Almanac Cricket: Second Test – Australia v South Africa Day 2: Boxing Day Test

 

 

 

A very hot Melbourne December day greets us on Day 2 and Australia will be looking to mount a big score.  All eyes are on the Mickey Rooney of cricket, David Warner, today.  Or is it Jimmy Cagney?

 

He could be either and they could have played him in the movie yet to be made.

 

He has started the day at his pugnacious best hooking, pulling and driving with precision.

 

I said yesterday that Marnus and Davie should be watched by every young person wanting to make runs from half runs but this morning they made one hell of a mess when Marnus was charging down the pitch as Davie turned his back at the keepers end. Labuschagne (14) is out by a mile as he tries to get back.  Of course the umpire goes upstairs.

 

Sure Labuschagne is disappointed but I wish he would move from the ground at a decent pace.

 

SPD Smith enters the arena and after 10 minutes he calls for fresh gloves. His idiosyncrasies are second to none. Only bettered perhaps by Englishman Derek Randall who was the prince of entertainers.

 

Meanwhile the wicket looks more docile than my dog Chloe.

 

At last Maharaj is introduced into the attack but posses no problems for these fleet of foot batters.

 

They are untroubled as they settle in for a long day.  They are running perfectly between wickets and continually turn twos and threes into fours without too much trouble.

 

Warner passes 8000 test runs and in this form he will soon pass Mark Waugh (8029). Smith has a fright when Jansen beats him and SA go DRS when The Pistol gives him not out.  The Proteas should realise that Paul Reiffel is an excellent umpire and is nearly always right with his decisions.

 

The morning session belongs to Australia 2/136 Warner 86 and Smith 21.  It certainly is going to be a long afternoon for the visitors.

 

Big headlines in yesterday’s ‘little paper’ about the NBL game held in Sydney on Christmas Day as the first major sport ever held on the sacred day.  Being an elder in the world of cricket I questioned this as I knew shield games between South Australia and Queensland had been held for years at the Adelaide Oval.  Wish you guys would do your research in these important sporting history facts.

 

There is a section in the crowd that is obviously South African.  How do I know? Well for two days in part of this section the males have taken their shirts off.  We are so attuned with slip, slop and slap here in Oz that very few, if any Aussies are looking for a tan.

 

Warner gets to his 100 with a leg glance for 4 and immediately does a lap of honour with a variety of salutes. I daresay some could not be turned into words in this medium.  A wonderful knock and certainly one that put paid to any disintegration of his career and another trip to England.

 

Give us a break!  The batters seem to be dictating the play as they are having extra time for “running repairs” as the visitors sit and wait. Gamesmanship at its best.

 

Warner has now gone past Mark Waugh in the run-making stakes. The South Africans will not want to know that the two most prolific run scorers ever for Australia are at bat.

 

A glimpse of hope for the visitors S Smith goes to hook Rabada the ball hits something, he is given out. SPD DRS’ SS  third umpire gives it a no ball. Status quo remains.

 

At 2/231 at tea Australia are in an unbeatable position with 3 days to go. Warner 135 and Smith 60. They have the game by the scruff of the neck and there was very few occasions in the session where the Proteas looked like taking a wicket.  They have wilted in the heat.

 

The home team continue on their merry way after tea and runs start to flow even though Warner continues to receive support from the boundary after nearly every over.  One wonders how long can this go on?  Surely if you are suffering so badly one should retire hurt.

 

Now they have brought out chairs for the 2 batters at the drinks break.  What next?

 

Reminds me of Sid Barnes  coming out many moons ago dressed as waiter to deliver drinks. He never played for Australia again.

 

Straight after the “sit-in”  Smith (85) glides the ball straight into the hands of 3^rd slip.

Australia 3/314 and a magnificent partnership by the two batters of 239 splendid runs

 

Warner reaches his 200 and writhes in pain again.  It has been a magnificent knock but personally weak umpiring has allowed him to continue batting with an injury. For the last 50 of his knock he has been constantly attended to by team officials.  Surely this is not in the rules of cricket.

 

At last he retires hurt for his own sake, nobody else.  He has nothing to prove to anyone and sanity has prevailed.

 

Head and Green, two new men at the crease. Will the slaughter on Brunton Avenue continue?

 

Head, as has been his want this summer, attacks from ball one  and in no time he has 33 on the board from 29 balls. Don’t know what the SA skipper is eating but it certainly has seen him become Australia’s number one attacker.

 

On the other hand Green needs to score runs to follow his impressive bowing display. Runs are needed from the number 6 batter and today is his big opportunity to further enhance his class and moneyball champion.

 

The crowd numbers have just arrived and 42,614 braved the weather to attend.  MCC estimates for the day 43,000.  How good are these guys?

 

Noticed green and gold football Guernseys in the crowd today.  Could be any team, from any state.  Reminds of the wonderful book by Tim Rath and Knacker Gigz  Football Jumpers. A must for any REAL footy fan.

 

Green retires hurt after being hit on the hand by Nortje.  This makes three locals on the injured list at the moment. Another case of more time between Tests for the players.  This is hard work and today especially with the heat hovering around the high thirties.

 

A word for the warriors from South Africa.  They have performed manfully on an unresponsive pitch and chased everything to the boundary.  They certainly have tried.

 

Everyone will be glad today is over.  Australia finish in a powerful position at 3/386 a lead of 197 with wickets  and injured players in hand.  Head 48 has again looked the part and Carey (9).  Wickets to Nortje and Rabada.

 

David Warner’s day and one that he will never forget as he went through pain, agony and ecstasy.