Play is back on at the SCG for the third Test between Australia and South Africa despite a brief rain delay early in the first session of day two.
The hosts are 2-195 with Usman Khawaja (83) and Steve Smith (16) at the crease.
Khawaja made back-to-back centuries at the SCG last summer and, with another one, will take his Test record at the ground to four.
At the time of writing, his average at the ground is over 110.00, while Ricky Ponting is the only player with more than four Test centuries in Sydney.
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Proteas robbed of Marnus’ wicket? | 02:40
Just 10 minutes of play was completed on day two before players were taken from the field with light rain falling. The rain was light and didn’t last long, however, with play resuming about 15 minutes later.
South Africa didn’t bowl spin for 10 overs in the first session, despite a complete lack of swing or seam on offer for the quicks.
Keshav Maharaj eventually came on, despite Simon Harmer looking more dangerous on day one.
Before he came into the attack, Kerry O’Keeffe questioned why it was taking Dean Elgar so long to turn to spin with Khawaja and Smith untroubled.
“I’d have Harmer on now because there’s no seam or swing from (Marco) Jansen, so he’s really just bowling 130km/h, looking for angle,” he said.
“These are too easy runs. You’ve got to make this pair work and put them under some pressure, and I’m not sure if there’s enough in it for the quicks to do that.”
Harmer didn’t come into the attack until nearly the 20th over of the day.
Allan Border said on Fox Cricket that he “couldn’t understand” why it took so long.
“I think they missed a trick … certainly today, he spent a long time out of the attack.”
DAY TWO SESSION TIMES (Revised due to rain)
First session: 10am-12.30pm
Second session: 1.10pm-3.10pm
Third session: 3.30pm-5.30pm (an extra hour could be allowed for unfulfilled overs)
TEAMS
Australia XI: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Matthew Renshaw, Alex Carey, Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins (c), Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon
South Africa XI: Dean Elgar (c) Sarel Erwee, Heinrich Klaasen, Temba Bavuma, Khaya Zondo, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Simon Harmer, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje
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Bad light and rain had also frustrated players and fans on Wednesday meaning only 47 overs were possible.
Australia finished the day 2 for 147 after Marnus Labuschagne was dismissed for 79 off the final ball before umpires called play off for bad light.
Under the rules, play cannot resume until the umpires’ light meter reading is better than what it was when play was first called off.
It is likely to be a factor again on day two with cloudy conditions and 2mm of rain forecast for the morning. It is, however, expected to clear in the afternoon.
The issue of bad light was one of the main talking points from the opening day of the Test with a number of former greats expressing their frustration.
Steve Waugh took to Instagram to issue a warning to the game.
“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.”
Labuschagne was asked Wednesday. He admitted he felt for spectactators but said player safety had to be factored in.
‘All of us thought it was out’ | 02:26
“They’ve (greats) all played, so they understand when it’s dark and someone is bowling fast,” Labuschagne said. “I think perhaps their decisions are coming more from the spectators’ point of view.
“I feel like that for the spectators. I walked (to go back on at one point) and then we didn’t go out, and I said, ‘well that’s the quickest way to lose spectators right there.’
“But the reality of the game is it’s got to be safe and when you’ve got two teams that are bowling fast, you can’t be out there when it’s too dark.“It’s hard to argue because of course we want to be entertaining a stacked crowd. But it doesn’t always work like that.”
Kerry O’Keeffe took a more light-hearted approach to the issue, joking on Fox Cricket before play: “It’s like going to a Mick Jagger concert you think is going to go three hours and Mick walks off the stage with a tight groin after 45 minutes!”