The opening day of the World Test Championship (WTC) Final between Australia and South Africa at Lord's witnessed a rare and bizarre event, unseen in the 145 years of Test cricket. This unusual occurrence overshadowed the impressive bowling performances from both sides, where Kagiso Rabada's five-wicket haul helped South Africa dismiss Australia for 212, and Australia's pace attack responded by reducing South Africa to 43/4 at stumps.

The peculiar incident involved the top-order batsmen from both teams. For the first time in 561 Test matches played in England, and only the 10th time overall in Test history, the number one batters from both sides were dismissed for a duck in their first innings. Usman Khawaja, Australia's opener, and Aiden Markram, South Africa's, both failed to score, etching their names into this unusual record.

Winning the toss, South Africa's captain Temba Bavuma chose to bowl first, hoping to exploit the overcast conditions and unsettle Australia's top order. This decision immediately paid off when Rabada removed Khawaja and Cameron Green in quick succession, leaving Australia struggling at 4-67. Rabada, who recently served a one-month suspension, proved to be a tormentor for the Australian batsmen, consistently threatening their off-stumps.

Australia's innings was rescued by a crucial 79-run partnership between Steve Smith and Beau Webster. Smith, known for his resilience, scored 66 before edging a catch to Marco Jansen off Aiden Markram's bowling. Webster, however, continued to defy the South African attack, notching up a career-best 72. Despite their efforts, Australia's tail collapsed after tea, with Rabada spearheading the attack and claiming his fifth wicket by dismissing Mitchell Starc.

The South African innings began under bright sunshine but quickly ran into trouble against the fiery Australian pace trio of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood. Starc struck early, removing Markram for a duck in the first over, while Cummins and Hazlewood added to the pressure by dismissing Wiaan Mulder and Tristan Stubbs, respectively.

Adding to the drama, South Africa missed a crucial opportunity to dismiss Webster early in his innings. An LBW appeal was turned down, and despite replays showing a clear gap between bat and ball, Bavuma opted not to review the decision. This blunder proved costly as Webster went on to score a valuable 72, highlighting the importance of seizing every opportunity in a high-stakes match.

Despite the dominance of the fast bowlers, there were moments of resilience and determination from both sides. Smith and Webster's partnership showcased Australia's fighting spirit, while South Africa's initial breakthroughs demonstrated their ability to exploit favorable conditions. The match remains finely poised, with both teams aware of the importance of gaining a crucial advantage on the second day.

As play resumes, South Africa faces a daunting task to recover from their shaky start, while Australia will aim to build on their momentum and extend their lead. The WTC Final promises further twists and turns, with the bizarre events of the first day serving as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of Test cricket.