Inclement climate threatens to derail Australia’s bid of a collection clear sweep in opposition to South Africa and a confirmed place on the earth check championship last because the third and last check in opposition to South Africa at Sydney Cricket Ground seems destined for a draw.
After rain and unhealthy mild delays throughout the primary two days, constant, and at instances heavy, rain meant no play was attainable in any respect on Friday. It left Australia unable so as to add to its imposing first-innings rating of 475-4 and Usman Khawaja stranded on his in a single day rating of 195 and tantalisingly near his first double century.
Australia now has the dilemma of deciding what number of runs it wants after which how a lot time it must bowl out South Africa twice to win within the two remaining days on a pitch not but providing the anticipated help for the spinners.
Consistent rain swept by the Sydney space from early Friday morning and the gaps within the rainfall the place not enough for floor workers to arrange the sphere and the match to renew. Shortly after the scheduled tea break, umpires deserted the day’s play.
The forecast seems extra favorable for the ultimate two days of the check, though some mild showers are forecast for Saturday.
Australia has already gained the collection after two crushing defeats within the first two checks at Brisbane and Melbourne.
A win for Australia on this third check would affirm its place on the earth check championship last to be performed at Lord’s in England in June this yr.
On Thursday, Khawaja scored his third straight SCG ton and handed his earlier highest check rating of 174 — in opposition to New Zealand at Brisbane in 2015 — and shared a 209-run partnership with Steve Smith to carry Australia to 475-4 when rain stopped play for the day.
Khawaja was given a life on 119 when he supplied a pointy shin-height likelihood which Anrich Nortje missed at gully after dropping sight of the ball.
Smith made 104 to affix former Australia opening batter Matt Hayden on 30 check centuries. Only Ricky Ponting (41) and Steve Waugh (32) have extra amongst Australian males’s check gamers.
Smith additionally handed Hayden (8,625 runs) and Michael Clarke (8,643) for profession runs and is now the fourth-highest Australian check run scorer with 8,647 runs, behind Ponting (13,378), Allan Border (11,174) and Waugh (10,927).
Matt Renshaw, in his first check since 2018 for the injured Cameron Green, returned a constructive check for COVID-19 simply earlier than play and was separated from the rest of his teammates and moved into one other altering room on the SCG. He batted as anticipated at No.6 and was 5 not out at stumps Thursday.
International Cricket Council laws state Renshaw is permitted to play within the match as lengthy he feels nicely sufficient, with the choice for a like-for-like substitute if he was unable to play.
Renshaw may very well be seen Friday wandering alongside the boundary rope underneath an umbrella as he continues to isolate from his teammates in what’s a irritating return to check cricket for the 26-year-old, with hopes of being chosen for the Australia squad to tour India subsequent month.