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Welcome to day two of the third Test between Australia and Pakistan.
David Warner will start the day six not out in his farewell Test after Pakistan put 313 runs on the board in their first innings.
It’s set to be an entertaining day of cricket as the Aussies look to eat away at the current 307-run lead held by Pakistan.
Follow along for all the action here.
10.55AM: CRICKET AUSTRALIA UPDATE ON MISSING BAGGY GREEN
– Lachie McKirdy
The search for David Warner’s backpack containing his two baggy greens continues as he bats on the second day of the SCG Test.
After the bag went missing in transit from Melbourne, Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley confirmed on Thursday morning that all hands are on deck to try and locate the caps.
“We haven’t given up yet but we keep our fingers crossed,” Hockley said on SEN Test Cricket.
“It’s a great mystery. It hasn’t turned up yet. Lots of people have been working very hard trying to look under every rock.
“I implore if anyone knows anything to come forward. It is the thing every kid aspires to wear. I do want to thank everyone who has been working hard to locate it.”
Hockley also paid tribute to Warner’s legacy as he comes to the end of his Test career and predicted that the dynamic opener won’t be lost to cricket.
“I think [his legacy] is massive and he’ll continue to make an immense contribution,” Hockley said.
“It’s been a great moment and week to reflect on his entire career. I think Andrew McDonald said it, our greatest all-format player ever.
“To be plucked straight into international cricket without playing any first-class cricket shows the prodigious talent that he is. He’s as fit as he’s ever been and [this week has] been a great opportunity to celebrate everything he’s achieved.”
10.45AM: CLOUDS CLEAR ON BATTING PARADISE
It was muggy and overcast half an hour ago, just before the start of play on day two, and it looked a little bit ominous for Australia’s openers.
But strong winds have blown some of the cloud cover away – which should ease concerns for David Warner and Usman Khawaja about the potential hooping ball from Pakistan’s paceman.
Mir Hamza has started strongly on Thursday, hitting the right areas and giving Australia’s batsmen very little, though Hasan Ali has been a touch more wayward.
But it now looks like a tremendous day for batting, should this pair get through the first half hour.
“It could be a long day for Pakistan,” offers Mark Waugh on Fox Cricket.
10.30AM: THE PIGEON AND THE GOAT
– Ben Horne
Glenn McGrath presented Nathan Lyon with his 500th-wicket ball before play on Thursday as he welcomed the champion off-spinner into his exclusive club.
Lyon joined McGrath and Shane Warne as the only Australian bowlers to have taken more than 500 wickets when he reached the rare milestone at the end of the first Test in Perth.
McGrath finished his illustrious career with 563 Test wickets and is resigned to the fact Lyon – currently 506 wickets – will ultimately knock off his record.
The big question is whether Lyon, 36, will be able to battle on long enough to challenge Warne’s immortal mark of 708 Test wickets.
Also before play on Thursday, Usman Khawaja was awarded ABC radio’s prestigious Alan McGilvray medal for another outstanding year where he stood out as the premier batsman in world cricket.
Khawaja was the only international batsman to post more than 1000 runs in Test cricket in 2023.
All eyes are on how he will perform on day two of the Sydney Test as he resumes his innings alongside his childhood mate, David Warner – in what is Warner’s farewell Test.
10:15AM MASSIVE SESSION LOOMS FOR AUSTRALIA
It’s David Warner day at the SCG today – but the weather gods may not have got the memo.
Because it’s humid and a touch overcast in Sydney this morning, prime conditions to get the ball to swing. And, armed with a ball that is one over old, Pakistan’s quicks will be licking their lips.
There are still plenty of runs in this wicket, as evidenced by Pakistan’s wonderful rear-guard action in the third session on day one.
And, according to Australian great Mike Hussey, someone from Australia must cash in today otherwise Pakistan will be in the box seat to win this Test.
“I think it’s a massive day for Australia. Australia have to bat well today and get a lead to put Pakistan under pressure,” Hussey said on Fox Cricket.
“Batting last on this pitch is not going to be easy at all. So they have to get a lead.
“I think it’s going to be a really good pitch for batting on today, especially once you get through the new ball.
“(But if) Pakistan have a big day and win today, I reckon they’re in the box seat to win this Test.”
10.00AM: REMEMBERING WARNER’S 100 IN A SESSION
– Lachie McKirdy
All eyes will be on David Warner as he takes to the SCG to bat on day two with a chance to sign off from his Test career in style.
And while he was lucky to survive a scare last night facing the spin of Sajid Khan, he will be looking to repeat his heroics from the last time Pakistan played a Test at the SCG on Thursday morning.
In 2017, Warner created history by scoring a century inside the first session of the New Year’s Test.
He reached triple figures off just 76 deliveries and brought his home crowd to their feet as he became the first player in 41 years to achieve the feat in Test cricket.
The contrasting nature of Warner’s knock was on full display with 20-year-old Matt Renshaw down the other end contributing just 19 runs by the time the century partnership had been reached.
Warner was dismissed just after lunch and finished his innings on 113 off 95 deliveries, including 17 fours.
Now in his 112th and final Test match, Warner averages 105.30 across seven matches at home against Pakistan. And with five centuries to his name against the visitors, he will be looking to finish his career with one more as Australia attempts to make inroads on Pakistan’s first innings total of 313.
9.30AM; CAPTAIN PAT IS ON HIS TRAIL
– Jacob Kuriype
Michael Vaughan’s prediction Pat Cummins would retire as Australia’s second greatest ever Test cricketer was among the big talking points on day one.
Ahead of play on day two, Kerry O’Keeffe weighed into the debate on Fox Cricket’s Test Cricket Daily.
As things stand, among fast bowlers O’Keeffe still has Cummins sitting second, sandwiched between Glenn McGrath and Dennis Lillee. However, he could see that changing imminently.
“My trifecta is McGrath one, Cummins two, Lillee three,” O’Keeffe said.
“But Pat has shrunk his Test bowling average down to 22.1. If he gets into the 21s, which he may well do in the immediate futrue he may get over the great Pidgeon because he’s an all-pitch bowler now and he seems to be getting better.
“His command of length, his command of movement, his read of the batter, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him bowl better than he has in the past couple of weeks.
“McGrath will be nervous. The captain Pat is on his trail.”
After his third consecutive five-wicket haul, Cummins’ Test numbers read 257 wickets at 22.13. McGrath took 563 at 21.64 across his 124 Test career and Lillee 355 at 23.92 across 132 Tests.
9.00AM: HOW WARNER RECONNECTED WITH HIS TRUE WORKING-CLASS-HERO SELF
– Ben Horne
Stories swirled around the SCG as David Warner took to his home ground for the very last time … like the one about how he banished the Bentley and took a Toyota.
The man from the housing commission flats in Matraville who became the multi-millionaire cricket superstar is part of the rich tapestry of his life.
When Warner and wife Candice first met manager to the stars James Erskine as he looked to rebuild his career after the Sandpapergate scandal, his new advisor had one piece of parting advice.
“As he was leaving, I realised he owned a Bentley. I said, ‘oh by the way, one last thing – lose the Bentley,” Erskine said on 3AW radio.
“Four days later he arrived in a Toyota truck, so I thought that was pretty impressive.”
Warner reconnected with the person he is – a working class hero – and on Wednesday those people he grew up with packed into the SCG to watch his farewell, as an all-time great of Test cricket.
Father Howard and mother Lorraine, brother Steve and dozens of family and friends gathered to watch ‘The Bull’ one last time amongst 33,905 Sydneysiders – the biggest day one crowd for a Pakistan Test at the SCG.
It was a family affair as Warner led his three daughters, Ivy, Indi and Isla out to the middle with him to sing the national anthems before play: the girls’ with ‘Warner 31’ emblazoned on the back of their matching whites.
And in the stands, was wife Candice, the rock of his life who inspired his extraordinary comeback from his lowest moment.
“I can’t praise Candice more highly. I have a lot of time for her,” Erskine said.
“To be brutally honest, I don’t think David would have got through it all and be the person he is if Candice hadn’t been his missus.”
Warner started day one of ‘Warner Week’ on a panel with his soon-to-be colleagues at Fox Cricket listening as actor Matt Nable gave a stirring narration of his incredible life’s journey.
“Let’s go have a beer now,” Warner said – but of course there was a job to do first.
Before play, Australian coach Andrew McDonald addressed his players privately in the SCG dressing rooms and paid tribute to Warner in front of his peers.
In McDonald’s opinion, as well as captain Pat Cummins’, Warner is the greatest three-format cricketer Australia has ever produced.
A highlights package was played and after the Test a farewell celebration party will be thrown in Warner’s honour for his teammates, family and friends.
Warner was forced to take to the field in a replacement baggy green, after Pakistan spoiled the party and decided to bat first.
Despite his emotional pleas for its return, the thieves who stole Warner’s baggy greens out of his luggage this week are still yet to come clean.
“I haven’t found my caps. As I said in my video, if you have got my back pack, I’ll give you my backpack, all I want is those baggy greens back. Please,” Warner said.
Father Howard took aim at the “scumbag” who had nicked his son’s most prized possessions.
“Whatever scumbag has taken it is going to have to lay it off very shortly,” Warner snr told SEN Radio.
“They’ll find it dumped somewhere. I know he’s emotional. He would love to walk out with that baggy green on but if he can’t, he can’t. What can you do?”
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