Last Updated on 18 hours by Charbel Coorey
Cricket News: SCG weather forecast for 2024 AUS vs PAK New Year’s Test | What is the weather forecast at the SCG?
The New Year’s Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) is upon us once again. However, when it comes to this match, the focus is on the weather as much as the action on the field. Rain has often played a factor in Tests at the SCG in recent years, and the hope is that we can get a rain-free third Test between Australia and Pakistan after an excellent Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
The match will be played from January 3-7 2024. Here is a look at the weather forecast across the five days at the famous SCG in what will be David Warner’s final Test.
SCG weather forecast for 3rd AUS vs PAK Test: Will rain have a say?
The Bureau of Meteorology (bom.gov.au) forecasts 0-1mm of rain to fall on day one of the Test. “High chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon,” says the platform. AccuWeather predicts similar conditions – “mostly cloudy and humid with a thunderstorm around; breezy in the afternoon,” with about two millimetres of rain forecast to fall during the day. So, there is the possibility of having one of those frustrating on-off days often seen at the SCG in recent seasons.
Unfortunately, more rain is expected on day two. Bom.gov.au forecasts up to 6mm to fall, with a high (70%) chance of showers and chance of a thunderstorm. AccuWeather predicts a 55% chance of precipitation on Thursday, January 4.
Similar conditions are then forecast for the rest of the match. Showers are a possibility once again from days three to five, but the hope is there will be enough play to force a result.
Rain has been a common feature in Sydney in recent weeks. Humid conditions during the day have been followed by late afternoon rain and thunderstorms. Close to 100mm fell in the city in December.
So, all eyes will be on the SCG pitch. The spotlight is certainly on the surface after a Sheffield Shield game between New South Wales and Tasmania earlier this season saw 24 wickets fall on the third day of that match. It prompted former Australia captain Tim Paine to label the circumstances “embarrassing” and an “absolute disgrace”, but Nathan Lyon believed the Test track will play differently.
The average first innings score at the SCG in the last five Tests is a high 461. Conditions typically flatten out after early movement, and similar can be expected for this Test with the centre surface set to be used according to ESPNcricinfo. However, four of those matches have ended in draws, with rain having a say in each of them.
In 2019, India were well in control after Cheteshwar Pujara (193) and Rishabh Pant (159*) took India to a mammoth 622/7d. Australia were forced to follow on after replying with 300, but rain had a say on the last three days, including washing out day five completely.
In 2021, rain caused a stop-start first two days in the Australia-India Test, before the tourists fought to secure an excellent draw. In 2022, just 46.5 overs were possible on day one of the fourth Ashes Test. Rain also had a say on days two, four and five as England held on for a draw with one wicket in hand. Last year, the Australia-South Africa Test finished as a draw after just 280.5 overs were possible across the five days.
Here is hoping the 2024 New Year’s Test at the SCG is different than recent editions.
