"This is disgraceful"- Fans fume as Pat Cummins declares the inning when Usman Khawaja was at 195 not out

The third and final test between Australia and South Africa at the Sydney Cricket Ground is heading towards a draw, with the Australian skipper Pat Cummins deciding to declare the innings at 475/4 and asking the visitors to bat.

This declaration came as a surprise to many, as opener Usman Khawaja was denied his maiden double century. The left-hander was left unbeaten on 195 on Day 4, and he needed just five more runs to score his maiden test double century of his career.

Cummins declared the innings on Saturday, January 7, because the rain played spoilsport in the game. It washed away almost two days of the game. Australia has already won the series after winning the first two games in Brisbane and Melbourne. And now they have a huge task ahead of them to win the third and final game with only five sessions left.

However, that declaration didn't go well with the fans, as they were hoping that Khawaja could have been given a chance to complete his maiden double century. Adding to that, the left-hander himself said in an interview after Day 3 was washed out that it would be pretty harsh if he didn't get an opportunity to complete his double century.

Usman Khawaja hard done!! https://t.co/KzYKINvDL3

— Armaghan Uddin Khan (@khanarmaghan) January 7, 2023

so if Steve Smith was on 196 would they have declared? I can’t think of the difference between Usman Khawaja and Smith 🤔

— Abdallah Al Bagdadi (@mokdad_abdallah) January 7, 2023

Feeling for Usman Khawaja, i was waiting from last 3 days of his first double ton (200) in test cricket and here Pat Cummins declared the innings.

😢💔😢#AUSvSA.

— Lost man. (Melancholy) (@Lostman674) January 7, 2023

Pat Cummins deciding to declare when Khawaja need 5 runs to get a double-ton is disgraceful. The match is going to be a draw regardless.

— L. J. Galanti (@jamesgalanti) January 7, 2023

So Cummins did a Dravid. Sachin knows how Khawaja must be feeling. #AUSvSA

— Shubham Chaturvedi 🇮🇳 (@Shubham_Chat) January 7, 2023

What a joke, imagine not letting Khawaja get his 200, 5 runs away, seriously. It's going to be a draw anyway. #AUSvSA https://t.co/Dl9D5b3us6

— Samuel Power 🇦🇺 (@SamuelPower68) January 7, 2023

Usman Khawaja has every right to be pissed off right now - it was gonna be a draw anyway, let the poor man make 5 more runs #AUSvSA

— Leonardo Puglisi (@Leo_Puglisi6) January 7, 2023

I can’t believe Khawaja has been done on 195* like that… https://t.co/gjtVrNO0G2

— Laz 🔴🇦🇺 (@Laz_LFC) January 7, 2023

Pat Cummins - Usman Khawaja on 195 😭 pic.twitter.com/BQvHRuo6n6

— FOR G O A T ¹⁸🐐 (@AbhiGoudVK18) January 7, 2023

However, the result of the game might not be possible as there are only five sessions left and Australia must dismiss the visitors twice. That's why the Cummins could have given a chance to the opener to achieve the milestone. Thus, the Australian management decided to put South Africa to bat as soon as the play started.

The first and second days of the game got shortened due to bad light, while Day 3 didn't have a game due to rain. Meanwhile, the start of Day 4 was also delayed due to rain. But the play got started after the sky got clearer. But it began around lunchtime.