Poll: Does Sydney’s annual new year rain warrant moving the city’s Test?
In light of that fun statistic out of yesterday – the SCG has lost 25 days worth of cricket since the dawn of time – and the fact that Sydney has seen more rain interruptions in recent times than Manchester, is there any merit in shifting the New Year’s Test from our fair city, and playing Sydney’s Test at a more hospitable point in the summer?
Runs flow as Smith gets off the mark
Another flick through midwicket from Khawaja, this one much more composed, yields three and then Rabada is too straight to Smith and is duly glanced to the fine leg boundary. Smith off the mark after a dozen balls – and a rain delay – camped on 0.
Khawaja moving along well to start day 2.Credit:Getty
Rabada struggling to live up to the very, very high standards he’s set himself throughout this series. Seven off the over before Nortje tightens things up again at the other end.
Australia 2/161: Khawaja 64*, Smith 4*
Four: Khawaja offers half a chance
Khawaja strikes the first boundary of the day, but for half a second it looked like that had his number on it. Nortje resuming and Khawaja’s flicked uppishly through square leg and past Khaya Zondo in the field.
Outfield holds up pretty well considering the rain and Zondo can’t reel it in before the rope. Another single to finish the over as Nortje looks likely again.
Australia 2/153: Khawaja 60*, Smith 0*
And we’re back again
Covers are on, covers are off. Covers are on again. And now they’re coming off. Commentators are cranky and our umpires are out there watching the radar with the curators. All a bit Groundhog Day here in Sydney as South Africa’s fielders are sitting on the boundary and the hessian is being packed up.
Dean Elgar now leading the South Africans out as the Aussies follow.
For those playing the home game, I’m offering a 3.5+ line on rain delays today – that’s the first.
Australia 2/148: Khawaja 55*, Smith 0*
An early edge and a bit in the pitch… and it’s raining
The first signs of life this morning, and remember this is the 50th over. Rabada nipping one back to Steve Smith and it takes the inside edge but falls well short of the keeper.
Next ball Smith takes a frustrated swipe across the line and misses… and then the drizzle rolls in and Smith can’t get to the dressing room quick enough.
A familiar sight at the SCG.Credit:Getty
The first of probably a few rain delays today, covers are going on as we speak.
Australia 2/148: Khawaja 55*, Smith 0*
The rumours are true – we’re about to play
Players are out there at the SCG, Khawaja and Smith trotting out there now. And a quick recap of the revised session times as we try to get 98 overs of play in.
Lunch: 12.30 – 1.10pm
Tea: 3.10 – 3.30pm
Stumps: 5.30pm with an extra 30 minutes that I’m tipping will be needed.
Kagiso Rabada opening up from the Randwick end. Khawaja with a single through midwicket as both batters and bowler work their way into the day.
South Africa’s best bowler of the match and series, Anrich Nortje, starting from the Paddington end and into the breeze. Very tidy figures of 2-26 from 12 overs from him, operating with two slips and it’s a maiden to start.
Australia 2/148: Khawaja 55*, Smith 0*
Latest: Renshaw to isolate, and expected to bat today
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.
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.
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.
Renshaw can still take part in the match and according to Australian officials, the 26-year-old feels well enough to bat.
Smallest of updates from this morning, the Queenslander has been out on the paddock today doing some running drills and looking A-OK. Play on for a man who could really come into his own during next month’s tour of India.
Full story via Tom Decent to your right.
Poll: Does Sydney’s annual new year rain warrant moving the city’s Test?
In light of that fun statistic out of yesterday – the SCG has lost 25 days worth of cricket since the dawn of time – and the fact that Sydney has seen more rain interruptions in recent times than Manchester, is there any merit in shifting the New Year’s Test from our fair city, and playing Sydney’s Test at a more hospitable point in the summer?
World’s first statue to a female cricketer unveiled
Poll: What will Australia post in their first innings?
Marnus: ‘It makes you very angry as a batter’
Marnus Labuschagne feels dudded by bad light, the South Africans feel dudded by technology and fans were dudded by Test cricket’s arcane insistence that the game can’t be played under heavy cloud cover even when the floodlights are on.
“Definitely very frustrated,” Labuschagne said after the umpires called bad light for the last time the moment he was out, caught behind for 79, to end a weather-marred first day of the third and final Test of the series at the SCG.
Australia were 2-147 at stumps with Usman Khawaja unbeaten on a rock-solid 54.
“Obviously, it always makes you very angry as a batter when you get out and then everyone walks with you off the field,” Labuschagne said.
“It really makes you think … that specific ball was probably under the light meter, and you’re getting out … very frustrating.”
