By: Atif Amin:
The 2nd test between Australia and South Africa started today at Melbourne Cricket Stadium. Australian captain Pat Cummins won the toss and inserted South Africa to bat first. South Africa made a watchful start and reached to 56 for the loss of 1 wicket only. However, there was a mini collapse and from 56 for 1 South Africa was restricted to 67 for 5.
After the fall of the fifth wicket, A 112-run stand between Verreynne and Jansen gave the innings some backbone but there was not much else and once the stand was broken the last 5 wickets were taken by Australia for just 10 runs to bundle South Africa out for 189.
Verreynne and Jansen were the only South African Batsmen to provide some resistance with sores of 52 and 59 respectively. For Australia Cameron Green did the bulk of the damage and claimed the wicket of Theunis de Bruyn, which was the first of three for two runs, before lunch and then Verreynne, Jansen, Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi in 12 balls to complete his first Test five-for.
In response to South Africa’s 189 Australia finished day one at 45 for 1 with Warner unbeaten on 32 in his 100th test match and Marnus Labuschangne unbeaten on 5. Australia will look to build a solid lead on day 2.
Earlier before the start of play, it was announced that Australia’s men’s Test Player of the Year award will be named in honour of Shane Warne. CA and ACA made the joint announcement at the Boxing Day Test between Australia and South Africa where both sides have honoured Warne in the first Test match to be played at his home ground of the MCG since his passing in March this year. Warne, who won the Test Player of the Year award in 2006, is widely regarded as Australia’s greatest-ever Test match bowler having taken 708 wickets in 145 Tests.
