Australia vs Pakistan third Test: New Year’s Test at SCG Burning Questions, David Warner, weather, pitch, McGrath Foundation, video, cricket news 2024

The third and final Test of the Benaud-Qadir Trophy has arrived, with veteran opener David Warner preparing to farewell Test cricket in front of friends and family at the SCG.

The 37-year-old, who has also retired from ODI cricket, ends his Test career as a three-time Ashes winner, three-time Allan Border Medal recipient and World Test Championship victor.

Australia has enjoyed recent success at the SCG, remaining undefeated at the iconic venue over the past 12 summers. Meanwhile, Pakistan has not defeated Australia in the New South Wales capital in any format since 1997.

The New Year’s Test gets underway on Wednesday morning at 10.30am AEDT.

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WELCOME TO WARNER WEEK

This week’s SCG contest marks the end of David Warner’s 13-year Test career, finishing with an impressive CV that includes 26 centuries, 8695 runs and a batting average just under 45.

Love him or hate him, his contributions to Australian cricket over the past decade have been nothing short of extraordinary, and no doubt several former and current teammates will pay tribute to the left-hander over the coming days.

Speaking to reporters at the SCG on Tuesday morning, Pat Cummins agreed that Warner should be remembered as Australia’s greatest all-format cricketer.

“Three formats over a decade. Two 50-over World Cups, one T20 World Cup and all those campaigns he was front and centre, he was a big reason for it,” Cummins said.

“Then playing over a hundred Test matches puts him in an elite category in basically all three formats.

“Just his consistency and the bulk of work that he’s been able to achieve, I think he’s our greatest three-format player.”

Warner’s reputation was scarred following the infamous Cape Town ball-tampering saga of 2018, but Cummins emphasised the New South Welshman has been an “exemplary” leader over the last four or five years.

“I think we’ve all grown up a lot over the last four or five years,” Cummins continued.

“Davey is a leader in our squad and he’s led the way along with a lot of other senior guys on how we want to behave on and off the field. He’s been outstanding.”

What can Warner achieve in his final Test match? Another Test century in a session? A golden pair? Courtesy of his aggressive approach to Test batting, both seem equally likely.

When asked what the best-case scenario would be for Warner’s farewell to Test cricket, Cummins replied: “A hundred. Maybe some leg spin? Take the last wicket of the game or something, out of the rough. I only just thought of it then.”

Unfortunately, Warner Week has gotten off to a disappointing start, with the veteran opener revealing his precious Baggy Green has gone missing.

Pakistan captain Shan Masood was visibly shocked after being informed of Warner’s lost cap, telling reporters at the SCG on Tuesday afternoon: “There should be a countrywide search right now from the Australian Government. We might need the best of detectives to get that back.

“He’s been a great ambassador, and he deserves every bit of respect, every bit of celebration for his unbelievable career.

“I hope they find it. It’s the most precious thing for any cricketer, and I hope David Warner gets it back.”

IS IT GOING TO RAIN AGAIN?

Groans resonated around Sydney last week when meteorologists predicted the New Year’s Test would be hampered by rain.

The SCG Test has become synonymous with wet weather over the past decade. For whatever reason, the New South Wales capital has time and time again experienced heavy downpour on the first week of the year.

Six of the past seven Tests at the SCG have been interrupted by rain, with four of those matches ending as draws. In 2016, only 11 overs were bowled during the middle three days of the New Year’s Test against the West Indies, a particularly dire affair.

As revealed by cricket statistician Ric Finlay, 26 days of Test cricket have now been washed out in Sydney, comfortably the most for Australian venues.

However, in the past couple of days, the Sydney forecast has become considerably more reassuring. Currently, the Bureau of Meteorology is predicting a “slight chance of a shower, most likely in the afternoon and evening” for day one, but a “high chance of showers” on day two.

The chance of rain decreases to 40 per cent each day for the remainder of the Test, so while the threat of weather is inevitable, rain hopefully won’t force a washout this summer.

“It always seems to be a talking point,” Cummins laughed on Tuesday.

“Even on game day it says it’s a 100 per cent chance of rain, then you get on for a whole day, and the next day it’s supposed to be blues skies and it rains all day.

“You never really know, but it does look pretty good.”

Sydney Weather Forecast

Wednesday, January 3: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower, most likely in the afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm in the west in the afternoon and evening.

Thursday, January 4: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm.

Friday, January 5: Cloudy. Medium chance of showers.

Saturday, January 6: Cloudy. Slight chance of a shower.

Sunday, January 7: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely later in the day.

WHAT’S THE PITCH LIKE?

The SCG deck has traditionally favoured spin. During the golden era of Australian Test cricket, leg-spinner Stuart MacGill would accompany Shane Warne in the starting XI when the New Year’s Test rolled around, while Ashton Agar was parachuted into the side for last summer’s Sydney Test. However, the pitch did not deteriorate as expected due to Sydney’s rain.

Australia elected not to pick a second spinner for the third and final Test against Pakistan, while the tourists have unleashed spinner Sajid Khan for the series finale.

SCG curator Adam Lewis is expecting the deck to turn, weather pending, but the relaid surface has created additional bounce and carry for this summer’s Sheffield Shield matches.

“I haven’t had a look today, but looked good yesterday. The groundsman seems happy with where it’s at,” Cummins told reporters.

“A few slight changes this year. Good coverage of grass, so should be a good week ahead.”

The SCG pitch, which features two different types of grass, came under heavy scrutiny after 24 wickets fell on day three of November’s first-class match between New South Wales and Tasmania, with the volatile surface creating plenty of headaches for the batters. However, Lewis blamed the adverse weather conditions and short turnaround following the WBBL double-header for the bowler-friendly deck, which dried quicker than anticipated.

“I spoke to a couple of (NSW players). There have been two Shield wickets, they all said that first one was the best SCG Shield wicket they’ve played on in a few years,” Cummins explained.

“That second one, chatting to the groundsman, it got a bit drier than they hoped. And they had been tinkering with some new grass and it’s a bit different to the Test grass we have this week. Everyone seems pretty happy where it’s at, so we’ll get out there and have a look.”

ISN’T THIS A DEAD RUBBER?

The Benaud-Qadir Trophy is in Australia’s possession once again, with Pat Cummins’ men taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series following last week’s 79-run victory at the MCG.

Both sides travelled to the New South Wales capital this week for a dead rubber, something Sydney fans have become well accustomed to; ten of the 12 most recent New Year’s Tests have been dead rubbers, while the other two were rain-affected draws.

Has the SCG Test become a contextless annual fixture? Not according to Cummins, who rightfully acknowledged that precious World Test Championship points were still on the line.

Australia lost a hefty amount of WTC points during the Ashes series due to sloppy overrates, so securing victory in all five home Tests this summer remains a high priority for the reigning champions.

When asked whether Sydney was suffering from ‘dead rubber syndrome’, Cummins replied: “I don’t think so now that the World Test Championship is there.

“Every Test match is important. We’ve got a couple of points to make up from some over rates in England. Every game has context and it’s a home Test match, every Test match you play is big, but every one in Australia is even bigger.”

Meanwhile, Pakistan is still hoping to break a 16-match losing streak on Australian soil that had dates back to 1995.

GLENN MCGRATH FOUNDATION

The SCG will turn pink this week for the McGrath Foundation, raising funds for nurses aiding those suffering from breast cancer.

Over the past 15 years, the New Year’s Test has become renowned for Jane McGrath Day, when the Ladies Pavilion is renamed in honour of Glenn McGrath’s late wife, who passed away in 2008.

However, the Sydney Test will have added significance for Cummins.

The Australian captain’s mother Maria passed away after her battle with breast cancer earlier this year. Cummins missed the second half of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign in India, returning home to be with his family.

“It’s always a special Test being a home Test, but the Pink Test has always had a special place in the heart of our family. This year it’s even more so,” Cummins told reporters.

“I’ve got a couple of aunties who always volunteer each year on day three, and we’ve spent many a day here even when I wasn’t playing dressed up in pink supporting the day.”

You can support the McGrath Foundation by purchasing a Virtual Pink Seat here.