Welcome to news.com.au’s protection of Day 4 of the third Test between Australia and South Africa.
Constant rain in Sydney meant play on Friday was deserted with out a ball being bowled on a irritating day for all concerned on the SCG.
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2.30pm – Hazlewood will get his man
After the third umpire denied him of the opening wicket, Josh Hazlewood dismissed Dean Elgar quickly after for 15 with a searing supply that caught Elgar’s gloves and soared by means of to keeper Alex Carey.
Adam Gilchrist mentioned on Fox Cricket: “Josh Hazlewood, that is vicious. That is brutal. He knew exactly what he was doing.”
2.15pm – More catch controversy
Cricket has a humorous approach of night itself out.
A few days of Marnus Labuschagne was given a life after a slip catch was dominated not out, South African captain Dean Elgar has escaped in comparable vogue.
Elgar edged a ball from Josh Hazlewood by means of to the slips, the place Steve Smith attain out along with his proper hand and appeared to take the catch.
But though the ball landed in his hand and he had his fingers round it, replays confirmed Smith wiping the ball on the turf as he tried to carry onto the catch.
That was sufficient to persuade the third umpire he hadn’t held onto the catch and he dominated it not out. However not everybody was satisfied.
1.15pm – Cummins leaves Khawaja stranded on 195
Pat Cummins has left Usman Khawaja stranded simply 5 runs wanting a maiden Test double century, declaring to finish Australia’s first innings at 4/475.
Khawaja will stay unbeaten on 195 from 368 balls, whereas Matt Renshaw is left on 5 not out, off 11 balls.
The Aussie captain was prepared to offer Khawaja a while to succeed in his double century this morning, nonetheless extra dangerous climate ruined these plans as time stress constructed on Australia to chase down a victory.
Fox Cricket commentators agreed it was the fitting name by Cummins to place the group earlier than particular person achievements.
The stress is now on South Africa’s out-of-form batting line-up to carry out on a spin-friendly pitch.
12pm – Covers come off amid contemporary pitch drama
The covers are coming off the SCG pitch once more because the solar slowly peaks by means of the skies above Moore Park.
With hope play will quickly have the ability to get underway lunch has been rescheduled to 12:30pm earlier than one other pitch inspection at 12:45pm.
“It’s as clear and as warm as it’s been in a day-and-a-half,” Fox Cricket commentator Mark Howard mentioned.
It’s understood there are contemporary considerations across the state of the pitch as a consequence of some dampness on the wicket after nearly two full days of continuous rain in Sydney.
Reports have emerged that the hessian covers over the pitch have been moist, which means the pitch hadn’t been appropriately shielded from the moist climate.
However floor workers are doing all the things of their energy to rectify the problem with some utilizing air blowers in an try to make the pitch playable for a day of motion.
11am – Khawaja might be robbed of double ton
Usman Khawaja is on 195 not out, with Matthew Renshaw unbeaten on 5 after surviving a Covid scare to take his place within the group.
With solely two days left and the sport nonetheless within the first innings, Australian captain Pat Cummins might declare through the rain delay in an effort to maintain the sport transferring.
That would rob Khawaja of the 5 runs he must carry up his maiden Test double century.
Khawaja has continued his love affair with the SCG, mentioning his third century in a row on the floor — becoming a member of Wally Hammond, Doug Walters and VVS Laxman as the one gamers to attain the feat.
Khawaja believes it could be harsh if Cummins declared and left him stranded agonisingly wanting a double century.
“I’m not the captain, I don’t make those decisions,” Khawaja mentioned of the decision whether or not or to not declare.
“I think it would be pretty harsh if he (Cummins) bowled straight away, I don’t think that’s going to happen.
“(Cummins has) been making a few jokes around the changerooms (about declaring) … taking the mickey out of me.
“We could go out there and get a few more runs really quickly, or we could declare pretty much straight away.
“It’s obviously a decision he’ll have to make tomorrow, decide on what the weather’s doing and how he wants to play out this game.
“I think there will still be an opportunity to try and win this game, so I can’t imagine us just going ‘oh, we’ll bat all day tomorrow’.
“If you don’t give yourself a crack at trying to win the game at least, you’ve done a disservice to the actual game.
“But obviously we need to bowl at some stage if we want to try and win the game.”
Originally revealed as Australia vs South Africa Day 4 stay: Steve Smith catch name divides cricket world
