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Pat Cummins angers cricket fans by declaring and stranding Usman Khawaja just FIVE RUNS into his first double century, with one even calling the move “racist”.
- Pat Cummins elected to testify on day four of the Third Test against South Africa
- Constant rain delays saw opening batsman Usman Khawaja unbeaten at 195
- One cricket fan felt Cummins’ decision was “disrespectful and racist”
Australian captain Pat Cummins has outraged cricket fans by choosing to declare on the fourth day of the third Test against South Africa at the SCG in a decision that left initial batsman Usman Khawaja unbeaten on 195, just five runs from a possible double century of maiden.
With rain and bad light severely hampering play in Sydney since Wednesday, Cummins sent Proteas up to bat after his team went 4/475 in their first innings.
Australian 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, and one went as far as declaring the speedy a ‘racist’.
“Absolute shame and disrespectful, (some might) even say racist to deny Ussie a double 100 on the SCG,” the fan tweeted.
“The milestone is difficult to achieve and they should have conceded at least five overs as (there is) no chance of getting 20 wickets.”
Former fast bowler turned commentator Brett Lee disagreed with the decision, saying: ‘Give Ussie two overs. He deserves it.
Many fans agreed.
“If Australia don’t win this test match I will never forgive Pat Cummins for declaring with Uzzie at 195*,” wrote Riley Nelson.
‘I just went to check the scoreboard; Did we seriously not even give Uzzie 10 minutes or so to get the double ton out of him? That is a farce,’ wrote George Patrikios.
“It’s sad to see them leave Usman Khawaja at 195 without going out, he’s not Australian,” added Rae Allen.
“Pat Cummins is an absolutely selfish captain who should stick to activism, not cricket. Your mate is at 195, he’s not out, he only needs 5 runs to make a double ton, and you expose yourself by declaring it to his face,’ another fan wrote.
They missed a total of 57 overs from the third Test in the first two days, and Friday went completely out.
More rain followed on Saturday, before the referees cleared the way for play to resume at 1:45 p.m. local time.
The decision to declare opening left-hand batsman Usman Khawaja unbeaten at 195: five runs from a possible maiden double century
Some supporters were furious with Cummins, with one going so far as to declare rapid racism.
With sunny skies in the forecast on Sunday, Australia will be chasing early wickets.
The hosts’ best chance of victory will be to secure a 200-run lead in the first innings, impose the follow-on and knock out South Africa again to win the match.
While a draw remains the most likely prospect, South Africa have not managed to score more than 275, nor have they survived 100 overs, in their last eight innings.
The return of Josh Hazlewood set the tone with ball in hand, catching South African captain Dean Elgar for just 15 in the ninth inning.
It left the visitors in survival mode as they look to avoid a clean series.