Aus vs SA 3rd Test | Rain washes out Day 3, dampening Australia’s hopes of series sweep

Match officials with umbrellas inspect the pitch during a rain delay on the third day of the cricket Test match between Australia and South Africa at the Sydney Cricket Ground on January 6, 2023
| Photo Credit: AP

Inclement weather threatens to derail Australia’s bid of a series clean sweep against South Africa and a confirmed place in the World Test Championship final as the third and final Test against South Africa at Sydney Cricket Ground appears destined for a draw.

After rain and bad light delays across he first two days, consistent, and at times heavy, rain meant no play was possible at all on Friday. It left Australia unable to add to its imposing first-innings score of 475-4 and Usman Khawaja stranded on his overnight score of 195 and tantalizingly close to his first double century.

Australia now has the dilemma of deciding how many runs it needs and then how much time it needs to bowl out South Africa twice to win in the two remaining days on a pitch not yet offering the expected assistance for the spinners.

Consistent rain swept through the Sydney area from early Friday morning and the gaps in the rainfall where not sufficient for ground staff to prepare the field and the match to resume. Shortly after the scheduled tea break, umpires abandoned the day’s play.

The forecast appears more favorable for the final two days of the Test, although some light showers are forecast for Saturday.

Australia has already won the series after two crushing defeats in the first two tests at Brisbane and Melbourne.

A win for Australia in this third Test would confirm its place in the World Test Championship final to be played at Lord’s in England in June this year.

On Thursday, Khawaja scored his third straight SCG ton and passed his previous highest Test score of 174 — against New Zealand at Brisbane in 2015 — and shared a 209-run partnership with Steve Smith to lift Australia to 475-4 when rain stopped play for the day.

Khawaja was given a life on 119 when he offered a sharp shin-height chance which Anrich Nortje missed at gully after losing sight of the ball.

Smith made 104 to join former Australia opening batter Matt Hayden on 30 Test centuries. Only Ricky Ponting (41) and Steve Waugh (32) have more among Australian men’s Test players.

Smith also passed Hayden (8,625 runs) and Michael Clarke (8,643) for career runs and is now the fourth-highest Australian Test run scorer with 8,647 runs, behind Ponting (13,378), Allan Border (11,174) and Waugh (10,927).

Matt Renshaw, in his first Test since 2018 for the injured Cameron Green, returned a positive Test for COVID-19 just before play and was separated from the remainder of his teammates and moved into another changing room at the SCG. He batted as expected at No.6 and was five not out at stumps Thursday.

International Cricket Council regulations state Renshaw is permitted to play in the match as long he feels well enough, with the option for a like-for-like substitute if he was unable to play.

Renshaw could be seen Friday wandering along the boundary rope under an umbrella as he continues to isolate from his teammates in what is a frustrating return to Test cricket for the 26-year-old, with hopes of being selected for the Australia squad to tour India next month.