SA tour of AUS 2022

AUS vs SA, 2nd Test

Preview 

Australia will face South Africa in the iconic Boxing Day Test on Monday, December 26. The first Test was completed in less than two days. The thick grass covering the pitch was usually beneficial to the bowlers. The Proteas eventually lost by six wickets. In the second Test, Australia will look to complete a series win against South Africa.

When put in to bat, the visitors were restricted to 152 runs, 64 of which came from Kyle Verreynne. Australia's response was also limited to a meagre 218 runs. Travis Head's 92 runs helped the hosts take a 66-run first innings lead. 

Pat Cummins picked five wickets, reducing the Proteas to 99 runs and preventing South Africa from taking a big lead in the second innings. The Australians successfully eclipsed their previous high of 35 runs. Everyone's focus will now shift to Melbourne for the Boxing Day Test.

Match Details

Match: AUS vs SA, 2nd Test, South Africa tour of Australia, 2022-23

Date:Monday, December 26, 2022 - Friday, December 30, 2022

Time: 5:00 AM (Dec 26)

Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne

Pitch and Weather Report

The Melbourne wicket is a typical Australian wicket, complete with chin music for the batters. The pitch will undoubtedly help the pacers. However, as the game progresses, spinners will become increasingly vital. The batsmen would need to get their eyes in before hitting the bowlers. The circumstances will be ideal for quick bowling.

There is very little chance of rain throughout the test match, and the weather is expected to stay the same. The temperature will normally vary between 24 and 28 degrees Celsius during the day.

Squads

AUS: David Warner, Steven Smith, Marcus Harris, Usman Khawaja, Travis Head Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins Scott Boland, Nathan Lyon, Lance Morris, Mitchell Starc

 SA: Dean Elgar, Temba Bavuma, Sarel Erwee, Rassie van der Dussen, Khaya Zondo, Theunis de Bruyn, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Kyle Verreynne, Gerald Coetzee, Simon Harmer Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Lizaad Williams

Probable Playing XIs

AUS: David Warner, Usman Khwaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (C), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland/Josh Hazlewood 

SA: Dean Elgar (C), Sarel Erwee, Temba Bavuma, Rassie Van der Dussen, Khaya Zondo, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Keshav Maharaj, Marco Jansen, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, and Lungi Ngidi  

Match Prediction

The last time a Test match in Australia was completed in two days was in 1931. Until this past Sunday, when Australia overcame South Africa in a frantic match in which the hosts chased down 34 but lost four wickets. South Africa's bowlers, notably Kagiso Rabada, who took eight wickets throughout the Test, including all four Australian wickets in the run chase, kept them in the game as predicted. The Proteas batters, on the other hand, let the team down, with the visitors knocked out for 152 and 99.

Finally, it's difficult to imagine a different conclusion in this second Test when you consider the South African batting line-up, which is obviously a man short compared to Australia's speed bowling outfit, mixed with Nathan Lyon's spin. Expect an improvement in the scores in the tourists' first and second innings, but Australia will come out on top once again in the Boxing Day Test.

Suggested Playing XI Real11 Fantasy Cricket