Second day live coverage of the First Test between Australia and Pakistan from Dubai
DEBUTANT Marnus Labuschagne has done his best to drag Australia back into the first Test after another tough day in which Tim Paine's captaincy was questioned - and Australia was dudded by a little-known rule.
MARNUS Labuschagne lived up to his billing as the 'heartbeat' of Justin Langer’s new team as Australia refused to wilt in the Dubai sun.
Pakistan are in full command of the first Test but a sizzling double-play from Labuschagne kept Australia desperately hanging in a contest that was fast slipping away.
Out of nowhere Labuschagne claimed a wicket with his searching leg-spin and then produced a dynamic run-out to further showcase the all-round game that has prompted his stunning rise from outside the Australia A squad into a baggy green cap.
Captain Tim Paine led by example with some superb glovework behind the stumps in oppressive conditions, and Pakistan were bowled out for 482 late on day two.
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With a trying 13 overs to negotiate before stumps, new opening pair Usman Khawaja (17 not out) and Aaron Finch (13no) defied the six straight sessions they’d spent baking in 38 degree heat to see Australia to the safety of 0-30.
But there is Everest to climb for Australia, who have only won three Test matches in history when giving up this many runs in the first innings of a Test.
Yasir Shah shapes as the most daunting threat and Pakistan’s master leggie could have had Finch lbw at the death, with replays showing umpire’s call had he been given out on-field.
"The wicket is pretty good, it's deteriorated a little bit but I think it'll hold together pretty well,” said Labuschagne.
“If we can put a really good batting performance on the board, which I’m sure we will, that'll put is really good stead for that third innings.”
Labuschagne’s prime responsibility in the Australian team is to make runs, but his work ethic and hustle has made an immediate first impression.
Left reeling by a controversial DRS rule that stopped umpires overturning a Nathan Lyon LBW, Labuschagne, the dogged competitor who said he would “do anything” to play for Australia, broke the 150-run partnership being engineered between Asad Shafiq and Haris Sohail.
Labuschagne took Shafiq’s edge and Paine took a sharp catch up to the stumps to leave Pakistan 5-417 at tea.
“I'm just happy that I was able to contribute in some way,” said Labuschagne.
“We fought really well for two days out there. Anything to contribute to the team.
“When I found out (I was playing) I was obviously super excited. I was also just trying to stay nice and calm.”
The 24-year-old should have had a second wicket, although Finch’s dropped chance at first slip was made up for when he ran out the same batsman Sarfraz Ahmed for little damage to the scoreboard.
Peter Siddle finished with three wickets to go past Merv Hughes on Australia’s all-time wicket-taking charts, and Nathan Lyon earned a second scalp for his 52 overs of toil.
Paine’s call to bring on Labuschagne for his first bowl of the day proved a masterstroke, but former Test greats Mark Waugh and Brett Lee questioned his decision not to take the second new ball earlier when the chance was there – it ultimately wasn’t taken until after lunch.
The skipper’s anguish was exacerbated when a little-known DRS sub-rule stopped umpire Richard Illingworth being able to overturn a not out lbw call that was shown by replay to be incorrect.
Century-maker Haris Sohail was plumb lbw not even offering a shot for 51, but because he was more than three metres down the pitch when struck on the pads by Lyon, DRS rules stipulated he be given the benefit of the doubt after the on-field decision was not-out.
Paine sought a lengthy please explain from the umpires but to no avail as Pakistan grinded their way towards 400 and Sohail went on to make 110.
Waugh told Fox Cricket that the rule demanded immediate change.
“As soon as you don’t play a shot I reckon you should be able to be given out on the DRS even if it’s outside the three metres,” said Waugh.
“Fair enough if you play a shot, OK, I’ll happily live with that but if you don’t play a shot I reckon you should be given out otherwise you’ll have blokes running down the wicket and padding up to balls knowing they won’t be given out.
“It should be given out anyway.”
Precious opportunities presented themselves on a wicket former Test all-rounder Tom Moody described as unfit for Test cricket.
It put extreme pressure on Paine’s decision-making and commentators felt he erred in not taking the new ball earlier before Siddle and Starc bowled 12 overs between them with the old one.
“What's happened is that they bowled both the quicks probably too long," Lee said on Fox Cricket.
"(The new ball) could've been taken from ball one today – but if they bowl seven on the trot like Siddle did… he's cooked. He can't then come back and bowl three overs with the new ball."
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Originally published as Second day live coverage of the First Test between Australia and Pakistan from Dubai
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