Day three of the third Test between Australia and Pakistan gets underway on Friday (10am AEDT) at the SCG with the Sydney affair once again in the spotlight over bad weather.
Australia will resume batting on 2-116, trailing by 197 runs, with Marnus Labuschagne (23*) and Steven Smith (6*) at the crease.
Meanwhile, the search is over. David Warner’s treasured baggy green is back with the retiring opener after a nation-wide search, he revealed on Friday.
“Hi everyone, I am pleased and relieved that I have got my baggy back in my hands,” Warner announced on Instagram.
“Any cricketer knows how special that cap is and I’ll cherish this for the rest of my life.
“I’m very grateful to all those involved in locating it, the Qantas team, the freight company, the hotel and our own team management.
“It’s a load off my shoulders going into the last couple of days so I really appreciate it. Thank you all.”
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NEW THREAT TO SYDNEY TEST AS CA SHOWDOWN LOOMS
Play didn’t reach 2.30pm on day two before players were taken off due to bad light, while rain arrived later to washout the day’s remainder.
The forecast is looking more promising on Friday with the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) predicting only a 40 per cent chance of 0-1mm of rain in the New South Wales capital.
Nonetheless, it is the seventh time in the past eight Sydney Tests to be hit by weather delays, while four of those matches ended in draws.
While there is no suggestion that the New Year’s Test will move from the Harbour City, there is increased pressure on the event, offering Cricket Australia greater negotiating power while planning future schedules.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that a showdown looms between CA and the NSW government with both South Australia and Western Australia sniffing around the event.
It comes after pointed remarks on day one from Venues NSW chairman David Gallop, who reportedly said: “The New Year’s Test belongs in Sydney and it belongs at the SCG. Just as the Boxing Day Test belongs in Melbourne and at the MCG.”
CA’s chair and chief Mike Baird and Nick Hockley were in attendance to hear the comment, that was reportedly taken well, but the tension grows, nonetheless.
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TEAMS
Australia: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (capt), Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood (capt), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Agha Salman, Sajid Khan, Hasan Ali, Mir Hamza, Aamer Jamal
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