Aussie opener Usman Khawaja was denied a shot at a maiden Test double hundred in merciless scenes after Australia declared in a single day to have a shot at successful the third Test.
Aussie skipper Pat Cummins was left with the brutal conundrum after rain affected the primary two days, earlier than day three was fully washed out with Australia 4/475 with Khawaja on 195 not out — his highest Test rating.
Watch Australia v South Africa. Every check match reside and ad-break in play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
Even earlier than day three was washed out, there was discuss when the declaration would come however when play was deserted after which day 4 couldn’t begin till 1.45pm AEDT, the Aussie skipper’s fingers have been tied.
Cummins had reportedly been prepared to offer Khawaja an opportunity to achieve the milestone.
And even when he gave Khawaja an over or two to deliver up the milestone, Cummins would have misplaced 20 minutes with final years’ draw towards England with one wicket left nonetheless contemporary in his reminiscence as Australia ran out of time.
Instead he joins Frank Worrell in 1960 when was declared on on 197 not out, and Sachin Tendulkar in 2004 who was on 194 not out.
But rubbing salt into Khawaja’s wounds — he’s the primary participant to overlook out on a maiden double century due to a declaration whereas within the 190s.
While many will flip their ire on captain Pat Cummins, The Daily Telegraphhas one other perpetrator, blaming the NRMA emblem emblazoned on the moist climate covers.
It reported a leak via the covers which they’d been requested to used to promote Cricket Australia associate NRMA Insurance.
Although minor a gap opened in one of many seams across the emblem, which is believed to have added further work for the bottom employees and stopped an precedent days of play within the morning session earlier than a bathe.
The article additionally touched on alternate options for the covers, because the UK use raised covers, whereas in Sri Lanka, the entire subject is roofed so as to defend the outfield.
English cricket nice Isa Guha was extremely crucial of the protection on the bottom.
“You would think they could invest in some better covers,” Guha mentioned on Fox.
“You have the hover covers at Lord’s that come off really quickly and then at The Oval it literally covers the whole of the ground across the square for moments like this where bowlers are looking around at the pitch ends where it can be a bit dangerous.
“I’m pretty staggered that it’s not better equipped.”
But no matter who or what’s in charge, Khawaja’s highest rating will go into the books as 195 not out — and followers felt for the Aussie opener.
6NewsAU managing director Leonardo Puglisi tweeted: “Usman Khawaja has every right to be pissed off right now – it was gonna be a draw anyway, let the poor man make 5 more runs.”
The Western Advocate’s Alexander Grant added: “The match is heading for a draw. Why not give Khawaja the chance to reach an individual milestone?”
Chaser co-founder Dom Knight wrote: “If the Test is drawn, Khawaja will have every right to be filthy surely”.
Sports journalist Liam Warren posted: “Gotta feel for Khawaja. Had a double ton in his sights only for weather to take it away.”
However, the commentators believed the declaration was the precise name.
Former Test fast Damien Fleming advised SEN: “I’d declare. We need to take 20 wickets.”
“I can’t see the point in Australia continuing to bat despite the milestone,” Kerry O’Keeffe mentioned on Fox Cricket.
Yesterday, Khawaja himself mentioned it could be “pretty harsh” if Cummins didn’t let him attempt to get the milestone.
“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 change rooms (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.”
