Anthony Albanese urges Australia and England to ensure third day at SCG for McGrath Foundation

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called on Australia and England’s cricketers to ensure the Sydney Test reaches the third day, joking that the McGrath Foundation is counting on it.

Players from both sides gathered at Kirribilli House on Wednesday for the Prime Minister’s annual New Year’s Day reception, hosted by Albanese and his wife Jodie Haydon.

Players, officials and families dined on oysters, tuna tartare and shrimp, and washed down with fruit juices and mineral water during the 90-minute event, held in one of the city’s most notable locations.

Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg and chairman Mike Baird attended, while Glenn McGrath spoke in the room on behalf of the McGrath Foundation. The crew posed for photos overlooking the harbor – Albanese’s dog Toto ran away while the photos were being taken – while some children had fun playing cricket in the Prime Minister’s backyard.

Australian batsman Usman Khawaja bowled with his daughters in the backyard ahead of his final Test. The experienced batsman held a media conference on Friday morning to talk about his future in football.

With Australia leading the five-match series 3-1 after wins in Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide, Albanese said he hoped the fifth and final Test, which starts at the SCG on Sunday, would last longer than Melbourne’s two-day encounter.

The third day, also known as Jane McGrath Day, falls on a Tuesday and remains an important fundraising day for the foundation.

“Day three in this Test is really important,” Albanese said. “More than any other. So whatever you do, if things are going wrong, make sure someone plays a few sessions, because we want day three. That’s a very special thing. That’s a very special thing.”