Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja under fresh fire as Kurtis Patterson makes staggering statement

As Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith struggle with the bat, Kurtis Patterson's case for a Test recall continues to mount. As NSW opener and fellow Test hopeful, Sam Konstas, fell short of another century, his teammate Patterson broke his drought to give the Blues a chance of pulling off an unlikely victory in their Sheffield Shield clash with Western Australia at the SCG.

NSW went to stumps on day three at 9-463 in their first innings, a lead of 252 after WA were rolled for 211. Heavy rain washed out most of day two, but NSW made up for that lost time by piling on the runs on Sunday.

Konstas (88) resumed on his overnight score of 80, but his hopes of scoring his fourth century of the summer were dashed when he edged Lance Morris to second slip. But Patterson picked up where Konstas left off, scoring an unbeaten 167 off 255 balls to lift the home side to a big first-innings lead.

It marked a huge turnaround for Patterson, who was dropped last season amidst a form slump. He now has 527 runs this season at an incredible average of 105.4, thrusting his name back into the Test fold as he looks to add to his two caps for his country.

Patterson screamed in elation upon reaching his century on Sunday - his first in 769 days. The previous highest first-class total by Patterson was 157, but he cruised past that late on day three, striking 15 fours and three sixes during his glittering knock.

Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja struggle again

While much of the pressure was on Marnus Labuschagne's shoulders heading into the Adelaide Test, the 30-year-old stepped up under the bright lights. However, the same can't be said for Smith and Khawaja.

Smith is arguably the most out-of-form batsman in the Test side, averaging just 17.4 runs in his last nine innings as again he was dismissed cheaply knicking off down leg. Bowlers have seemingly worked out the Aussie batsman and the 35-year-old finds his spot in the side under serious threat.

And while Khawaja came into the Aussie summer in no doubt of being dropped, that is no longer the case. He fell cheaply for 13 in the first innings of the Adelaide Test before making 9 not out in the second. While in Perth he was dismissed for 8 and 4 and Aussie selectors will begin to ponder whether it is time for some new blood, especially given the fact he is 37 and his retirement is just around the corner.

Marnus Labushagne relieves pressure with defiant knock

The spotlight was firmly on Labuschagne heading into the second Test but the 30-year-old dug in impressively to likely hold down his spot in the side for the third Test. The struggling Australian batsman strode on to Adelaide Oval with his Test career on the line amid a stretch of low returns - eight scores under 10 runs in his previous nine innings.

But Labuschagne rediscovered some form, scoring a half-century before being dismissed for 64 on Saturday's second day of play. The right-hander extended his stellar record at Adelaide Oval in day-night Tests - he averages 78.37 with three tons and two half-centuries.

But his dismissal - sharply caught at a wide slip from a back cut - drew some concern from his former teammate David Warner, now on Fox Sport's commentary team. "The most frustrating thing for the Australian cricket team, Marnus Labuschagne, every time he gets to 50 he starts getting comfortable and starts playing those shots," Warner said. "And so often it leads to his dismissal."

with AAP