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That’s it from us at the MCG today.
Thank you for tuning into a pretty entertaining day of cricket on Boxing Day.
Be sure to join us tomorrow as we bring you all the action from day two.
Will Warner score a 100 in his 100th Test?
Or will the South African attack flex their considerable muscle?
All will be revealed in 24 hours’ time.
Newly minted $3 million man Cameron Green upstaged hometown hero Scott Boland on Boxing Day as Australia’s vaunted pace attack inflicted more misery on South Africa’s tormented batters.
The crowd of 64,876 came to the MCG to watch Boland write another chapter in his fairytale Test career but instead witnessed what could be a coming of age performance by one of world cricket’s brightest young prospects.
Undaunted by one of the biggest days of the country’s sporting calendar, Green stepped up to collect his first five-for in the baggy green, ramming home Australia’s advantage with a scintillating burst of four wickets in 12 deliveries.
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Cameron Green celebrates one of his five wickets on Boxing Day.Credit: Getty Images
Early in the final session, the MCG crowd gave the late great Shane Warne a standing ovation.
As he was the 350th Australian Test player, the moment of recognition came at 3:50pm.
If the chant of “Warnie” that rose at the MCG today in tribute to the recently departed great becomes “Warner” tomorrow, then many questions will have been answered.
David Warner is away, unbeaten on a busy 32 and chasing his first red-ball century for almost three years in his 100th Test. Australia went to stumps at 1-45 after bowling South Africa out for 189 on the opening day of the second Test.
By electing to bowl, Australian captain Pat Cummins pushed the scrutiny on Warner’s batting back behind that of South Africa’s, who suffered another collapse as Australia’s $3 million man, Cameron Green, ran through the visitors.
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Marnus Labuschagne and David Warner leave the field at stumps.Credit: AP
About the time South Africa’s top order crumpled for the third time in as many innings, Jonty Rhodes was asked by Damien Fleming about whether he ever had much chance to watch Shane Warne’s domination of Daryll Cullinan from the other end.
In fact, Rhodes replied in the Seven commentary box, his customary position in the order was immediately after Cullinan’s: Rhodes joked that he stood poised to walk to the middle as the team pondered how Warne would run fresh rings around a player who was otherwise one of their best.
It would be churlish not to forgive Proteas wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne for having a similar sense of anticipatory readiness this series. He has been given very little reason to take confidence in the batters above him – not that anyone had much confidence in the Gabba’s trampoline pitch.
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Kyle Verreynne walks from the field following his valuable half-century.Credit: AP Photo
That is stumps on day one at the MCG and Australia are 1-45, 144 runs behind South Africa (189).
Warner has not only survived the final hour, but thrived, finishing the day on 32 not out after winning his battle of wills with Rabada (1-24), who took the only wicket of the Aussie innings so far when he dismissed Khawaja for one.
But the day belonged to Cameron Green (5-27) who picked up his first Test five-for as he rapidly brought about the end of the South African first innings.
After losing 4-11 at one stage, to slump to 5-67, the Proteas were actually looking threatening with Jansen (59) and Verreynne (52) at the crease.
The middle-order pair put on 112 for the sixth wicket to breathe new life into South Africa’s innings – or so they thought.
Green had other ideas as he dismissed Verreynne and Jansen in quick succession, before promptly wrapping up the South African tail as the tourists lost their last five wickets for just 10 runs.
Australia find themselves in the stronger position heading into day two, and will be looking to make the most of the forecast hot conditions by making South Africa toil in the field all day with temperatures expected to reach the high-30s.
Cameron Green acknowledges the crowd after claiming 5-27.Credit: The Age
Warner has a dip at a wide Nortje delivery and edges it high over gully for four.
That’s Warner’s third boundary and he races to 31.
Nortje enters the fray from the Shane Warne Stand end with just under 10 minutes left in today’s play. He replaces Rabada (1-24).
Warner punches Rabada through the covers and although the ball stops just short of the rope. He gets four all run to move to 26 and Australia are 1-33. Superb fitness on show from Warner, and he is winning the battle with Rabada convincingly so far.
Jansen replaces Ngidi (0-1) from the Members End after just three overs.
This isn’t a surprising move because Ngidi hasn’t looked that threatening and the Proteas will want to take as many wickets as they can in the last 20-odd minutes.
Original URL: https://www.theage.com.au/link/follow-20170101-p5c8qd