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 David Warner unbeaten on 32 as the under-pressure veteran fights to save his red-ball career 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 during his 18th career Test, running through South Africa's fragile tail to trigger a dramatic collapse of 5-10.
The towering West Australian bettered his previous Test figures of 3-21 against England in January's Ashes finale.
Green said he had not been distracted by the IPL auction during recent months and believed other circumstances had impacted his ability to perform at a high standard.
For months, he had been touted to break the record sum for an Australian in the IPL, with England captain Jos Buttler sledging him during last month's ODI series about "chasing the ink".
"You can have a really slow start to the summer and think cricket's tough, and then you have a few days like this and it kind of brings you back," Green said.
"It probably still hasn't sunk in now (taking five wickets on Boxing Day).
"It's a very special feeling and I'm sure I'll remember that for a very long time."
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.
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 3-2 to end the first session.
Proteas captain Dean Elgar failed to capitalise on his good fortune, including the ball hitting the stumps but failing to dislodge the bails, and was run out for 26.
South Africa's innings faltered 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.
"I suppose they obviously bowled really nicely at us in the last game," Verreynne said of Cummins' decision to bowl first.
"They probably just wanted to have a crack at our batters early on."
Star Australia quick Mitchell Starc (2-39) went off the field for about 30 minutes and has been sent for scans after hurting the middle finger on his bowling hand while attempting a catch in the deep.
