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Boxing Day cricket: 2nd Test Australia vs South Africa from the MCG, all the scores and analysis

Days after landing one of the richest contracts in IPL history, Cameron Green has showed why he sparked a bidding war with a career-best haul on Boxing Day.

Russell Gould, Tim Michell and Robert Craddock
18 min read
8:17PMDecember 26, 2022
News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom
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Cameron Green's five-fa on Boxing Day

The ripple effect of the thunderous noise which rattled the MCG amid two spaced-out Boxing Day batting collapses would have been felt in Mumbai too as $3 million man Cameron Green shattered a brittle South African wall to put Australia in charge of the second Test.

However, the new wasn’t as good for Mitch Starc who was sent for scans on his injured bowling hand following a fielding mishap.

Starc was ordered to have scans after diving without success for a catch off Nathan Lyon and injuring the middle finger of his bowling hand.

Three days after Green became the most expensive Australian purchase ever in the Indian Premier League the 23-year-old all-rounder removed the only two Proteas who put up a fight in a searing late afternoon spell which netted him a career best 5-24.

He may have been the butt of a few jokes in the Aussie team WhatsApp group after his lucrative pre-Christmas contract, but there were only beaming smiles as they clapped Green off the ground, ball held aloft for 64,000 packed in the ground, knowing the cricketing “unicorn” was all theirs for now.

Cameron Green celebrates his dream Boxing Day with Nathan Lyon. Picture: Getty
Cameron Green celebrates his dream Boxing Day with Nathan Lyon. Picture: Getty

Exposing all the batting frailties on display in the opening Test debacle, the South Africans lost a combined 8-12, consisting of 3-2 in the opening session and then 5-10 in the third as Green picked up the ball after a finger injury to Mitchell Starc to claim his maiden five-wicket haul and give his Indian benefactors cause to rub their hands together with excited glee.

“I think that‘s probably cricket summed up. You can have a really slow start to the summer and you think cricket’s so tough and then you kind of have a few days like this and kind of brings you back,” Green said after spearheading Australia’s day one demolition of South Africa.

“I haven’ t really put too much thought into (the auction). Obviously, the main focus of the team is on Test cricket. You always look forward to it, throughout the whole summer, Test cricket.

“It doesn’t change who I am, and all the confidence I have in my cricket so yeah, hopefully I didn’t change too much.”

Green capped off a stunning couple of days with a five-wicket haul at the MCG. Picture: Getty
Green capped off a stunning couple of days with a five-wicket haul at the MCG. Picture: Getty

Green got his job done in a comfortable 10.4 overs too to ensure Australian cricket’s unicorn could spend ample time with his feet up and contemplating matching his efforts with the bat when needed.

The tourist’s total of 189 took to seven their run of Test innings without passing 200 and was achieved only thanks to a pair of unlikely salvage merchants who put on 112-runs after an early MCG eruption when home two hero Scott Boland snared the opening wicket of the game.

Scott Boland had the Melbourne crowd eating out of the palm of his hand once again. Picture: AFP
Scott Boland had the Melbourne crowd eating out of the palm of his hand once again. Picture: AFP

It took the odd couple of 207cm fast bowler Marco Jansen and wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne to produce the fight captain Dean Elgar demanded when his team was put in to bat for the second time in a row by Australian captain Pat Cummins, keen to exploit a batting line-up which lacked top-level runs.

Talking from home to the TV broadcast, former South African captain Graeme Smith, now the country’s cricket boss, defended the picking just five specialist batters, and a keeper, despite the exposed form, of their batters and Australia’s bowlers, making it seem folly.

Smith conceded the batting talent available to the Proteas was “not going to be getting 400s and 500s and be able to really dominate teams that way,” and so stacking the team with bowlers was their best option.

When Australia was 1-45 at stumps, with David Warner having grabbed 32 of those and not out in test match 100, that plan had failed to materialise, at least not yet.

David Warner, in his 100th Test, played with intent to reach stumps unbeaten.. Picture: AFP
David Warner, in his 100th Test, played with intent to reach stumps unbeaten.. Picture: AFP

But the day was dominated by Green who before arrival in Melbourne conceded to having endured a “weird” start to his summer, which included bowling but not batting against the West Indies in Perth and then serving a run-chasing purpose in four limited-output innings since then.

Some pundits had moved to put some pressure on Green, who is yet to score a Test hundred in his 25 innings, to deliver more with the bat, but he decided to do it with the ball first.

After Starc was forced from the field when he injured his finger in a failed attempt to stop a boundary, before returning with them taped up, and with Jansen and Verreynne compiling their country’s best sixth-wicket stand in three years, Green was unleashed at the member’s end.

He first removed Verreynne, who had stubbornly scored 52, then in the next 12 balls Green delivered he removed Jansen caught behind and then rattled the stumps of both Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi.

The final wicket was enough for Green to charge towards his teammates, smile beaming, arms raised, dollar signs spinning in his head.

While the South African tail failed to not just wag, but even wiggle a little bit, Jansen stood tall.

In his previous eight Tests Jansen had faced just 424 balls, never made a 50 and registered just two runs in two digs as part of a complete team stinker in Brisbane.

His 139 balls of defiance in Melbourne may have come with a few nervous moments but netted 59 of the most important runs of his fledgling career on a wicket needing a full Australian innings to deliver a true and proper reading.

 STUMPS AUSTRALIA 1-45, TRAIL BY 144. WARNER 32NO, LABUSCHAGNE 5NO

David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne have steered Australia to stumps at 1-45, trailing South Africa by 144 runs. Thanks for following our blog, we'll have a full match report from Russell Gould to wrap things up shortly! And pleased to report I will be back tomorrow for more fun. Robert Craddock, Russell Gould and Dan Cherny will have full reports on every day one talking point across the News Corp websites, including CODE.

5.47PM UPDATE WILL ANYONE ELSE SCORE A RUN?

Warner has 27. There are five extras. And Australia is 1-33 late on day one. Usman Khawaja did get one, but it really has been all the 100-Test man to end day one.

 KHAWAJA GOES! Australia 1-21 c Verreynne b Rababa 1 (11)

Usman Khawaja edges behind and Australia is under the pump late on day one.

PLAY EXTENDED

Good news blog readers — you get an extra 30 minutes of me today! Play has been extended to 6pm to get all the overs for the day in.

WARNER OFF TO A FLYER

David Warner said pre-Test he loved having his back against the wall and boy is it showing! In his 100h Test, Warner has Australia’s first 17 runs and after six overs the Aussies are 0-17 after six overs.

CROWD CONFIRMED

There are 64,876 people at the MCG today. That’s only slightly under what was being estimated and about 5000-1000 down on an average day one crowd. It appears to be the lowest non-Covid crowd since 2016, when 63,478 fans turned out on a rain-affected first day against Pakistan.

AUSTRALIAN INNINGS UNDERWAY

Just how many demons did South Africa put in Australia’s minds during that quick but dangerous session up in Brisbane? We might find out as David Warner and Usman Khawaja prepare to face Kagiso Rabada. 64,876

 GREEN FIVE! South Africa 189 all out LUNGI NGIDI b Green 2 (6)

The bails go flying and Cam Green has a five-wicket haul at the MCG! South Africa is all out for 189. What a glorious way to finish the innings and a disastrous end for the tourists after fighting so hard in the second session. Mike Hussey says in commentary the performance was “what dreams are made of”.

 LYON WICKET! South Africa 9-186 Keshav Maharaj c Cummins b Lyon 2 (9)

An ugly heave from Maharaj which Pat Cummins settles under and catches. That’s 4-7 South Africa has now lost.

 GREEN ON FIRE! South Africa 8-186 KAGISO RABADA b Green 4 (5)

Kagiso Rabada chops on, Cameron Green has four wickets and South Africa has lost three wickets in quick succession for the second time on day one.

 GREEN AGAIN! South Africa 7-182 MARCO JANSEN c Carey v Green 59 (136)

Brisbane has the green monster of a pitch. Melbourne has the Green monster in Cam Green. He removes Jansen and South Africa slumps to 7-182. Dare we say $3m in the IPL was a bargain?

4.35PM STARC BACK ON FIELD

Mitch Starc has re-entered play with his finger strapped. It remains to be seen whether he will be available to bowl. Can Australia press home its advantage or will South Africa score 200 for the first time in four Tests?

 GREEN WICKET! South Africa 6-179 KYLE VERREYNNE c Smith b Green 52 (99)

Cameron Green draws the edge of Verreynne’s bat and Steve Smith does the rest at slip. The South African resistance is over. Maharaj joins Jansen.

4.25PM VERDICT ON STARC INJURY SCARE

Fox Cricket is reporting Mitch Starc’s finger injury is not as bad as first feared. Fox says Starc’s finger is “not dislocated” and that he is currently undergoing tests.

 4.20pm SCORE UPDATE - SOUTH AFRICA 5-175 JANSEN 58, VERREYNNE 50

4.06PM JANSEN’S FIRST TEST 50

Marco Jansen stands about 206cm and this has been an innings where he has certainly stood tall for South Africa. For the first time in his Test career and in his ninth Test, he reached 50. His previous high score was 48 and he has averaged 18.3 in his eight Tests to date. This pair has now put on 100 as well.

Marco Jansen on his way to a first Test 50.
Marco Jansen on his way to a first Test 50.

4.05PM STARC HEADS OFF

Mitchell Starc has headed straight from the ground after hurting himself while diving to try and stop a boundary. It looked like it might have been a finger issue.

“It was his bowling hand. That is crucial and it looked to be the index finger...it’s those middle fingers that grip the seam. That could be awkward,” says Ian Smith in commentary.

Fox Cricket’s Kerry O’Keefe added:“A bowler down for some time you’d think.”

Mitchell Starc claps during the Shane Warne tribute.
Mitchell Starc claps during the Shane Warne tribute.

3.50PM MCG STANDS FOR SHANE WARNE

The 60,000+ fans in attendance rise as one for a tribute to Shane Warne. The time of 3.50pm commemorates Warnie’s Test cap number. Signs around the ground read: “There’s no one like Warnie” and a ‘Warnie’ chant broke out in the crowd. The Australian players stopped to applaud and the South African batting pair paused mid-pitch.

SESSION THREE UNDERWAY

 TEA BREAK - SOUTH AFRICA 5-144

Brilliant fightback by Jansen and Verreynne who have batted for almost two hours and put on 77 after South Africa was reeling at 5-67.

Jansen is 38 not out and Verreynne is 40 not out.

 3.12PM JANSEN DROPPED!

Marco Jansen falls for Australia’s short-ball approach and hits a pull shot straight to Usman Khawaja at backward square leg.

The Aussie opener drops a catch he really should have taken and South Africa remains five down at tea.

3.04PM FOX CRICKET COLLEAGUES PAY TRIBUTE TO WARNIE

There will be a special tribute to Shane Warne at 3.50pm at the MCG to commemorate his Aussie Test cap number.

Here’s what some of his Fox Cricket colleagues said earlier.

 2.50pm SCORE UPDATE SOUTH AFRICA 5-117 VERREYNE 29NO, JANSEN 22NO

The 50-partnersip is up between Verreynne and Jansen who are fighting hard to keep Australia at bay.

2.40PM LANGER’S DAMNING PROTEAS ASSESSMENT

Former Australian coach Justin Langer has slammed South Africa's approach in the first session of the Boxing Day Test.

Speaking on Channel 7, Langer said South Africa’s first session was crippled by “pretty dumb cricket”.

“A poor decision by the captain to take on Marnus. Run-outs in Test cricket are a cardinal sin. The what happens? Bavuma next ball.

“As Ricky (Ponting) said Bavuma could have left that ball with the extra bounce here every day of the week.

“We have seen some poor decisions by South Africa today. There’s five days of cricket. de Bruyn’s dismissal, poor decision making. This has not been great batting by South Africa.”

 2.30pm MARNUS ON ZONDO CATCH

“It’s just one of those days. Lucky enough to hit the stumps there and hang onto that catch,” he said on Fox Cricket.

Marnus Labuschagne and Nathan Lyon celebrate his catch to remove Khaya Zondo.
Marnus Labuschagne and Nathan Lyon celebrate his catch to remove Khaya Zondo.

2.15pm WHY SOUTH AFRICA STRUGGLES SHOULD BE NO SURPRISE

It might have arrived in Australia as the No.2 ranked Test nation, but South Africa’s struggles with the bat should come as no surprise.

The tourists were understandably given a pass for their below-par efforts in Brisbane due to the difficult the pitch posed.

Since putting 326 on the board in an innings triumph over England in August, the South Africans have been dismissed for 151, 179, 118, 169, 152 and 99 in Tests.

Throw in five wickets before reaching 100 today and it underlines the parlous state of batting in South African cricket.

Those last six Test innings equate to an average of 145 runs, which feels about what Marnus Labuschagne averaged against the West Indies.

Former Proteas captain Shaun Pollock says on Fox Cricket he wants pitches to be flattened in South Africa, adding many had almost as much juice as Brisbane.

He said the issue was making it difficult for South Africa’s batters to establish themselves.

Scott Boland enjoys a wicket on day one. Picture by Michael Klein
Scott Boland enjoys a wicket on day one. Picture by Michael Klein

2pm MORE CRICKET TV RIGHTS DRAMA

Channel 7 has given Cricket Australia a deadline to decide on its offer for the next cricket TV rights deal.

Find out the latest in the saga and where cricket could be next broadcast BY CLICKINGHERE.

 1.30pm MARNUS STUNNER 2.0! South Africa 5-67 KHAYA ZONDO c Labuschagne b Starc 5 (19)

Marnus Labuschagne has done it again! Zondo hits a full-blooded drive which seems destined for the boundary, only for Labuschagne to launch himself to his left and take what will be one of the catches of the summer! South Africa has lost 4-11 in the last 10 overs to be 5-67 and its long tail looks certain to be exposed again.

1.25PM NEW WARNE HONOUR ANNOUNCED

Shane Warne has been honoured by having one of Australian cricket’s top awards named after him.

On a day of tributes for the late spin king, Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers Association announced the Men’s Test Player of the Year award would carry Warne’s name.

The award, which is announced at the Allan Border Medal, will now be known as the Shane Warne Men’s Test Player of the Year.

“As one of Australia’s all-time greats, it is fitting we acknowledge Shane’s extraordinary contribution to Test cricket by naming this award in his honour in perpetuity,” CA chief executive Nick Hockley said.

“Shane was a proud advocate of Test cricket and you only have to look around at all the fans who came out to the MCG in their floppy hats and zinc on Boxing Day to realise what a profound impact he had on the game.”

ACA chief executive Todd Greenberg added: “While he was a once in a generation player, he was very much a man who understood the important contribution all players made to Australian cricket. He played an important role in the formative years of the ACA and never knocked back an opportunity to promote and grow the game… and once they came, nobody knew how to put on a show quite like Warnie — particularly here at the MCG.

“Our thoughts remain with Shane’s family, particularly his children Brooke, Jackson and Summer, and his many, many great friends within cricket.”

The Australian players line up for a tribute to Shane Warne before the game. Picture: David Caird
The Australian players line up for a tribute to Shane Warne before the game. Picture: David Caird

1.10PM SECOND SESSION UNDERWAY

South Africa resumes at 4-58 after losing 3-2 in a chaotic finish to the first session at the MCG.

1.05PM BOLAND’S ‘AWESOME’ HOME SUPPORT

As if the Victorian crowd didn’t love Scott Boland enough already.

The big quick has further endeared himself by dropping a “sporting capital” in a lunchtime interview with Fox Cricket.

Asked by Kath Loughnan about the incredible support from the Melbourne crowd, Boland said: “It’s been awesome. Such good support from Victoria, the sporting capital of the world.”

Boland was cheered with every action in the first session by the crowd, who fell in love with the fast bowler during his Boxing Day demolition last year.

Boland said the MCG was pitch was keeping “everyone interested” and offering something for the bowlers.

“Nice to have four wickets on the board after bowling first. I think we stuck at it pretty well, (were) pretty disciplined in that two hours. So, nice to get the rewards at the end,” he said.

Scott Boland is feeling the love from his home crowd.
Scott Boland is feeling the love from his home crowd.
 LUNCH DAY ONE - SOUTH AFRICA 4-58
 12.25PM STARC STRIKES! South Africa 4-58 TEMBA BAVUMA c Carey b Starc 1 (8)

Carey moves away to his right after a ball from Starc which pushed across Bavuma and caught the edge. South Africa was cruising 15 minutes ago and now is in all sorts. South Africa has crashed from 1-56 to 4-58.

12.22PM MARNUS MAGIC! South Africa 3-58 DEAN ELGAR run out (Labuschagne) 26 (68)

Out of nowhere South Africa is imploding. A moment of brilliance from Marnus Labuschagne who twists on a dime and throws down the stumps when Elgar thought he could scamper through for a single. “Run out at a very delicate time, eight minutes before lunch,” says Adam Gilchrist in commentary. That is the best twist, turn and finish we have seen at the MCG since Stuart Dew in the 2008 AFL Grand Final. “South Africa have now given Australia three gifts,” Ian Smith says.

12.06PM GREEN WICKET! South Africa 2-56 THEUNIS DE BRUYN c Carey b Green 12 (31)

“If he’s not cross with himself, he should be,” Ian Smith says in commentary. It wasn’t a pretty shot by De Bruyn, more of a hoik than anything else. “I don’t think that was the right ball to be attempting that shot,” adds Mike Hussey on Fox Cricket. Temba Bavuma and Elgar are now under pressure to steer South Africa safely to lunch.

SOUTH AFRICA REELING AT LUNCH

Summary by Andy Bellairs

As the sandwiches were being placed on the trestle tables, the South African change rooms would have been a fairly comfortable place with the visiting team one down.

By the time the fruit platter was laid out, they were in disarray, 4/58 having imploded in the Melbourne heat.

Cameron Green got the breakthrough of De Bruyn followed by the runout of the skipper Elgar and then the dangerous Bavuma was snagged by Mitch Starc.

And the South African middle and lower order batters no longer have an appetite for lunch.

12.02PM ELGAR’S MILESTONE

Dean Elgar plays his best shot of the innings, punching Boland down the ground for four to record his 5000th Test run. He’s had a bit of luck on the way to 25 not out.

 MIDDAY SCORE UPDATE - SOUTH AFRICA 1-52
 11.55am DROPPED!

Australian cricket’s newest IPL millionaire Cameron Green almost strikes in his first over.

Nathan Lyon dives to his left but puts down a one-handed chance as Dean Elgar continues to ride his luck. And only minutes later the South African 50 is up for the loss of one wicket.

11.35AM BOLAND BOWLS ELGAR - WITH A CATCH

Scott Boland comes close to removing South African captain Dean Elgar, who played onto his leg before the ball rolled back into the stumps. It appeared to deflect off one of the stumps but not watch enough force to remove the bails. Elgar survives and South Africa is 1-36 in the 13th over.

 11.25am BOLAND STRIKES! South Africa 1-29 SAREL ERWEE c Khawaja b Boland 18 (31)

Who else but Scotty Boland? The local hero gets the first wicket for Australia, bringing Sarel Erwee forward and drawing an edge which Usman Khawaja claims in the slips. Theunis de Bruyn is the new man in and Nathan Lyon will partner Boland at the Shane Warne Stand end.

 11.18AM POLLOCK DOUBTS OVER CALL TO BOWL FIRST

Former South African skipper Shaun Pollock says South Africa can create doubt in Australia’s minds if it reaches 15 overs without losing a wicket.

Pat Cummins won the toss at the MCG and elected to bowl, presumably to try and expose a South African line-up still reeling from the Brisbane bloodbath.

Despite a sharp caught-and-bowled chance going down and the Australians considering a review or two, South Africa hasn’t looked anywhere near as troubled as at the Gabba on its way to 0-23 after nine overs.

The MCG pitch hasn’t offered anywhere near as much assistance as Brisbane so far.

“There’s been enough to maybe justify it,” Pollock said on Fox Cricket.

“But we all know having played, you start to get that slip corden talk about ‘hmmm, I wonder if we should have batted first’.

“The longer the South Africans last here, you get the 15-20 overs without any damage being done, people start to question. Then you have to get your mindset around the fact (that), ‘OK, we didn’t get the start we’re after, maybe (it’s) not doing as much as we thought it would, but we still have to now go and bowl them out.”

11.12AM BOLAND INTO THE ATTACK

Scott Boland is on. This is not a drill. The MCG is rocking.

 10.51am DROPPED

Pat Cummins grasses a sharp return catch off Dean Elgar. South Africa 0-9. In the next over, Mitch Starc has two appeals against Erwee turned down and Cummins opts not to send either decision for review.

Pat Cummins drops Dean Elgar.
Pat Cummins drops Dean Elgar.

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10.45AM BOY THE FANS LOVE SCOTT BOLAND

Can you imagine the scenes if they had dropped Scott Boland for the Boxing Day Test?

So far he has bene cheered when his name was announced, cheered for running to fine leg and then there was a huge roar when he fielded a ball in the first over.

There’s no doubt Victorians are a parochial bunch!

They’ll have to wait a while to see their hometown hero though as it’s Pat Cummins sharing the new ball with Starc.

South Africa has made a sturdy start, reaching 0-6 after two overs.

Scott Boland in the field on day one of the Boxing Day Test.
Scott Boland in the field on day one of the Boxing Day Test.

10.32AM PLAY UNDERWAY

Mitch Starc has the new ball in hand with South African captain Dean Elgar and fellow opener Sarel Erwee at the crease. Ricky Ponting says on Channel 7 he wonders if Pat Cummins has given South Africa a chance to dictate the Test by bowling but understands the decision to bowl first when conditions are most likely to favour the Aussie quicks.

Warnie 350 painted on the MCG to commemorate Shane Warne’s Test number.
Warnie 350 painted on the MCG to commemorate Shane Warne’s Test number.

10.20AM SHANE WARNE TRIBUTES UNDERWAY

Both teams have floppy hats on and there and hundreds of thousands in the stands as the MCG prepares to celebrate the life of Shane Warne. David Warner’s three daughters are with him to mark his 100th Test. If you missed Warner’s tell-all interview with Ben Horne, catch up here.

A tribute video of some of Warnie’s best moments is playing on the MCG scoreboards with Coldplay’s ‘Yellow’. It's a pretty amazing moment as players from both teams pause and turn to watch some of the best moments from Shane Warne’s legendary career. The crowd, players and officials stand as one and applaud.

Australia's Travis Head looks around as the Australian players wear floppy hats in memory of Shane Warne.
Australia's Travis Head looks around as the Australian players wear floppy hats in memory of Shane Warne.
The Australians line up for the national anthem in front of the Shane Warne Stand . Picture by Michael Klein
The Australians line up for the national anthem in front of the Shane Warne Stand . Picture by Michael Klein

10.12AM TEAM NEWS

As we found out yesterday, Australia is unchanged with local hero Scott Boland retaining his spot with Josh Hazlewood still not 100 per cent. Theunis De Bruyne is in to bat at No.3 for South Africa. As the tourists hinted at on Christmas Day, they will again go in with Marco Jansen listed at No.7. There was police applause throughout the team announcements until Scott Boland’s name was read out and the MCG went wild.

AUSTRALIA: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland

SOUTH AFRICA: Dean Elgar (c), Sarel Erwee, Theunis de Bruyn, Temba Bavuma, Khaya Zondo, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi

10:02AM AUSSIES WILL BOWL AFTER WINNING TOSS

Pat Cummins has won the toss and sent South Africa in to bat at the MCG. The pitch isn’t expected to be anything like Brisbane’s green monster but there is grass covering which will offer assistance for the Australian bowlers early. It will be a big test of South Africa’s mettle after rolled cheaply twice in Brisbane.

9:50AM CONCERN FOR CRICKET FAN IN LEAD UP TO PLAY

A section of the MCC members has been cordoned off with staff appearing to attend to a patron just before 10am. Medical staff and police are in attendance on the level 2 balcony.

LYON BRACING FOR ‘EMOTIONAL’ TRIBUTE TO THE REAL GOAT

Star spinner Nathan Lyon is bracing for an emotional Boxing Day Test as cricket farewells the real GOAT – his childhood hero, Shane Warne.

The Australian team will be just like most fans sitting in the stands at the MCG on Monday when they honour a sporting icon who inspired them to love the game.

Fox Cricket has prepared a stirring tribute video that will be played on the big screens when the players, all wearing white floppy hats, are lined up on the field before play to pay tribute to one of the most larger than life characters Australia has known.

Shane Warne with his iconic white Greg Chappell hat. Picture: Hamish Blair/Getty Images
Shane Warne with his iconic white Greg Chappell hat. Picture: Hamish Blair/Getty Images

Warne’s son Jackson will join Fox Cricket’s coverage during the day for what the network is calling ‘The Shane Warne Boxing Day Test’, in memory of their beloved commentator.

Lyon, an all-time Test great in his own right with more than 450 Test wickets, has paid tribute to the cricketer he looked up to ahead of a special day at the MCG.

“I’ve got the nickname of the GOAT, which is a bit ridiculous,” Lyon said.

“That’s Shane. He is the greatest.

“It’s going to be a very emotional Test for everyone. It’s going to be very special that this is going to be the first Test since his passing at his home ground.

“For us to be out in the middle with everyone else who is honouring Shane Warne, it’s going to be special.”

Warne’s cap number 350 will be emblazoned on the MCG outfield for the duration of the Test and at 3.50pm on Boxing Day Warne’s image will appear on the big screen.

During the Test, the Warne highlight reels will roll.

Lyon admits he never quite got used to the thrill of turning up to a Test match and bumping into Warne out in the middle before play.

Shane Warne provided advice for Nathan Lyon throughout his test career. Picture: Morne de Klerk/Getty Images
Shane Warne provided advice for Nathan Lyon throughout his test career. Picture: Morne de Klerk/Getty Images

After play finished on day four of the first Test of the 2019 Ashes tour in England, Warne asked to meet Lyon outside the dressing rooms.

With Australia needing to take 10 wickets on the last day to take a 1-0 victory, Warne spoke to Lyon about how he must realise he had the power as the spinner in the side to “control the tempo” of the game and make England play on his terms.

The next day Lyon took six wickets in a resounding victory which set the platform for Australia to reclaim the Ashes for the first time in two decades.

“When you think back at it now, it’s absolutely incredible,” Lyon said.

“Mind blowing stuff.”

For Lyon, Warne made spin bowling cool, and the Australian star is committed to continuing his hero’s legacy of inspiring a new generation of young Aussie kids to give it a tweak.

“It’s all about trying to keep the legacy alive I guess,” Lyon said.

“I think it’s a massive role and massive opportunity for myself to keep the spin culture alive and well inside Australian cricket.

“Warnie was obviously the biggest (influence) you could ever imagine. Especially as a young kid growing up in Australia, all I wanted to do was be like Shane Warne.

“If I can keep that dream going for a lot of kids, boys and girls out there in Australian cricket, then I’m doing my role.”

Warne’s son Jackson, who spoke so brilliantly at the public funeral at the MCG earlier this year, will appear alongside his father’s old commentary sparring partners during the tea break on Fox Cricket.

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/cricket/boxing-day-cricket-2nd-test-australia-vs-south-africa-from-the-mcg-all-the-scores-and-analysis/news-story/8828bfa5944677b6260288ea919a35ab