Cricket Australia, do you want the good news or bad news first? After estimated losses of $15 million due to the first and fourth Test of the Ashes series finishing within two days, nervous CA officials are praying the SCG New Year’s Test goes the distance.
While not under any strict orders to prepare a “road”, the SCG ground staff will present a pitch far removed from the grassy, Russian roulette of a deck that saw 36 wickets fall in two days of the truncated MCG Boxing Day Test. But the one thing no one can control is the weather – particularly in Sydney in early January.
Shane Warne famously called for the Sydney Test to be moved to earlier in the summer. Image: Getty/Lachlan Harper
Rain has impacted six of the past 11 Tests at the SCG, and overall, 26 days of cricket have been lost at the ground in more than 100 years of Test cricket – far exceeding days ruined by rain at other Australian venues. It led to the great Shane Warne declaring in 2022 that the Sydney and Brisbane Tests should switch time-slots to increase the chance of better weather in both cities.
“Maybe Brisbane could be the New Year Test match and Sydney could be the first one,” he said. “It’s better weather in Sydney (at the start of the season) than it is in the first week of January. It just seems to always rain in the Test match.”
Covers on the wicket prior to day one of the fifth Test between Australia and India in 2025. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Meteorologist hopeful for plenty of play in SCG Test
Warne’s plea fell on deaf ears but dark clouds are again descending as we approach the start of the fifth Test on Sunday. Storms are forecast for day one, threatening to hold up proceedings and further adding to Sydney’s reputation for bad weather.
Senior meteorologist Angus Hines told Yahoo Sport Australia: “Day one’s probably the one which is a little bit on a knife-edge at the moment. There’s some stormy weather around Sydney, so that definitely means a chance for some rain on day one.
“It might just happen to miss the SCG and everyone gets on their merry way and we get the full day’s play in, but absolutely there’s a risk that one of those storms could move over the ground and bring some reasonable rainfall. The mopping up will depend on how much rain falls.”
But Hines has better news for the rest of the Test. “Day one’s the day to double check the radar and hope for the best and after that we are looking pretty good,” he said.
“Days two through to five the rain will be mainly out to the west and current indications are it should stay away from the ground. And based on the series so far, four and a half days of cricket is probably going to be enough.”
Australia head into the match with an unassailable 3-1 series lead.