Australia will be happy with their start to the series even if the suggestion is that they got a bit lucky in a crap shoot of a toss against the Proteas. South Africa need to find a way to be more resilient and aggressive at the crease.
Australia vs South Africa | Second Test | 26 – 30 December 2022 | The MCG
To Win Match
Australia 1/3 | Draw 15/2 | South Africa 4/1
Travis Head was the only Australian batter to really enhance his Test reputation in the first match of the series and his good form makes this team that much more imposing.
The knowledge that Head is getting runs while Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith are also in good touch will fill Australia with confidence.
One man who is struggling is David Warner but he has been backed by the selectors if not by the CA board he appears at war with, and the cornered tiger is most dangerous.
The Australia pace attack might only have its match in their current opponents.
South Africa find themselves dropping out of the WTC final places and losing momentum in the ultimate format off the back of yet more tribulations with the bat.
The bizarre and scattershot selection hasn’t helped but all the players currently in the lineup deserve to be backed for this Test at the very least.
The MCG will likely play flatter than the Gabba or risk a riot if the Boxing Day Test is over by Tuesday.
Kagiso Rabada is world-class and could still inspire this otherwise lacklustre Proteas team to victory.
Verdict: Australia 1/3
The hosts have control of this series now and should get the job done in front of a capacity crowd at the MCG.
