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That’s stumps for us
By James Polson
Thanks for your company today. All eyes will be on the skies come Thursday morning with play scheduled to start half an hour earlier at 10am (Sydney time) in a bid to make up some of the overs lost to light and weather today. We’ll be live again from 9.30am with Dan Walsh manning the tools at the SCG.
Catch you then.
Day one report: Labuschagne survives catch but not Nortje
By Malcolm Conn
Marnus Labuschagne may have received the thumbs up for a controversial catch, but failed to survive South Africa’s most imposing fast bowler, Anrich Nortje, on the opening day of another Sydney Test marred by bad weather.
Marnus Labuschagne.Credit:AP
Having been cleared to continue by the television umpire on 70, Labuschagne went for 79 as bad light was called again, leaving Australia 2-147 on Wednesday with Usman Khawaja 54 not out. Steve Smith arrived in the centre only to be sent off by the umpires without facing a ball, summing up a frustrating day.
Read the full story here.
Analysis from Daniel Brettig
For varying reasons, Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja are extremely eager to prove themselves in India, an assignment for which the murky SCG offered rehearsal room.
Australian batsmen Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja.Credit:Getty
Read the full story here.
Stumps: Australia 2-147
We’ve got confirmation of what, deep down, we all knew in our hearts. That’s it for today, Australia will resume tomorrow (weather pending) at 2-147 with Usman Khawaja unbeaten on 54. Steve Smith is the next man in for the hosts.
Waugh joins Border in slamming light rule
Renshaw expected to bat despite positive RAT
By Tom Decent
Recalled Australian batsman Matt Renshaw is expected to bat on day two at the SCG despite having COVID-19 but will watch most of the match on a television while isolating in a separate room by himself.
Renshaw is back in a baggy green for the first time in five years but his return to the international arena took a dramatic turn on Wednesday morning ahead of the third Test against South Africa due to an all-too-familiar virus.
Matt Renshaw sits in an isolation room at the SCG.Credit:Getty
Eagle-eyed viewers noticed Renshaw was standing away from teammates during the national anthems.
News then came through, courtesy of a Cricket Australia statement, that Renshaw felt unwell before play and had subsequently tested positive to COVID-19.
In 2020, Renshaw would have had to isolate by himself for a minimum of 14 days. In 2023, the protocols have changed significantly.
Renshaw can still take part in the match and according to Australian officials, the 26-year-old feels well enough to bat.
Peak Sydney
By Tom Decent
And we’re looking at a fresh delay
Does Labuschagne have the right to be filthy about that? The players are off again, bad light again the culprit. Just for good measure, the covers are on too.
A dejected Marnus Labuschagne.Credit:Getty
Surely it’s hard to see any more play coming today. But I’ve been wrong before. Twice today, in fact.
WICKET: Labuschagne gone for 79
47th over: Khawaja gets his chance against Nortje. He beats Kagiso Rabada at backward point for three off the second delivery. Labuschagne sees the over out until an absolute peach finds him in all sorts and he’s caught behind off the final ball. He looks like he’s unsure about that one; I’m as surprised as he is but he’s gone.
Australia 2-147 (Khawaja 54).
Labuschagne keeping strike
44th over: Labuschagne gets a single off the last to prevent Jansen’s first maiden of the day.
45th over: Nortje to Labuschagne, who gets two off the fourth delivery before a single off the final ball to retain the strike.
Australia 1-142 (Labuschagne 77, Khawaja 51).
