Boxing Day Test – Plays of Day 1

Johannesburg – Sports correspondent Zaahier Adams looks at the Plays of Day 1 of the second Test between the Proteas and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne.

The Shane Warne Stand

The "G" on Boxing Day was the late Shane Warne's personal playground during the leg-spinner’s epic career. The Victorians lauded their favourite son with a moving tribute before play after the Great Southern Stand was renamed in his honour. All the players also wore his trademark white floppy hat in his memory.

The 100-Test Club

It certainly was a day of milestones. With the second Test not only being the 100th time these two great rivals met in a Test match, but it was also David Warner’s 100th Test.

The pocket-sized dynamo had promised pre-match to return to his attacking ways and finished unbeaten on 32 setting up the prospect of a century in his 100th Test.

Green Day

Cameron Green is enjoying arguably the best week of his life. It was only a few days ago that Santa came down his chimney and delivered him a AU$3 million pay day as the second most expensive Indian Premier League auction buy ever.

He showed his full worth of the hefty price tag with a brilliant bowling spell of 5/27 on the opening day of this Test.

Jansen the new Kallis?

There is great debate about the length – or lack thereof actually – of South Africa’s batting line-up. The intention is the extra responsibility on Marco Jansen will transform the lanky seamer into an all-rounder.

Marco Jansen batted his way to a maiden Test half-century 👏

He explains what he enjoys doing at training 🏏#AUSvSA #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/K5fmVwNQLe

— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) December 26, 2022

At the moment Jansen is certainly delivering with a top-score of 59 on Monday. To add to that, the young man has even been positioned at first slip now.

Seven Gates of Hell

South Africa’s batting woes are well-documented, but it has now reached its nadir. The Proteas have not passed 200 in their last seven Test innings. It is a situation that simply cannot continue if they have any home of being a successful Test unit ever again.

Jansen and Kyle Verryenne battled hard for their half-centuries, but the decision-making and shot selection of the rest of the batters left a lot to be desired.

All stand for Scottie Boland

Victorians love adopting a hometown hero during the Boxing Day Test. Initially it was Merv Hughes, and then Shane Warne for many years. But now it's the unlikely figure of Scott Boland.

The aforementioned duo were larger-than-life characters, whereas Boland is almost introverted. But that hasn't stopped the locals from cheering his every move.

@ZaahierAdams