A controversial decision has stolen the spotlight on the first day of the third Test at the SCG, while bad light and rain shorten the day.
Usman Khawaja (54*) and Marnus Labsuchagne (79) scored a half-century as Australia reached 2-147 in 47 overs, after Pat Cummins won the toss and opted to bat off a pitch that looked set to break later in the match. .
South Africa felt they had caught Labuschagne at the first slip for 70, only for the third referee to give the prolific Queenslander a second life.
Simon Harmer and the South African fielders claimed a low catch on the first slip of Jansen’s bowling in the over 40.
The umpires on the field remitted the ruling with a soft signal for out, only for third umpire Richard Kettleborough to rule that the ball had touched the ground between Harmer’s fingers.
The soft signal only applies if the technology fails, meaning the third referee did not overturn the decision, but made a decision based on the evidence shown to him on the replay screen.
The South Africans were frustrated and captain Dean Elgar was shown chatting with the referees after the decision had been made.
Given the soft signal from the referees on the field, many experts watching were confused as to how the mixed replays (slow motion from the front looked like a clean shot but from the side cast doubt) constituted conclusive enough evidence to go elsewhere. direction. .
“That’s cheating for me. I felt like he got his fingers under the ball. It’s a real shame for South Africa,” former Australia cricketer Kristen Beams said on ABC Grandstand.
“If he’s suddenly out, Labuschagne, who looks like he’s racing for fun, is out and you’d say South Africa isn’t on top, but it’s probably the best performance we’ve seen from them so far.
“I feel a bit frustrated for the South Africans because I think based on the soft signal that should have happened.
“I think you have to give the fielder the benefit of the doubt… That’s out of the question.”
Veteran ABC commentator Jim Maxwell tweeted that Labuschagne should have been out, calling it a “bad call.”
Another drenched day in the Sydney test
Shortly after the controversy, bad light stopped play for the first time at drinks in the second session, around 2:15 p.m.
That caused an early tea break, during which the rain came.
Play was finally ready to get going again in slightly better light an hour and a half later for a final session of over 45 but, as the players stood on the edge with their targets, referees Paul Reiffel and Chris Gaffaney told them to stop. wait while they headed downtown.
As the crowd grew restless for another intermittent day at the SCG, officials took another light read on the field, eventually telling the teams to return to the sheds.
When they finally returned to the park an hour later with the final session reduced to 30 overs, only four could be bowled, during which Labuschagne cut Anrich Nortje.
Adding insult to injury, both teams followed from the ground as the umpires called play due to bad light immediately after the wicket.
The rain settled for good after that meaning no more play was possible and hopefully cricket will get going again at 10am on Thursday.
Australia presents a renewed side
With injuries to Mitchell Starc and Cameron Green, plus a spin-friendly pitch, Australia made three changes to the winning squad in four days at the MCG.
Matt Renshaw, Josh Hazlewood and Ashton Agar all came into the side, with Scott Boland surprisingly falling in favor of Agar as a second spin option, despite having played just one match and taken a wicket in the Sheffield Shield for Western Australia this season.
Renshaw, returning to the side for the first time since 2018, stood out from his peers during the anthems.
It was later revealed that he had tested positive for COVID-19, something that 12 months ago would have dropped him from the squad but, in 2023, will not prevent him from playing unless his condition deteriorates.
After his exploits at MCG, David Warner was unable to shoot in his own territory, giving Marco Jansen an advantage on the first slip by just 10.
Labuschagne joined Khawaja in a very circumspect opening session as South African spinners Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer operated in tandem before lunch.
After coming to lunch at 1-68, the Australian pair started, with Labuschagne reaching a half-century, his first 50 of this series, having scored 471 runs in his first three innings against the West Indies earlier this summer.
After surviving the controversial chance catch at 70, Khawaja joined Labuschagne to reach his half-century, his first of the series but his third of the summer.
