Despite only 79 overs of play across three rain-free sessions (plus the bonus half-hour) spectators will not feel short-changed after an incident-stuffed day at the MCG. In fierce heat, Australia put South Africa to the sword, advancing from 45-1 to 386-3, a lead of 197.

But that doesn’t scratch the surface of David Warner’s remarkable performance. He advanced quickly to 50, then battled to an emotional century, before bludgeoning his way to 150 and an agonising double-ton. The occasion of his 200th run brought about a guttural roar as he sank to his knees, a yell that signified not only the vanquishing of his own poor form – and the critics of it – but of actual agony. Wracked with cramps that rendered him barely able to leave the field of play, the Australian opener retired hurt on 200* in his 100th Test.

Later, Warner would be joined on an asterisk by Cameron Green, the allrounder done in by an Anrich Nortje lifter that left his right index finger a bloody mess. They, along with the already damaged Mitchell Starc have made for a costly couple of days that have otherwise proven a cakewalk.

Helping Warner through his milestones was Steve Smith. He fell for 85 after riding his luck through a testing morning session that featured some high class fast bowling from Nortje and Marco Jansen.

Unfortunately for the speedsters they received little support in the field with…