Australia v South Africa 2022/23

Watch: ‘That’s Santa coming late for you’ – Nathan Lyon jokes with Dean Elgar after ball hits stumps but bails stay on

by Wisden Staff December 26, 2022 - 10:03am 3 minute read

Watch: Luck was in for Dean Elgar on the first morning of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, and Nathan Lyon was quick to point that out.

Sometimes it’s just your day. And that was the case for South Africa captain Elgar who survived a Cameron Green delivery hitting his stumps on the first morning of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

A length delivery caught Elgar in the midriff before bouncing down and rolling towards the stumps. Elgar scrambled back and the Aussies began to celebrate only for the ball to hit the base of the wicket and the bails remain in place.

Everyone involved saw the funny side, with Nathan Lyon walking in to share a joke with the South Africa skipper. “That’s Santa coming late for you, I reckon,” he said, with the Test beginning one day after Christmas Day.

It was the second piece of luck for Elgar in the morning after he had been dropped by Pat Cummins in a caught and bowled before before he would be dropped again by a diving Nathan Lyon at backward point.

But Elgar’s luck would come to and end as his innings was brought to a halt by a Marnus Labuschagne direct hit to see the South African captains innings end on 26 from 68 balls.