Received

South Africa have consolidated to move to 5-144 but Australia remain firmly on top at tea on day one of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.

Wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne (40 not out) and bowling allrounder Marco Jansen (38 no) are inching the Proteas towards a more respectable total after they collapsed to 4-58 by lunch.

No.5 Khaya Zondo (five) lost his wicket early in the second session, falling when Marnus Labuschagne took a stunning catch off Mitchell Starc's bowling.

But Verreynne and Jansen were able to steady the visitors with an unbeaten 77-run partnership.

Labuschagne put down a tough chance off Jansen at short-leg, before the giant Proteas No.7 then smashed Nathan Lyon for back-to-back boundaries.

Jansen received another life in the last over of the session, with Usman Khawaja dropping a catch in the deep off Starc (2-39).

Earlier, Australia had South Africa's brittle batting line-up under immense pressure after rolling them inside two days on a green Gabba pitch in the first Test last week.

South Africa made an encouraging start at the MCG after being beaten in record time in Brisbane, but they lost three wickets, including captain Dean Elgar, in the last half-an-hour of the first session.

After crawling to 1-56, the Proteas lost 3-2 to vindicate Australia captain Pat Cummins' decision to bowl first for the second consecutive match after winning the toss.

Prolific quick Scott Boland (1-23) claimed the opening wicket of the second Test, removing opener Sarel Erwee (18) as Khawaja hung on to a catch at second slip.

The 33-year-old Victorian whipped his home crowd into a frenzy after he retained his spot in the Australia XI following fellow paceman Josh Hazlewood's decision to rule himself out of the match as he continues his recovery from a side-strain injury.

This match marks Boland's return to the scene of his famous Test debut last December, when he ran through England with 6-7 to secure man-of-the-match honours and help Australia retain the Ashes.

No.3 Theunis de Bruyn, who was promoted into the Proteas team for this match, was out to allrounder Cameron Green (1-19) after badly mistiming a pull shot to be caught by wicketkeeper Alex Carey for 12.

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

The left-handed opener, who passed 5000 Test runs during the session, was shortly after dropped when Lyon put down a tough chance off Green's bowling.

But Elgar failed to capitalise on his good fortune and was run-out for 26 by some brilliance in the field from Labsuchagne.

© AAP 2022

A career-best haul from allrounder Cameron Green has helped Australia dismiss South Africa for 189 late on day one of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.

Just three days after being sold for $3.15 million in the IPL auction, the 23-year-old helped turn the second Test back in Australia's favour after a brief fightback from the Proteas.

Green finished with figures of 5-27 after claiming four wickets during the final session on Monday, triggering a dramatic collapse of 5-10 to end South Africa's innings.

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

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 a competitive total.

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

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.

Jansen and Verreynne were able to revive Proteas hopes from 5-67 during the second session but it quickly fell apart once the latter departed.

South Africa had made an encouraging start after being beaten in record time in Brisbane last week, 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 the session, was shortly after dropped, but Elgar failed to capitalise on his good fortune and was run out for 26.

Star Australia quick Mitchell Starc (2-39) went off the field for medical treatment 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 after about 30 minutes.

Under-pressure veteran David Warner, who is playing in his 100th Test match, will open Australia's innings with Usman Khawaja.

© AAP 2022

Big spenders are expected to hit the Boxing Day sales with force as retailers prepare for a predicted $23.5 billion splurge across Australia.

Despite inflation and cost of living pressures squeezing budgets, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) forecasted retail sales would remain strong.

The predicted spend looks to be a 7.9 per cent increase on last year's post-Christmas shopping which takes in the period from December 26 to January 15.

Roy Morgan analysts anticipated New South Wales shoppers to spend the most, up an expected 9.5 per cent on 2021.

Food, household goods and clothing are expected to be the top three most popular categories.

ARA chief executive Paul Zahra said retailers were expecting a spending slow down in 2023 but the predicted results were encouraging.

"It's clear to see Australians' love affair with shopping continues. Shopping and dining out remain some of our most beloved pastimes through the holiday season," he said.

"It's been a tough year for many and this year we are seeing what we are calling 'freedom' spending, where people reward themselves after an intense and challenging period."

Mr Zahra said shoppers tended to wait for Boxing Day discounts to spend on themselves, whereas pre-Christmas spending was usually reserved for gifts.

But he acknowledged inflation and unseasonal weather was likely skewing the spend predictions upwards.

The Nation Retail Association predicted a $3 billion spend in Boxing Day sales alone across Australia.

Interim chief executive Lindsay Carroll said despite the growing popularity of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Boxing Day still reigned supreme for Australian shoppers looking for a bargain.

Ms Carroll said while online shopping had grown in popularity, 50 per cent of shoppers still preferred to head to stores in person.

Aussie travellers looking for bargain airfares could also be in luck with budget airline Jetstar promising sales on more than 80,000 domestic and international fares in the next 48 hours.

© AAP 2022