Some much needed centre-wicket match practice for Mitch Marsh and Peter Nevill is set to be one of the few issues of interest on the final day of the third Test between Australia and the West Indies at the SCG.
A result in the final Test of the summer is impossible, with days three and four washed out without a ball being bowled due to constant rain.
Play was abandoned at 1pm (AEDT) on Wednesday as a large storm cell continued to drench Australia's east coast.
It is the first time consecutive Test days have been washed out in Australia since the SCG suffered the same fate in the 1989-90 season.
Wicketkeeper Nevill is yet to bat in the three Test series against the West Indies, while No.6 Marsh hasn't managed an innings of note against New Zealand or the Windies across six Test this season.
Former Australian skipper Mark Taylor urged captain Steve Smith to give the duo some time in the middle in the second innings in the second Test last week at the MCG.
However Smith stuck to his regular top order batting line-up before Marsh was promoted to No.5 over Adam Voges for a knock of 18 off 31 balls.
The return two-Test series against the Black Caps in New Zealand is just around the corner and the Kiwis are expected to provide far stiffer opposition at home than they did in November in Australia.
There are fears both Marsh and Nevill will go into the two-Test series against New Zealand underdone given their lack of time with the bat.
After the ODI and T20 series against India, Australia travel to New Zealand for three ODIs before the Test series starts on February 12 in Wellington.
On the first day at the SCG on Sunday, 75 overs were possible as the West Indies posted a total of 6-207. Just 11.2 overs were possible on the second day as the visitors moved to 7-248, where will they remain two days later. Denesh Ramdin is 30 not out and Kemar Roach is yet to score.
For Australia, James Pattinson has 2-67 and Nathan Lyon has claimed 2-78.
Play is scheduled for a 10am start on the fifth day on Thursday. Rain is forecast to clear and some cricket is expected.
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