By the numbers: Mitchell Starc’s horror figures and Azhar Ali’s record knock

MITCHELL Starc returned quite possibly the worst figures of his career, while Azhar Ali wrote himself into the record books — stunning numbers from the MCG.

Mitchell Starc finished with figures of 1-125 at the MCG.

MITCHELL Starc returned quite possibly the worst figures of his career, while Azhar Ali wrote himself into the record books.

Check out some of the numbers behind a remarkable first innings at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

STARC’S HORROR FIGURES

Playing the first Boxing Day Test of his career, Starc returned his second-most expensive figures ever.

The left-arm fast finished with figures of 1-125, leaving 4.03 runs per over. Only once has he leaked more runs in an innings. That was back in 2012 at the WACA Ground against South Africa but on that occasion he took six wickets (6-154).

Technically speaking, Starc’s worst figures were registered at the Gabba two years ago against India, when he finished with 0-83 across 17 overs and he has gone wicketless in 12 innings in Test cricket.

Among innings where he has leaked at least 50 runs, these are his worst figures since that Test against India.

These are Starc’s five most expensive performances:

6-154 against South Africa, Perth 2012

1-125 against Pakistan, Melbourne 2016

4-119 against New Zealand, Perth 2015

4-119 against Pakistan, Brisbane 2016

5-114 against England, Cardiff 2015

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Mitchell Starc took 1-125 on his Boxing Day debut.

HIGHEST INNINGS BY A PAKISTANI V AUSTRALIA

No Pakistani batsman has bettered Azhar’s unbeaten double century on Australian soil.

Azhar’s 205* comfortably eclipsed the previous highest Test score by a Pakistani batsman in Australia - Majid Khan’s 158 at the MCG in 1972.

These are the highest Test scores by Pakistani batsmen in Australia:

205* - Azhar Ali (Melbourne, 2016)

158 - Majid Khan (Melbourne, 1972)

152* - Asif Iqbal (Adelaide, 1976)

152 - Mohsin Khan (Melbourne, 1983)

149 - Mohsin Khan (Adelaide, 1983)

Azhar’s knock also broke into the top five all-time high scores posted by Pakistani batsmen against Australia.

These are the top five highest scores by Pakistani batsmen against Australia:

237 - Salim Malik (Rawalpindi, 1994)

213 - Younis Khan (Abu Dhabi, 2014)

211 - Javed Miandad (Karachi, 1998)

210* - Taslim Arif (Faisalabad, 1980)

205* - Azhar Ali (Melbourne, 2016)

BEST AFTER VIV

Azhar’s sublime innings was the second highest by a touring batsman in a Melbourne Cricket Ground Test match.

Ali was just three runs short of Viv Richard’s record, set 32 years ago, when Pakistan declared their innings closed at 9-443.

The highest Test score by any batsman at the MCG remains Bob Cowper’s 307, scored against England in 1966, followed by Don Bradman’s 270 against England in 1937.

These are the top five highest Test scores by a touring batsman at the MCG:

208 - Viv Richards (West Indies, 1984)

205* - Azhar Ali (Pakistan, 2016)

205 - Aubrey Faulkner (South Africa, 1910)

200 - Wally Hammond (England, 1928)

195 - Virender Sehwag (India, 2003)

Azhar Ali finished unbeaten on 205.

BACK-TO-BACK 400+ TOTALS

Only once before have Pakistan managed successive innings in excess of 400 runs on Australian soil.

That came way back in 1983 when the Pakistanis racked up totals of 624 and 470 in back-to-back innings at the Adelaide Oval and MCG.

Pakistan’s heroic final innings total of 450 at the Gabba last week was their highest total in Australia in more than three decades.

The tourists are aiming to break a 10-Test losing streak in Australia, dating back to 1999. They have won just four of their 34 Tests on these shores.

SOHAIL KHAN’S RARE FIFTY

When David Warner shelled a skied chance off the bat of Sohail Khan when the Pakistani was on 45 he gave the tailender the chance to raise a rare half-century.

Despite dominating Nathan Lyon and company at the MCG, Sohail isn’t actually that well known for his batting, with a first-class average of 14.23.

In fact, prior to day three of the Boxing Day Test he had only passed 50 once across 229 professional matches.

Deservedly, he raised his bat as he departed the field for 65 on Wednesday.

HAZLEWOOD REACHES TRIPLE FIGURES

It’s been a tough few days for Australia’s bowlers but there was a silver lining for Josh Hazlewood, who became the 38th Australian bowler to reach 100 Test wickets.

It’s taken the tall timber 25 Tests to get there, making him the 16th fastest Australia to reach triple-figures.

To put the feat in perspective, Ryan Harris took 24 Tests to take his first 100 wickets and Glenn McGrath took 23. To be within touching distance of those two is no mean feat.

Originally published as By the numbers: Mitchell Starc’s horror figures and Azhar Ali’s record knock