Boxing Day Test

Scott Boland will get the chance to repeat his Boxing Day Test heroics after a selfless act from fellow fast bowler Josh Hazlewood. Matthew Sullivan.

Last year was pretty much the highlight of the summer for all of us was this MCG Test and the reception Scotty got so hopefully a bit more of it this year.” “It got to the stage where Joshy more than anyone else just felt he was a little bit underdone. Victory in Melbourne will seal the series win for the Aussies. “Great to have a Victorian here. “It’s probably a comibation of a bit of grass on the pitch, the fragility of South AFrican battling line-up and the quality of the Australian fast bowlers.” Australian captain Pat Cummins has made a surprising decision after winning the toss for the Boxing Day Test against South Africa.

The Spin King has been remembered at the MCG on day one of the Boxing Day Test, the first Test since Shane Warne's passing earlier in the year.

Mentally he was stronger than everybody else.” but Warne just refused to go away. “But, two hours later … A beautiful tribute to the great Shane Warne to kick off the Boxing Day test. Shane Warne has been remembered at the MCG on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test, the first since the Spin King’s passing. The Spin King has been remembered at the MCG on day one of the Boxing Day Test, the first Test since Shane Warne's passing earlier in the year.

Australia and South Africa meet in the traditional Boxing Day Test at the MCG. Check out all the stats and scores in our live scorecard.

Australia Test captain Pat Cummins makes another bold call after winning the coin toss with Australia - featuring Scott Boland - to bowl first at the MCG.

There's a lot of ups and downs … "You have a dream of playing one game for Australia. "There's a lot of blood, sweat and tears that goes into this. I'm sure he's got a big game ahead of him," said Cummins. "We've been struggling a bit with the runs, so we thought we'd shift it around a bit," said Elgar, whose side was skittled for 152 and 99 at the Gabba. it doesn't look like a raging green seamer."

LIVE: Epic Warne tribute as freak moment strikes amid 'unbelievable' Boland magic.

The guys are out there doing their best behind the scenes and I’m confident that they are going to get it right.” High-strike rate, took risks and his average fell in the last few years of his career just as Warner’s has done. Is he in the right frame of mind too? Warner’s an attacker and if South Africa can get him defending, there could be a chance of getting him out. Asked if he went back and forth over the decision, Cummins said: “A little bit. He couldn’t do it in Brisbane on a sporting pitch. “We’ve got to keep the belief and the players do have the belief,” he said. “We haven’t played to our potential in the last couple of Tests and we are also determined to get it right. It’s a fascinating battle between those two. “Can he survive that early onslaught from Kagiso Rabada? “His kryptonite is Kagiso Rabada at the moment and that’s his biggest challenge today,” O’Keeffe said to Fox Cricket on the ‘Test Cricket Daily’ ahead of Monday’s action. Warner will be looking to silence his critics and according to Kerry O’Keeffe, the “biggest challenge” to doing just that comes in the form of South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada.

And it's not to get into the MCG. Fans of all ages and nationalities have gathered around the Shane Warne statue just outside the MCC Members entrance, waiting ...

A young couple in their 20s has their turn in front of the statue before tag-teaming with a family of four. Square of the wicket, ‘WARNIE 350’ has been painted in white across the luscious green turf. “Go Warnie,” the quartet shouts out in unison while arm-in-arm. In fact there are floppy hats everywhere, both inside and outside the venue. But everyone is happy to wait their turn, for the atmosphere is buzzing and upbeat – just like Warne, both on and off the field. Three guys then ask this writer to take a photo of them.

The late "King Of Spin", Shane Warne, can still make the Boxing Day Test his own, with fans flocking to this year's event to honour the Australian sporting ...

So we encourage fans to remember Shane [the same way]." On Monday morning, Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) announced that the Men's Test Player of the Year award will be renamed the Shane Warne Men's Test Player of the Year at the annual Cricket Awards on January 30. "His place as a legend of Australian and world sport is assured.

Today is set to be a big one for cricket, with Boxing Day test matches happening in Australia and Pakistan. Australia will be playing against South Africa.

Australia won the toss and put South Africa in to bat on day one of the Boxing Day Test, which will hopefully last longer than two days. Follow live.

Well played by the South African skipper. What a brilliant piece of fielding by Marnus at mid off! That's straighter down the ground from Elgar and Marnus can't chase it down. What a shot from de Bruyn, straight down the ground with a gorgeous stroke back down the pitch. He dived to his left, it would have been a stunner, but he's put it down. Someone take a photo for the next coaching manual. De Bruyn is batting to a familiar pattern. Nathan Lyon lies prostrate on the ground after a spectacular diving effort at backward point. He's tries to hook the ball away and he's just top edged the ball straight up in the air. The ball falls just safe in the vacant short point region. South Africa, having been put in, looked OK. By Simon Smale

Paceman Scott Boland earlier struck to remove Sarel Erwee for 18 before the drinks break and all-rounder Cameron Green dismissed number three Theunis de Bruyn ...

Register for free to Reuters and know the full story Paceman Scott Boland earlier struck to remove Sarel Erwee for 18 before the drinks break and all-rounder Cameron Green dismissed number three Theunis de Bruyn for 12. MELBOURNE, Dec 26 (Reuters) - Australia grabbed four early wickets to leave South Africa in trouble at 58 for four at lunch on day one of the second test on Monday after home captain Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to field at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Australian pacer Scott Boland (L) chats with captain Pat Cummins at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on ...

The final match will be played in Sydney from Jan 4. There would have been a part of everyone that would’ve felt a little bit aggrieved if Scott missed out.” We talk a lot about how [as] a team we need a squad mentality and I think it’s another great example.

Follow all the action live from the MCG as Australia battle South Africa on the first day of the Boxing Day Test. The Aussies lead the series 1-0.