South Africa strike bowler Anrich Nortje claimed the important thing wickets of David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne on Wednesday to prise Australia’s grip on the third Test in Sydney as rain plagued the opening day.
LIVE | AUSTRALIA V SOUTH FRIDAY, 3RD TEST – DAY 1
Nortje was the Proteas’ star man as he eliminated Warner cheaply for 10 and late in the day denied Labuschagne (79) his eleventh Test hundred.
As unhealthy mild and rain conspired to prematurely finish the primary day, Australia have been (*1*) with Usman Khawaja, who averages 98 in Sydney Tests, unbeaten on 54 and Steven Smith but to attain.
Nortje received the massive breakthrough with a ripper, taking the sting of Labuschagne’s bat to get him caught behind and finish his 151-ball keep.
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The pacer earlier struck in his second over of the day when he had Melbourne Test double-centurion Warner caught at slip by Marco Jansen for 10.
No sooner had Smith arrived on the wicket after Labuschagne’s dismissal than the gamers left the sector for unhealthy mild for the ultimate time.
It is the sixth bedevilled Sydney Test out of the previous seven to be affected by rain.
There was controversy earlier in Labuschagne’s innings when on 70 he edged Jansen to Harmer at slip.
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The on-field umpires referred the choice with a smooth sign of out, just for third umpire Richard Kettleborough to rule that the ball had touched the bottom between the fingers of Harmer.
Khawaja additionally survived a evaluation straight after lunch on 25 as he reverse-swept Harmer and was given out leg earlier than wicket, however replays confirmed the ball touching the glove.
Australia gained the toss
The opening day was additionally marked by Matt Renshaw, recalled for his first Test for Australia since April 2018, returning a constructive Covid-19 take a look at after the toss was taken and the workforce composition confirmed.
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But workforce officers stated he would proceed to play in the match along with his signs solely described as delicate.
Renshaw was transferred to a separate dressing room from his teammates the place he’ll put together for the remainder of the match, and spent most of play sitting away from the workforce runners close to the Australian dug-out.
Skipper Pat Cummins gained his fifth successive toss and determined to play an additional spinner with left-armer Ashton Agar, and Renshaw coming in to bolster the batting, squeezing out in-form paceman Scott Boland on a dry cracking Sydney Cricket Ground pitch.
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South Africa did likewise, with off-spinner Harmer ousting Lungi Ngidi whereas Heinrich Klaasen changed Theunis de Bruyn at quantity three.
Apart from a sequence clear sweep, Australia can be trying to lock in a spot in the ICC World Test Championship ultimate in London in June. The Proteas nonetheless have an out of doors likelihood however should first trigger an upset in Sydney.
The Australians have already wrapped up the three-match sequence after hammering the Proteas by an innings and 182 runs in Melbourne following a six-wicket rout in the opener in Brisbane inside two days.
TEAMS:
Australia
David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Matthew Renshaw, Alex Carey, Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins (captain), Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
South Africa
Dean Elgar (captain), Sarel Erwee, Heinrich Klaasen, Temba Bavuma, Khaya Zondo, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Simon Harmer, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje
Umpires: Chris Gaffaney (NZL), Paul Reiffel (AUS)
TV umpire: Richard Kettleborough (ENG)
Match referee: Richie Richardson (WIS)
By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
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