Sydney Cricket Ground Pitch Report For Day 3 Of India vs Australia 5th Test

Bhargav Dixit∙ Updated: Jan 4 2025, 7:50 PM

15 batters were dismissed on the third day of the last Sydney Test. [Source: @scg/X]15 batters were dismissed on the third day of the last Sydney Test. [Source: @scg/X]

A run rate just above 3.25 across the first two days of the ongoing fifth Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 Test match at the SCG isn’t surprising. That being said, what is surprising is the loss of 26 wickets in this period.

A venue historically known for its predilection towards batters, the presence of 7mm grass on it has resulted in everyone calling it an unusual Sydney Cricket Ground pitch. A positive upshot of this unfamiliarity is that it has it in it to eliminate the last two rain-bound days.

Leading by 145 runs, India only have four wickets in hand in their second innings. Unless their lower-order batters put on display yet another game-changing resistance, it shouldn’t be surprising to see this riveting five-match series culminating tomorrow.

Sydney Cricket Ground Pitch Report For Day 3

Towering chances of the surface at the SCG to assist bowlers is the primary reason for all of this to happen. Taking into consideration how, on an average, a batter has been dismissed every six overs in this match till now, there is no reason whatsoever why the remaining 14 can’t be bundled out within the 90 overs to be bowled on Day 3.

Out of the 155.2 overs bowled on Friday and Saturday, only nine were bowled by spinners. With Sydney arguably the most supportive Australian venues for spinners, their probable domination will further make lives difficult for the batters.

In the last Test here, 251/15 were scored across 88.4 overs on the third day. While no play was possible due to to inclement weather conditions in 2023, 245/7 in 65 overs was a rain-affected third day’s tally during Ashes 2021/22 Test at this ground. During the last Australia-India Sydney Test in 2021, 251/10 in 84.4 were scored on the moving day.

Readers must note that 249.33 is the average third innings total in Sydney Tests. For a Test match which is being played in bowling-friendly conditions, India will have to bat exceedingly well to score more than 100 runs to achieve this average on Sunday.