Australia vs South Africa: Steve Smith delivers brutally honest retirement assessment
On the day he surpassed Don Bradman’s century mark, Steve Smith made the bombshell admission he may not return for another home Test series.
Steve Smith admits he is unsure whether he will play another Test match on home soil.
After a rousing century at the SCG to pass Sir Donald Bradman in the record books with 30 Test tons, Smith was unable to guarantee Australian audiences will see him again next summer.
Smith is poised to tour India next month and England for the Ashes later this year, but concedes his future is now a tour by tour proposition.
The batting superstar believes 36-year-old Usman Khawaja – three years his senior – could bat on for some time yet following his sparkling 195 not out on another soggy day two against South Africa, with rain Australia’s only enemy at 4-475.
But when asked would he be back in Australia for more summers to come, Smith could not say in a moment of raw honesty.
“I don’t know. We’ll see,” Smith said.
“I’m enjoying it at the moment. I really can’t say how long I’ll play for. I’m not sure.
“Take it one tour at a time. Just enjoy it and enjoy training and trying to get better as well.
“Whilst I’m doing that I’m happy playing. But I don’t know how long it’ll last.”
Smith has hinted on previous occasions this summer that he may not play for as long as what people might think, but on Thursday that genuine uncertainty was laid bare.
The admission he may not return for another home summer is a statement that will shock cricket followers.
Smith’s brilliant 104 against South Africa which propelled him past Bradman (29) for most Test hundreds and past Michael Clarke (8643) into fourth on Australia’s all-time run-scoring list with 8647 runs from just 92 Tests was living proof he is an all-time great still at the top of his game.
The 33-year-old was moved by those achievements on Thursday, but records clearly aren’t a prime motivation for one of those batsmen who appears poised to bow out with plenty left in the tank.
“I don’t think about that stuff a great deal but I did look up at the board just after I got a 100 and to sit third on the list of all time Australians, there’s some pretty big names there so that’s pretty cool,” Smith said.
“Fourth on the run scorers list (too) … I don’t play for that kind of stuff but it was cool to look up and see my name amongst those great players. It was pretty special.”
While Australian cricket would be stunned to hear Smith may not forge on deeper into his 30s, Khawaja looks like he can defy father time longer than anyone would have expected after his many years on the outer.
The King of Sydney has now scored more Test tons at the SCG than any other cricketer other than Ricky Ponting, and on Friday has the chance to add a maiden career double ton to the twin hundreds from last summer that launched his stunning renaissance.
“I mean at the moment he’s at the top of his game isn’t he. He’s scoring runs at will,” Smith said.
“He’s batting beautifully. At the moment he’s pretty comfortable and playing really nicely.
“I guess Usman, like Davey (Warner) both can play for as long as they like and decide to hang them up when they want.
“That’s how I see it at the moment. I’m not a selector obviously but both playing really well.”
Few sportspeople of any discipline can surely claim to understand the intricacies of their own games as well as Smith understands his own batting.
All summer Smith has talked about the work he had poured into recalibrating his technique – and how it had paid dividends for him this summer with a return to his best.
But mid-innings on Thursday, Smith decided to temporarily revert to his old technique and did not break stride as he punished the South African attack.
Smith is a genius, and one this Australian cricket team must spend the next few months desperately trying to convince to play on for a couple more years yet.
“Just to (left armer Marco) Jansen when he came around the wicket and the ball was reversing a little bit,” Smith said.
''Hope you get chainsawed'
— News Cricket (@NewsCorpCricket) January 5, 2023
Steve Smith reveals hilarious Marnus jibe behind his century celebration @DanielCherny#AUSvSA
Details: https://t.co/I0Gkvz0zbopic.twitter.com/n1cDGH8Qb1
“I obviously know these conditions really well and I didn’t feel overly threatened on the outside of the bat. I went back to almost my old set-up. I was just getting back and across. I went back to leg stump and I was getting back and across and leaving myself really open just to cover the ball coming back in at me.
“It just felt right at the time. I prefer to do it out there and be happy with it rather than get out and come back into the sheds and say, ‘why didn’t I do that?’”
Smith believes the wicket can still break up enough for Australia to push for victory in the match, with Travis Head (70 off 59 balls) doing his best once again to supercharge the innings.
Matt Renshaw (5) will resume alongside his Queensland teammate Khawaja on day three, as Australia will fight to bat long enough to give themselves the choice of not having to bat again in the game should South Africa crumble in reply.
RE-LIVE ALL THE DAY TWO ACTION IN OUR BLOG BELOW
5.30PM: STUMPS! RAIN CALLS PREMATURE END ONCE AGAIN
For the second day running, Australia has dominated the on-field actions - but rain has had the final say.
After forcing the players from the field, with Usman Khawaja just five runs shy of a maiden Test double century.
Khawaja has put Australia firmly on top at 4-475 after two rain-reduced days, with his mighty knock sitting alongside Steve Smith’s stunning 30th Test ton and Travis Head’s impressive half-century.
Smith’s century moved him past Don Bradman on Australia’s all-time Test century makers list, level with Matthew Hayden and with just Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting in front of him.
He also notched a similar feat on the runscoring table, passing both Hayden and Michael Clarke to sit outright fourth - behind Ponting, Waugh and Allan Border.
And yet, it is the rain which could yet decide the outcome of this match. Only 131 overs have been bowled from a scheduled 180 across the first two days, and more bad weather is forecast for Friday’s play.
5.05PM: AND HERE COMES THE RAIN
Yep, ok, probably a smart call to bring the players off when they did - because the heavier rain has hit the SCG.
The lower areas of the SCG have cleared out, with fans retiring to the under-cover concourse, while those higher up in the stands haven’t moved far just yet.
If they get back on tonight, they could be witness to a famous double century from Khawaja. But that looks a long way away right now, with rain sweeping across the ground.
5PM: DRINKS! AND RAIN! WITH KHAWAJA FIVE RUNS FROM HISTORY
There’s a sprinkling of rain at the SCG, and the umpires come together and momentarily you feel as though the players are about to be dragged from the field.
But instead a (slightly) early drinks break is called, and it could be so that the umpires can assess the ball and whether it needs changing after spending plenty of time on the damp SCG outfield.
It didn’t appear as though Usman Khawaja was all that keen to come off, anyway. And you can understand why... he’s five runs away from a maiden Test double century.
Khawaja confirms that the ball has been replaced, after going soggy, during a brief interaction with the umpires.
“The ball’s gone soggy, but the outfield is pretty wet,” Khawaja told Fox Cricket
“I just asked them ‘they’re going to get a new ball, are they going to keep changing it’ and they said yes.”
And then..... rain, immediately after the drinks break.
Khawaja remains stranded on 195, for the time being.
4.45PM: HEAD WELL CAUGHT ON BOUNDARY AFTER MIGHTY 70
A very good low catch on the boundary by the substitute fielder van der Dussen, brings to an end a fantastic innings by Travis Head.
70 runs off 49 balls. 8 fours and one six. Some clean, crisp hitting. Some ugly shots, others absolute beauties.
But he’s pushed Australia’s total to 468 in rapid time and played the perfect foil role for Usman Khawaja as he edges towards a double century.
And it brings the Covid kid himself, Matt Renshaw, to the crease. Let’s see how he gets on.
4.25PM: IS HEAD ‘DECLARATION BATTING’?
Could there be a declaration tonight? It seems unlikely, but with the uncertainty around the weather in the next couple of days, everything has to be on the table.
Travis Head has sped along to a near run-a-ball 40, and some of his shots have been on the agricultural side of things.
“That’s a declaration shot,” suggests Mark Waugh in commentary after one particularly aggressive heave.
Australia is 3-432, rain is looming around the SCG and they’re chasing quick runs.
Plenty of wickets in hand, too. But what’s the play here?
One thing is certain: no one is declaring with Usman Khawaja so close to a maiden Test double ton. He is currently unbeaten on 186.
UPDATE: In the ten minutes since this post, Travis Head has scored 21 runs. If he isn’t declaration batting, he’s definitely giving it a shake.
4.07PM: AUSSIES BRING UP 400... KHAWAJA REACHES NEW HEIGHTS
It feels like we’re repeating ourselves a bit, but Australia has passed 400 - and not for the first time this summer.
Travis Head has joined the fun and immediately lifted the tempo, racing to 30 off 33. He punches a straight drive back over the head of Simon Harmer for four, to bring up the 50-run partnership with Usman Khawaja - from just 66 balls.
Khawaja, meanwhile, has passed his previus Test best score of 174. He’s onto 178. A double century is the next milestone to knock off for the silky left-hander.
3.50PM: COVERS COMING OFF AFTER RAIN DELAY
Now is when the tea break is typically due to finish... and we’re not ready to go just yet. Because of another rain delay.
However, the good news is the covers have been removed and presumably play is not too far away.
The outfield has been dried by the classic rope technique for the past 10 minutes, so I reckon we’ll be back to watching Usman Khawaja and Travis Head plundering runs for fun soon enough.
3.30PM: TEA! AUSSIES ON TOP DESPITE SMITH EXIT
With one session remaining on day two, how do you assess where this match is headed?
Obviously Australia are on top. They’ve got just shy of 400 runs on the board, seemingly in complete control with 27 overs remaining in the day’s play. Only rain will stop them having a 500+ lead at stumps today.
But as the tea break hits us, the heaven’s have opened again (not especially heavy rain, but frustrating rain for sure). Time has already been lost this Test, and more rain is expected over the next two days.
Australia are 3-394 at tea, with Usman Khawaja on 172 and Travis Head on 17 - having lost Steve Smith for 104.
But will they have enough time to push this game forward and get the cleansweep?
3.10PM: GREEN OPENS UP INJURY BATTLE, INDIA SERIES
Star all-rounder Cameron Green has conceded he‘ll be “touch and go” for Australia’s first Test in India in February having undergone surgery to fix his broken finger.
But Green shut down reports he would be limited in his capacity to fulfil his massive $3.15 million Indian Premier League deal declaring rumours he wouldn’t be able to bowl as “not correct”.
Green was forced to have surgery after scans revealed the bad break to the index finger on his right hand, suffered while batting in the first innings of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
Images of the break reinforced how significant an effort it was for Green to make an unbeaten 51 in the second innings, batting through the pain.
It came just days after his massive IPL windfall but Green said his priority was getting back for the Test tour of India in February, although he conceded both he and fats bowler Mitchell Starc, who also broke a finger, would be racing the clock to be fit.
“Obviously my first priority is the Test Series that’s beforehand,” Green added when asked about the IPL.
“I think me and Starcy (Starc) are maybe touch and go for that first one but obviously we’ll give ourselves the best chance.”
2.51PM: AND OUT! SMITH FALLS AFTER POSTING TON
And that feels like it has come out of nowhere - after bringing up his 30th century, Smith falls to a simple caught and bowled to Keshav Maharaj.
He’s out for 104.
It’s the first wicket of the day (and Maharaj’s first of the series), and Smith walks of shaking his head - as he always does, to be fair.
2.48PM: CENTURY! STEVE SMITH BRINGS UP 30TH TON
What a player!
Steve Smith brings up his 30th Test century, having passed Matthew Hayden and Michael Clark on Australia’s all-time Test runscorers. He now only trails Ricky Ponting, Allan Border and Steve Waugh.
With that century, Smith officially passes Sir Donald Bradman (29 Test centuries) on the centurion list - equal with Matthew Hayden and, again, only behind Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh.
An incredible player.
When he’s in a mood like this, it doesn’t ever appear like there is a way to get him out. He seems unstoppable.
2.45PM: MILESTONES FALL AS AUSSIES MARCH ON
The milestones are stacking up for Australia.
In the past handful of minutes Australia have brought up:
- the 200-run partnership between Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith
- Khawaja’s 150
- Australia’s 350
What’s next? Well, Steve Smith is unbeaten on 99.....
2.20PM: DRINKS! SMITH, KHAWAJA CRUSH SOUTH AFRICA
The SCG is becoming a graveyard for South Africa’s bowlers - there’s nothing here for them.
At the midway point in the middle session, Australia are doing their best to break whatever is left of the spirits of the Proteas.
Usman Khawaja is approaching his 150, while Steve Smith is looking assured in the 90s. A 30th Test ton looks a foregone conclusion under sunny skies at the SCG.
Australia are 2-334. They’re not being particularly expansive in their scoring - these two have added 187 runs for the third wicket at a rate of 3.33 an over, which is marginally better than the 3.24 across the whole Australian innings.
But they’re putting Australia in a position where they may only need to bat once this Test, if they so desired.
2.00PM: HOW WILL RENSHAW PERFORM AGAINST ‘STACKED ODDS’
Has Matt Renshaw been set up to fail? Or is he setting himself up to fail?
There are fears that his Test comeback could turn into a nightmare with the “odds stacked” against the returning star, who could be playing for a spot in Australia’s squad for the upcoming India series.
Renshaw tested positive for Covid after play had started on Wednesday, and was immediately isolated from the group - but not ruled out of the match.
He’s still listed to bat at No.6, at which point he’ll be thrown into the middle of the SCG cauldron against a world class South African pace attack - although one that is looking incresingly toothless after an unsuccessful summer.
Renshaw was still testing positive on Thursday morning, but told Fox Cricket’s Mike Hussey that he’d seen improvement over the past 24 hours.
But Kerry O’Keeffe pondered what Renshaw’s return to the international arena might look like after the SCG Test.
“I think (there is expectation), yeah,” O’Keeffe said.
“And he’s so disadvantaged, picking up the COVID. Not many who have gone into matches with Covid have done that well.
“Australia’s hoping he can produce soemthing but gee the odds are stacked. He wouldnt have been able to do a lot if it’s a debilitating form (of COVID).”
1.45PM: SMITH, KHAWAJA MARCH ON AS AUSSIES PASS 300
Australia has brought up their 300 - on another sorry day for South Africa in a truly miserable summer.
Usman Khawaja has already brought up his century, and Steve Smith doesn't appear far behind - accelerating at a great rate after a slow start to move into the 80s and have another SCG century of his own on the horizon.
Smith has also passed Matt Hayden on the list of Australia’s Test runscorers, and is closing in on Michael Clarke, too.
1.10PM: HOW UZZIE, BARTY CRACKED SPORT’S MAGICAL CODE
- ROBERT CRADDOCK
Usman Khawaja’s stunning career revival is a victory for the man who decided to put his cricket in one kit bag and his life in another.
It’s the same theory that turned Ash Barty from a good player to a triple Grand Slam winner.
Don’t chain your self-esteem as a person to the sport you play. Don’t let your head go up and down with your batting average or your world ranking.
Khawaja reckoned he worked it out late in his career after his self-esteem yo-yoed violently up and down with his performances.
“It got to a point where even when I was scoring runs I wasn’t happy so I knew I just had to change and let it go,’’ he said.
Khawaja’s stunning 2022 – when he scored 1080 runs at 67 – and today’s epic century, only happened after he decided he couldn’t let cricket dominate his life.
Khawaja these days is one of the most chilled out sportsman in the game.
When a contact apologised for ringing him the day before the first Test against South Africa in Brisbane he said “that’s no problems … whether it’s a Test match or a club game I don’t feel differently.’’
When Sydney friends told him after his twin tons against England at the SCG last summer they didn’t contact him before the match because they didn’t want to disturb him, replied: “Why? It’s only a game of cricket.’’
12.30PM: LUNCH: KHAWAJA, SMITH DOMINATE OPENING SESSION
As it has been almost all summer, Australia has dominated that session.
And even though this Test is only 83 overs old, it is start to feel as though it is moving beyond where South Africa can win.
After resuming at 2-147, Australia added 118 runs in the extended opening session today, and cheered on a century to Usman Khawaja (his 13th, and third on the trot at the SCG) and a half-century to Steve Smith (who enters lunch unbeaten on 59).
It’s been a near chanceless morning for Australia, with Smith almost caught short on a reflect run-out attempt but largely untroubled otherwise.
Weather appears to be Australia’s biggest foe this week, with rain eating up a further 15 minutes of play earlier today - although there is blue sky over the SCG as players make their way to lunch.
12.08PM: CENTURY! KHAWAJA CONTINUES SCG LOVE AFFAIR
New year, same Uzzie.
Usman Khawaja has continued his SCG love affair, polishing off another century at his one-time home ground.
It’s three centuries in three innings for Khawaja, who raised the bat twice in last year’s Ashes Test against England.
This one has been more measured, and already looks to form the bedrock of a mighty Australian first innings total.
Khawaja returned for a quick second off Rabada, before celebrating with a jig in front of his teammates in the Members Stand.
Usman Khawaja becomes only the fourth player and second Australian to score 3 consecutive Test Centuries at the @SCG. The others being Wally Hammond, Doug Walters and VVS Laxman.#AUSvSA@FoxCricket@abcsport@7Cricket
— Adam Morehouse (@ACTCricketStats) January 5, 2023
12.00PM: RICHIES GO WILD OVER ICONIC SCORE
The Richies got their wish!
With the score 2-221, the 100-odd-strong group donning the beige, the off-white and the ivory jackets started their chant of “one, one, one” in the hope of getting a single that would bring up Richie Benaud’s iconic cricket scoreline of 2-222.
Everyone at the SCG would’ve tried on their best Benaud ‘chew for chew-chew-choooo’ impression after Kagiso Rabada delivered in the form of a no-ball to bring the score up.
The Richies duly responded with wild celebrations.
Truly, that’s marvellous.
2-222 on Day 2 and the Richies are losing it! #AUSvSApic.twitter.com/SRhYobVNQ8
— TAB (@tabcomau) January 5, 2023
11.50AM: KHAWAJA CLOSING IN ON CENTURY, SMITH FIRES UP
Usman Khawaja is officially into the 90s - and has Test century No.13 in his sights.
Khawaja started 2022 in dream fashion, turning a Test recall into centuries in both innings, and it seems like he’s taking a similar approach to welcoming in the new year for 2023.
Khawaja has been the aggressor in the partnership alongisde Steve Smith - although Smith has taken things up a notch since Keshav Maharaj has been introduced into the attack, aunching him into the Bill O’Reilly Stand with an audacious hoik over mid-wicket.
Austraia is 2-221 with the lunch break still 40 minutes away.
11.20AM: KHAWAJA KEEPS PUNISHING MAHARAJ
After being greeted to a green-top at the Gabba, and a flatter deck at the MCG, Keshav Maharaj would’ve been delighted to hear whispers of a ‘mysterious’ SCG pitch that was expected to favour the spinners.
Australia were convinced, bringing in Ashton Agar as a second-option to support frontline spinner Nathan Lyon. South Africa added a second tweaker themselves, in Simon Harmer.
And it was Maharaj who had the first chance to follow the seamers into the contest.
His first ball was a full-toss, which was duly punished by Usman Khawaja who thumped a rare boundary on a slow-scoring morning.
24 hours on and things haven’t changed much, with Maharaj remaining wicketless for the series and Khawaja dumping him over the fence for the first six of the innings.
Truth be told, Harmer appeared to trouble the Australian batsmen more yesterday than South Africa’s first-choice option.
11.00AM: AUSSIES NAVIGATE OPENING HOUR
One hour down of this elongated day of play - potentially offering up 98 overs - and Australia are marching along slowly.
Admittedly they’ve done so with a 15-minute rain delay, which has restricted Australia to just 29 runs on Thursday morning.
Steve Smith is unbeaten on 9, while Usman Khawaja is creeping towards a 13th Test century.
He’s into the 70s.
10.40AM: LEGEND SLAMS ‘UNACCEPTABLE’ RAIN CALL
Australian great Ricky Ponting has questioned why Steve Smith was forced to face a ball with the rain falling at the SCG - with umpires waiting until the end of the over to take players off the field.
Smith navigated the over and remained not out as play was halted for a rain delay, but Ponting said if he’d been in the same position as Australia’s No.4 he would’ve refused to face up.
“I don’t understand why they bowled that ball then? Why do the umpires wait until the end of the over to call that? That rain is clearly heavy enough,” Ponting said on Channel 7.
“If I was out there batting, I would’ve walked away. I would’ve walked a couple of steps out of the square leg and actually waited for the umpires to make a decision, because let’s say Steve Smith nicks that ball, when you shouldn’t be out there, that’s not acceptable as far as I’m concerned.
“I never get that, why they wait until the end of an over when it’s raining, to call a close in play.”
On Wednesday night, Marnus Labuschagne was dismissed late in the day under gloomy skies - only for the umpires to immediately call a suspension of play due to bad light, without another ball being bowled.
10.27AM: PLAY RESUMES.... AGAIN
We’ll see how long this lasts, but just the 15 minute rain delay that time. Not a huge amount of rain about to cause all that much concern for players and umpires it seems.
From the early start, Australia have added 1 run - to Usman Khawaja - as they take a cautious approach to Day Two.
The feedback from both camps after day one was that this is one of the most unusual SCG wickets - some describing it as the dryest they’ve ever seen on day one of a Test.
Who knows how it will play on days three, four and five?
10.12AM: RAIN HALTS PLAY AFTER 11 MINUTES
Just 11 minutes of play before Sydney’s fickle weather imposes itself on Day Two of the SCG Test - it’s fairly light rain, but enough to convince the umpires to call things off for the time being.
The covers are on for about 90 seconds before being removed by the groundstaff - and then immediately replaced.
It’s a very windy day in Sydney, with the clouds being blown across the city. It has the potential to be a lot of very light rain causing a lot of painful delays!
But for the moment, play has been suspended.
10AM: PLAY RESUMES UNDER LIGHTS
Play finished under lights last night, and that’s the case again this morning.
The big lights are on, and Kagiso Rabada is charging in at Steve Smith, on the hunt for an early wicket.
The fact the lights are on is a concern for players, officials and fans alike - but Australian great Steve Waugh will be pleased.
He wanted the lights on yesterday and took to Instagram to make the plea.
“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,” he wrote.
“Lots of unhappy spectators who can’t understand the rationale and reason for no play.”
9.45AM: HISTORIC STATUE UNVEILED AT SCG
The story of the morning at the SCG on Thursday isn’t Matt Renshaw’s COVID status or Marnus Labuschagne’s controversial innings yesterday - it’s the unveiling the world’s first sculpture of a female crickterer.
Australian great Belinda Clark was immortalised in bronze near the Gate A entrance at the SCG, with her statue placed alongside the likes of Richie Benaud, Steve Waugh and Fred Spofforth.
A sizeable crowd gathered for the unveiling, as the rain held off, for the special moment.
“I’m excited to have the sculpture in place and for people to now look at it and perhaps wonder what that is, who that is and to be able to tell a bit of a story is really important,” Clark said.
“The sculpture encapsulates being able to have a go – to be courageous, to take on those challenges and break convention.
9.30AM: SUN’S OUT AT THE SCG
Good morning and welcome from the SCG, where we are half an hour away from the early scheduled start (brought forward because of the rain yesterday, as will be the case for the rest of the Test).
I have good news - it’s a sunny morning at the SCG. The rains of earlier in the day have mercifully disappeared, and the light - the light!! - is superb so far.
Australia will resume on 2-147 with Usman Khawaja on 54, and Steve Smith yet to score.
8.45AM: WEATHER ISSUES FACING SCG TEST
It will be a wet start to the second day of the test match against South Africa at the SCG today with 1-2mm of rain predicted until 11am.
Luckily for those watching the game it is predicted to clear up in the afternoon around midday. There is also a small chance of a thunderstorm this morning.
“It will be cold, wet and windy,” said Helen Reid from the Bureau of Meteorology.“Unfortunately it’s not such a good day for the cricket.”
In good news for those out in the stands, it’s not going to be a hot one with a maximum of 22 degrees, reaching the peak around 2pm.
Ms Reid said even though it will cloudy over the next three days it was important people still applied sunscreen.
“The UV index is extreme at the moment, which it always is this time of year,”
“Umbrella’s will help as well, or maybe a UV-rated poncho.”
It will be a windy one today, with wind speeds getting up to 59km an hour coming from the south/south west. The wind should start to die down by early evening around 5pm.
7AM: THE SCG GAMBLE THAT LAUNCHED A SUPERSTAR
- ROBERT CRADDOCK
Sodden Sydney is becoming the sink Test as well as the pink Test but for Marnus Labuschagne it’s still the ground that changed his life.
This Test is the fourth anniversary of the day when selector Greg Chappell was out of options for a number three batsmen and decided to roll the dice.
Already knocked back by one member of the top order, Chappell offered the high pressure role of going in early against India’s crack pace attack at the SCG to Labuschagne.
The story goes that when they shook hands Labuschagne was so excited Chappell feared his arm may be pulled from the socket for it was as if he had handed the youngster the keys of a new car.
When Labuschagne walked out to the wicket for his first innings against India at the SCG he was averaging just 20 after two Tests.
Four years later he left the SCG, with his batting average anchored at just below 60 after a robust 79 ended when he edged a snorter off Anrich Nortje behind.
Day one was a curious one for Labuschagne because it reinforced his reputation as one of the luckiest batsmen in cricket – before he got a taste of his own medicine.
He should have been out to a low slips catch which was ruled not out by the third umpire but he had the misfortune of being out last ball of the day before bad light intervened.
I happened to be standing near Chappell four years ago when Labuschagne walked to the wicket and he made the following prediction.
“I honestly feel he is going to be one of our really exceptional batsmen. That zest for the contest he has wipes out so much of the fear.’’
So it was that day. And so it is now. Labuschagne is 28 now, a father and a veteran of 32 Tests but his passion for the game, far from diminishing, seems to be growing.
During the off-season Labuschagne had a two-week break from his loved ones. Not his family. His bats.
He sent them back to the manufacturer to get updated stickers as he headed off to Stradbroke Island.
It must have been hell for him to be “batless’’ on the island but he survived, returned and since then its been all cricket.
Sydney is normally the Test where tempers fray and backsides drag but Labuschagne has been buzzing around the nets as if it’s the first Test of the summer.
Not just batting but bowling his leg-spinners. He was heard asking anyone around if they had heard what the team was on match eve, His radar for cricket information is never off.
Commentator Ian Smith called it early when he said from the time Labuschagne arrived at the crease he had the look of a man who would set up a tent and stay a day.
He didn’t get there as he fell to what was the last ball of the day before bad light set in on a ground which has so much rain that ground authorities sell advertising on the top of the covers.
The grim conditions never worry him. His time playing garage cricket on souped up mats from Bunnings condition him to enjoy the thrill of heavy duty contests of which there are many in Test cricket.
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