SYDNEY The entire third day of the final Sydney Test was washed out Friday forcing a retrospection of Australia’s drive for a series clean reach over South Africa.
commander Pat Cummins has a decision to make ahead of Saturday’s fourth day whether to declare the platoon’s first innings at 475 for four and get the Proteas in to club or give Usman Khawaja the chance to claim his first Test double century.
Khawaja was stranded on 195 when rain ended play on Thursday, his loftiest Test score. Matt Renshaw, who tested positive for Covid at the launch of the match, was five not out.
“ I suppose it ’d be enough harsh if he( Cummins) sailed straight down. I do n’t suppose that’s going to be, ” Khawaja told journalists after another frustrating day in the rain- hit match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
“ He’s been making a many jokes( saying) ‘ I ’ve let( South African commander) Dean Elgar know that we want to go out and have a coliseum straight down ’.
“ We could go out there and get a many further runs really snappily or we could declare enough much straight down. I ’m not the captain I do n’t make those opinions, ” said the batsman.
Another deciding factor will be the state of the Sydney Cricket Ground pitch following three days of rain interruptions.
The frequent rain and covering of the gate has averted the pitch from drying out and deteriorating from wear and tear and gash for the benefit of Australia’s two named baits, Nathan Lyon and Ashton Agar.
Australia have gone into the match with only named two frontal- line pacemen — Josh Hazlewood and Cummins — making their task more indeed delicate if the pitch isn't as conducive to spin as originally game planned.
The hosts are also pushing for a series color to seal a place in the World Test Championship final in London in June. South Africa are naturally not as concerned about the rainfall as they try to avoid the discredit of a 3- 0 trouncing.
The cast is for bettered conditions on Saturday with lower rain anticipated before sunny conditions on Sunday’s final day.