled lollies to chocolates for Faf

Faf du Plessis's hundred was two masterpieces in one, of defiance in the face of notoriety, but equally of technique and temperament.