Rain washes out play as SCG clash precariously placed

Rain has proven the latest problem for Victoria's on-again off-again Marsh Sheffield Shield match against New South Wales at the SCG.

With the match already clouded by a COVID-19 case, players were unable to take to the field for day two on Sunday with constant rain falling in Sydney.

It comes after what was meant to be the opening day of the game was postponed when Victorian allrounder Will Sutherland tested positive to the virus on Friday morning.

Play was pushed back to Saturday, where NSW were bowled out 233, before Victoria fell to 3-2 early in their innings.

Former Victorian quick Chris Tremain (3-23) was the destroyer, claiming two wickets in his first over and another in his next.

However, the visitors were able to fight back to 3-68 at stumps, with Travis Dean and Jonathan Merlo both unbeaten on 32.

Constant rain fell in Sydney on Sunday with stumps eventually called about 3pm, while similar conditions expected for day four of the match on Tuesday.

NSW debutant Hayden Kerr rescued the home side from another collapse on day one with the allrounder's unbeaten 62 lifting the Blues from 6-148 to 233 all out.

Kerr said after play on day one that it was "a bit of a relief" to make his debut and he was just proud to be there.

"It was a hell of a day for the team, and it was just nice to be a part of it," he said.

"It was a pretty special experience to play against some experienced players, like James Pattinson, I just really enjoyed it and it was an opportunity for me to grow and to learn.

"It's as much as I could have hoped for (a half century on debut) given the circumstances we were in, so I was just focused on doing the job for the team at that time and I think I did that.

"The game is in the balance at the moment, maybe we're slightly on top given we've got a few of their top order out, maybe tomorrow if we can get a few early wickets that might swing the game in our favour a little bit more."

Play will resume 30 minutes earlier on Monday with Victoria 165 runs behind the NSW first-innings total.

– with AAP