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Play delayed until 10.45am
All covers are now off and the teams are beginning to warm-up but Cricket Australia has said play will be delayed until 10.45am AEDT.
As long as there is no further rain, play will start at that time.
Warner prepared to return to the crease
By Damien Ractliffe
David Warner says he’s prepared to return to the crease this innings with Australia likely to be down two bowlers for the second innings.
Cameron Green won’t bowl again in this Test, while Mitchell Starc is carrying a finger injury, meaning the Aussies will have just Pat Cummins, Scott Boland and Nathan Lyon as fully-fit bowlers to help them take 10 wickets.
David WarnerCredit:Getty Images
Warner said the Aussies would need to keep batting and put as many runs on the board as possible, meaning he’s prepared to return to the crease after retiring hurt on 200 on Tuesday.
“I am, I’m still stretching and still getting some physio, and trying to get as much fluid and food into me as possible,” Warner told Fox Cricket.
“I got into the pool this morning and yet again it was trying to recover, but the girls wanted to jump in.
“With these conditions as it is, the ball is 10 or 11 overs old, if we get the ball into the outfield and put as many runs on the board as we can with potentially two bowlers down, it’s going to be very important to put as many runs on the board [as possible].”
Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschange have bowled spin before at Test level and may be required to bowl in the second innings.
Australia leads by 197, with seven wickets still in hand.
Play delayed until 10.45am
All covers are now off and the teams are beginning to warm-up but Cricket Australia has said play will be delayed until 10.45am AEDT.
As long as there is no further rain, play will start at that time.
The covers are coming off
The rain has cleared and the main covers are now being removed from the centre square.
Hopefully, we can start on time at 10.30am but the race is on to get everything in order.
The single cover is still on the pitch and it is still cloudy but everyone is hoping that these rain clouds have moved on.
Green will bat but is out of Sydney
By Andrew Wu
All-rounder Cameron Green has suffered a fractured finger and is out of the Sydney Test.
He will be able to bat again in this game but not bowl, complicating Australia’s push for victory against South Africa.
Cameron Green of Australia leaves the field after fracturing his finger.Credit:Getty Images
Australia’s attack has already been hit by an injury to Mitchell Starc, who can bowl in the second innings despite tendon damage to the middle finger on his bowling hand.
“Cameron Green has a small fracture to his right index finger. He will bat again in this match but will not bowl, followed by a period of recovery leading into the tour of India,” a team spokesman said.
There are also implications for the hosts’ plans for the New Years Test in Sydney.
Selectors are considering deploying spin twins on the SCG pitch but Green’s seam bowling would have been pivotal.
Green suffered the injury while batting on Tuesday when he was hit on the gloves facing a thunderbolt from South Africa speedster Anrich Nortje.
It has been a rollercoaster week for Green, who after a slow start to the Test summer was bought for a staggering $3.15 million at the IPL auction last Friday before starring with a career-best 5/27 on Boxing Day.
His comments after play that night now have added poignancy.
“That’s probably cricket summed up. You can have a really slow start to the summer and think cricket is so tough then you have a few days like this, and it brings you back,” Green said.
“At the same time when you go through your highs cricket can bring you down pretty quickly.”
Rain to start the day
By Roy Ward
The Bureau of Meteorology forecast a “medium” chance of rain and at 9.15am that became 100 per cent when a steady shower of rain began falling at the MCG.
The pitch was covered as it was threatening to rain from around 8.45am as a few drops fell around the area.
Now the question will be whether this rain delays the start of play at 10.30am or whether it stops and things can be cleaned up in time for the first ball.
A top temperature of 28 degrees has been forecast and we could have some thunderstorms.
We will keep you updated but, for now, we will wait on this downpour to finish.
Spidercam blow could have caused serious injury, says South African bowler
By Malcolm Conn
South African fast bowler Anrich Nortje says he could have suffered a serious injury when Spidercam knocked him to the ground while he was fielding during the second day of the second Test at the MCG on Tuesday.
“Definitely,” Nortje said when asked whether he could have been badly hurt.
Anrich Nortje after he was hit by Spidercam.Credit:AP
“The one thing we’ve spoken about earlier is how low it is, and it probably shouldn’t be … unless for interviews or something. I don’t think it should be travelling at head height.”
Nortje was hit on the upper-left side of his body and ended up flat on the ground, but got up straight away and was able to continue.
When should the Aussies declare?
Can Warner return to the crease?
Under the rules of the game, David Warner and Cameron Green are both entitled to return to the crease following any wicket.
David Warner is helped from the field.Credit:Getty Images
Rule 25.4 states:
25.4.1 A batter may retire at any time during his/her innings when the ball is dead. The umpires, before allowing play to proceed, shall be informed of the reason for a batter retiring.
25.4.2 If a batter retires because of illness, injury or any other unavoidable cause, that batter is entitled to resume his/her innings. If for any reason this does not happen, that batter is to be recorded as ‘Retired – not out’.
25.4.3 If a batter retires for any reason other than as in 25.4.2, the innings of that batter may be resumed only with the consent of the opposing captain. If for any reason his/her innings is not resumed, that batter is to be recorded as ‘Retired – out’.
25.4.4 If after retiring a batter resumes his/her innings, subject to the requirements of 25.4.2 and 25.4.3, it shall be only at the fall of a wicket or the retirement of another batter.
Warner retired on 200 not out due to excessive cramp, while Green was also retired hurt due to a finger injury but is expected to bat again if needed.
Travis Head (48 not out) and Alex Carey (nine not out) will be first to the crease when play resumes.
Good morning, Green fractures finger
G’day everyone. It’s Roy Ward here along with Damien Ractliffe and I’ll be tapping the keys from the MCG as Australia and South Africa resume on day three of the second test.
Travis Head resumes on 48 not out and Alex Carey is on nine not out as the home side adds to its 197-run lead on 3-386.
For those who missed yesterday’s play, David Warner made 200 but had to retire due to exhaustion and cramps while Cameron Green also had to retire hurt after taking a fearful blow to his thumb from speedster Jason Nortje.
Play is due to restart at 10.30am and please feel free to comment on the blog at any time.
Enjoy the day to come.
