575/8 (145.0)
CR : 3.97
189/10 (68.4)
CR : 2.75
Australia won by an innings and 182 runs 🏆
Player of the Match
David Warner
200(255)
AUS won by an innings and 182 runs
9:55 AM IST | Probuddha: So that's it!! Australia has outplayed South Africa for the second time in the series. The hosts won the match by an innings and 182 runs. The Boxing Day Test is ruled by the Aussies.
On the first day of the match, Australia won the toss and elected to field first. The Aussie bowlers made life difficult for the batters at the very beginning and had them reeling very soon at 67 for 5. After this, Kyle Verreynne (52 off 99) and Marco Jansen (59 of 136) stitched a 112 runs partnership to take the total to a respectable one.
But the lower order once again crumbled quickly. The last five wickets fell for just 10 runs for South Africa in the first innings. The visitors were bundled out for 189 runs in the innings. Cameron Green was the pick of the bowlers for the team, picking up five wickets for 27 runs in the innings.
Australia came out to give a reply, and it was a Warner show. The Southpaw played an aggressive knock and kept the South African batters under pressure. Warner was partnered by Smith, who scored 85 runs to put Australia in a position of strength. The duo stitched a stellar 239 runs partnership for the 3rd wicket.
Warner kept on going from strength to strength and brought up his double hundred. He became just the second batter to score a double ton in his 100th Test. The foundation that Warner led was solidified by Alex Carey down the order. Carey played a brilliant knock of 111 runs and became the first Australian wicketkeeper to score a hundred in a boxing day Test. Carey helped the hosts to a total of 575 runs for the loss of 8 wickets when they decided to declare.
South Africa was trailing by 386 runs in the second innings. Once again, the Aussie bowlers dominated the course of the play and kept picking away wickets. There was no resilience from the visitors barring a gutsy knock by Temba Bavuma (65 off 144). But the Australian bowling unit, even in the absence of Green and with an injured Starc, managed to pick up the 10 wickets of South Africa for just 204 runs. Nathan Lyon picked up three wickets in the innings as Australia won the match by 182 runs.
On the first day of the match, Australia won the toss and elected to field first. The Aussie bowlers made life difficult for the batters at the very beginning and had them reeling very soon at 67 for 5. After this, Kyle Verreynne (52 off 99) and Marco Jansen (59 of 136) stitched a 112 runs partnership to take the total to a respectable one.
But the lower order once again crumbled quickly. The last five wickets fell for just 10 runs for South Africa in the first innings. The visitors were bundled out for 189 runs in the innings. Cameron Green was the pick of the bowlers for the team, picking up five wickets for 27 runs in the innings.
Australia came out to give a reply, and it was a Warner show. The Southpaw played an aggressive knock and kept the South African batters under pressure. Warner was partnered by Smith, who scored 85 runs to put Australia in a position of strength. The duo stitched a stellar 239 runs partnership for the 3rd wicket.
Warner kept on going from strength to strength and brought up his double hundred. He became just the second batter to score a double ton in his 100th Test. The foundation that Warner led was solidified by Alex Carey down the order. Carey played a brilliant knock of 111 runs and became the first Australian wicketkeeper to score a hundred in a boxing day Test. Carey helped the hosts to a total of 575 runs for the loss of 8 wickets when they decided to declare.
South Africa was trailing by 386 runs in the second innings. Once again, the Aussie bowlers dominated the course of the play and kept picking away wickets. There was no resilience from the visitors barring a gutsy knock by Temba Bavuma (65 off 144). But the Australian bowling unit, even in the absence of Green and with an injured Starc, managed to pick up the 10 wickets of South Africa for just 204 runs. Nathan Lyon picked up three wickets in the innings as Australia won the match by 182 runs.
Mitchell Starc: "That's what we need to do and we pride outselves for it. We've had a great 24 months. We have done a great job with few injuries, especially with Greeny going down. But Nah, it's Test match, we were one down but it was nice to get through. I was not overly sure what I could do. It was quite a good thing to play my role.
Not sure, I'll be going to Sydney. I'll be out for a few weeks. Obviously, we have the India series coming up, will look to get back to it. He[ David Warner] is the first bloke to get to 200 and then get out in the next ball. The outside noise that he has coped with previously and then play this kinda innings, is outstanding. And also, Alex Carey did a great job getting his Test hundred. They nearly got 600 runs and asked us the job to do."
Not sure, I'll be going to Sydney. I'll be out for a few weeks. Obviously, we have the India series coming up, will look to get back to it. He[ David Warner] is the first bloke to get to 200 and then get out in the next ball. The outside noise that he has coped with previously and then play this kinda innings, is outstanding. And also, Alex Carey did a great job getting his Test hundred. They nearly got 600 runs and asked us the job to do."
Alex Carey: "Ultra exciting that we have won. To do this after a long time, it is great as a group. And also, contributing to the win for the team, feels good. We actually sat down as a group and showed the vision as a game. What a guy he is! At an individual sport, we celebrate each other's success. To be with him, see him[Cameron Green] raise is tremendous. Really proud of his efforts. Incredible effort. Also, with Starc as well. This Test has a plenty of stories actually.
Looking to be positive and got myself going. Greeny was there and asked him to just bat. I was trying not to look at the scoreboard. The last time I looked at the scoreboard, it was in Karachi and I got out for 93. My wife was there and was up there with some beers. My brother was there for Christmas, my family friends and a lot more had come. Definitely, this makes things special. We knew that this is going to be a tough series. Both the bowling attack is going to be lethal.
The way Davey came in and smashed a 200 in his milestone match was great. The way I and Travis came out, this wins means a lot to us. The group, in the last 12 months have been incredible. It's been a lot of fun. I know the group will celebrate it tonight"
Looking to be positive and got myself going. Greeny was there and asked him to just bat. I was trying not to look at the scoreboard. The last time I looked at the scoreboard, it was in Karachi and I got out for 93. My wife was there and was up there with some beers. My brother was there for Christmas, my family friends and a lot more had come. Definitely, this makes things special. We knew that this is going to be a tough series. Both the bowling attack is going to be lethal.
The way Davey came in and smashed a 200 in his milestone match was great. The way I and Travis came out, this wins means a lot to us. The group, in the last 12 months have been incredible. It's been a lot of fun. I know the group will celebrate it tonight"
10:06 AM IST | Time for the presentation ceremony.
Player of the Match: David Warner
David Warner (Player of the Match): "Yeah look, obviously, a phenomenal achievement for the boys here in Boxing Day. The crowd has been absolutely stunning. We know how hot it is. We saw some crazy stuff from Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc and Alex Carey with his maiden hundred.
My father couldn't come here but this innings is right up there. 100th Test match and a packed-up MCG and what a moment to bring it up.
No never, it is about coming out here and keep putting in the hard yards. I'll try to give my best and keep scoring runs. I have already committed to play the next year's World Cup. But if they pat me in my back and say its time, I'm ready to quit"
My father couldn't come here but this innings is right up there. 100th Test match and a packed-up MCG and what a moment to bring it up.
No never, it is about coming out here and keep putting in the hard yards. I'll try to give my best and keep scoring runs. I have already committed to play the next year's World Cup. But if they pat me in my back and say its time, I'm ready to quit"
Dean Elgar (South Africa Captain): "Not good actually!! So, we got to do a lot of reflection at the moment. There are few positives out of it, but not really many. You gotta hit reality on the head as well. We lost a lot of batters previously and the inexperience at this level is hurting us at the moment.
A lot to play for, and a lot of pride. South Africa nation has a lot of pride. We gotta move on very quickly and we need to showcase again that we can do it"
A lot to play for, and a lot of pride. South Africa nation has a lot of pride. We gotta move on very quickly and we need to showcase again that we can do it"
Pat Cummins (Australia Captain): "South Africa adds some wonderful contest always.Its a super crowd over here. Hope so, thought the way, Davey Warner and Steve Smith batted the way, and Starc to come with a big injury and come and bowl this way. Greeny too, to get injured and bat like that. Greeny has had a pretty good week, not worried about him.
From ball one, his [ David Warner] energy, that's what he has done from his first day and to ride it till his 100th century is enough.
Cazz [Alex Carey] is one of out favorites. He has been brilliant in the other formats and to get this maiden Test century, we're all proud. Apart from Rod Marsh, he is the only skipper to get a century. He is in a good company.
He [Nathan Lyon] is good to go. Yeah, a couple of thoughts, but nothing confirmed yet. We will bring some new members to our squad. Probably Greeny and Starc will miss the next Test.
Yeah, a big win, and so many proud performances for the team. Hopefully, he [Shane Warne] is watching us from somewhere"
From ball one, his [ David Warner] energy, that's what he has done from his first day and to ride it till his 100th century is enough.
Cazz [Alex Carey] is one of out favorites. He has been brilliant in the other formats and to get this maiden Test century, we're all proud. Apart from Rod Marsh, he is the only skipper to get a century. He is in a good company.
He [Nathan Lyon] is good to go. Yeah, a couple of thoughts, but nothing confirmed yet. We will bring some new members to our squad. Probably Greeny and Starc will miss the next Test.
Yeah, a big win, and so many proud performances for the team. Hopefully, he [Shane Warne] is watching us from somewhere"
10:16 AM IST | So, that's it. The 'G' belongs to the Aussies on this year's Boxing Day Test. This is Probuddha Bhattacharjee signing off on behalf of my co-commentator Arijit Kundu and scorer/analyst Dushyant Madhukar Kumar. Stay tuned for more live cricketing action around the world.