| South Africa without touching the green | Mangalam

Melbourne: Australia have lead in Boxing Day cricket test against South Africa.

South Africa were bowled out for 189 runs on day one of the Second Test in Melbourne. In reply, Australia batted to 45 runs for one wicket. David Warner (32 from 51 balls) and Marnes Labuschage (five), who is playing his 100th Test, are in the corner. Usman Khawaja (one) is caught by Kagiso Rabada and Kyle Virani.

Cameron Green’s performance broke South Africa. Cameron Green’s South African batsmen were shut down taking five wickets for 27 runs in 10.4 overs. This is Green’s first five-wicket haul in Tests. Mitchell Starc took two wickets and Scott Boland and Nathan Lyon each took one wicket. Marco Jansen (59 off 136 balls) and wicketkeeper Kyle Virani (52 off 99 balls) put together a 112-run partnership which saved South Africa from a miserable fall. Other batsmen to cross into double figures are skipper and opener Dean Elgar (26), co-opener Sarl Ervey (18) and Deunis de Bruyne (12). Themba Bavuma (one), Khaya Zondo (five), Keshav Maharaj (two), Kagiso Rabada (four) and Lungi Ngidi (two) were out.

In the Indian Super League Star Auction held last day, Mumbai Indians bought Green for Rs 17.50 crore. Green’s best performance comes later. The 23-year-old all-rounder has played 17 Tests, 13 ODIs and eight Twenty20s so far. He scored 755 runs at an average of 32.82 with five half-centuries in Tests and 290 runs at an average of 58.00 with half-centuries in ODIs. He has scored 139 runs at an average of 17.37 including two half-centuries in Twenty20. He has taken 18 wickets in Tests, 11 in ODIs and five in Twenty20.