David Warner is facing the prospect of his farewell Test being ruined by Sydney’s weather.
The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting a wet start to 2024 with Sydney’s New Year’s Test set to once again be affected by rain.
The third Test of the three-match series against Pakistan begins on Wednesday with the BOM predicting a 60 per cent chance of rain and the possibility of thunderstorms.
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It increases to 70 per cent on the next two days with up to 6mm of rain forecast for Thursday.
The predicted rain continues a dire trend for the SCG Test. Six of the last seven Tests have been interrupted by rain with the past three all ending in draws.
A total of 26 days of Test cricket have been washed out in Sydney, far more than any other venue in Australia.
Saturday night’s BBL match was ruined by rain with the Sydney Sixers denied victory over cross-town rivals the Thunder in dramatic fashion
With five overs needed to constitute a match, the Sixers were 1-34 after four overs in pursuit of 152 for victory when persistent rain stopped play and did not let up.
The Sixers would only have needed to be on 33 at the end of the fifth over to win under the Duckworth Lewis Stern system, provided they did not lose another wicket.
Warner will play the final Test of his glittering career next week, but he might be denied the chance to go out on the ultimate high if bad weather strikes.
Selectors confirmed on Sunday there would be no change from the squad that won by 79 runs in Melbourne, as they pursue a 3-0 clean sweep of the series at the SCG.
“We look forward to celebrating David Warner’s final Test match and his incredible career at his home ground,” Chair of Selectors George Bailey said.
It means Scott Boland stays in the extended squad as a fourth fast bowler, while allrounder Cameron Green also remains as part of the group.
Lance Morris had been viewed as a chance to debut this summer, but if that is to happen it will need to be against West Indies after he was left to keep playing in the BBL.
Coach Andrew McDonald had indicated that his battery of fast bowlers pulled up well from the win at the MCG, with a four-day gap between Tests.
AUSTRALIA SQUAD: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Steve Smith, Mitch Starc, David Warner
– With AAP