South Africa’s coaches will inform their batsmen to play for greater than mere survival on the ultimate two days of the SCG Test, because the Proteas combat to carry on for a face-saving draw.
Australia enter day 4 at 4-475 of their first innings after rain washed out all of Friday’s play, with the hosts protecting hope they will pressure a consequence and a 3-0 sequence sweep.
Their finest likelihood of victory can be to assert a 200-run first-innings lead, implement the follow-on and bowl South Africa out once more to win the match.
The moist climate has meant Sydney’s pitch has not damaged up as anticipated, with Usman Khawaja unbeaten on 195 whereas Steve Smith posted a century on day two.
While a draw stays the almost certainly prospect, South Africa haven’t hit a rating of past 275 – or survived 100 overs – of their previous eight innings.
Regardless, Proteas batting coach Justin Sammons mentioned his gamers should be eager about greater than merely batting time for a draw.
“It is very important,” he mentioned. “You can easily go into that mindset that, ‘I am just trying to survive here’.
“We nonetheless must have that optimistic mindset, it isn’t nearly survival for us.
“That doesn’t mean you need to be reckless. What Khawaja has done so well is he has stayed in his game plan.
“He was optimistic however he scored inside his recreation plan. That would be the key for us.”
Khawaja indicated on Friday night he believed his team’s best chances of winning could be to bat on and post a higher first-innings score.
But South Africa believe they will be batting almost immediately on Saturday.
“If Khawaja wasn’t on 190-odd, then I might say they’ll declare right away,” Sammons mentioned.
“I think they could let him go on the market and get that double, after which declare.
“If they do bat, it will be until that point where he gets that double and call it. But they could say team first, and call it straight away.”
