Key posts
Poll: When should Cummins send South Africa in?
Speaking on Fox Sports just now, Allan Border offered a bit of context to the declaration decision – you don’t want to be taking that precious new ball if there’s this on and off rain around. Anyone who’s flung a bit of leather in their time knows how quickly it turns to a bar of soap, nightmare for the speedsters and the spinners alike.
Watch: Waugh’s iconic ’03 hundred, in all its glory
From the archives: Steve Waugh’s finest hour
It’s still raining. Heavily. So, to drier, happier times at the SCG. Like when Steve Waugh marched to the crease with his career on the line in 2003, and the inimitable Peter Roebuck captured a seismic moment in Australian cricket.
Stick around, they’ve given me the keys to the Herald archives, so I’ll keep digging these gems out in between song polls, rain updates and whatever else takes my fancy.
Waugh: a ton and 10,000 – Peter Roebuck, January 4, 2003
Steve Waugh’s remarkable innings yesterday started with his team in trouble and fast bowlers pawing the ground. Has anyone heard this story before?
Justin Langer had miscued a hook and a relieved Yorkshireman held the catch at fine leg as Australia sank to 3-56, a predicament commonplace years ago but unusual in these days of flourishing opening pairs.
Steve Waugh’s finest hour.Credit:Getty
No sooner had the chance been taken than a familiar figure began to thread his way through the crowd gathered in front of the green-roofed pavilion, a man who comes to life in a crisis.
Nor did it take him long to reach the sunlight. Waugh has always hated a fuss and put on his gloves and started marching to the crease long before Langer’s slow withdrawal had been completed. As far as Waugh was concerned, it was business as usual.
He has played his cricket as a craftsman and a competitor, never as a romantic. It was 3.26 on a Friday afternoon and there was work to be done.
At Waugh’s appearance, an ovation started to spread around the ground, for this was a moment of sporting significance, possibly the last appearance of a respected warrior.
By stumps, the warm reception had been replaced by a roar, for Waugh had convinced the packed crowd he had no intention of going quietly with an unbeaten 102, reaching his century off the last ball of the day.
Read Peter’s full story on Waugh’s heroics here.
The shot that sealed it.Credit:Getty
Radar update: Ma, the rains are here
Grim viewing on the BOM radar.
‘It is an iconic event’: The argument for and against shifting the SCG Test
This conversation around when is best to stage the SCG Test will only keep chugging along as we stare down a 26th full-day wash out in Sydney.
Our poll of more than 2000 readers yesterday had honours about even between keeping it as is to start the New Year, and shifting it to either later in January or into December.
The SCG at its soggiest.Credit:AP
For what it’s worth, Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley gave the idea short shrift yesterday.
“I think (it’s the right time for it). It is an iconic event on the sporting calendar,” Hockley told SEN radio.“People plan their entire holidays around it. We saw over 30,000 people turn out yesterday.
“Particularly now with the pink Test in its 15th year … There is so much going on around the ground.“
And a few relevant stats from the relevant experts. From our friends at the BOM – January makes for a particularly wet Sydney – averaging 101.2mm for the month.
November hits 83.8mm, December 77.1.
Now to the foremost expert on rained out cricket in the Harbour City, the ABC’s Ric Finlay.
The latest from the SCG – it’s wet and getting wetter
Song poll … with a difference
By James Polson
In what is absolutely not an attempt to fill time as Sydney is battered by rain, the song poll is back for round three. Today we’re looking at tunes about the sun, and it’s an extensive list. The sports desk’s team of trained monkeys has scientifically divided the contenders into two brackets.
Artists’ impression of the sports editor’s reaction when U2 won yesterday’s poll.
Voting will be open on the first instalment until midday, with the second round going through until 1.30pm. Top five from each make the grand final.
Song poll: The verdict is in
Due to popular demand and the boss dismissing a suggestion of card-by-card coverage of Matt Renshaw’s solitaire games, the song poll is back.
First though, the winner of yesterday’s definitive poll on songs about light. U2, come on down – just beating out Bruce Springsteen and the Doors. Take that young people, music about light was better years ago.
Latest: Steve Smith clarifies retirement chatter
And further to this, an insightful interview with Smith from early September by Malcolm Conn, when he openly discussed finishing his career in New York.
“Definitely, that’d be pretty cool,” Smith replied when asked if he would consider finishing his cricket career in the Big Apple.
“… My wife’s actually still there at the moment. It’s certainly something that we’re looking into. I’m getting a bit older now, and certainly closer to the end of my career than the start. So yeah, we’ll wait and see.”
This is not the fanciful dream of an elite sportsman wondering what’s next. As Smith himself pointed out, Major League Cricket has been formed in the United States, a six-team franchise T20 competition with the backing of wealthy Indian businessmen and celebrities.
Full story here.
Squad update: Harris and Morris sent back to the Big Bash
No update on when we might see some play as yet, covers are on and rain is coming down proper now.
We do have something on Australia’s 13th and 14th men Marcus Harris and Lance Morris though, they’ve been sent back to BBL duty respectively for Melbourne Renegades and Perth Scorchers.
Peter Handscomb, who is looking good for next month’s four Test tour of India as a reserve batter, will handle 12th man duties for the rest of the Test.
And speaking of BBL, feast your eyes on the largest run chase in tournament history last night from Adelaide, who mowed down Hobart’s 4-229 with three balls to spare.
The less said about Hobart’s efforts with the ball the better, but Strikers allrounder Matt Short is carving out a very impressive season opening the batting and the bowling this season. An even 100 from 59 balls with a boundary to bring up his ton and the winning runs – decent day at the office.
Poll: When should Cummins send South Africa in?
Speaking on Fox Sports just now, Allan Border offered a bit of context to the declaration decision – you don’t want to be taking that precious new ball if there’s this on and off rain around. Anyone who’s flung a bit of leather in their time knows how quickly it turns to a bar of soap, nightmare for the speedsters and the spinners alike.
