Australia v South Africa: third Test, day four – live | Cricket

WICKET!

18th over: South Africa 31-1 (Klaasen 2, Erwee 14) Lyon to Erwee. The veteran offie is content material to mine an excellent size and marshal drift and drop till the wicket crumbles to his liking. He tries to laborious on the fourth and Erwee punches a reduce shot sq. to the rope. What will Lyon’s riposte be?

seventeenth over: South Africa 31-1 (Klaasen 1, Erwee 13) Grey skies on the SCG however they continue to be vivid as a lightweight breeze stirring the flags on the ribbed domes of the Members and Ladies stands. It’s picturesque stuff and the rhythmic rolling gait of Pat Cummins provides to the vista. His first three balls are full and Klaasen is circumspect, however the fourth strays to leg and the batter works it off the hip for a single. Not a foul signal for Cummins. He has a person at midwicket ready for that popped probability a quicker ball would possibly elicit. But Erwee is joyful to evade any entice. He has 14 from 50 and is trudging towards the 422 runs required to interrupt even.

sixteenth over: South Africa 31-1 (Klaasen 1, Erwee 12) Lyon is throwing a blended bag at Erwee. The second leaps like a scalded cat and the tall leftie swipes and misses. The third has a skinnier margin however Erwee chases it too. The spinner is popping the screws right here and Erwee senses it. He goes again into his shell and flat bats the over out, content material to outlive and in no rush to push the rating alongside.

fifteenth over: South Africa 30-1 (Klaasen 1, Erwee 12) With necks oiled properly, it’ll be Cummins to Erwee, one other of South Africa’s rookie thirtysomethings. Sarel is 33 years younger and enjoying in his tenth Test for a batting common 24 with one fifty and a century to his identify to date. He is hanging powerful right here although and maybe rising in confidence too as he skips off the mark. Cummins’ fifth ball is true within the slot and Klaasen leans into it and sends it skidding throughout the damp veldt to the place Labuschagne leaps to retrieve it contained in the rope. Erwee scampers three.

14th over: South Africa 25-1 (Klaasen 0, Erwee 8) Lyon skips in from the Paddington finish to Erwee who exited his shell briefly within the final over, maybe an indication he’s settling in because the ball softens and his gaze sharpens. Lyon isn’t giving a lot respite although, he’s hitting a silk hankie in entrance of the wicket, retrieving the ball and turning to go in once more. The over charge is hovering however Erwee is having not one of the change of rhythm. He’s bats out the final to earn a Gatorade. Drinks.

thirteenth over: South Africa 25-1 (Klaasen 0, Erwee 8) Australian captain Pat Cummins has returned hismelf to the assault, switching ends to provide his sparring associate Josh Hazlewood a spell and to have a crack at Erwee, who has confronted 30 balls for his seven runs. It hasn’t been fairly nevertheless it has been gritty and that’s what South Africa want in the event that they’re shut this 451-run hole. Cummins’ fourth ball is shorter although so Erwee swipes it to the outfield the place Travis Head on the rope saves the boundary and whips it in so shortly there’s solely a single.

twelfth over: South Africa 24-1 (Klaasen 0, Erwee 7) Lyon is fizzing by means of his overs, licking his lips at this slowly crumbling Sydney wicket. Erwee sweeps a single off the third however that brings Klaasen on strike, not an unwelcome prospect for the wily offspinner. But the tall Proteas batsman survives, getting his eyes over the ball, dabbing the ball down and retaining out of attain of the shut fielders respiratory closely down his neck and chuntering away to one another.

eleventh over: South Africa 23-1 (Klaasen 0, Erwee 6) Klaasen survives however nobody’s fairly certain why. Did the ball hit him exterior the road? Was there bat first? Was the burr on Snicko bat or pad or bat hitting pad. None of it issues as a result of Hazlewood has turned his again. He finishes out the over with the customary tight strains and Klaasen stays scoreless. Australia with their tails up.

eleventh over: South Africa 22-1 (Klaasen 0, Erwee 6) Hazlewood is testing the tall right-handed Klaasen now. He sees out the primary three and has a lash on the fourth however there’s that dervish Labuschagne within the discipline so it’s a agency ‘no run’ name. Hazlewood’s fifth is full and quick and straight and he likes it. So does Cummins. The skipper will refer this one…

tenth over: South Africa 22-1 (Klaasen 0, Erwee 6) Lyon is again now to Erwee and there’s an enormous shout on the second supply because the spinner squares him up in entrance. But there’s no referral and it’s all noise, an try and unsettle the nervy Proteas batters me thinks.

tenth over: South Africa 22-1 (Klaasen, Erwee 6) That was a fearsome supply from Hazlewood. It leapt off the pitch and caught Elgar backpedalling. He fended it off his eyebrows and balooned a catch to Carey who took it above his head. Just reward for a superb spell from The Hoff.

ninth over: South Africa 22-0 (Elgar 15, Erwee 4) Hazlewood lopes in with that simple rhythm. His second ball snorts off the pitch and Elgar fends it uneasily. South Africa’s captain has acquired himself began however doesn’t look comfy. He had 31 from four innings coming into the Sydney Test so why would he be?

eighth over: South Africa 22-0 (Elgar 15, Erwee 6) Bold captaincy from Cummins to deliver the GOAT into the fray so early however he must fast-forward this innings and get the group into the sport. Lyon’s first ball rewards the religion, fizzing from center to leg and popping behind sq.. The subsequent two to Elgar are straighter, however the final is unfastened and Elgar works it off the hip for a single. The first over of what might be an extended spell for Lyon.

seventh over: South Africa 18-0 (Elgar 12, Erwee 6) Good afternoon all, and due to Geoff Lemon for calling so little cricket so elegantly. Hazlewood resuming right here to Erwee who’s watchful as the large fast from Tamworth probes the slender channel exterior off stump. The fourth ball is straighter and Erwee swishes throughout the physique and sends it unconvincingly skewing alongside the bottom to gully. No run. However he sneaks a single off the final to reclaim the strike. Looks like Nathan Lyon coming on-line right here…

fifth over: South Africa 11-0 (Elgar 7, Erwee 4) Elgar will get the fortunate break, then lastly manages to get off strike with a run behind sq.. He ought to keep on the far finish and hope that Erwee has a method to take care of Hazlewood.

Catch overturned!

4th over: South Africa 10-0 (Elgar 6, Erwee 4) Perfection from Cummins. Seam motion on this time, that inconceivable size that no one is aware of the right way to form as much as, and the ball slithers by means of the gate of Erwee however over his stumps, clipping the again leg above bail peak on the best way. Almost two gullies, with Lyon simply behind level however strolling in with the bowler. Renshaw within the standard gully dives to save lots of a thick edge on the bounce.

third over: South Africa 10-0 (Elgar 6, Erwee 4) This Hazlewood feller! Where has he been? First ball of this over is actually unplayable. It pitches straight, filled with size, and strikes so viciously off the seam that it nonetheless beats Elgar’s edge and his off stump. Too good to take wickets. The subsequent full one is exterior off, although, and Elgar is ready to drive two runs straight. Up on the physique, all the way down to brief leg, the place Travis Head is ready underneath the helmet. Finishes with one other ball that beats the sting, shifting away. A wicket feels a matter of time.

2nd over: South Africa 8-0 (Elgar 4, Erwee 4) A little bit simpler for Erwee first ball. Just stands nonetheless, brings the bat by means of straight and stops it useless because it meets the ball, and occasions his push by means of backward level for four. Economy of effort. Cummins has some pleasure of his personal with a leg-before shout, nevertheless it was pitching fractionally exterior the left-hander’s leg stump.

1st over: South Africa 4-0 (Elgar 4, Erwee 0) Josh Hazlewood with the ball! Three slips and a gully! Point, mid off, mid on, midwicket, lengthy leg. Runs earlier than wickets on the scorecard, don’t freak out.

Elgar on strike. The first ball he hints at gloving it down the leg facet once more, nevertheless it’s a bit straight and goes into the physique.

The second ball… edged for four! A correct nick, a correct supply. It snorts off a size like Smaug rising from his mountain, takes the shoulder of the bat and someway goes by means of fourth slip as a substitute of straight handy.

There is life in Hazlewood, and life on this deck after its lengthy sleep.

Two extra balls sq. up Elgar and have him fending. The raise from a size is prodigious. Full goes Hazlewood and previous the leg stump, Elgar judging his depart. A touch of swing in there? Then previous the skin edge with jag.

What a primary over.

Can’t consider I’m going to submit about cricket reasonably than spin nonsense. Thanks for retaining me firm with that. The reader numbers on this web page yesterday and as we speak have been large, I’m instructed. Truthfully. People actually like studying about whether or not or not it has stopped raining.

The final little bit of Pink Test ceremony takes place, with the South African gamers coming down a pink carpet sporting the pink caps that they’ve signed. They’re met by the McGrath household and hand over the caps, with Dean Elgar taking a second to speak with Glenn McGrath earlier than main his workforce again to the sideline. He grabs his batting helmet and blade, pairs up with Sarel Erwee, prepared to consider cricket for the primary time in days.

Normally that’s a Day 3 ceremony nevertheless it acquired delay for apparent causes.

In concept with an early begin tomorrow we should always get 98 overs on Day 5. Meaning that every one up Australia has 157 overs to bowl out South Africa twice. Quite potential on the proof of this collection. Or South Africa have to get previous the follow-on of 275 to make it actually laborious for Australia to win.

We have revised match particulars. A minimal of 59 overs as we speak.

First session: 13:45 to fifteen:55.
Second session: 16:15 to 18:00.

They can even add half an hour to the second session if brief on overs.

Australia declare at 475 for 4

Regarding the sunshine, as a result of I’m certain there are many individuals like me who have been watching Pakistan and New Zealand play yesterday and have been annoyed at seeing it known as off with three overs to spare – it’s extra sophisticated than it appears at occasions. The key isn’t whether or not batters can see the ball, or need to face it. It’s whether or not fielders can see it.

In that sport we had 9 New Zealanders across the bat, and a few Pakistan tailenders with a goal in sight who like giving the ball a whack. If considered one of them does so, and a fielder can’t choose up the ball, then they’re liable to being hit and badly injured or worse. We get irritated with umpires for taking gamers off, but when an umpire lets play stick with it after which a fielder will get smashed within the face from a pull shot or one thing, individuals could be blaming the umpire for it. It’s a no-win state of affairs, and never only for the groups enjoying.

So, see? Lunch didn’t have an effect on something. I don’t have phrase on the revised overs or session occasions but. We can most likely play till 6:30 tonight, possibly 7pm, relying on the sunshine.

Play will resume at 1:45pm

Tell you what, it’s not precisely sunny on the market however there’s a suggestion that the solar exists. Sun behind gentle cloud reasonably than blackout shade cloud. Sydney has been hiding in its room telling its dad and mom to go away whereas it performs video video games for the final two days. Now it may be venturing out.

We’ve acquired the rope going round! That’s when issues are getting actual. And they’re going to take lunch as deliberate.

Wait! Wait. Before you get mad. It will take no less than that lengthy to provide the bottom an opportunity to empty and dry off, and for the umpires to be joyful. Probably longer. So they’ll do some pitch inspections in the course of the break, and in the event that they approve play it would most likely someday after the scheduled finish of lunch.

I’m going to take that lunch break too, again with extra updates in about half an hour. Get a sandwich. You’ve earned it.

The hessians are off. We can see the precise pitch once more. Like catching a glimpse of a long-lost pal throughout a room. A pal who doesn’t have quite a lot of character, to be trustworthy, nevertheless it’s been so lengthy that you simply really feel unduly keen on them for the primary 5 minutes. Lots of floor employees exercise on the market.

I feel we’re clear on the radar any longer. But I’ve been burned earlier than. The radar is saying all the best issues, however… am I prepared to like? Am I able to take that probability once more?

The large covers are nonetheless on, however there at the moment are stirrings from the bottom employees. Lunch is scheduled in about 40 minutes, and goes for 40 minutes, so I’m wondering if they’ll name it early and use that point for the clean-up. Given the quantity of rain it’ll most likely be no less than an hour to get the bottom prepared, even when the umpires resolve that it’s match for play.

There’s a ceremonial second within the center, with the massive pink silk flag that includes Jane McGrath’s face and the Foundation message being unfolded and held out by dozens of volunteers. A number of them are nurses who work for the muse in serving to individuals with breast most cancers. That’s the primary factor the organisation does, it allocates specialist nurses to assist individuals by means of their therapy and care after their analysis. Glenn McGrath is on the sector to observe this, together with his grownup youngsters Holly and James and his little daughter Madison.

It’s nonetheless raining. I don’t know what that radar was pondering earlier.

Gosh, so many mopey teenage flashbacks flickered by in the midst of that three minutes.

Ladka writes in, buzzing one of many unique sadboy anthems.

“Manchester often gets stick, lovingly, I guess, for being a damp squib. But the reality of Sydney actually being one is fairly remarkable. Alas, an ode to the cultural hearts of blighty and the Land Down Under.”

As of proper now, I’d most likely nonetheless need to slog just a few extra runs to extend the possibility of bowling out South Africa wanting the follow-on. If that mark is 275 and so they get two periods as we speak then possibly they go it by lunch tomorrow. On the opposite hand, if time will get so brief {that a} result’s inconceivable, then spending a few overs to let considered one of your gamers obtain one thing coveted doesn’t have a lot draw back.

Maybe we simply have to re-envisage the rain as Test cricket. As a quiet drifting session of Test cricket. They’re each interminable contests towards an implacable opponent. We sit and watch little or no occur till we slip right into a trance, a meditation. We’re soothed by the gentleness of repeating sounds, with occasional patters of elevated exercise. Then now and again, one thing large occurs – the tractor comes out, a canopy goes off after which on once more. We get excited, rouse ourselves, watch intently, then we return into our lull. After a few hours of that, it’s time for lunch.

I’m only a boy, standing in a entrance of a floor, asking it to please cease being festively damp.

Strangely there are just a few wisps on the radar. We should be sporting considered one of them, nevertheless it has to vanish quickly. Doesn’t it?

It’s correctly raining once more on the floor. The full covers are again on.

“Is there a stat about which Test grounds have suffered the most rain delays over the past 10 years and if so where does Sydney show?” asks Julian.

Not a stat about delays, however Ric Finlay’s tally of full days misplaced has been getting a exercise. You can add a twenty sixth day to this checklist for yesterday.

The SCG Trust boss Tony Shepherd was talking on SEN this morning, and Gerard Whateley requested some questions concerning the issues in Sydney.

On shifting the Test from early January: “I don’t think so. This is the tradition, and we just have to live with the climate.”

But extra versatile on tweaking the format.

“We can make it a pink-ball Test. One of our directors, Jane, said why don’t we do that and sell the balls afterwards for the McGrath Foundation. The alternative is if you had that bad light issue at the end of the day, have a bag of pink balls there, worn ones, and finish the game that way. The show must go on, and we should do everything in our power to make sure [the first day light problem] doesn’t happen again. We could do a day-nighter or we can just use the pink ball the whole game.”

It’s drizzling once more. Boo. Booooooo. I’m not saying Joe Boo-urns. I don’t suppose that he would assist at this stage.

Still no official begin time, by the best way. We’ll have a pitch inspection by the umpires in 25 minutes from now, which is 10:45am native time. Then they’ll announce a begin time or a time for one more inspection.

My favorite factor about yesterday was that I had a chat to Glenn McGrath and a few of his basis staff and relations late within the day, and so they have been all so upbeat regardless of the rain. Their fundraising went very well regardless, the place just a few years in the past the construction of the fundraising model would have meant the trouble was badly hit. More energy to all of them, they’re doing an awesome factor.

The pitch cowl is coming off! Like a saucily unrolled stocking in a Sixties film. Stop it, you nitrate diva.

Angus desires to know what it means for South Africa if this match is a draw. “Could they still qualify for the World Test Championship final if they beat the Windies at home and the Aussies muster a series win in India? Would the Saffas even want to qualify for another drubbing on neutral turf?”

To reply the final first, in fact – you may’t win the video games behind you however you may nonetheless flip issues round within the sport forward. And sure – I’m not a pure arithmetician however I feel they might qualify by profitable their subsequent couple, besides they’d additionally want Australia to take quite a lot of paint off India over there. Which is unlikely however potential.

Here are the present standings if you wish to determine it out for me.

We had some bids for substitute venues for the Sydney Test yesterday. Tommy from Terrigal thinks that his city is the spot, even when it’s solely up close to Gosford. Does the rain not get that far north?

“Mat wicket so always plays consistent,” he says. “Six and ocean is out. Cooling off water for fast bowlers and David Warner on hot hot days. Perfect venue.”

Lots of people out within the center in the intervening time, gamers warming up, operating round, trying on the wicket sq., chatting idly. After such a quiet day yesterday its a hive of exercise. We received’t begin on time at 10am nevertheless it’s within the works.

What occurred yesterday? Not a lot on the sector, however that does affect how the remainder of the match may be performed, and lots occurred off the sector with Pink Day elevating funds on the floor. Here’s my round-up.

The higher information is that they’re operating the sopper machine round and making an attempt to take in the water, and the rain on the Moore Park precinct particularly has stopped. The course of begins to prepare.

Preamble

Geoff Lemon