Usman Khawaja to address media amid retirement speculation
It’s risky to read too much into a pitch at such an early stage, but early signs suggest seam movement could again play a role.
Fine weather is expected for Friday and Saturday, but up to 10 millimeters of rain is forecast for the first day, with the Bureau of Meteorology warning of “high chances of showers likely in the morning and afternoon” and “possible” thunderstorms.
MCC chief Stuart Fox and curator Matt Page answer tough questions following the two-day Test at the MCG. Credit: Wayne Taylor
Sydney has been unlucky with the weather lately; Six of the last 11 Tests at the SCG have resulted in rain-affected draws.
The MCG ground was rated “inadequate” by the International Cricket Council after 36 wickets fell in two days and neither team picked a returning front-line player.
MCG curator Matt Page admitted his team got their pitch preparations wrong the day after the game, drawing further scrutiny from SCG curator Adam Lewis ahead of Sunday.
Lewis was seen inspecting the surface on Thursday in a lengthy discussion with Venues NSW chairman David Gallop.
Todd Murphy hits his stride at the SCG on Thursday.Credit: Dominic Lorrimer
Managers will be desperate for the match to reach the fifth day after last summer’s Test against India ended before tea on the third day.
“I’ve only seen it from afar and my eyes are definitely not spectacular,” Australian spinner Todd Murphy said. “It’s hard to predict exactly what will happen and we’re three days away. It looks like it has some grass on it… but I have no idea, I haven’t looked closely.”
Murphy, who watched the first Test on home soil, played for Victoria in the Sheffield Shield match at the SCG earlier this season and said conditions were improving as the cracks opened.
“We had some pretty good batting conditions the first day and a half,” Murphy said. “It was flat and maybe a little bit slower, then the cracks came and the game accelerated. “There was a bit of spin on offer, a bit on offer for everyone.
Usman Khawaja on Thursday at SCG nets. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer
“We played some BBL wickets where there was spin.”
Khawaja, who made his debut at the SCG in 2011 and scored twin centuries in his last home Ashes series in 2021-22, was among the first to enter the net ahead of his final Test in Australia.
Captain Steve Smith – Pat Cummins was rested from the match – and Marnus Labuschagne were also hard at work, while all-rounders Cameron Green and Beau Webster spent significant amounts of time in the net.
Webster made his debut at the SCG last summer but is favored to retain his place despite Green’s difficulties with the bat this season.
Australia, which finished the series 3-1 ahead after victories in Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide, will hold its main training on Friday before a possible XI is determined on the eve of the match on Saturday.
