Joe Root of England leaves the pitch after being dismissed by Mitchell Starc of Australia in the third Ashes test at Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia, December 26, 2021Joe Root of England leaves the pitch after being dismissed by Mitchell Starc of Australia in the third Ashes test at Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia, December 26, 2021made the best of a rainy day one to be 147 for two at stumps in the third test against a frustrated South Africa in Sydney on...
Lion-hearted paceman Anrich Nortje took both the wickets, removing opener David Warner for 10 early in the morning and Marnus Labuschagne for 79 with the last ball of the day. Their captain Deal Elgar lost the toss for the third time in the series, with Cummins winning his fifth in succession to complete a perfect home summer with the coin.
Keshav Maharaj and Harmer, who replaced fast bowler Lungi Ngidi to offer a second spinning option, found some turn before lunch but were smashed out of the attack after the break as Labuschagne hit out.