Australia vs South Africa, 2nd Test, Day 1: Talking Points

Australia and South Africa locked horns in the 2nd test on Boxing Day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne. Australia has a lead of 1-0 in the series and the first day of the 2nd test was action-packed with some entertaining cricket was witnessed on Day 1. Pat Cummins put South Africa in after winning the toss which proved to be the right move. Let’s have a look at some of the talking points of the day.

Surprise at the toss

Earlier in the day, Australia won the toss and opted to bowl first. Everyone was surprised by Pat Cummins decision, but he proved everyone wrong as the day progressed. Proteas got off to a slow and steady start, there was nothing much to offer from the surface for the bowlers. But Aussies pacers kept bowling on tight lines and didn’t leak easy runs. Openers glued a partnership of 29 runs. Scott Boland got the first breakthrough as he scalped the wicket of Sarel Erwee.

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South African collapse

Theunis de Bruyn joined skipper Dean Elgar in the middle. Bruyn looked solid with his defence and got settled in the middle. In the meanwhile, Dean Elgar became the 8th South African batter to score 5000 test runs. Bryun threw away his wicket to Cameron Green by playing a rash shot. Dean Elgar the big fish disappointed Proteas as he got runout, on the very next ball Temba Bavuma followed him back to the pavilion. The middle order of Proteas failed miserably. South Africa lost 4 wickets in the first session and scored  58 runs.

Marco Jansen and Verreynne stitched a brilliant partnership

Marco Jansen and Kyle Verreynne steadied the ship and made sure Proteas don’t lose more wickets. Both the batters looked solid with their defence and slowly ticked away with runs. The pair glued an excellent partnership of 112 runs for the 6th wicket. Verreynne departed after playing a solid knock of 52 runs. Jansen followed him back to the pavilion after scoring 59 runs. The wickets started tumbling down for Proteas and they were bundled out for 189 runs.

Aussies end the day with 45-1

Usman Khawaja and David Warner opened the Innings for Aussies. David Warner looked confident from the word go he was timing the ball beautifully. Usman Khawaja struggled a bit and paid price for it as Kagiso Rabada dismissed him in the 7th over. David Warner is unbeaten on 33* runs and Marnus Labuschange (5*) are the middle and Australia are 45/1 at the end of day 1.