Second Test: Cam Green all money after lighting up Boxing Day at the MCG

Newly minted IPL millionaire Cameron Green has awoken from his summer slumber to take career-best figures and give Australia control of the Boxing Day Test against South Africa.

The young allrounder demolished the Proteas with four wickets in the final session at the MCG on Monday, claiming 5-27 as South Africa were dismissed for 189.

Australia went to stumps on day one at 1-45 with under-pressure veteran David Warner unbeaten on 32 in his 100th Test match.

Proteas talisman Kagiso Rabada removed Warner’s opening partner Usman Khawaja (1), leaving the world’s No.1-ranked men’s Test batter Marnus Labuschagne (5no) to come out and face the final six overs of the day.

Three days after being bought by the Mumbai Indians for a record $3.15 million in the IPL auction, Green helped turn the second Test back in Australia’s favour after a brief fightback from the Proteas.

The 23-year-old has barely been required in Australia’s three convincing Test victories this summer, struggling to impact matches with bat or ball.

However, Green returned to form in stunning fashion, demolishing South Africa’s brittle tail to trigger a dramatic collapse of 5-10.

The towering West Australian bettered his previous Test figures of 3-21 against England in Hobart in January’s Ashes finale.

The Proteas’ tail failed to show any resistance after an impressive 112-run sixth-wicket stand between bowling allrounder Marco Jansen (59) and wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne (52) raised the visitors’ hopes of reaching a competitive total.

Jansen looked unconvincing at times, and was dropped on three occasions, but still finished with a career-best Test score in a rare bright spot for the Proteas.

Camera Icon Mitchell Starc celebrates the wicket of South Africa’s Temba Bavuma on day one of the second Test. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS) Credit: AAP

South Africa slumped to 4-58 at lunch, vindicating Australia captain Pat Cummins’ decision to bowl first for the second consecutive match after winning the toss.

From 5-67, Jansen and Verreynne were able to revive Proteas hopes during the second session as they got to tea at 5-144, but it quickly fell apart once the latter departed.

South Africa had made an encouraging start at 1-56 after being beaten in two days at the Gabba, but they lost three wickets, including captain Dean Elgar, in the last half-an-hour of the first session.

Elgar endured nervous moments after playing onto his stumps from a Scott Boland delivery as the ball rolled so slowly that the bails did not dislodge.

The left-handed opener, who passed 5000 Test runs during his knock, was shortly after dropped, but Elgar failed to capitalise on his good fortune and was run out for 26.

South Africa’s innings transpired in similar circumstances to their performances in Brisbane last week when they were rolled for 152 and 99.

It was the seventh straight Test innings the Proteas have failed to reach 200.

Star Australia quick Mitchell Starc (2-39) went off the field for about 30 minutes after hurting his finger trying to hang on to a tough catch in the deep.

But Starc, who last week became the seventh Australian to reach 300 Test wickets, returned to the field before the end of South Africa’s innings.

It was an emotional start the Boxing Day Test as tributes were paid to legendary spin king Shane Warne, who died suddenly in March.