SA VS AUS TESTS

Right then, that is it from this short Test match. Australia have dominated the first Test and will be eager to win the next game and seal this series. They have accumulated crucial Test Championship points while South Africa will find their second spot on the standings threatened. We move now to the Boxing Day Test which starts on the 26th of December at 5.00 am IST (11.30 pm GMT, the previous day) at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. As you know, our build-up will begin much earlier so do join us for the same. Till then, goodbye and cheers!

Pat Cummins the victorious captain of Australia says that it has been a great couple of days. Informs that it was a tricky wicket but praises Steven Smith and Travis Head for the way they batted. Mentions that he is very happy with his bowlers as they were pretty relentless on this wicket. Adds that Mitchell Starc just keeps on impressing as he is the kind of player that keeps going to sharpen his skills day in and day out. Reckons that all the attention will soon shift to the Boxing Day Test. Ends by saying he cannot wait for the next challenge.

Dean Elgar the skipper of South Africa says that with another 60 runs they would still be in this game. Mentions that he wants to wrap his head around the result. Claims that it is a spicy pitch and it is challenging for the batters. Explains that they can not be prepared any better but the conditions were not good for the batters so he feels they can't really do too much different. Reckons that with a few days' break, they will go back to the drawing board and have some discussions. Ends by saying that if there are two quality bowling attacks then people want to watch them but over 5 days of Test cricket.

Travis Head wins the Player of the Match award for scoring 92 runs in 96 balls in the first inning. He says that the chat was such that they will try to get them off their lengths and not lose wickets to put pressure on the opposition. Mentions, he and Steven Smith aimed to remain positive and get rid of the bad balls. Praises the bowlers for their excellent effort with the ball. He ends by saying he will focus on his recovery now since the next match will be after a few days' break.

Time for the presentations...

Mitchell Starc is up for a chat and he says that it has been a very interesting Test match. Mentions that he is delighted to bring up the milestone and he will surely enjoy the moment. Adds that the last two years have been more consistent and thinks it has been the best phase for his career. On the bowling attack, he says that Josh Hazlewood is, unfortunately, coming from an injury but all they hope for is to support each other whenever they come out in the middle. Nathan Lyon joins in the chat as well. He says that it is pretty amazing to see Mitchell Starc achieve so many things in his career. Informs that Travis Head truly deserves to be the man of the match as he has been consistent with the blade in this Test match in tricky conditions.

The second innings didn't start well for the visitors as they were trailing by 66 runs and apart from Temba Bavuma and Khaya Zondo none of the batters could get going. They were bowled out for 99 runs and Pat Cummins was the main destroyer claiming a five-wicket haul. Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland claimed two wickets each with the former reaching 300 wickets in Test cricket. With a target of 34 to achieve, it looked like a routine run chase but Kagiso Rabada made things interesting by taking another four-wicket haul. Had they scored 50 more runs in the second inning and conceded fewer extras, this could have been difficult for the hosts.

Australia won a really good toss and decided to bowl first on what looked like a green track meant to aid the bowlers. The ball was nipping around right through the Test match and South Africa had very little joy early in their first inning. They lost four wickets early and a 98-run partnership between Temba Bavuma and Kyle Verreynne helped them cross the 100-run mark. The dismissal of Temba Bavuma triggered another collapse and despite Kyle Verreynne scoring a fighting 64, the visitors managed to put just 152 runs on the board. Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon claimed three wickets each with Scott Boland and Pat Cummins chipping in with two each. Australia did not start their first inning on the front foot either losing three wickets early but a 117-run partnership between Steven Smith and Travis Head put them ahead in the game. Travis Head scored 92 runs in 96 deliveries which was a game-changing inning in the context of this game. Kagiso Rabada was the pick of the bowlers taking four wickets in the first inning and Marco Jansen was good as well claiming three scalps.

A comprehensive win for the number one Test side in the world! They have absolutely demolished the South African side but have had massive help from the green wicket. It has been a bowler’s paradise as 34 wickets have fallen over two days and this would not be an ideal Test wicket as there was very little competition between the bat and the ball. Australia had a small target of 34 to chase and they struggled as they lost their openers early. The dismissal of Steven Smith and Travis Head soon after had the Proteas interested but they conceded 19 extras to help Australia take a 1-0 lead in the series.

FIVE WIDES! So the winning runs come as extras. Well it does not matter how the runs come. A sharp bouncer, on middle. Cameron Green ducks under it. The ball flies over the keeper and races away to the fine leg fence. The umpire signals a wide as well due to height. Australia win the match by 6 wickets.

Length ball, on off. Marnus Labuschagne taps it to covers and scampers across for a quick single.

Goes very full, on off. Marnus Labuschagne drives it down the ground. He hits the stumps at the other end though.

This is left alone by Marnus Labuschagne as it is wide of off.

Length, around off, defended out.

This is on a good length, outside off, shapes away a bit. Marnus Labuschagne tries to block it away but gets beaten on the outside edge.

FIVE WIDES! No extras can be afforded when the target is so low. Anrich Nortje bends his back hard and serves a sharp bouncer, on top of off. Marnus Labuschagne ducks under. It is also too high for the keeper. It races away to the fine leg fence, while the umpire signals a wide for height. Just 5 runs needed now and extras have been the top-scorer so far in this inning.

It is very full, on middle and leg. Green tucks it to the man at short leg. South Africa do believe something now, although Australia only need 10 runs to get over the line.