Alex Carey hits maiden century as Australia continue to dominate South Africa in Boxing Day Test
- Nasri Alexander
- 28 December 2022
Alex Carey hit his maiden Test century as Australia continued to pile the misery on South Africa on day three of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
Wicketkeeper-batter Carey, playing in his 14th Test, hit 111 as the hosts declared at tea on 575-8 on day three with an ominous lead of 386 after the Proteas were bowled out in the first innings for 189.
The visitors' bid to save the Test, and the three-match series after losing the opener in Brisbane, got off to a horror start as skipper Dean Elgar was caught by Carey off Pat Cummins for a duck in the second over to go to stumps on 15-1.
Australia resumed the third day on 386-3 with Travis Head on 48 and Carey on nine but the hosts lost three quick wickets.
Anrich Nortje bowled Head for 51 before then castling the stumps of David Warner the very next ball when the left-hander returned after leaving injured the previous day for 200.
Nathan Lyon made a breezy 25 before he holed out to Khaya Zondo off the bowling of paceman Lungi Ngidi.
Carey was joined at the crease by Cameron Green, who resumed with a fractured finger, and the pair added 112 with the latter 51 not out before the declaration.
The 31-year-old Carey was the first Australian wicketkeeper to make a Test century since Brad Haddin in 2013 and only the second at the Melbourne Cricket Ground after Rod Marsh.
