Boxing Day belonged to Australia’s new three million greenback man Cameron Green who snagged his first Test five-for, however will day two belong to David Warner?
The opener hasn’t made a Test century for nearly three years however is nicely on his method as play resumes.
Follow all of the reside protection from the MCG right here.
12.55PM PM PREDICTS WARNER CENTURY
Ben Horne
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has predicted a David Warner century after lunch on day two on the MCG.
The PM stepped into the Fox Cricket commentary field for a stint with Adam Gilchrist and Kerry O’Keeffe and feels it’s Warner’s day.
As a boy from blue color Marriackville in Sydney, Albanese believes Warner from a housing fee in Matraville is poised to show his doubters improper in his a centesimal Test.
“That’s exactly right. He comes from a tough area of Sydney,” Mr Albanese stated on Fox.
“The whole of Australia is hoping he hits a ton in his 100th Test.”
The PM – a South Sydney Rabbitohs tragic – then ribbed Warner for being a Sydney Roosters supporter when he was born and raised in South Sydney heartland.
“He should be a South Sydney supporter coming from Matraville,” Mr Albanese stated.
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South Africa burned a evaluation late within the first session after Marco Jansen caught Steve Smith pad first with an in-swinger. The Proteas instantly appealed and whereas their feeling was appropriate about pad beating bat, the ball struck Smith exterior the road of off stump. Marco Jansen has bowled brilliantly within the half-hour earlier than lunch, giving Smith loads of complications. Australia trails by 53 runs.
12.15PM WARNER REACHES CAREER MILESTONE
David Warner has grow to be the eighth Astralian to move 8000 Test runs earlier than lunch.
Warner joins Ricky Ponting (13378), Allan Border (11174), Steve Waugh (10927), Michael Clarke (8643), Matthew Hayden (8625), Steve Smith (8467*) and Mark Waugh (8029) within the 8000-run membership.
12.12PM IS CHRISTMAS BBL COMING?
Cricket Australia might be on a collision course with gamers because it prepares to research taking part in a Big Bash League match on Christmas Day.
More than 7000 supporters turned out to Sydney Kings’ historic NBL conflict with Melbourne United, success which may pave the way in which for different sports activities to observe go well with.
Melbourne Stars captain Adam Zampa stated on Monday he had no considering taking part in on Christmas Day, whereas his Sixers counterpart Moises Henriques stated he was “glad I didn’t play” on December 25.
Cricket Australia boss Nick Hockley stated on Tuesday a Christmas Day match could be a dialogue level when the present BBL season was reviewed.
“That’s a good question. I think it’s something we’ll definitely talk about between the end of the season, as we obviously do the season wrap on the Big Bash,” he stated on SEN Cricket.
“It is something we’ll talk at length to players and also to the clubs and the venues (about).”
Hockley added: “For me, it would have been nice to turn on the TV and watch a bit of TV cricket. But at the end of the day it is a really crowded schedule for, particularly our T20 players.
“It’s unlike football season where you’re playing every weekend. They’re playing a match pretty much every two, two-and-a-half days.
“There’s lots of considerations but we won’t be making any decisions without really extensive consultation with the players and the clubs.”
On Monday evening, Zampa stated: “I don’t really want to play on Christmas Day.
“Our schedules are hectic enough as is, particularly for the Stars. Obviously the Boxing Day Test is on so we’re not in Melbourne, we’re away quite a bit this time of year.
“To add in a Christmas Day game would be out of the question.”
The temperature has soared to 34 levels in Melbourne and it’s solely anticipated to get even hotter. The anticipated excessive at this time is a scorching 37 levels. You sense Australia’s plan — understandably — is to bat all day within the warmth and put on South Africa down. Keshav Maharaj time quickly? It’s been all of the quicks up to now.
11.35AM GREEN’S PLAN FOR IPL RICHES
Newly-minted IPL millionaire Cameron Green has revealed his modest plans for $3m wage he’ll obtain from his new franchise.
Green turned some of the costly gamers in IPL historical past when he was snapped up by Mumbai Indians for $3.15m, a brand new Australian document.
The 23-year-old stated the public sale expertise had been “pretty surreal” and his hefty price ticket had already led to some good-natured ribbing from teammates.
“We’re staying in a pretty nice hotel and there’s a few nice cars out the front,” Green informed Fox Cricket.
“A few of the guys have been giving me a bit of stick saying ‘it’s already the new car that Greeny’s already got’. It’s a bit of light humour.”
But he doesn’t but have any grand plans for the cash, as an alternative confirming an iPad was on his wishlist.
Considering you may decide a kind of up for about $750, Green may have a good bit of spare change left over.
Green watched the public sale and stated his nerves solely kicked in about half-hour earlier than bidding.
“Yeah I did (watch it). Maybe a day before I was just curious about what was going to happen, I wasn’t that nervous,” he stated.
“Then probably half an hour before it happened I was like ‘jeez, this feels real now’.
“It was pretty surreal. Definitely pinching yourself that it’s happening.
“You don’t know if you deserve it or not. Hopefully I can repay obviously the king gesture they gave me. It should be a good opportunity.”
EARLIER NEWS: STARC POISED TO MISS SCG TEST
Mitchell Starc is about to overlook the Sydney Test match with tendon injury to his finger and can solely bowl in the remainder of the Boxing Day Test if required.
News Corp understands Starc is all however sure to overlook the ultimate Test of the summer season on the SCG and shall be rehabbing his finger in a bid to be proper for the beginning of the Indian Test tour subsequent month.
Starc may nonetheless bowl if required within the second innings in Melbourne, and will not do additional injury to his bowling finger on his left hand if he does.
However, Australia could be mad to threat Starc except they should and the workforce shall be hoping the batting unit can construct a sufficiently big lead that the left-armer will be rested for the remainder of the match.
Starc’s harm opens the door for the potential that Lance “The Wild Thing” Morris may make his Test debut in Sydney.
Although Josh Hazlewood may additionally be match to push his case for inclusion, selectors could contemplate a second spinner like Ashton Agar, Adam Zampa or Mitchell Swepson if circumstances on the SCG seem like turning.
David Warner will get to his half-century from 72 balls. He’s been so proactive since late on day one. Can he flip it right into a drought-breaking century in his a centesimal Test? His final Test century was in January 2020, in opposition to New Zealand. The photograph beneath would possibly function a reminder.
A horror mix-up for the Aussies between David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne. Warner despatched Labuschagne again and regardless of a valiant dive he was caught in need of his floor. “It’s a real bonus wicket this for South Africa,” says Shaun Pollock in commentary. Trying to finish the second, Warner and Labuschagne crossed about two thirds of the way in which up the wicket, Marnus took off however was caught nicely brief.
DAVID WARNER MIC’D UP
Check out this nice perception from Fox Cricket on day one with David Warner sporting a microphone within the area and through his innings.
Former Australian batter Mark Waugh has accused South African spearhead Kagiso Rabada of “just rolling his arm over” on what has up to now been a forgettable tour for the Proteas.
The 27-year-old took eight wickets in Brisbane, together with 4 in a memorable burst to rattle Australia throughout its second innings.
But Rabada was the costliest of the South African seamers on the Gabba inexperienced prime and Waugh questioned whether or not he was going by means of the motions.
“For a world-class bowler Rabada has bowled some very ordinary spells on this tour,” he stated on Fox Cricket.
“And his body language, we know he’s a laid-back sort of character, but you just want to see a bit more energy from the get-go.
“It’s got to affect the rest of the fielding side and the captain when he sees his strike bowler just rolling his arm over.”
Nortje to Labuschagne to get day two underway with Australia trailing by 144 runs. And the third ball of the day flies extensive of third slip. An adolescence for Labuschagne.
STARC CLEARED TO CONTINUE
Fast bowler Mitchell Starc has been cleared to proceed within the in opposition to South Africa on the MCG.
Starc was hit on the tip of the center finger on his left hand by the ball within the area yesterday. After leaving the sphere initially, Starc bowled within the nets earlier than returning to play.
His situation shall be reassessed on the completion of the match.
SOUTH AFRICA’S SOS TO FAF?
Faf, the place are you?
He’s with the Perth Scorchers, that’s the place.
And doing properly sufficient that every time he scored runs for them it creates a bit of storm of Tweets from South Africa saying even at age 38 Faf du Plessis needs to be within the South African Test workforce.
It gained’t occur however we get the purpose.
It took keeper Kyle Verreynne and quick bowler Marco Jansen to hoist South Africa from whole distress to one thing a bit of higher in opposition to Australia however either side of their century stand there was batting chaos.
Playing Australia, and notably David Warner, meant a lot to du Plessis that he felt no different workforce may wind his depth sufficient as much as the identical degree.
Du Plessis, who retired from Tests practically two years in the past after South Africa hinted they might not want him, has grow to be a T20 journeyman and his plush new home in Cape Town is proof to how nicely he’s doing.
One factor that du Plessis has that not one of the prime order bar Dean Elgar has is an honest method.
He knew when to play and when to depart, when to be affected person and when to dominate.
Sadly, the present prime order have none of that.
This is the weakest South African batting workforce to depart dwelling in 90 years. There are 5 batsmen averaging 50 or extra in South Africa’s home system however they’ve been neglected within the feeling that they haven’t completed sufficient.
South Africa’s dismal 189 adopted innings of 151, 179, 118, 169, 152 and 99 in Tests,.
It’s unhappy. They say you may make what you want of statistics in cricket however over time they not often lie.
To assume Sarel Erwee may deal with this Australian assault on the again of a Test common of 25 is past wishful pondering.
The similar for Temba Bavuma (34), Khaya Zondo (25) and Theunis de Bruyn (19).
It’s exhausting to defy gravity in Test cricket.
Bavuma has performed the identical variety of Tests as Don Bradman – 52 – and scored only one century and that got here seven years in the past.
Zondo has performed 138 top notch matches over 15 years and averaged 31 – so how may he presumably be anticipated to be a Test star?
The unhappy factor for South Africa is that Test cricket is a lowering precedence for the Proteas will play solely 28 Tests within the subsequent 4 yr cycle.
Things are grim now. They are more likely to worsen.
CAN WARNER FINALLY BREAK CENTURY DROUGHT?
South Africa beware … David Warner would possibly simply have discovered his lacking mojo.
Warner is celebrating his a centesimal Test and for one pulsating hour took followers again to his snap-crackling zenith.
The toes have been transferring sharply. The operating between wickets was fearless and frantic. The shot making was agency and exact.
The outdated Warner was changed by the Warner of outdated.
Clearly, Warner needs a century right here badly. He is pumped for this match and is feeding off the a centesimal Test vibe.
South Africa has typically introduced out one of the best in him. He has 4 centuries in thirteenth Tests in opposition to them and a whistling strike charge of 80 runs per 100 balls.
His optimistic intent was evident in the way in which he took on Kagiso Rabada, his nemesis from the primary Test, with two sturdy pull photographs to the fence.
Even when he left the ball Warner did so aggressively, sometimes sliding down on one knee to intensify his actions.
Warner will resume on 32 with Australia 1-45 in opposition to South Africa’s paltry 189 and would be the centre of consideration till he will get out.
Warner seems to be like a automobile which has simply had a tune-up however older gamers can have these little bursts and the problem for him is to reignite the fireplace on day two.
South Africa’s world class bowling line-up is a risk underneath any circumstances however they’re perpetually underneath strain due to the fixed failings of their batsmen who scored their seventh consecutive sub-200 whole.
Their aspect resembles the West Indies workforce of 20 years in the past when the batsmen would disappear in a heartbeat and go away nice quick males Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh to scrub up their mess.
When Ambrose surprisingly retired on 98 Tests within the yr 2000 he privately informed pals that the pressure of getting to attempt to launch a miracle restoration with the ball each match had taken its toll.
Souths Africa’s excellent assault could quickly get to know this vibe – in the event that they don’t realize it already.
Originally revealed as Australia v South Africa: Follow all of the motion from day two on the MCG
