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Scott Bailey

Warne's legacy in return to old SCG wicket

This week's SCG match will be played on the same pitch used in Shane Warne's last Test (pictured). (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Shane Warne will be given one last tribute at the SCG this week, with officials opting to use the pitch on which the spin king played his last Test for Australia's series-closer against South Africa.

Warne's legacy has been a regular feature of the summer, following his shock death of a heart attack aged 52 in March.

Last week's MCG Test included applause for the legspinner on his home turf, while Cricket Australia announced the Test player of the year award would be renamed in his honour.

At Adelaide Oval last month, Nathan Lyon overtook the spinning legend to become the leading Test wicket-taker at the venue, while commemorations for Warne were held in Perth earlier, in the first Test in Australia without him in the commentary box.

In Sydney, there will be a new twist on the tribute when Australia face South Africa from Wednesday.

Officials have rolled out pitch No.3 for the match for the first time since Warne's own farewell in January, 2007 - the strip which sits two to the left of the usual Test pitch No.5 and towards the Bill O'Reilly Stand.

"When we were doing our investigation, we worked out Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Justin Langer had their final Test on pitch No.3," SCG curator Adam Lewis said.

"So in our planning we had that in the back of our mind.

"We tried bringing grass in on pitch No.5 as best we could, but with the amount of play we've had through the whole season, it just couldn't get there in time.

"Knowing that Shane Warne and the guys played their last Test on No.3, it just felt right so we put our energy into it.

"Shane was really good not just for players, he was always good for curators. He always stood up for us and knew we wore our heart on our sleeves."

Ground staff are also hopeful the pitch will provide the turn Warne always hoped for and enjoyed at the SCG, where he also made his Test debut in 1992.

The pitch was at that point renowned as the best spinning wicket in Australia, but wet weather and batter-friendly wickets have forced draws in five of the past eight Tests at the ground.

"We're hoping for a traditional SCG pitch," Lewis said.

"It's not quite what we've seen in the past few years. A few of the players have told me it looks like a wicket from about 10 years ago, which gave me a bit of confidence.

"It's thin on grass, a bit patchy and probably not the best looking pitch that we've seen, but we're looking forward to it and we've done the best we can."

The wicket could prompt Australia to play Ashton Agar as a second spinner, marking the first time the hosts have taken that approach at home since 2016-17.

South Africa are also considering playing a second spinner, with Simon Harmer possibly added alongside Keshav Maharaj.

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