Match: South Africa vs Australia | Second Test Match 2022 | Day 2
Dates: 26th December 2022 – 30th December 2022
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)
South Africa vs Australia – Teams:
South Africa’s playing XI:
Dean Elgar (c), Sarel Erwee, Theunis de Bruyn, Temba Bavuma, Khaya Zondo, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi
Australia’s playing XI:
Pat Cummins (c), David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Nathan Lyon
South Africa vs Australia – Toss:
Australian Captain Pat Cummins had won the toss and decided to put South Africans in to bat. The decision worked well in his favour as Australian bowlers dismissed the Proteas batters cheaply in the first innings.
Match Report – Day 2 of the 2nd Test Match | South Africa vs Australia:
As it Happened:
South Africa vs Australia: Second Test Match 2022 – Day 2
It was a commanding day for Australia as their batter’s batter well to give them a strong hold over the match. For South Africa, it was a disappointing day of test match cricket as their bowlers failed control the game.
At the end of day 1, Australia were 45/1 with Warner and Marnus at the crease. The two batters started to chip away at the South African lead. Marnus did not get a big score as he so often does.
A confusion between the two batters resulted in a run-out as Marnus Labuschagne got out for 14. Steve Smith joined David Warner at the crease. The two batters added 239 runs for the third wicket. Thus, putting Australia on top.
Steve Smith looked in control in his innings of 85. He was caught at gully as he tried to guide a wide delivery from Anrich Nortje. However, the star of the Day was David Warner, who was playing his 100th test match.
Warner batted beautifully and brought up his 100 in 144 balls, with 8 boundaries. With that 100, Warner became the first ever Australian batter to score a hundred in his 100th test match and 100th ODI match.
Prior to Warner, no other Australian batter had scored a century in his 100th ODI and 100th Test Match. Warner did not strop there. He continued batting to take Australia further ahead. By Tea time, Australia was 231/2, with Warner unbeaten at 135.
South Africa vs Australia: Second Test Match 2022 – Day 2
Warner got to his 150 in 222 balls. Warner was in no mood of stopping and brought up another double century. This was the first hundred by warner after a long time and he made it big.
Warner not only battled the Hostile bowling by the South Africans, but also had to face the challenging and draining heat at the MCG. After batting for more than 6 hours, Warner was suffering with cramps.
Right after he brought up his double century, Warner chose to retire hurt as he was carried off the ground. Cameron Green joined Travis Head at the crease with the score card reading 329/3.
However, a bounder from Nortje injured Cameron Green’s finger. As a result, he was also retired hurt.
Travis Head continued to be aggressive in his intent. He made 48 runs in 48 balls with 7 fours and 1 six. Australia got to 386/3 at the end of Day’s play. They lead by 197 runs with 7 wickets in hand. It was a complete performance from Australia.
What is Test Match?
Test cricket is a form of first-class cricket played at international level between teams representing full member countries of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
A match consists of four innings (two per team) and is scheduled to last for up to five days. In the past, some Test matches had no time limit and were called Timeless Tests. The term “test match” was originally coined in 1861–62 but in a different context.
Test cricket did not become an officially recognised format until the 1890s, but many international matches since 1877 have been retrospectively awarded Test status. The first such match took place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in March 1877 between teams which were then known as a Combined Australian XI and James Lillywhite’s XI, the latter a team of visiting English professionals.
Matches between Australia and England were first called “test matches” in 1892. The first definitive list of retrospective Tests was written by South Australian journalist Clarence P. Moody two years later and, by the end of the century, had gained acceptance.
There are now twelve full ICC member countries playing Test cricket. Day/night Tests were permitted by the ICC in 2012 and the first day/night match was between Australia and New Zealand at the Adelaide Oval in November 2015.
