Australia vs Pakistan SCG Test Day 2: Boos ring out as umpires stop play over bad light

The umpires have copped it on day two at after making a howler of a decision that left thousands at the SCG stranded and fuming.

Bad light and persistent rain prompted umpires to abandon play early on Day 2 of the New Year’s Test, sparking boos from the SCG crowd and fury from cricket legends.

Australia are 2/116 at stumps, trailing Pakistan by 197 runs with Marnus Labuschagne 23 not out and Steve Smith unbeaten on six.

David Warner was dismissed for 34 in what could be in last ever innings in Test cricket as he sails off into retirement.

There could have been half an hour of play before the rain set in over Sydney, but the umpires declared the light too bad to continue — much to the dismay of fans and former players.

In another twist, News Corp reports the umpires’ light meter was broken, meaning play was stopped based on a gut feel given they couldn’t make an accurate reading.

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On Day 1, Pakistan hit back from disaster to finish with 313 on the back of fighting half-centuries from Mohammad Rizwan, Agha Salman and Aamer Jamal on the first day of the third Test against Australia on Wednesday.

The tourists, staring down a meagre innings total when reduced to 96 for five after winning the toss, went on the counter-attack to frustrate the Australians late on Wednesday.

Rizwan belted 88 off 103 balls, number nine Jamal smashed four sixes in a spirited 82 off 97 and Salman hit 53 off 67 to give the tourists renewed hope after a car-crash start to the innings.

Australia skipper Pat Cummins captured 5/61 for his third successive five-wicket haul in the series.

4.50pm - Play abandoned

That’s it for today.

Join us tomorrow for day three. The forecast is looking a little better with a cloudy day expected with a top of 25.

3.45pm - Rain

Rain has rolled over Sydney and it looks like it’s here to stay for a while.

At least we’ve got Kerry O’Keeffe spinning yarns in the Fox commentary box in the meantime.

Rain has stopped play on day two.

2.25pm - Bad light stops play

Well this sucks.

The players have walked off the SCG after umpires stalled the game due to bad light. Clouds have rolled over eastern Sydney and it’s looking a little glum, but commentators Michael Vaughan and Wasim Akram weren’t impressed.

Vaughan made comments on the dire state of international Test cricket and the uphill battle it is facing to retain interest in the wake of the T20 revolution.

“I just can’t stand this happening in the game,” Michael Vaughan said. “Seriously? Is it that dangerous? Come on. There’s no threat to the batters. You might get out, you might play a poor shot but there hasn’t been a single delivery that Marnus or Steve Smith hasn’t picked up.

“The game continues to have these moments ... the cameras are just going to be pointing to the players in the rooms doing nothing.”

“The light will probably remain the same for half-an-hour, 45 minutes,” Akram said, pointing to the umpires standing out in the middle chatting. “There is nothing happening.”

An early tea break has been taken.

The players have walked off the SCG after umpires stalled the game due to bad light.

Justin Langer said the batsmen might not mind the decision, but it simply didn’t make sense to pull the carpet from under the crowd’s feet.

“It’s so frustrating. Look, I have walked in all the shoes, as the player and as a batsman and you think, you want to be off, you want perfect conditions. We saw a with Steve Smith before. And then as a coach, you want what’s best for your team. But when you look at the big picture, it is crazy that these guys aren’t playing cricket here,” Langer said on Channel 7.

“They’ve got a big crowd here. They’ve come here for David Warner’s last game. It’s the Pink Test. It’s a competitive, combative Test match yet we’re walking off the ground. It’s not great for the game of cricket that this is happening right now.”

“And quite rightly,” Damien Fleming replied. “The crowd are booing. Because they want to see cricket. The lights are on. Let’s keep playing!”

Ian Smith echoed those sentiments on SEN radio.

“I love cricket but I’m not coming back tomorrow if I’m in the crowd and they’re going to do this. This is lunacy. Get back out there and play the game,” he said.

2pm - Khawaja out for 47

Usman Khawaja has been dismissed for 47 midway through the second session after feathering a ball off his glove to wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan.

Aamir Jamal darted a short delivery that didn’t bounce as much as Khawaja expected. He tried pulling him around to fine leg but brushed it with his hand.

The umpire wasn’t convinced, but Pakistan sure were and went upstairs where a tiny flicker of light was found on Khawaja’s finger.

Jamal has looked the best of the bowlers this innings. Hot off his incredible 82 yesterday, the 27-year-old is producing more pace than any other Pakistani quick today, hitting the high 130’s consistently.

1.45pm - 100 up for Australia

Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne have plugged away after the lunch break, scoring slowly but surely to bring up 100 for Australia.

Khawaja has shown flashes of aggression and found the boundary a few times, but the Aussies seem comfortable keeping the run rate under three an over as they negotiate the lower-bouncing pitch.

Commentators have described the day two deck as something akin to a subcontinent deck.

12.09pm - Warner out!

David Warner fell shortly before lunch, edging spinner Salman Ali Agha to Babar Azam at first slip. He fell for 34 and received a standing ovation as he left the field.

If Australia goes on to make a monster total, it may be the last time we see Warner bat in the Test arena.

“The crowd cannot believe it,” Adam Gilchrist said from the Fox commentary box. “Silence around the ground.”

Silence around the ground.

12pm - Warner, Khawaja dig in

Australia is setting up for a big day at the crease, with openers David Warner and Usman Khawaja seeing off the new ball comfortably. Warner has edged a few but hasn’t looked like throwing away his wicket, scoring slower than his usual rate on his way to 34.

Khawaja had a slow start but began freeing up his arms and got a few away to the fence off spinner Sajid Khan.

Pakistan have opted for the spinners as the ball deteriorates, with Salman Ali Agha brought into the attack shortly before lunch.

11.25am - Dropped catch gives Warner a life

The crowd couldn’t believe their eyes early on day two as Pakistan threatened to end David Warner’s swan song at the SCG. Aamir Jamal forced an outside edge from David Warner while he was on 21. The ball sailed straight to debutant Saim Ayub at first slip, but he dropped it straight to the turf.

The crowd groaned and then immediately cheered as Warner was given a life.

Pakistan’s fielding in the slips has been a major issue this series, with hard hands generally being the culprit. Ayub has had a nightmare debut to Test cricket, scoring a duck in the first innings and granting arguably Australia’s best ever opening bat a second chance.

It's happened again! 😲

David Warner gets a life courtesy of the debutant Saim Ayub #AUSvPAKpic.twitter.com/VAr7bBis6L

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 4, 2024

10.30am - Warner walks out to bat

David Warner has walked out to resume on day two to a massive reception in Sydney. The crowd were craning their necks to catch the first glimpse of the retiring opening batsman as he exited the sheds.

He placed his hand on the plaque of Phillip Hughes before walking down the concourse.

Commentators have said Australia will be aiming to bat only once this Test match, so this might be the last time we see Warner wielding the willow in the Test arena.

10am – Aamir Jamal’s knock goes worldwide

There was a lot of cricket news overnight after 23 wickets fell on the first day of the second Test between South Africa and India. While some have declared it bad for Test cricket, using the insane scenes as an example of the format dying, Aamir Jamal gave Test cricket something to be excited about.

The Pakistani number nine bludgeoned 82 runs against the Australian attack late on day one at the SCG, building a crucial partnership with Mir Hamza.

One shot off Nathan Lyon, a ridiculous reverse sweep for six, punctuated Jamal’s innings. He had the Aussies in disarray as they scrambled to take the final wicket.

For a player in his debut series in tough Aussie conditions, Jamal has earned serious respect around the world for his work with both bat and ball.

“It wasn’t about the new ball. I didn’t even look at the scoreboard of how many (overs) was left. I was just trying to get as many runs as I could get,” he told ABC Grandtand at the end of day one.

When asked about the number of short balls faced, he said he wanted to help teammate Mir Hamza in an 86-run final wicket stand.

“Every single ball, I knew they were going to come very hard on me … so I decided to go after them,” he said.

REVERSE SWEEP FOR SIX 🔥🔥🔥
AAMER JAMAL GIVING NO RESPECT TO NATHAN LYON 😱😱😱 #AUSvPAKpic.twitter.com/E7NI5fbnhX

— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) January 3, 2024

There was a lot of talk about Australia’s bowling tactics late in the innings, with several pundits questioning why they were reverting to scrambled fields instead of just bowling at the stumps.

“It was certainly pretty frustrating towards the end, but you’ve got to take your hat off to him. He batted beautifully. We threw everything at him. It was hard work,” Mitchell Marsh said.

We will have to wait until stumps today to see if Pakistan’s score is competitive, but conceding 313 after having the tourists 4-47 before lunch will be weighing on Australia’s minds on day two.