Ashes 2021-22: Shane Warne calls for rain-affected SCG Test to be moved

Shane Warne’s call to move the rain-affected SCG Test on the summer of cricket calendar has been backed by one of Australia’s leading Climatologists.

Australia captain Pat Cummins talks to an official as groundsmen take off covers the SCG pitch. Picture: David Gray/AFP

One of Australia’s leading Climatologists has declared there is evidence to support Shane Warne’s radical call for Sydney to swap its Test with Brisbane.

Warne believes Cricket Australia should look at stripping the New Year’s Test timeslot from the iconic SCG because it always seems to rain, and instead hand Sydney the summer opener every year.

The SCG Trust, NSW Government – and importantly Cricket Australia – would never agree to it because they want their two biggest markets Melbourne and Sydney hosting the marquee Test matches over the summer when interest is at a premium.

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Sydney hosting a Test in late November or early December instead of Brisbane would be a huge blow for crowd numbers and revenue in Australia’s biggest market.

However, leading Climatologist from the Bureau of Meteorology Blair Trewin told News Corp there was significant logic to Warne’s calls, particularly because it would also better suit the weather patterns in Brisbane – who traditionally host the summer opener.

“Measurable rain occurs on about 40 per cent of January days in Sydney,” said Trewin.

Covers on the SCG square before the start of the fourth Ashes Test. Picture: David Gray/AFP)

“This is similar to Brisbane in November/December (their usual Test timeslot).

“I suspect the number of hours with rain in Sydney is considerably higher than Brisbane (i.e. the Brisbane rain has a higher intensity on average), but this is difficult to get numbers for.

“Sydney has by far the most days of abandoned play of any Australian Test venue (although Brisbane has a higher percentage of abandoned one-day matches.”

Since 1877, Sydney has had 25 days of washed out Test cricket, which is 17 more than the next closest – Brisbane with 8.

Over the past six summers Sydney also leads the way on most number of sessions of play lost to weather by the length of the straight – with 16.5 sessions, compared to Melbourne with 6.5.

The Bureau said there is nothing to suggest the specific January 5-9 period when the Test is played is particularly worse than other times in January.

Australia captain Pat Cummins talks to an official as groundsmen take off covers the SCG pitch. Picture: David Gray/AFP

Taking the New Year’s Test off Sydney would be a monumental change to the Australian sporting calendar, but Warne told Fox Cricket that it should happen.

“The argument would be, that this time of the year in Sydney, it rains,” said Warne.

“The proof is there in the last five or six test matches (at the SCG), it’s rained.

“It’s such a beautiful venue, it’s such a beautiful city.

“Maybe it’s time for a change? Maybe it’s time for Sydney to get the first Test match rather than Brisbane.”

“It hasn’t been that well attended the Brisbane Test match either for a period of time. Maybe Brisbane can be the New Year Test match and Sydney can be the first one?”