Such is the time difference, many back home missed this battle, with Scott Boland out again, Cummins chose to bowl under blue skies and South Africa plundered the bowling in the opening session.
Few expected this final when Starc was hit and ruled by four consecutive fours by Ackerman. The 100th opening partnership for a side put into bat for Australia had not been made since Ponting’s introduction to England 21 years ago.
But Cummins’ Australia held firm again where other sides folded.
On the one hand, they remain imperfect. They could still lose this Test – which could have wider repercussions for next year’s Ashes.
Their batting line-up was sent flying home after two Tests with Nic Maddinson, Marnus Labuschagne preserved despite not scoring a century longer than most of his career and, crucially, Steve Smith injured.
But Australia finds a way, often teetering somewhere on the edge of the cliff.
It has been 11 months since the knives were sharpened after four sessions of last winter’s Ashes series.
Batter Usman Khawaja was injured while playing golf, his batting line-up was poor and his aging pace attack was lacking in backup. They won that Test in two days and won the series 4-1.
This could prove an even more effective turnaround at the bottom of Africa.
The final result does not prove that Cummins was right in his decision of the morning.
“It looks like there’s a bit of moisture on the wicket, so we’ll use it first,” he said after putting South Africa into bat.
Eleven overs later, Lyon was bowling his spin. Not since Shane Warne in 2000 has an Australian spinner gone on the attack so early after their captains pick to bowl.
Instead, the obvious explanation seems to be that he made the call to protect a struggling batting line.
Matt Renshaw will reopen after impressing at fifth in the first Test, and Labuschagne will be given another, possibly final, chance.
Batter Josh Inglis, one of four men included in this Australian XI, has not faced a red ball in a competitive match since March, nor has Cameron Green since August.
Will the one-day game help reverse these ordeals or delay the inevitable?
Cummins’ entry into this unwanted club was delayed due to the streetwise nature of his bowlers and his ability to sense a moment.
Now his shots should ensure that he never goes inside.