Ricky Ponting's epic moment in commentary as prediction comes true

If there was any doubt that Ricky Ponting is the sharpest mind in Australian cricket, let it now be put to rest. The Aussie legend showed his incredible nous for the game on Saturday in an epic moment in commentary during the first Test between Australia and South Africa.

With South Africa fighting back after being decimated early, the tourists were 5-132 with Kyle Verreynne and Marco Jansen at the crease. With Nathan Lyon bowling, the Aussies set a trap for Jansen that Ponting saw a mile away.

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Jansen had been tied down by Lyon early in his innings and only managed two runs off the first 18 balls he faced. Aussie captain Pat Cummins knew Jansen was getting frustrated and tempted him to hit over the top with some brilliant field placements.

Cummins put two men back on the boundary on the leg-side, with Cameron Green in the circle at mid-wicket. It left a gap in the outfield behind Green, which proved too much to resist for Jansen.

"They've got mid-on three-quarters of the way back. They're tempting him with a build-up of pressure to try and hit over the top," Ponting said in commentary.

The very next ball Jansen did exactly that, running down the wicket and skying the ball into the outfield. Green ran back and took a very difficult catch, sending Jansen on his way and proving Ponting a genius.

Fans flocked to social media in awe of how Ponting's prediction was proven exactly right just seconds later. Many noted it's not the first time the former Australia captain has read the game perfectly or seen something no one else has.

Australia on top after 15 wickets fall on opening day

At stumps on day one, Australia were 5-145 and just seven runs behind South Africa's first innings total. Travis Head was unbeaten on 78 from just 77 balls, steadying the ship after Australia collapsed to 3-27.

Head and Steve Smith (38) put on a 117-run partnership before Smith was bowled by Anrich Nortje (2-37) with 10 minutes remaining in the day's play. Scott Boland was then sent in as a nightwatchman, but didn't survive and was dismissed by Kagsio Rabada (2-50) to end the day.

While Head and Smith's good form this summer continued, David Warner's miserable run was extended by Rabada. The Aussie opener was dismissed first ball of the innings for a golden duck as Rabada took his scalp for the fifth time in Test cricket.

Australia's bowling attack earlier ran through South Africa's inexperienced batting order after Pat Cummins became the first Aussie captain in 22 years to win the toss and bowl first at the Gabba. The Proteas were bowled out for 152 in the 49th over, with a 98-run fifth-wicket partnership between Verreynne (64) and Temba Bavuma (38) their only saving grace.

The Aussie bowlers shared the wickets around as Boland (2-28) fired before lunch, Mitchell Starc (3-41) ended the Proteas' mini-fightback, while Lyon got the ball turning and claimed figures of 3-14. "I think it was a brilliant day of Test cricket," Lyon told reporters.

"You got arguably the two best bowling attacks in world cricket going at each other so you can expect wickets on day one with a little bit of moisture in the wicket. I'm pretty happy with where we are, I thought Travis was absolutely exceptional to go out there and play his game."

Verreynne said the Proteas remain confident they can still win the game. "I think we're probably still a bit behind the game but those two wickets at the end can sort of bring us back into it a little bit," he said.

"There's a bit of a window open for us now. It would have been nice when we had them (3-27) to get a couple more then but I think these two at the end sort of give us a bit of hope."

with AAP

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