Australia's worst fears realised as horror collapse opens fresh wounds in Pakistan

AUSTRALIA was given a brutal snapshot of the treacherous road ahead this summer when two debutant ducks underpinned another crippling collapse against Pakistan.

• REWARD: Finch and Khawaja repay Langer's faith
• HORNE: Why Renshaw's snubbing doesn't add up
• DARREN LEHMANN: we have to move on

Australia was given a brutal snapshot of the treacherous road ahead this summer when two debutant ducks underpinned a crippling collapse.

New opening pair Usman Khawaja and Aaron Finch laid a solid platform for Australia’s desperate first innings fightback against Pakistan, showing exceptional toil.

But the floor dramatically fell out from beneath them as all 10 wickets fell for just 60 runs in a stunning capitulation which provided another deflating reality check for Australian cricket.  

It was a bad day for Australia, but not for the first time in the first Test, they managed to clamber up off the canvas at the death.

Spinners Jon Holland and Nathan Lyon led a stirring final hour for Australia which left Pakistan 3-45 at stumps on day three, albeit with a commanding 325-run lead to rely on.

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Finch punches a back-foot drive for four.

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Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne both failed to trouble the scorers and departed in the space of three deliveries to emphasise that the ruptured Australian batting order cannot be rebuilt overnight.

After Khawaja (85) and Finch (62) carved out a brilliant 142-run opening stand, the wheels came off in all too familiar fashion.

Australia stumbled to 7-183 shortly after tea on day three, and then were all out for 202, with Justin Langer’s side trailing by a massive 280 runs on the first innings – although they were spared the embarrassment of following on.

Justin Langer reassures his players after a tough day at the office.

To their credit, young bucks Head and Labuschagne bounced back with brilliant catches under the helmet, as Holland finished the day with 2-9 and Lyon 1-23, with dangermen Mohammad Hafeez and Azhar Ali back in the pavilion.

If you thought the desert heat was stifling in Dubai, it will get even hotter in the national selection room over the months ahead.

With no David Warner and Steve Smith in the line-up, the scrutiny of every selection decision will be exacerbated.

The likes of Head and Labuschagne deserve time, but the stakes are enormous, particularly when two of the best-performed first-class batsmen over the past nine months, Matthew Renshaw and Glenn Maxwell, are watching from the sidelines.

Tim Paine feels the pain in Dubai.

Finch made a walk-up 50 after years pigeon-holed as a white ball player, and Khawaja hit his first half century in Asia.

But when the new leadership duo of Mitchell Marsh (12) and Tim Paine (7) followed the procession after tea, Australia was facing a potential disaster.

Mohammad Abbas got the ball rolling for Pakistan when a trap laid for Finch resulted in the Victorian hitting a sharp, low catch to Imam-ul-Haq at short mid-on.

Then it was time to shine for 33-year-old Pakistan debutant Bilal Asif who steamrolled Australia’s middle-order with figures of 6-36.

Bilal bowled seven maidens and leg-spinner Yasir Shah six to put the brakes on Khawaja and Finch and then suffocate the innings.

Shah should have had Mitchell Marsh on his bike for 3, only to drop a ball hit straight back to him – albeit with some degree of force.

Shaun Marsh was being relied upon as the new reliable head in the top six following Smith’s 12-month ban.

But the veteran nicked off early and Khawaja struggled to deal with the disruption and a few overs later played a rare loose shot off Bilal to be caught at bat pad.

Shaun Marsh looked lost before falling cheaply.

Head lasted just nine balls to Bilal and Labuschagne was gone the very same over.

The day’s play resembled an almost exact replica of Australia’s corresponding Test against Pakistan in Dubai four years ago.

Back in 2014, Australia were 1-151 chasing Pakistan’s 454 only to be bowled out for 303.

Making 300 could now be deemed a good result for an Australian side put firmly under the hammer.

Justin Langer has put an immediate mark on this team, as is his right as coach, and he has made no secret of his love for the work ethic and attitude of Head and Labuschagne.

But there is a searing spotlight cast on the men Langer has left out.

Maxwell is at home despite being the only available player to have scored a Test hundred in Asian conditions.

Renshaw was left out of this Test due to a perceived lack of match practice, despite the fact he’s scored six first-class hundreds since being dropped from the team that contested the Ashes last November.

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Originally published as Australia's worst fears realised as horror collapse opens fresh wounds in Pakistan