After wowing viewers during the first Test between Australia and South Africa on the Gabba, cricket legend Ricky Ponting has achieved it once more on the MCG.
In Queensland when the guests have been struggling at 5/132, Ponting set the scene on Channel 7 for a way Nathan Lyon may choose up the wicket of Marco Jansen.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Warner makes courageous 200 in brutal warmth, Candice says ‘again off’.
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Ponting mentioned a build-up of stress that had been positioned on Jansen and the way the entice had been set at “mid-on three-quarters of the way in which again”.
“They’re tempting him with a build-up of stress to attempt to hit excessive,” Ponting stated … and certain sufficient, with the very subsequent ball, Jansen did exactly as predicted and skied a shot that was nicely caught by Cam Inexperienced.
Fellow Channel 7 commentator Tim Lane was fast to reward Ponting for the nice name. “Effectively achieved, Ricky. Precisely as foretold. Lyon takes the wicket.”
However as sensible as that was, it pales compared to Ponting’s newest Nostradamus-act on Day 2 of the second Take a look at on the MCG.
Warner, in his 100th Take a look at had been below huge stress for a complete vary of causes, and definitely an absence of a latest huge rating was considered one of them.
He dug in on Day 1 to be 33 not out, however not even then no person would have been daring sufficient to foretell what was about to unfold.
Not until you might be, in fact, Ricky Ponting who has a repute for making wildly correct calls earlier than they occur.
In previewing Day 2 on Channel 7, commentators James Brayshaw, Damien Flemming and Ponting quickly turned their dialogue to Warner.
FULL SCOREBOARD All the stats from Day 2 of Australia v South Africa
The query was requested, would Warner makes 100 runs in his 100th Test and match a feat achieved by Ponting?
Not solely did Ponting say, ‘Sure,’ he went one step additional. “And if he will get it, he would possibly make 200. There you go,” Ponting stated.
And certain sufficient, some hours later in scorching warmth and with a thick edge, Warner turned simply the second participant in historical past to attain a double century in his 100th Take a look at – and his third Take a look at 200 for Australia.
However upon celebrating the wonderful achievement, he cramped so severely that his beautiful innings got here to an abrupt finish and he limped from the sphere, retired damage.
Previous to the sport there was some stress on Warner to retire, however Lane was fast to notice that rumors of Warner’s cricket demise had been “significantly exaggerated”.
Ponting stated: “Superior. I really really feel actually glad that I’m right here to witness this.
“A man coming into the sport below a little bit stress and never having made the runs he would have favored to have made. His 100th Take a look at match and he is performed the way in which all of us hoped he would. He is performed the way in which that each one of Australia hoped he would.”
And whereas he could have performed the way in which individuals hoped, it was solely Ponting who predicted a whopping 200 forward of the day’s play.
AUSTRALIA v SOUTH AFRICA, SECOND DAY TEST, DAY 2
SCORE: South Africa 189, Australia 3-386 and lead by 197 on the primary innings.
SUMMARY: Australia resumed at 1-45 and Marnus Labuschagne emulated South African captain Dean Elgar’s day-one calamity with a horrible run out. David Warner and Steve Smith then mixed for a 254-run partnership – their first double-century Take a look at stand – as they took the sport away from South Africa.
Quick bowler Anrich Nortje deserved greater than his one wicket, particularly after an impressive post-lunch spell that totally examined Warner and Smith. As a substitute, his “reward” was to be flattened by spider cam and he was fortunate to not be significantly damage within the weird incident. Warner, limping and affected by the warmth, retired damage on 200 and Smith made 85.
After Australian paceman Mitch Starc injured a finger on day one, allrounder Cameron Inexperienced was compelled to retire damage when a Nortje supply rapped him on his proper index finger. South African quick bowler Lungi Ngidi additionally left the sphere late on day two due to the warmth.
MAN OF THE MOMENT: Warner had been below loads of stress coming into Boxing Day, not having scored a Take a look at century for practically three years. However the 36-year-old marked his 100th Take a look at together with his third double ton to make sure he is in command of his future forward of subsequent yr’s India and Ashes excursions.
KEY MOMENT: At some point after his first Take a look at five-wicket haul, and 4 days after his $3.15 million IPL public sale sale, Inexperienced retired damage with the damage to his bowling hand.
STATE OF THE DAY: Warner turned the eighth Australian to attain a Take a look at double century on the MCG.
