Overview
- At a New Year’s reception at Kirribilli House, the prime minister asked Australia and England to ensure the Sydney Test reaches a third day for the McGrath Foundation.
- Day three, marked as Jane McGrath Day, is the charity’s key fundraiser, with more than $8.5 million raised during last year’s Test.
- Players encountered an extremely green SCG pitch at training, with Venues NSW officials meeting the curator and grass coverage expected to be reduced before Sunday.
- Two Tests finishing inside two days this summer have cost Cricket Australia about $15 million and roughly 210,000 attendees.
- Usman Khawaja has called a Friday media conference on his playing future ahead of the fifth Test, with Australia already leading the series 3–1.