The first day’s play at the 3rd test match being played between Australia and South Africa at Sydney has been halted due to bad light. Usman Khwaja and Marnus Labuschagne were batting on unbeaten 51 and 73 at the time when the umpires decided that the lights were not good enough to continue playing. The umpires, however, had given an option to Dean Elgar to carry on with the game if he was willing to deploy spinners. Elgar refused and that forced the umpires to take an early tea break.
At 10:42 IST, the umpires were seen walking near the pitch trying to assess the conditions. Although today’s play can be extended till 12:30 IST and for that to happen, the players must be on the field by noon IST.
Australia won the toss at the Sydney Cricket Ground and opted to bat first. Cummins’ decision to bat first looked a bit dicey when Nortje sent Warner packing for 10 runs. However, Labuschagne and Khwaja thwarted the new ball threat from the South Africans and stitched an unbeaten 126-run partnership. Both the batter completed their half-centuries along the way.
Australia has an unassailable lead of 2-0 in the 3-test match series and is looking to complete a whitewash. A series whitewash would strengthen their chances of finishing at the top of the WTC Points Table 2021-23.
Due to injuries to Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc in the last game, Australia had to replace them with Matthew Renshaw and Josh Hazlewood.