Twitter Reactions: Alex Carey, Cameron Green put Australia in driver's seat in Boxing Day Test

Day 3 of the ongoing second Test match saw South Africa playing a catchup game as it was a total domination from Australia in all three departments. While a victory for the Proteas already seems out of reach, they will have to toil hard for even a draw.

The Australians, on the other hand, are in the driver’s seat to not only win this Boxing Day Test but also register a second successive red-ball series victory at home.

The hosts demoralized South Africa after David Warner slammed 200 alongside wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey’s impactful 111. Vital half-centuries from Steve Smith (85), Travis Head and Cameron Green (51 each) helped them post a mammoth 575/8 before declaring. Only pacer Anrich Nortje managed to keep the Australian batters quiet for a while with figures of 3/92. 

Nortje also succeeded in accounting for the dangerous Warner who had come back after being retired hurt. The Aussies enjoyed a massive 386-run lead, having bowled the Proteas out for just 189 in their first innings.

When South Africa resumed their second innings, they suffered an instant setback as skipper Dean Elgar was sent back without troubling the scorers after being caught by Alex Carey off Pat Cummins. Elgar’s opening partner Sarel Erwee (7*) and Theunis de Bruyn (6*) ensured that no further damage was done as the Proteas finished at 15/1 at the end of day's play.

Here's how Twitter reacted to both team's performances on Day 3

Kagiso Rabada 😂 - MCG Crowd and Experience of a Test match cricket. This is pure gold. #AUSvsSA @KagisoRabada25

pic.twitter.com/adobpNtY1u

— Waadaplaya!!! 🏏 (@waadaplaya) December 27, 2022

A mountain to climb for South Africa!

Watch #AUSvSA LIVE on https://t.co/CPDKNxoJ9v (in select regions) 📺#WTC23 | 📝 https://t.co/FKgWE9jUq4 pic.twitter.com/7ZiowF3h5j

— ICC (@ICC) December 28, 2022

A premature end to Day 3 sees our Aussie men firmly in control of this match.

Join us back tomorrow for a bumper day of cricket as our boys chase a series victory against South Africa 🤞🏻 pic.twitter.com/uscvLxTu7q

— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) December 28, 2022

Cameron Green is a great team-man, celebrating the hundred of Carey before him. pic.twitter.com/pq8Ms6lKh5

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) December 28, 2022

Fifty by Cameron Green in 170 balls - a fighting innings by Green with a fractured finger, top knock! pic.twitter.com/ZDvSrhBFqY

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) December 28, 2022

Fifty and five-wicket haul for Cameron Green in the Boxing Day Test match - A future Superstar.

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) December 28, 2022

Cameron Green in Tests in 2022:

•In batting - 524 runs, 40.3 average.
•In bowling - 16 wickets, 30.3 average. pic.twitter.com/mfhZet2GFd

— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) December 28, 2022

9 years, 22 days, the last time an Australian wicket-keeper scored a Test century, before Alex Carey.
Brad Haddin had made 118 vs England at Adelaide on 6 Dec 2013.#AUSvsSA#AusvSA #SAvsAus

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) December 28, 2022