Second Test, day four LIVE updates: Australia chasing nine wickets, South Africa needs 387 to stay in the match

Alex Carey has finally celebrated his moment of MCG glory, far removed from how he once dreamed it would happen.

Until inaugural GWS coach Kevin Sheedy sat him down in 2011 and said he wouldn’t be on their inaugural AFL list, Carey’s ultimate goal was to run a lap of the grand final venue as a premiership player.

Instead, Carey raised his bat in triumph on Wednesday and hugged good mate Cameron Green after the Australian wicketkeeper scored his first Test century.

Carey beamed as he reflected on his winding journey to 111 in the Boxing Day Test against South Africa – a gifted sportsman who initially chose Australian Rules and captained the fledgling GWS team before they joined the AFL.

“I’m extremely proud. It’s been, I guess, a bumpy journey along the way – footy not working out and cricket not working out after a few games,” he said.

“I never gave up the hope of playing sport at the highest level and continued to try to chase that goal and dream.

“Hopefully there’s a bit more to come … and that’s done with a lot of support around.

“It’s one of those things – never give up on what you want and hopefully it comes. I’m just lucky that it has come my way.”

Carey joins the late Rod Marsh as the only other wicketkeeper from any country to score a Test century at the MCG.

It eclipsed Carey’s previous best Test score of 93 earlier this year in Karachi against Pakistan.

AAP

Australia’s injuries are causing greater concern than their opponents as the inevitability of a first home Test series victory against South Africa in 16 years looms ever larger at the MCG.

Blood spilled from Mitchell Starc’s left index finger after he opened the bowling in South Africa’s second innings on the third day of the second Test, while Cameron Green has been ruled out of the next Test in Sydney and will not bowl again in this match.

After rain took almost two hours out of the match on Wednesday, South Africa were 1-15 at stumps, still requiring another 371 to make Australia bat a second time.

Despite their enormous lead, Australia dragged Green and Starc out of the casualty ward to bat, with Green finishing unbeaten on 51 from 177 balls and Starc 10 not out from 12 balls.

Green has a broken right index finger and Starc has tendon damage to the middle finger of his left hand, which is also likely to also keep him out of the next Test.

Click here to read the story.