‘We do want a third day’: McGrath Foundation counting on you, Albanese tells Australia’s cricketers

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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.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese takes a selfie with the Australian cricket team at Kirribilli House on Friday evening.

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.

Usman Kawaja bowls to daughters Aisha and Ayla on the lawn at Kirribilli House.

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.

“I’m sure it will be record crowds again, as there has been around the country.”

There was little mingling between the sides, ahead of what is effectively a dead rubber given Australia took a 3-0 lead in the best-of-five series at Adelaide, ensuring the Ashes would remain in their possession.

Rival captains Ben Stokes and Steve Smith.

England captain Ben Stokes took the series defeat in good humour, joking his speech would “probably go like Perth and Melbourne” – a nod to the quick finishes in those Tests.

“Thanks for bringing us into your home. The hospitality has been amazing,” Stokes said. “The cricket hasn’t gone the way we would have liked, but Australia holds some special memories for the likes of myself, Joe [Root] and some other guys who have been here before.

“We obviously came here with a goal in mind. We didn’t quite manage to achieve it, but we get to play in some pretty iconic Test matches, with Boxing Day being one of them, and the New Year’s Test being one of them.”

Albanese also referenced last month’s Bondi terrorist attack and praised Sydneysiders for turning out in huge numbers for New Year’s Eve celebrations. He said he hoped that would continue at the cricket.

“Last night, when around a million Australians gathered around these foreshores to celebrate and bring in the new year, that was a sign of defiance and a sign of who we are as Australians,” Albanese said.

“We will come together and gather and celebrate who we are as Australians going forward, and the Sydney Test will be the next example of that.”