Khawaja, Labuschagne hit fifties as Australia enjoy strong start to shortened Day 1

A 135-run partnership between Australian batters Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne has put the hosts in good stead heading into Day 2 of the final Test match of the series against South Africa.

Bad light and rain, however, meant that just 47 overs were bowled, much to the dismay of the 31,264-strong Sydney crowd.

It was the sixth time in the past seven Sydney Tests that rain had impacted play.

Australia made three changes to their victorious side from Melbourne with injured duo Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc replaced by Matt Renshaw and Ashton Agar whilst Josh Hazlewood returned to the side in place of Scott Boland.

As for South Africa, Theunis de Bruyn – who jetted back to South Africa for the birth of his first child – was replaced by Heinrich Klaasen whilst Lungi Ngidi was replaced by offspinner Simon Harmer.

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Australia won the toss and elected to bat for the first time this series.

Renshaw felt unwell and returned a positive COVID-19 test prior to the start of play and sat away from his teammates in the dugout.

The expectation is that he still takes part in the Test match, however, Peter Handscomb is reportedly on standby should the situation change.

Fresh off a famous double-hundred, David Warner lasted just 11 balls before edging an Anrich Nortje delivery to Marco Jansen at first slip for 10.

Labuschagne and Khawaja did a superb job steadying the innings, seeing out the new ball with a variety of defensive strokes before playing more freely as the overs went on; Australia entered lunch at 1-for-68.

On the second ball after lunch, Khawaja was given out LBW but was saved by a shrewd review which showed the ball cannoned off his glove into his pad.

Labuschagne reached 50 off 102 balls shortly before the partnership ticked over into triple-digits.

Khawaja – who became the 27th Australian in Test history to reach 4,000 career runs earlier in his innings – reached his own 50 off 113 balls shortly after.

Labuschagne edged one off the bowling of Jansen to Harmer at first slip on 70 but stood his ground with the belief that the ball had brushed the grass prior to Harmer snatching it.

A several-minute long third umpire review deemed that the ball was not caught and that Labuschagne could continue his innings.

A combination of bad light and rain stopped play prior to tea with only four more overs bowled prior to the abandonment of play.

Labuschagne edged a Nortje peach to Kyle Verreynne behind the stumps on what proved to be the final ball of the game for 79.

Steve Smith walked out to bat only to be told bad light would prevent further play with Khawaja ending the day on 54*.

Play is set to resume tomorrow morning, however, early morning showers have been forecasted.