Selection chaos, PINK beer, a green pitch and a potential swansong for a veteran stalwart: this year’s New Years Test at the SCG really will have everything.
With Australia up 2-0 in their Test series against South Africa, the Proteas will be praying to the rain gods to help their dire batting line-up avoid a whitewash.
The ‘Pink Test’ is now one of the most popular matches on the calendar, and was born out of the legacy left by Aussie legend Glenn McGrath’s wife, Jane, who tragically died of breast cancer.
The entire cricket community rallies together to raise funds for the the McGrath Foundation’s critical breast care nurses that they provide to rural, remote and regional communities all across Australia – and the cricket on the field has an extra special feel to it, too.
Aussie cricketers like Usman Khawaja (left) and Scott Boland (right) don one-of-a-kind pink baggy caps for the upcoming Pink Test, with the caps to be auctioned off and proceeds going to the McGrath Foundation – an annual tradition
Glenn McGrath (left), South African legend Morne Morkel (centre) and Aussie coach Andrew McDonald help launch the Pink Test at the SCG
Rain is expected – as usual unfortunately – but a cracking encounter is set to get underway: and it’ll be fun on and off the field.
Daily Mail Australia have run you through all the best things you’ll need to watch for ahead of the Sydney’s iconic Pink Test, starting this Wednesday.
Pink beer
It won’t just be the outfits, caps, ties or stadium decorations that will feature the now-familiar New Years Test hue: even the BEER will be pink at this year’s Test.
Aussie brewery 4Pines has come up with a pink beer for the Test, with all proceeds raised going to the McGrath Foundation
Aussie brewery 4Pines has come up with a rose-coloured beer cricket fans can gulp down during the match, and at iconic nearby venues The Paddo Inn and The Clock.
And the best part?
100 per cent of the proceeds from every keg go straight to the McGrath Foundation to pay for more breast care nurses all around the country.
4Pines, which has gone from obscure craft beer to one of the most popular brews in the country, sponsors Pat Cummins’ team.
Environmental and social impact advisor Sarah Turner said the company were keen do what they could for an organisation that helps so many women, and their families, affected by breast cancer all over Australia.
The pink beer will be sold in bars inside the SCG during the Test, and will also be available at iconic nearby venue the Paddo Inn and The Clock
‘The McGrath Foundation’s goal to ensure everyone with breast cancer has access to a McGrath Breast Care Nurse means that those facing their most difficult and challenging of times do so with the very best guidance and care possible,’ she said.
‘Many of us know someone, be it a friend or family member, who has experienced breast cancer.
The team at 4Pines are proud to support the McGrath Foundation, we highly admire the work they do, and we acknowledge and thank them for the incredible service they deliver,’ said Turner.
Not is 4Pines’ concoction refreshing and a brilliant way to get into the Pink Test spirit; at 3.5 per cent alcohol it’s a great way to safely ring in 2023 and support a great cause.
Count us in!
Is this David Warner’s last home Test?
The 36-year-old was severely out of form and hadn’t scored a Test century in three years until his phenomenal 200 in the Boxing Day match.
It has kept the wolves at bay, and Warner is certainly going to be opening up for Australia for tough tours of India and England; places he has previously struggled at and doesn’t average more than 27.
A World Test Championship final is likely on the horizon for the Aussies, then comes the ODI World Cup, which Warner has indicated he is keen to play in, as well as next year’s T20 version of the tournament.
Is it David Warner’s (right, pictured with teammates Nathan Lyon and Steve Smith at the launch) last home Test? There’s a lot of cricket he has to get through between now and the next Down Under
A pretty jam packed schedule for someone who has indicated he would soon like to prioritise limited overs cricket given the strain Tests take on the body.
Imagine winning a Test in front of your home crowd at the SCG after an astonishing return to form and a series win against your most bitter of rivals.
Better than crawling across the finishing line on your knees, that’s for sure.
Who will play?
Every former cricketer, pundit, man and his dog has had an opinion on the make-up of the Aussie side for this Test.
Perhaps it’s because for the last few years, the injury gods have been kind to Australia and the side hasn’t warranted any major changes given a sustained period of success.
Sometimes sports fans and former greats just need something to debate.
Matt Renshaw has been brought back out of the wilderness to rejoin the Aussie Test squad after Cam Green’s injury – though his spot isn’t secured yet
Well there is certainly plenty of that going on, and the obligatory ‘inside exclusives’ on what the side will look like, which change every day it feels after someone has watched a net session and gleaned some sort of secret information from it.
Warner, Usman Khawaja (though where he bats is not entirely certain), Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon are absolute certainties to play, aside from injury (though Smith did cop a blow on the finger at training on Tuesday).
Mitchell Starc and Cameron Green are obviously out with serious finger injuries, while a fit-again Josh Hazlewood has put his foot forward.
Many have been calling for Lance ‘Wild Thing’ Morris to get a go, but it’s not his time yet. Scott Boland and Hazlewood have far more tickets and are just as threatening with their metronomic accuracy.
Josh Hazlewood has declared himself fit for the Test, making the selectors job even harder as they try to pick the make-up of the bowling attack
A second spinner could mean Ashton Agar bats at no. 7, allowing still for three seamers and Lyon OR he could replace Starc and bolster the batting line-up. Then does Matt Renshaw come in from the wilderness, after a glut of Sheffield Shield runs, to partner Warner and shuffle ‘Uzzie’ down the order?
It’s a mess. Good luck selectors. And all of us in the media trying to predict them.
Predicted XI: Warner, Khawaja, Labuschagne, Smith, Head, Carey, Agar, Cummins, Boland, Hazlewood, Lyon.
Is it a bowling green or cricket pitch in the middle of the SCG?
A lot of those selection questions will depend on how Cummins, coach Andrew McDonald and the selectors believe the pitch will play out.
It’s looking more like a bowling green than a cricket pitch at the moment, and is certainly likely to be a long way from the typically bouncy Aussie pitches.
The SCG Test wicket is apparently a hark back to 10-15 years ago, and is expected to turn a mile according to Pat Cummins
Cummins said the pitch at his home ground was harking back to the days when he’d be watching from the stands instead of bowling.
‘We’ll see. I don’t think it’s the WACA type pace bowling friendly wicket out there, so we’ll see,’ he told News Corp of the SCG pitch.
‘Yesterday we had a pretty good look at the wicket, just wanted to have another look today 24 hours on. It hasn’t really changed. They’ve taken a bit more grass of it. Looks a bit more like an SCG wicket of 10-15 years ago I think.
‘It’s a huge connection to India. I think with fast bowling, reverse swing is going to come into it, which we can expect in India.
‘We’ll probably get more spin overs here. Our batters are obviously going to face more spin here as well. It’s a really good connection. Even personally captaining here might be different to the last few Test matches. It’s good preparation for India,’ said Cummins.
Nathan ‘The GOAT’ Lyon’s off-spinners may be crucial for the Australian’s on what is expected to be a turning wicket
Rain is forecast across much of the five days, too – with the SCG often being dealt rotten luck with timing and Sydney’s penchant for diabolical summer rains.
Cricket nuffies are always wary when there’s talk in the media about playing two spinners, despite the lack of an obvious second option outside Lyon.
The SCG’s dusty, spinning reputation remains, but in reality was finished many years ago.
Times might have changed, though.
In November, a Sheffield Shield match between NSW and Western Australia saw scores of 93, 134, 233 and 127; with the gentle off-spinners of Chris Green and Corey Rocchiccioli taking an incredible 17 wickets between them.
It was turning square. And it was a nightmare to bat on. Good luck to all batter involved. Might need to work on your forward defence from the Jacques Kallis playbook.
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