Pat Cummins angered cricket fans by declaring and leaving Usman Khawaja stranded just FIVE RUNS short of his maiden double century – with another branding the move ‘racist’
- Pat Cummins elected to declare on day four of the Third Test against South Africa
- Continued rain delays saw opening batsman Usman Khawaja unbeaten on 195
- One cricket fan felt the decision from Cummins was ‘disrespectful and racist’
Australian captain Pat Cummins angered cricket fans by deciding to declare on day four of the third Test against South Africa at the SCG in a decision that left opening batsman Usman Khawaja not out on 195 – five runs. just from a possible maiden double century.
With rain and poor light severely hampering play in Sydney since Wednesday, Cummins brought the Proteas in to bat after his side amassed 4/475 in their first innings.
Australia captain Pat Cummins has divided cricket fans after aggressively declaring on day four against South Africa at the SCG in the Third Test
Some supporters were furious with Cummins, with one going so far as to declare the swift ‘racist’.
‘Absolute shame and disrespect, (some might say) racist to deny Ussie a double 100 at the SCG,’ the fan tweeted.
‘It was difficult to achieve the milestone and should have been given five overs at least, because (there was) no chance of getting 20 wickets.’
Former fastest bowler turned commentator Brett Lee disagreed with the decision, saying, ‘Give Ussie two overs. He deserves it.’
Many fans agree.
‘If Australia don’t go on to win this test, I will never forgive Pat Cummins for declaring with Uzzie on 195*,’ wrote Riley Nelson.
‘Just went to check the score; are we serious we didn’t even give Uzzie 10 mins or so to get his double ton. That’s ridiculous,’ wrote George Patrikios.
‘It was sad to see them leave Usman Khawaja at 195 not out – it’s not Australian,’ added Rae Allen.
‘Pat Cummins is a completely selfish captain who should stick to activism not cricket. Your husband is on 195 not out, needs only 5 runs to make a double ton, and you expose yourself by declaring right to his face,’ another fan wrote.
A total of 57 overs of the third Test were bowled in the opening two days – and Friday was completely washed out.
More rain followed on Saturday, before the umpires cleared the way for the match to resume at 1.45pm local time.
The decision to declare left-handed opening batsman Usman Khawaja unbeaten on 195 – five runs from a possible maiden double century
Some supporters were furious with Cummins, with one going so far as to declare the swift racist
With sunny skies forecast on Sunday, Australia will be chasing early wickets.
The hosts’ best chance of victory is to take a 200-run first-innings lead, execute the follow-on and bowl South Africa out again to win the match.
Although a draw remains the most likely prospect, South Africa have not reached a score beyond 275 – or survived 100 overs – in their last eight innings.
The returning Josh Hazlewood set the tone with the ball in hand, snared out by in-form South African captain Dean Elgar for just 15 in the ninth over.
This left the visitors in survival mode as they looked to avoid a series clean sweep.
