Anthony Albanese urges Australia and England to ensure third day at SCG for McGrath Foundation

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has urged Australia and England’s cricketers to ensure the Sydney Test reaches a third day, joking that the McGrath Foundation is counting on it.

Players from both sides gathered at Kirribilli House on Wednesday for the Prime Minister’s annual New Year’s Day reception, hosted by Albanese and his wife, Jodie Haydon.

During the 90-minute function, held in one of the city’s most striking locations, players, officials and families grazed on oysters, tuna tartare and prawns, washed down with juices and sparkling water.

Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg and chairman Mike Baird attended, while Glenn McGrath addressed the room on behalf of the McGrath Foundation. Teams posed for photos overlooking the harbour – Albanese’s dog, Toto, ran away when the snaps were being taken – while some of their children entertained themselves with a game of cricket in the PM’s backyard.

Australian batsman Usman Khawaja bowled to his daughters on the back lawn ahead of what could be his final Test. The veteran batsman has called a media conference on Friday morning to address his playing future.

With Australia leading the five-match series 3-1 after victories in Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide, Albanese said he was hopeful the fifth and final Test, starting at the SCG on Sunday, would last longer than Melbourne’s two-day affair.

Day three, which doubles as Jane McGrath Day, falls on Tuesday, and remains a crucial fundraising day for the foundation.

“Day three in this Test is really important,” Albanese said. “More than the others. So whatever you do, if things are going wrong, just get someone to play out a couple of sessions, because we do want day three. It’s something very special.