Australia will look to safe a primary sequence win over South Africa on residence soil in 17 years once they take an unchanged crew into the Boxing Day Test on the MCG.
The Proteas have gained three successive sequence in Australia however are 1-0 down going into the normal Melbourne blockbuster after being crushed by six wickets inside two days within the first Test on the Gabba.
Australia’s final Test overcome South Africa at residence got here beneath Ricky Ponting’s captaincy in the course of the 2005-06 summer season.
A breakthrough sequence win over the Proteas would set Australia up properly for a mammoth 2023 once they head to India in February for a four-Test sequence earlier than making an attempt to retain the Ashes in England.
“Going into next year we’ve got Indian conditions, Ashes, maybe World Test Championship final – for a Test cricketer it’s probably the biggest year you could possibly have,” captain Pat Cummins mentioned.
“We’ve got an opportunity ahead of us to set a legacy for this team and it’s so exciting.”
Cummins is assured the second Test will last more than the opening match, when 34 wickets tumbled throughout simply six classes of play.
Last yr’s MCG Test completed earlier than lunch on the third day however circumstances usually are not anticipated to swimsuit fast-bowling as a lot this time round.
Scott Boland has retained his spot, with fellow fast Josh Hazlewood ruling himself out as he continues to get better from a aspect pressure damage.
The Victorian quick bowler will return to the scene of his well-known Test debut final December, when he ran via England with 6-7 to safe man-of-the-match honours and assist Australia retain the Ashes.
Boland has taken 25 wickets in his 5 Tests on the miserly common of 10.36, coming again into the XI when Hazlewood harm himself within the opening Test of the summer season towards West Indies in Perth.
Veteran opener David Warner will change into simply the 14th Australian to play 100 Tests when he strains up towards the Proteas, however is going through a combat to bow out of red-ball cricket on his personal phrases after not making a century within the format since January 2020.
The Boxing Day Test, all the time a memorable event, shall be much more particular this yr as Cricket Australia pay tribute to legendary spin king Shane Warne.
Among different tributes, gamers from each side will all put on floppy hats in the course of the nationwide anthems in tribute to the cricket icon, who died out of the blue in March.
