Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja does not want the SCG Test moved from its traditional New Year’s timeslot despite weather interruptions plaguing the annual fixture.
Day three of the final Test between Australia and South Africa ended as a washout after the New South Wales capital was peppered by rain on Friday.
It’s become an all-too-familiar sight for the New Year’s Test. Six of the seven most recent SCG Tests have been interrupted by rain, with four of those matches ending as draws.
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As revealed by cricket statistician Ric Finlay, 26 days of Test cricket have been washed out in Sydney, comfortably the most for Australian venues. According to ABC meteorologist Thomas Saunders, 64 per cent of Test cricket days in Sydney over the past eight years have seen rain.
Last summer, the late Shane Warne called for Sydney to be stripped of the New Year’s Test altogether because of the city’s inclement weather, suggesting the SCG should host the season opener instead.
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“It just seems to always rain in the Test match,” Warne told Fox Cricket.
“I know Australia won’t want to lose that first Test match in Brisbane, but it hasn’t been that well attended the Brisbane Test match either. Whereas maybe Brisbane could be the New Year Test match and Sydney could be the first one.”
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Khawaja confessed the relentless Sydney rain “sucks”, but argued the city was “pretty unlucky” with the La Nina phenomenon, which has wreaked havoc three consecutive summers.
“I don’t (want the date to change),” Khawaja said.
“I’m all for change, but I do like tradition. Boxing Day and Sydney’s always on my mind.
“The week before this, it wasn’t raining at all. I think it’s pretty unlucky that we actually got rain this specific week.
“If the Test match shifted a week, then we’d be in the clear.
“And I’ve played a lot of games in Sydney that have had results before, even with weather delays.
“It sucks, but I still think it’s the traditional time to have it. We’re in a La Nina pattern anyway at the moment, which mean more rainfall, and I think that’s about to finish now anyway.
“So hopefully in the next few years we’ll have a few more dry days.”
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Khawaja, who was unbeaten on 195 overnight, hinted Australia would continue batting on day four before hunting for the 20 wickets required for an unlikely victory.
“There will still be an opportunity to try and win this game,” Khawaja said.
“I can’t imagine us batting all day tomorrow. I don’t think that’s going to happen.
“If you don’t give yourself a crack to try and win the game at least, you’ve done the game a disservice.
“Time is the enemy. We have two days now. A result is very unlikely, let’s do honest, but it’s still possible.”
The third Test between Australia and South Africa resumes on Saturday morning, with the first ball scheduled for 10am AEDT.
