Usman Khawaja said it would be “harsh” if he was denied the chance of claiming his first Test double century by a declaration in Australia’s third Test against South Africa.
But it sounds like Khawaja will get his chance to reach that landmark — and more — amid suggestions Australian captain Pat Cummins has set a 550-run target for the hosts.
The entire third day’s play was washed out by rain in Sydney on Friday in the final Test of what has been a one-sided series in favour of the hosts.
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Cummins has a decision to make ahead of Saturday’s fourth day: whether to declare the team’s first-innings at 475-4 and get the Proteas in to bat or give Khawaja the chance to bring up a landmark double century.
Khawaja is stranded on 195. Matt Renshaw, who tested positive for Covid at the start of the match, is five not out.
Rain, rain, more rain: Day 3 abandoned | 00:58
“I think it’d be pretty harsh if he (Cummins) bowled straight away. I don’t think that’s going to happen,” Khawaja told reporters after another frustrating day in the rain-hit match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
“He’s been making a few jokes… (saying) ‘I’ve let (South African skipper) Dean Elgar know that we want to go out and have a bowl straight away’.
“We could go out there and get a few more runs really quickly or we could declare pretty much straight away. I’m not the captain… I don’t make those decisions,” said the batsman.
Khawaja though will be glad to hear that it looks like Cummins plans to “bat on”, with Kerry O’Keeffe predicting “wickets will fall” in the pursuit of a 550-run target.
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“Our intel is Pat Cummins intends to bat on, he’s not declaring at the overnight,” O’Keeffe said on Fox Cricket’s ‘Test Match Daily’ prior to Saturday’s play.
“That may change given that the covers are still on but the prospects of play are pretty bright. Cummins intends to score 50-70 more, so not just the tokenism of Usman completing this double-century.
“There are batters [that are] going to come in. That’ll be good theatre because players like Alex Carey, Matt Renshaw and Cummins himself are going to pin their ears back because this mantra around the team is all about team-first then wickets are going to fall in pursuit of the declaration.
“I think they’re looking at around 550. But Usman first up has the opportunity to complete what is a great renaissance story.”
Another deciding factor for Cummins will be the state of the SCG pitch following three days of rain interruptions.
There is a 60 per cent chance of rain in Sydney on Saturday according to Bureau of Meteorology, with showers becoming less likely in the afternoon.
Between zero and four millimetres of rain are forecast.
The frequent rain and covering of the wicket has prevented the pitch from drying out and deteriorating from wear and tear for the benefit of Australia’s two selected spinners, Nathan Lyon and Ashton Agar.
Australia have gone into the match with only two selected front-line pacemen – Josh Hazlewood and Cummins — making their task even more difficult if the pitch is not as conducive to spin as the hosts had hoped.
Khawaja marvels in stunning SCG century | 03:25
Australia are pushing for a series whitewash to seal a place in the World Test Championship final in London in June.
“Time is the enemy. A result is very unlikely, let’s be honest, but it’s still possible,” Khawaja said.
South Africa are naturally not as concerned about the weather as they try to avoid the ignominy of a 3-0 drubbing.
Australia are 2-0 up in the series after winning the opening Test by a six-wicket rout in Brisbane inside two days and then hammering the Proteas by an innings and 182 runs in Melbourne.
Australia XI: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Matthew Renshaw, Alex Carey, Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins (c), Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon
South Africa XI: Dean Elgar (c) Sarel Erwee, Heinrich Klaasen, Temba Bavuma, Khaya Zondo, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Simon Harmer, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje
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