Australia ended day one at 2-147 after Marnus Labuschagne was dismissed by Anrich Nortje in the last ball of a brief, four over spell between delays for bad light and rain as the weather played havoc on day one of the final Test against South Africa in gloomy Sydney.
Earlier, Matt Renshaw, who was recalled to the Test team for the first time since 2018, tested positive for COVID but has been allowed to play on.
The confirmation of his positive test came after Australia won the toss and will bat first having made three changes, recalling Josh Hazlewood, Ashton Agar and Renshaw.
Follow all the updates in our live blog, check out the live scorecard or listen to live ball-by-ball coverage on ABC Radio.
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Live updates
Play has been called off for the day with Australia 2-147
By Jon Healy
The rain isn't going away and the light's not getting better, so that's the end of the day's play.
We've had four overs, on wicket and one false start since 2:15pm AEDT, but no more.
Play will be scheduled to start half an hour early tomorrow (10am AEDT) and we'll be back then.
Thanks for sticking around through a typically weird day of Test cricket.
Let's play more Tests in Brisbane
By Simon Smale
Maybe we could swap the Gabba and SCG tests? Actually scratching my head on when Sydney might be sunny for a whole week, I'm sure it's happened before...
- J
I could not agree more.
Oh, you said swap.
Hmmm, I like Brisbane early in the season before the storms roll in myself.
Bring back timeless Tests, I reckon
By Simon Smale
Do you think simply allowing an extra day would be enough time for a result in a lot of the rain affected matches?
- Mike
Try blocking your way to a draw when there's no end date.
Interestingly enough, South Africa played in the last timeless Test back in 1939.
Fifth Test at Durban was still abandoned as a draw after nine days of play spread over twelve days.
If they'd carried on playing, England would have missed the boat home.
Soft, if you ask me.
Rain is increasing
By Simon Smale
The Bureau of Meteorology radar shows that there is rain starting to develop more and more in the Sydney area.
I'm gunna say that's the day's play over, but officially we can't call it off for another 35 minutes or so.
In theory, does that mean there's still hope of some play today?
Thanks, Moira.
This 'simply doesn't add up': Steve Waugh
By Jon Healy
Steve Waugh has posted an image of a grey SCG with the lights on, urging cricket bosses to display some "common sense" and "get with the times".
"Test cricket needs to realise there is a lot of competition out there and not using the lights when the players are off for bad light simply doesn't add up. Lots of unhappy spectators who can't understand the rationale and reason for no play."
Attendance: 31,264
By Simon Smale
That would be 31,264 very frustrated punters, I'd imagine.
Will the pink ball become standard?
By Simon Smale
With increasing weather variability that test cricket look at how it is going to adapt. Low light, pink ball, play on much?
- AJ
You do have to wonder what the future holds and whether a form of the game that I think it is fair to say has traditionally been rather slow to embrace innovation and change, will adapt.
The pink ball may well be the most achievable end game, but those at the MCC will need to be utterly convinced beyond doubt that the ball will behave completely the same as the red one.
I do not disagree with this
By Simon Smale
Controversial opinion: all tests should be done with the pink ball. Aim to start the match at 10AM and if required allow for the lights to go on (if it is too dark) or extend the day till 9PM if rain interrupted during the day.
- Watcher
Also, there are lights at almost all grounds these days. Use them.
It might even mean we get 90 overs in a day as a matter of course as well.
Bad news: The big cover is on
By Jon Healy
The hessian, the synthetic wicket cover and the big wicket block covers are all on. The sky is grey, the ground is damp, the lights are on. Not good.
Also, the groundskeepers have put down the big cover with the massive NRMA logo facing down. Someone's going to be in trouble for that.
And the bowlers' run-ups are being covered.
And bad light has stopped play ... again
By Jon Healy
Just after the wicket, umpires Paul Reiffel and Chris Gaffaney checked the light and found it wasn't suitable. And there's a spittle of rain too. On comes the hessian cover.
Marnus Labuschagne will be fa-yeeeeeeewwwwwmmmminnnnn'. If it's "too dark" now, you'd have to think it was "too dark" when he got out to that ball from Nortje. You could certainly see the lights casting shadows before he went.
LABUSCHAGNE IS OUT!
By Jon Healy
An absolute seed from Nortje, just nipping away and rising on Labuschagne, who gets a tickle on it on the way through to Kyle Verreynne behind the stumps and has to go for 79.
Remarkable delivery considering how low and slow the bounce has been for some bowlers on this pitch.
47th over - Nortje to Khawaja
By Jon Healy
He starts wide and Khawaja plays a languid square drive, picking up three. So he's immediately surrendered the strike again.
Labuschagne's defence is really solid against Nortje, but he is pinned on the crease.
46th over - Marco Jansen again
By Jon Healy
Marnus staying watchful outside off.
Is there perhaps a hint of reverse swing? Would seem odd in such damp conditions, but not impossible.
Tight two from Marnus off the last ball. Would've been funny if he'd turned down the second run and farmed the strike again.
Sydney, wholly unsuitable for Test cricket
By Simon Smale
Don't blame me for saying that, blame ABC Stato Ric Finlay.
Anyway, Jon's been saying for years how Manuka deserves more Tests.
45th over - Anrich Nortje is back
By Jon Healy
Labuschagne pulls away in front of square and didn't over hit it, so he just gets two as deep square leg wheels around to get it.
And he nicks a single off the last.
Marnus is stealing the strike. Khawaja hasn't faced a ball in the first two overs after the break.
Queensland get tonked by Tasmania in WNCL
By Simon Smale
Meanwhile, at Allan Border Field, Tasmania has (eventually) completed a 72-run thrashing of the Queensland Fire in the Women's National Cricket League.
And in the nick of time too.
Queensland were toiling on 9-104 off 25.2 overs, but the final pair of Nicola Hancock (31) and Caitlin Mair (18) survived for another 8 overs before Hancock fell to Molly Strano, who extracted a catch for Lizelle Lee to take.
It's timely because a big storm is rolling across Brisbane as we speak and the visitors have managed to take the final wicket just before it's hit.
Excellent timing from the Tigers.
Well then. Here's the 44th over
By Jon Healy
After an hour-and-a-half off the field, the bowlers should be well rested, so the Aussie batters need to refocus here.
Marco Jansen is around the wicket to Marnus Labuschagne. He and Usman Khawaja both have jumpers on.
First runs after the break come as Labuschagne clips to mid-wicket off his thigh.
Play will resume at 4:45pm
By Simon Smale
We're back!
Play will begin shortly, and will continue until 6:30pm, plus the extra half hour.
Well, wow.
Seven of last eight Sydney Tests interrupted by rain
By Simon Smale
When was the we last time a Sydney test was not interrupted by rain?
- Dean
Good question Dean.
The last time a Test match did not lose time to rain at the SCG was the 3rd Test against New Zealand between January 03 - 06 in 2020.
That's just three Tests ago.
Before that, the 4th Test against India on January 06 - 10, 2015 was the last Test in Sydney not to be interrupted by rain.
That means seven of the last eight Tests in Sydney have been interrupted by rain at some stage.
