Welcome to news.com.au’s protection of the Boxing Day Test between Australia and South Africa.
The iconic match on the sporting calendar couldn’t come quickly sufficient after Australia gained the primary Test in Brisbane in two days. Victory in Melbourne will seal the sequence win for the Aussies.
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Australian captain Pat Cummins has made the shocking option to bowl first after profitable the toss.
The MCG pitch is nowhere close to as inexperienced because the raging deck on the Gabba this week and groups historically bat first in the event that they win the toss in Melbourne.
But the choice Cummins is assured himself, Scott Boland and Mitch Starc can rip by way of South African’s brittle batting line-up.
“It’s slightly against tradition — Australia winning the toss and bowling,” Mark Waugh mentioned on Fox Cricket.
“It’s probably a comibation of a bit of grass on the pitch, the fragility of South AFrican battling line-up and the quality of the Australian fast bowlers.”
Scott Boland struck first, catching the sting of Sarel Erwee, who edged by way of to Usman Khawaja within the slips for 18.
Touching tributes to Shane Warne
Emotional scenes are anticipated on the first Boxing Day Test since Shane Warne died earlier this 12 months.
Several tributes are deliberate to honour the late spin king, who famously took his 700th Test wicket on the MCG in 2006.
A pre-match ceremony pays tribute to the function of the MCG in Warne’s profession, and his personal floppy hat and a ball can be on the entrance to the sector as gamers stroll previous on their manner out for the nationwide anthems.
Fans are being inspired to put on a large brim hat and zinc like Warne did, whereas Australia’s gamers will quickly put on the white floppy hat as a substitute of the saggy inexperienced.
‘Warnie 350’ has been painted on the MCG turf in the course of the match, in honour of Warne’s Test cap quantity.
After his loss of life in March, the MCG’s Great Southern Stand was renamed The Shane Warne Stand.
Boland retains his spot
Victorian Scott Boland will get the prospect to repeat his heroics from final 12 months’s Boxing Day Test after it was confirmed he’ll preserve his place in Australia’s line-up.
Captain Pat Cummins revealed Josh Hazlewood was very near getting back from a facet pressure however dominated himself out of choice as a result of he wasn’t 100 per cent match.
“We gave Joshy every chance,” Cummins mentioned.
“It got to the stage where Joshy more than anyone else just felt he was a little bit underdone. I think it’s a mark of the man Joshy that he kind of said ‘I just don’t feel quite right, so he pulled himself out of selection.
“We’ve talked a lot about how it’s a squad mentality and I think that’s another great example.”
“It would have been (hard to leave Boland out). Again, we didn’t really get to the decision point,” Cummins mentioned.
“I think (people) could have felt a little bit aggrieved if Scotty missed out.
“Great to have a Victorian here. Always get that wonderful support. Last year was pretty much the highlight of the summer for all of us was this MCG Test and the reception Scotty got so hopefully a bit more of it this year.”
South Africa has made one change, bringing in Theunis de Bruyn for Rassie van der Dussen.
