Australia v Pakistan: David Warner smashes day one century to silence Mitchell Johnson, critics
A ‘nice little quiet shush’ is how David Warner described the way he marked his century on Thursday – but was it just for Mitchell Johnson? Get all the day one fallout.
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David Warner gave no indication that he wants to build a bridge with Mitchell Johnson after marking his century against Pakistan on Thursday with a pointed celebration directed at the former Test star and other knockers.
After months of debate about whether he had earned the right to finish his Test career on his own terms, Warner opened his farewell summer by blasting his way to a 26th Test ton after Australian captain Pat Cummins won the toss and batted on a bouncy if not treacherous wicket at Perth’s Optus Stadium.
Despite several others blowing starts, Warner’s knock formed the basis of what was a commanding day one for the Aussies, who went to stumps at 5-346 with Mitch Marsh (15) and Alex Carey (14) unbeaten.
Dropped on 104, Warner eventually fell trying to hook debutant Aamer Jamal for 164, caught at deep backward square.
Having surged to 72 by lunch, Warner reached his century from 125 balls, bringing up his ton by guiding a short ball from Jamal over the cordon.
With the car manufacturer freshly emblazoned on the front of the Australian shirt, Warner set off on his trademark Toyota leap celebration before bounding in the direction of the commentary boxes, pumping his fist and then placing his finger over his mouth with ferocity.
If there had been any doubts as to the tone of Warner’s sentiments, they were confirmed when his wife Candice tweeted an emoji of a person being silenced.
Warner’s opening partner Usman Khawaja had noted in the past how Warner had an uncanny ability to know where noteworthy people at the ground were sitting, and Warner’s eyes appeared stationed in the vicinity of the Triple M commentary box.
Warner described his celebration as a “nice little quiet shush,” and said it was aimed at a broader group rather than Johnson alone.
“It’s just anyone who wants to write stories about me and, you know, trying to use headlines get headlines, that stuff doesn’t bother me. It’s just the fact that I have to go out there, do what I have to do. And I’m allowed to celebrate how I want,” Warner said after play.
Questioned whether he wanted to mend his relationship with Johnson, Warner referenced former coach Justin Langer’s West Australian column that criticism from former players to current players should not play out publicly.
“Mitch is entitled to his opinion. He’s a former player. You saw Justin Langer’s comments have said he’s entitled to it. You can go back to Justin Langer’s comments and refer to them, and so be it,” Warner said.
It’s understood there has been no reconciliation between Warner and Johnson in recent days.
Former Test paceman Johnson, who had been Warner’s most strident critic via a cutting column early in the month in the West Australian, refused to comment publicly when approached by reporters at the back of the Perth media area.
He was not on air when Warner reached his century, but when asked on Triple M about his impressions of Warner’s celebration, Johnson was succinct and appeared in no mood to engage in discussion about if he had been the primary target.
“Who knows?” Johnson said.
“He’s got a hundred for his country.”
"Anything been going on?" 😂 👠pic.twitter.com/qsrmmr6Oh5
— Triple M Cricket (@triplemcricket) December 14, 2023
Earlier in the day, Johnson had appeared keen to move on from the storm.
He did a ground report with Callum Ferguson from just beyond the boundary rope and did not appear to run into any Australian players who were 50 metres away near the centre wicket.
“Look, I wasn’t meant to be here from what I was told,’’ Johnson quipped, referring to media reports that he would not be part of the Triple M team.
“I was happy to be here. It has been an interesting time. I have given my opinion. I have said what I have said and we move on.’’
Fellow commentator and former Test captain Mark Taylor reassured Johnson that he was right to have firm opinions.
“Respect doesn’t always mean telling people what they want to hear,’’ Taylor said on Triple M.
“People get carried away these days thinking you are either with me or against me. I don’t like that.’’
The century was just Warner’s second in Test cricket since February 2020, his first at the venue and his 20th on Australian soil.
Warner added that his form at stages last year had been affected by the months-long saga about whether his captaincy ban would be overturned.
“We had a lot of stuff with CA last year and the captaincy stuff and I was going through a pretty, pretty hard time off the field from all that and dealing with it. This year, you know, we’ve had a great successful 12 months as a team.
“We’re all so pleased with our achievements, but we’ve still got work to do this summer and I think where I am in my part of my career, it’s it’s been great. I’ve not really had much to worry about. People make comments but you get on with it and you’ve got to go out there and score runs.”
The tourists’ seam-heavy attack featured two debutants and was not overly threatening, with the tone set early through a misfield from captain Shan Masood.
Fellow commentator and former Test captain Mark Taylor reassured Johnson that he was right to have firm opinions.
“Respect doesn’t always mean telling people what they want to hear,’’ Taylor said on Triple M.
“People get carried away these days thinking you are either with me or against me. I don’t like that.’’
The century was just Warner’s second in Test cricket since February 2020, his first at the venue and his 20th on Australian soil.
The tourists’ seam-heavy attack featured two debutants and was not overly threatening, with the tone set early through a misfield from captain Shan Masood.
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Khawaja was dropped by Abdullah Shafique on 21 before falling for 41 to Shaheen Shah Afridi, while Marnus Labuschagne also fell in the middle session, trapped lbw for 16 by Faheem Ashraf.
Steve Smith looked in excellent touch before feathering one on 31 to become Khurram Shazhad’s first Test scalp, while Travis Head made a quickfire 40 only to cut Jamal to a deep fly slip. It was Jamal’s maiden Test wicket and a familiar method of dismissal for Head at this venue.
Pakistan managed just 84 overs for the day, leaving the tourists at major risk of fines and World Test Championship points deductions.
DAY ONE LIVE COVERAGE
8.52PM: STUMPS — AUSTRALIA 5-346
Day one in Perth will be remembered as the day David Warner silenced those who thought his time in Test cricket should be over already.
Warner is destined for the SCG farewell he wanted after passing 150 for the third time in as many innings on Australian soil against Pakistan.
He finished with 164 off 211, clearing the rope four times and hitting 16 boundaries.
Usman Khawaja (41), Travis Head (40) and Steve Smith provided support, but without Warner Australia might have had more issues against an inexperienced Pakistan attack.
Mitch Marsh and Alex Carey will resume Australia’s first innings tomorrow as they look to pile more pain on Shan Masood’s team.
8.24PM: CROWD 9K SHORT OF GOAL
The ‘West Test’ organisers were hoping for 25,000 on day one.
But only 16,259 fans have turned out for day one in Perth.
To put some perspective on the crowd, it is more than 5k more than the day one figure against the West Indies last year.
Hard to compare to the MCG or SCG either being peak holiday periods, while this is a weekday start.
8.06PM: WARNER FALLS FOR SHORT-BALL TRAP
Aamir digs in a full over of short balls, gets hit for six and then gets David Warner a few balls later for 164 from 211 balls.
Warner was having nothing of the short-pitched bowling and tried to hit 3-4 balls in a row for six.
The fifth ball was above his head when he made contact and it skied to Imam-ul-Haq at deep square leg.
7.53PM: HEAD FLASHES TO FLY SLIP
You can just about hear a pin drop in Perth as Travis Head flashes outside off stump and is caught at a deep fly slip.
Pakistan has had that fielder in place for a good chunk of Head’s innings but he couldn’t resist a wide ball outside off Aamer Jamal.
At least Mitch Marsh’s arrival seems to have raised the spirits.
7.42PM: WARNER 150 UP
David Warner gets to 150 for the seventh time in his career and third time in a row against Pakistan at home.
Say what you want about the quality of the opposition but after all the focus on Warner leading into this Test, it’s been a brilliant response.
7.15PM: PAKISTAN SET TO FACE OVER RATE PENALTIES
Pakistan’s painful day in the field is likely to be made even worse due to a snail-paced over rate in Perth.
As of 4.15pm local time, Pakistan had only bowled 63 overs of the scheduled 90.
Teams which fail to bowl their full complement of overs face fines and are docked World Test Championship points.
40 minutes into the third session and Pakistan are still not at the amount of overs they need to be at for the Tea Break.
— Joshy (@the_joshy_boy) December 14, 2023
Over rates in Test Cricket will continue to be neglected #AUSvPAK
50 overs till tea. Negative wtc points incoming for Pakistan team.#AUSvPAK
— Ahmer Khan 🇵🇰 ✪ (@StellarTweeting) December 14, 2023
7.05PM: CRASH — TIME TO TALK ABOUT WARNER THE GREAT
Robert Craddock writes...
As David Warner launched his final lap with a customary century against Pakistan there was just one question left to ask … where do we rank him?
Was he great or just very good? Does he deserve to be ranked in Australia’s all time top 10 batsmen?
I’d have him at No. 8 just behind Steve Waugh and in front of Michael Clarke.
6.45PM: STEVE SMITH MISSES OUT
That is a serious ball by the debutant Khurram Shahzad.
He comes wide on the crease, angles it back in to Steve Smith and the ball then holds its line to draw the edge.
Sarfaraz Ahmed completes the catch and Smith is out for 31.
As is generally the case, he looked less than impressed at being dismissed.
6.30PM: WARNER EXPLAINS ‘SHOOSH’ CELEBRATION
After weeks of intense focus on his feud with Mitchell Johnson, David Warner says his 26th Test ton was a message to his critics.
Warner appeared to gesture towards the media area at Perth Stadium after reaching triple figures and was later quizzed by Adam Gilchrist on Fox Cricket about his celebration.
“It’s one of those things. There’s going to be criticism but you’ve got to take that and no better way to silence them (than) by putting runs on the board,” he said.
He earlier said: “It was just another Test match hundred for Australia. Something we try as best we can to do when we go out there. It feels great but there’s a lot of runs out there to be put on the board for the bowlers to bowl at. Wicket looks nice...”
6.05PM: ‘TOO LATE NOW CHAMP’: PONTING SLAMS DROP
There are few things worse than dropping a catch as a cricketer.
How about dropping a catch, then being champed by a Test legend?
Ricky Ponting hit debutant Khurram Shahzad with the Aussie slang sledge after he dropped a sitter in the outfield which would have removed David Warner for 104.
“You can see him practicing it now. It’s too late now champ. It’s way too late,” Ponting said.
At tea, Australia is 2-210.
"You can see him practicing it now. It's too late now champ. It's way too late."
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 14, 2023
- Ricky Ponting after Shahzad's dropped catch 🫣 #AUSvPAKpic.twitter.com/TqQbA3g5Gs
5.45PM: WARNER ALMOST BOWLED IN BIZARRE SCENES
David Warner wasn’t impressed with umpire Joel Wilson after being centimetres from being bowled on what he thought was a dead ball.
Warner did not play a shot after appearing to be hurried by spinner Salman Ali Agha.
The ball narrowly missed his off stump, but Warner looked perplexed when Wilson did not call a no ball.
“I think David Warner’s probably reasonably lucky it hasn’t hit the stumps. I think he’s probably attempted to pull out of that,” the Channel 7 commentators note.
“That is what he is saying to the umpire now. Surely that is a dead ball. The umpire, the bowler has crept up on Warner. He just looked up as the bowler was about to bowl the ball.”
🤫 pic.twitter.com/gFbrq3uQWo
— Candice Warner (@CandiceWarner31) December 14, 2023
5.33PM: WARNER HUNDRED
David Warner has another ton against Pakistan.
That’s now 154, 335 not out and an unbeaten hundred in his last three innings in Australia against Pakistan.
Dare we say it, would he rethink those retirement plans?
Pakistan has made him work a lot harder since lunch for every run and it took Warner 125 balls to get to three figures.
“This will be an absolute monkey off the back coming into the rest of the series against Pakistan,” says Matthew Hayden in commentary.
Warner appeared to gesture toward the crowd as well after his celebration in an apparent ‘shoosh’ message to his critics.
5.20PM: BOLAND QUIZZED ON AUSSIE BOWLING PLANS
Scott Boland says he’s happy to bide his time and declared he will be “ready to go” if called on this summer.
The back-up seamer in the Test squad was quizzed on whether it was likely the quicks would be rotated during a five-Test summer.
But he was giving little away, beyond saying he was content with his role in the squad.
“I will have to probably wait and bide my time. You have got three of the best bowlers in the world. I am happy being behind them,” he told Channel 7.
“When I get my opportunity to play I will be ready to go.”
Asked whether he would be in for his home Test in Melbourne, Boland said: “I would love to play Boxing Day Test mate. I always prepare like I will be playing and we will see what happens when we get closer to that game.”
5.05PM: MARNUS GONE, BLOWS REVIEW
Marnus Labuschagne’s Perth Stadium dominance is over — for today at least.
The Aussie No.3 has a formidable record in Perth but is gone for 16, trapped lbw by Faheem Ashraf.
Umpire Joel Wilson took his time giving Labuschagne out but it wouldn’t have mattered as the replay showed the ball was crashing into leg stump.
Australia is 2-159 with Steve Smith joining Warner.
5PM: AUSSIE STAR REVEALS LIFELONG HEALTH BATTLE
Australian all-rounder Cameron Green has revealed he battles an irreversible kidney condition which has affected his cricket.
Green, a generational talent who has both a century and five-fer in Test cricket over the past 12 months, finds himself outside the XI after Mitch Marsh leapfrogged him during the Ashes.
West Australian Green told Channel Seven in an interview that aired during the lunch break on day one of the first Test that he had been diagnosed with a kidney issue as a baby.
Green’s parents Bee and Gary also featured in the story.
The all-rounder explained that among the symptoms of his condition are a predisposition to cramping, an affliction that hampered him following a one-dayer against New Zealand last year.
4.45PM: HUGE CONCERN AS PAKISTAN STAR LIMPS OFF
Pakistan’s undermanned bowling attack could be dealt another blow with Shaheen Shah Afridi off the field due to a leg/ankle issue.
The big quick appeared to roll his ankle which trying to fetch a ball in the field and has gone off to have the issue assesed.
Limping Shaheen Shah Afridi went off field due to a niggle/injury. Hopefully it's just a minor one & he gets back on field soon... #AUSvsPAKpic.twitter.com/ImtH8lfA3a
— SAAD 🇵🇰 (@SaadIrfan258) December 14, 2023
4.20PM: SHAHEEN BREAKS THROUGH
The opening partnership ends at 126.
Pakistan has fought back well in the early part of the second session and gets its reward when Usman Khawaja edges behind.
Khawaja was caught on the crease, gets an edge low on the bat and Sarfaraz Ahmed takes a catch down low.
4.10PM: WEST TEST CROWD BELOW EXPECTATIONS
Predictions of a day one crowd of 25,000 at Optus Stadium have proven optimistic, with early crowd figures showing about 13,000 people have turned out in Perth.
The match has been rebranded the ‘West Test’ as part of a big marketing push to bring more people through the turnstiles at the opening Test of the summer.
Outgoing WACA chief executive Christina Matthews flagged the 25,000 figure recently, but early figures had the day one crowd between 11,000 and 13,000 spectators.
SEN reported the latest available figure as 12,909 at the second session.
Large sections of the 60,000-capacity stadium are empty as Australia piles on the runs.
3.20PM: LUNCH — AUSTRALIA 0-117
That was a demolition.
Apart from the dropped chance which should have removed Khawaja, Australia has absolutely bossed the opening session of the Test summer.
David Warner goes to the break on 72 off 67 balls, while Khawaja is 37 from 84 balls.
If there was any doubt about Warner making it to his planned farewell in Sydney, you can forget about it.
He played one shot which had the commentators in awe, falling to the floor as he lap swept Shaheen Shah Afridi for six.
“He’s thrown some really good punches today. Played beautifully,” Ricky Ponting tells Channel 7.
“Looked to be more and more aggressive as the first session went on. So might be a bit more pain coming up in this middle session for Pakistan.”
2.58PM: PAKISTAN BURNS A REVIEW
That was optimistic, to say the least, from Pakistan.
Shaheen Shah Afridi, who produced a wayward opening spell earlier, hits David Warner on the pad and convinces Shan Masood to send it upstairs.
Replays show the ball hit Warner above the pad and it comes as no surprise when it’s heading over on ball tracking.
2.38PM: COMICAL DROP GIFTS KHAWAJA A LIFE
Usman Khawaja has been gifted a let off thanks to a disastrous drop from Abdullah Shafique.
The Pakistan opener was running back with the flight of the ball after Khawaja skied a pull shot over the slips.
He didn’t have to move far but didn’t even make contact with the ball which hit him in the chest and went for four.
“His eyes are completely off the ball,” the Channel 7 commentators note.
ðŸ—£ï¸ "High in the air! Should be out...
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 14, 2023
"No! Never looked like it."#AUSvPAKpic.twitter.com/qhzQcCtjyS
That's something you'd see in European Cricket League. #AUSvsPAK
— justin1flynn (@justin1flynn) December 14, 2023
Pakistan aren’t bowling very well and our boys will cash in . Big score
— Darren Lehmann (@darren_lehmann) December 14, 2023
Coming for all batters. Go Aussies . Hope Pakistan can bat , feel Babar might
Need to make a lot and he can ? @cricketcomau@FoxCricket
2.36PM: WARNER FIFTY
David Warner has motored to a 41-ball fifty in the first of his farewel Test matches.
The Aussies are 0-74 and apart from a few edges over the slips, Pakistan hasn’t looked like taking a wicket.
This already has the makings of a very long day in the field for the visiting team.
2.15PM: JOHNSON AT PERTH TEST, RESPONDS TO WARNER FEUD
Robert Craddock
Mitchell Johnson appeared at Optus Stadium today declaring he had moved on from the volcanic week which detonated the summer.
Former Test paceman Johnson did a ground report with Callum Ferguson from just beyond the boundary rope for Triple M but did not appear to run into any Australian players who were 50m away near the centre wicket.
Johnson’s explosive criticism of David Warner in his column for The West Australian a fortnight ago has been a massive talking point leading up to the Test.
“Look, I wasn’t meant to be here from what I was told,’’ Johnson quipped, referring to media reports that he would not be part of the Triple M team.
“I was happy to be here. It has been an interesting time. I have given my opinion. I have said what I have said and we move on.’’
1.30PM: KHAWAJA’S SILENT PROTEST
Australian opener Usman Khawaja has vowed to challenge the ICC over its stance to ban his planned ‘All Lives Matter’ shoe protest on the opening day of the Test summer.
Khawaja had planned to wear boots emblazoned with the message ‘All Lives Matter’ and ‘Freedom is a Human Right’ on day one of the Test series against Pakistan in Perth.
But that protest was silenced by Cricket Australia and the ICC, a point which rankled Khawaja on Thursday.
“I will try to (challenge the ICC) as soon as possible, whenever it is possible,” Khawaja told Channel 7.
“There already has been a precedent set in the past that ICC have allowed. A precedent set where players have done stuff in the past where the ICC hasn’t done anything.
“I find it a bit unfair that they have come down on me at this point in time where there definitely has been precedents in the past of similar things.
“I am a grown man I can do anything I want, but I think the ICC will keep coming down and giving me fines and at some point it will detract from the game.
“I stand by what I said, I will stand by that, I think forever. For me, I need to get out there and concentrate on what I am doing but it is right at the forefront of my mind.”
Khawaja is wearing a black armband while batting in what appears a silent protest.
Khawaja told Fox Cricket he found it unnerving how many people had been unsettled by his stance.
“I don’t really see the controversy of ‘all lives matter’ and saying ‘freedom is a human’ right. I don’t see where it becomes political,” he said.
“I don’t really see the controversy of ‘all lives matter’ and saying ‘freedom is a human’ right. I don’t see where it becomes political.
“I find it hard to accept where people find what I said distasteful. No one is every going to agree with everyone, and I accept that. But it makes me feel a bit uneasy that people find those words uneasy.
“(But) I’ll always stand up for what I believe in even if people don’t agree with me and don’t like me saying it.”
Usman Khawaja is wearing a black armband.
— Ben Cameron (@BenCameron23) December 14, 2023
The word from the Australian camp is:
“He is wearing it in solidarity and respect per his Insta post yesterday.â€
Has tape over the writing on his shoes. @abcsport
12.55PM: CUMMINS WINS TOSS, ELECTS TO BAT
Australia will start the summer with the bat, after captain Pat Cummins won the first toss of the series against Pakistan.
Cummins confirmed Australia’s line-up on Wednesday, with Nathan Lyon coming into the team for Todd Murphy in the only change from the team that finished the Ashes at the Oval.
It means that David Warner will walk out with Usman Khawaja in half an hour for what shapes as his farewell series.
In what could be a big toss to win, Pakistan captain Shan Masood confirmed he’d also have opted to bat had things fallen his way.
But there is a decent amount of grass on the pitch that could offer Pakistan’s fiery attack something to play for in the early stages of play today.
On Lyon, who is chasing his 500th Test wicket, Cummins said it was an enormous boost to the side to welcome back their star spinner.
“It’s no secret he’s the main guy in our bowling line-up, it’s great to have him back in there,” Cummins said.
12.25PM: THE TRUTH BEHIND WARNER’S FAREWELL DEMANDS
David Warner has challenged the theory that he nominated his farewell date – a point which was strongly criticised by ex-teammate Mitchell Johnson.
Heading into the final summer of his Test career, Warner will play his final Test at the SCG next month – if he remains in the team.
Johnson said Warner did not deserve a summer-long farewell tour, owing to his role in the infamous Sandpaper incident against South Africa.
But Warner said he’d never made any assumptions about how the final days of his international career would play out.
“If you look back and read my comments, my ideal scenario was to finish in Australia. But you’ve still got to perform, you’ve still got to score runs,” Warner told Fox Cricket.
“Lord’s was going to be my last Test if I wasn’t scoring runs in England. But we managed to keep winning, going really well, so selectors kept the faith in me.
“It’s one of those things where you’ve got to perform, I wanted to keep the media focused about the team, and the Ashes and the World Test Championship.
“I was sick of it all being about me. It’s not about me at all, it’s about the team. And if we’re winning and succeeding, and I’m doing my job, so be it.”
11.45AM: THE ‘NON-NEGOTIABLE’ FOR AUSTRALIA THIS SUMMER
By Daniel Cherny
Pat Cummins says Australia must get a move on if it is to defend its maiden World Test Championship crown with the Aussies languishing mid-table.
Cummins described the need to win the upcoming home Tests against Pakistan and the West Indies as a “non-negotiable” as the Aussies seek to qualify for the next WTC final in mid-2025.
Over rate points deductions led to Australia missing qualification for the final of the inaugural WTC in 2021, however a commanding home record over the past two summers helped ensure Australia made this year’s final, won over India at The Oval.
This year’s gripping Ashes series was marred by slow over rates from sides, with England and Australia docked 19 and 10 points respectively.
While still relatively early in the two-year WTC cycle, Australia sits fifth on the table, with Pakistan and India occupying the top two slots.
Speaking on the eve of the first Test against Pakistan in Perth, Cummins noted the urgency for Australia to win this summer’s Tests against relatively low-profile opposition.
“We need to. I think we’re sitting about mid-table,” Cummins said.
“I think if last campaign was anything to go by, you’ve got to be able to win your home games. That’s almost a non-negotiable. And then obviously you’ve got to do well on a couple of overseas tours.
“If want to be in the final again, basically need to win home games, so that’s ahead of us.”
However the star paceman said he did not expect over rates to remain an issue.
“The Ashes was such an anomaly really. We never really had over-rate issues anywhere else in the world,” Cummins said.
“Felt like changing field every single ball. Obviously Lyono (Nathan Lyon) didn’t play the last few games, there was a lot more pace being bowled, a lot more bouncer plans, probably even more intense scrutiny, which makes everyone kind of step towards things a little bit slower.”
Australia has made just one change to the side that lost the fifth Test at The Oval, with Lyon returning from injury at the expense of fellow off-spinner Todd Murphy.
9.30AM: ‘EMBARRASSING’: LEGEND PINPOINTS PAKISTAN DOWNFALL
By Daniel Cherny
Pakistan legend Wasim Akram has condemned the at times “embarrassing” management of
cricket in his homeland and taken aim at Mohammad Hafeez after the former all-rounder took on the dual roles of team director and head coach for the tour of Australia.
Akram, in Perth to commentate on the first Test between Australia and Pakistan this week for Fox, bemoaned ongoing turmoil within Pakistani cricket.
Pakistan’s World Cup flop led to the axing of the national selection committee, that had been headed by former great Inzamam-ul-Haq, while head coach Grant Bradburn and team director Mickey Arthur have effectively been stood down.
Disgraced former captain Salman Butt was earlier this month briefly appointed as a selection consultant before having that role pulled.
“The problem is in Pakistan we are a one-sport nation, Pakistan, Australia multi-sports. Everything is available, organised, sorted,” Akram told this masthead.
“Pakistan, one-sport nation and you can’t even organise that. And that’s embarrassing at times.
“You know we have one job to do, but we can’t do it properly. And that’s where the problem is. If the leadership is not there, and obviously it trickles down to the whole management, the team and everything.
“The cricket director became a coach as well. I don’t get it. If you’re cricket director, hire a coach. Why do you have to coach as well. Why put extra pressure on yourself?
“And that’s where the problem is. People think in Pakistan, they can do everything.
“Unfortunately they can’t but I wish them all the best. Being a Pakistani I want them to do well.
“You can’t take two jobs. You are cricket director of Pakistan, not just Pakistan cricket team.
“Hafeez became cricket director, and then he said ‘OK I’ll become coach too.’ Why, why you become a coach? Hire a coach, man. But that’s where the problem is in Pakistan.”
Asked how Hafeez had been allowed to take on both positions, Akram said: “That’s a mystery. Pakistan is full of mysteries, as we know.”
Among the post-World Cup changes was the replacement of captain Babar Azam with Shan Masood.
The new skipper promised the tourists – who had not yet settled on their XI when Masood spoke on Wednesday afternoon – would play an attacking style of cricket.
“You have to be positive,” Masood said.
“It’s picking your battles, it’s being sensible, and it’s about seeing the requirement of the games and seeing what are the ways we can save time in the game and create a situation where taking 20 wickets would be easy.”
“We all love playing Test cricket. It’s the ultimate. It’s the pinnacle. I think by being a side that is a winning side, that produces results at home and overseas, we might get more Test cricket in the future.
“For us it’s about the bigger picture. We want to come into these conditions and see what are the best ways to win a cricket match. We’ll make mistakes, we might not get over the line, but it’ll be a great learning for us.”
Pakistan hasn’t won a Test on Australian soil since 1995.
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