Australia vs Pakistan SCG Test Day 1: Aussies embarrassed by unlikely hero
What did we just see? After a commanding start to the SCG Test, Australia were schooled as Pakistan made a remarkable piece of history.
The New Year’s Test has been dubbed “Warner Week” with star opener David Warner playing in the final Test Match of his career. It took until the last over of the day for him to make a cameo with the bat.
It was a wild day at the SCG with Mitchell Starc striking on the second ball to dismiss Abdullah Shafique for a duck.
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Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood got into their work early as well and had Pakistan at 4-47 and in a world of strife. But Mohammad Rizwan (88), Salman Ali Agha (53) and Aamir Jamal (82) piled on the runs to keep their side in the fight.
Jamal was a particular highlight. Making his debut as a bowler in Perth, the 27-year-old has flourished into a viable all-rounder this series with a number of handy knocks.
But his outing at the SCG was the most spectacular. Pat Cummins, who has impressed with his field placements and captaincy this summer, was searching for answers when Jamal opened up his arms and blasted Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon for sixes around the ground.
Australia tried everything late in the day but Jamal and Mir Hamza played intelligent cricket to keep the latter off strike and Jamal in the runs.
Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head made cameos with the ball, but it was Nathan Lyon who eventually sent Jamal on his way after he launched one straight to Mitchell Starc in the deep.
Lyon struggled with the lack of bounce at the SCG and finished with 1-71 from his 17 overs.
Pat Cummins was the star of the day with the ball, snagging his 12th five wicket haul and finishing with 5-61 from his 18 overs. His best work was in dismissing Babar Azam, who looked much more comfortable with the SCG bounce than Melbourne or Perth and raced to 26 with some beautiful cover drives.
But Cummins trapped the Pakistani danger man LBW with a ripping in-swinger that caught him off guard.
6pm - Warner sees off final over
David Warner and Usman Khawaja were forced to see through one over at the end of the day. Warner middled the very first ball to the fence and survived the remaining deliveries to stumps.
Ricky Ponting was particularly impressed with Pakistan’s tactic to throw spinner Sajid Khan the ball for the crucial over.
“You know what, I actually like this from Pakistan. It is unexpected. What you know with the spinner bowling is he will make the batsman play all six deliveries,” Ponting said on Channel 7.
“Fielders around the bat, will the new ball turn? Will it skid on? Will there be extra bounce? All of that stuff that David Warner has got running through the back of his head right now. For Warner right now, this is all about emotion. This is all about controlling your emotions here. It could be the last time he ever walks on to a cricket ground in a Test match.”
Warner had a nervous moment when a delivery suck through his defence and slowly bounced centimetres over the stumps.
“Heart in mouth stuff there, that last over,” Ponting said.
“Just millimetres away from that ball being chopped back on to the top of the stumps.”
Australia trails by 307 heading into day two.
5.47pm - Pakistan all out for 313
An unbelievable reverse sweep for six towards the members stand from Aamir Jamal has seen Pakistan past 300 on day one. After a horrific start, the tourists have done well to frustrate Australia and keep the game alive.
Australia have been roasted by fans for getting too creative with their attempts to snag the final wicket as the partnership built to 80.
“Bowl at the f***ing stumps” has been a common phrase found on various social media channels.
In the end, it was Nathan Lyon who took the final wicket. Jamal tried scooping him over the mid-wicket fence again but didn’t get all of it and sent it straight to Mitchell Starc in the deep.
The pair got a standing ovation as they left the field, piling on what is now the sixth-biggest Test partnership against Australia for the 10th wicket.
He fell for 82 and sent David Warner and Usman Khawaja running to the sheds to pad up to see out the final minutes of day one.
At 85, this is now the 6th-biggest Test partnership against Australia for the 10th wicket. Just went past Stokes and Leach at Headingley. #AusvPak
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) January 3, 2024
5.14pm - Aamir Jamal brings up 50
Well this has been some comeback.
Aamir Jamal has brought up his half-century, piling on a 50-run partnership with Mir Hamza who has done well to hang on at the other end.
At 4-47, Pakistan had no right to build a score this big on day one. Australia’s attack started the day well with some brilliant line and length bowling, but Pakistan have been able to capitalise on loose balls all afternoon and now threaten to make 300.
Pat Cummins has spread the field for Jamal in desperation but the Pakistani lower-order batsman has continued to pierce the gaps.
4.53pm - Marnus thrown the ball
Marnus Labuschagne has been given an over to try and get a breakthrough from the Kensington end. The part-time leg spinner got a bit of turn in his first few balls and beat the bat of Jamal with a brilliant delivery that looped and drifted.
It didn’t look much like Shane Warne, but it’s nice to see some leg spin back in the attack.
4.43pm - Jamal doing damage at the tail
Aamer Jamal has opened his arms up and punished Australia’s attack to build his side’s total over 250. Australia have scrambled the field in an attempt to stem the runs but Jamal has continually found the fence and done well to retain the strike to protect number 11 Mir Hamza.
Jamal’s highlights included two powerful sixes off Josh Hazlewood over the mid wicket fence, showing his value again in the Pakistani lower order. He has been forced to pick up the pieces multiple times this series and has made a name for himself as one of the side’s strongest multi-tool players.
4.11pm - Cummins takes 12th five-wicket haul
Pat Cummins has taken his third consecutive and 12 career five-wicket haul on day one of the SCG Test. He took his fifth midway through the final session with a short ball that Hasan Ali sent straight to Mitchell Starc at fine leg.
“He’s unbelievable,” Kerry O’Keefe said from the commentary box.
“He’s got five on a flat deck at the SCG. He grows with every performance.”
4pm - Starc rejoins the action
Mitchell Starc snagged his second of the day by dismissing Salman Agha Ali, forcing a rash shot from the Pakistani middle order batsman after he brought up a valuable fifty.
The ball was spooned to Travis Head square on the off side and brought the tail end to the crease.
3.50pm - Cummins takes another
Sajid Khan was looking sharp on his way to 15, slowly building Pakistan’s total to over 200 with Salman Ali. He hit Mitchell Starc for a textbook off drive to the fence and then started freeing his hands up and attacking everything that came to him.
He eventually fell to a short ball tempter from Pat Cummins and belted one straight to Nathan Lyon at midwicket.
Aamer Jamal, who is no mug with the bat, has joined Salman Ali at the crease.
Cummins has now snagged his fourth of the day, bringing his series total to 17 wickets.
Salman Ali brought up his fifty later in the over and received a big cheer from the crowd who have turned up to see a contest. Pakistan were looking awful at 2-4 but have done well to escape a complete collapse.
3pm - Cummins gets the breakthrough before tea
Pat Cummins brought himself into the attack for a final barrage at the batsmen before tea and struck immediately. Ricky Ponting had set the scene on Channel Seven, explaining how the Aussie skipper had set the field to tempt Mohammad Rizwan into going big.
Cummins nailed a short ball to Rizwan, who was threatening to bring up triple figures before the break, and it was all over. Rizwan tried to hook him over fine leg but didn’t get hold of it perfectly and sent it straight down Josh Hazlewood’s throat.
He fell for 88, trudging off the field with his head hung.
He showed the only real defiance from the Pakistani batsmen this innings after Babar Azam and Shan Masood fell earlier after getting a start.
Usman Khawaja dropped a chance to have Pakistan seven down at the break, grassing a catch at gully off the new batsman Sajid Khan.
2.38pm - Rizwan leads the fightback
Mohammad Rizwan has made moves to revive the Pakistan innings after lunch, taking the fight to Nathan Lyon in particular with a brilliant slog sweep for six. The aggressive right hander has built a 70 partnership with Salman Ali up the other end and doesn’t look like stopping.
Rizwan, a prominent white ball player for Pakistan, has trusted his striking ability this innings and looked danger in the eye multiple times as Australia’s quicks ran riot with the new ball.
He has made his way to 74 shortly after lunch.
1.55pm - Australian burn another review
Pat Cummins has lost another review after sending one upstairs that Josh Hazlewood believed had caught a faint inside edge.
The delivery jagged back and got through Salman Ali Agha as a noise was heard before a diving Alex Carey snapped up the ball.
Hazlewood was animated believing an edge had been hit with Cummins agreeing only for reviews to show the ball had missed the bat and instead had clipped the thigh pad on Agha’s back leg.
1.40pm - Marsh makes amends after mistake
Mitch Marsh got the last laugh after capturing the wicket of Shan Masood and this time he kept his front foot well behind the line.
A thick outside edge flew to Steve Smith at second slip and ended Masood’s innings after 35 runs.
As Smith hauled in the catch Marsh kept his celebrations in check initially as he turned back towards the umpire to double check he hadn’t overstepped once again.
This time it's definitely out!
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 3, 2024
Marsh gets the key wicket of the Pakistan captain Masood #AUSvPAKpic.twitter.com/U8Rpp040sV
1.20pm - Mitch Marsh makes unforgivable error
Mitch Marsh was thrust into the attack after the lunch break and looked to have struck immediate success.
A pitched up delivery lured Shan Masood forward with the ball angling across and flying off the edge of the bat into the slip cordon.
Marsh exploded in jubliant scenes only for the celebrations to be cut short.
The umpire’s right arm was extended out to signal a no ball. Replays showed Marsh had overstepped the mark by a long way, an absolute cardinal sin for any bowler.
Marsh gets the wicket of Shan - but he's overstepped! #AUSvPAKpic.twitter.com/Co3k7EZTZ4
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 3, 2024
12.40pm - Waugh left seething over resting star
The biggest talking point ahead of the first ball being bowled was the Pakistan team entering the final Test without their number one bowler Shaheen Afridi.
A heavy workload in the Boxing Day Test resulted in Afridi being put on ice by the Tourists in preparation for a T20 series rather than playing the final Test against Australia.
The move left Waugh seeing red and the former Aussie star unleashed when the topic was raised during the morning session.
“I think he should be playing. The Test match finished early in Melbourne, he got another day off,” Waugh said.
“Test match cricket is about bowling overs. A three-Test series a really marquee series for Pakistan to play in Australia against Australia.
“It’s only three Tests, he should be playing. They can manage his workload during the Tests.
“How many Test matches have Pakistan played in recent times?
“They’ve only played five ... don’t tell me about workload. I know he’s had a big workload on this tour, but it’s just wrong.
“Your best bowler is sitting watching this game. If it was one-all would he be playing? I think he would be.”
12.30pm - Australia in commanding position at lunch
An utterly dominant opening session to kick off the third Test has Australia in the drivers seat to complete the 3-0 clean sweep of the series.
The visitors enter the rooms at 4/75 after rebuilding their innings following the loss of their openers in the first two overs of the day.
12.20pm - Aussies lose review in close call
Mitchell Starc throught for sure he’d nabbed his second wicket only to be denied by DRS after his delivery hit the pads of Shan Masood outside of off stump.
The inswinging delivery looked certain to thunder into middle and off stump, but it wasn’t to be for the Aussies.
11.50am - Cummins takes his second as Pakistan in strife
Things are going from bad to worse here for the visitors as Pat Cummins takes his second wicket of the morning.
A tempting ball outside of off stump lured Saud Shakeel forward as he proded the bat with a nothing shot.
The ball feathered past the outside edge and nestled into the gloves of the waiting Alex Carey to leave Pakistan in all sorts at 4/47.
11.30am - Cummins sends the danger man packing
Pat Cummins has sent Babar Azam on his way with a beautiful inswinging delivery.
The Aussie skipper caught the Pakistan star off guard with a hooping ball that slammed into the front pad of Azam.
Cummins and the slip cordon went up in unison only to be denied by the onfield umpire. After a brief discussion the review call was made.
DRS showed the ball was going to decimate middle and leg stump with the onfield decision overturned and Pakstan falling to 3/39.
DRS does the job for Australia!
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 3, 2024
A big Cummins inswinger gets Babar LBW #AUSvPAKpic.twitter.com/HNjKtAXa2d
11am - Pakistan respond after onslaught
Babar Azam and Shan Masood have set about steadying the ship after both openers were sent packing for ducks.
Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are peppering away, but the two key batsmen have kept their wits about them and are looking to build a solid partnership.
10.35am - Carnage unfolds early at the SCG
Mitchell Starc has struck with only the second ball of the Test with a delivery that lured Abdullah Shafique into a loose shot.
Pitched up and outside off, Shafique stuck the bat at the ball in a bit of a nothing shot with the ball flying off the outside edge.
It sailed towards the slips cordon where Steve Smith at second slip snapped it up with ease.
Things only got better for the Aussies in the second over when Josh Hazlewood got one to move across the body of Saim Ayub.
The debutant was left helpless as the ball sailed into the gloves of Alex Carey to leave the tourists in serious strife at 2/4.
Starc in the first over!
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 2, 2024
Dream start for Australia in Sydney #AUSvPAKpic.twitter.com/0QvwWTW3Mp
“He didn’t do anything wrong there, he just copped a good one early on,” Mark Waugh said of Ayub in commentary for Fox Cricket.
“The Aussies look sharp... they could easily have been distracted this morning, that’s definitely not the case,” Adam Gilchrist added.
“Pressure... Consistent line and length. That’s what this bowling attack do, they’re so relentless,” Isa Guha said.
10.20am — Heartwarming scenes as Warner walks out
David Warner has walked out onto the field of play for his final Test match alongside his three daughters.
Warner was given a rousing reception from those in attendance with a special mention during the pre-game ceremony.
10.05am — Pakistan wins toss
Pakistan captain Shan Masood has won the toss and elected to bat.
Aussie captain Pat Cummins said he would have done the same thing.
The pitch shows signs it will have plenty to offer for spinners in the final days of the Test.
Cummins said the Aussie dressing room was feeling good and fit despite Australia going through the entire series without making any changes to its XI.
9.30am — Pakistan move is pure farce
Pakistan’s shock selections have left cricket commentators shaking their heads.
A heavy workload in the Boxing Day Test has resulted in star bowler Shaheen Afridi being put on ice by the Tourists in preparation for a T20 series rather than playing the final Test.
Cricket statistician Mazher Arshad said it is a “clear” sign that Pakistan was favouring T20 cricket over Tests.
“I can’t recall any moment from Pakistan’s history where a player, as important as Shaheen Afridi, was rested from Tests due to workload management,” he said.
“A few years ago, such a move would have left us fuming but to be honest now it is understandable,” Arshad wrote.
“We can’t really blame Shaheen or the management for thinking this way because that’s the direction cricket is taking.”
Aussie cricket legend Mark Waugh was scathing of the decision.
“He should be playing. I know he’s bowled a lot of overs,” Waugh said on Fox Cricket.
“It’s Test Match cricket. I just don’t get it. He’s the best bowler. He’s the leader of the attack. He should be playing.”
Pakistan cricket icon Wasim Akram said it “upsets” him that Shaheen appeared to be the one to make the decision.
Former Pakistan coach Waqar Younis weighed in on the issue ahead of the day’s play.
“We play for Test match cricket, we don’t play for T20s or one-day cricket. If you’re missing Test match cricket purely because you’re being rested, I do not understand. That’s a real shocker for me,” he said on Channel 7.
The tourists have also axed the senior member of their opening pair, Imam-ul-Haq, and will turn to debutant Saim Ayub on Wednesday after the former returned scores of 62, 10, 10 and 12 in Perth and Melbourne.
Afridi will not play at the SCG after he bowled 27 overs in both innings last week in Melbourne, including a second-innings haul of 4-76.
It is understood the left-arm quick, who was appointed Pakistan’s T20 captain in November, has been rested ahead of the five-match series against New Zealand beginning January 12.
He took on a significantly higher workload than Pakistan’s other three quick bowlers at the MCG as they only turned to part-time spinner Salman Ali Agha for 11 overs during the match.
9am — Warner gives update on cap
David Warner says there has been no good news to share surround the disappearance of his iconic Baggy Green caps.
Warner’s preparations for his final Test match were rocked, with the veteran revealing on social media that a backpack containing his Test caps and presents for his daughters has gone missing.
Warner launching an impassioned plea and has promised not to get the perpetrator in trouble if they own up.
He told Fox Cricket on Wednesday morning he has not received any further information.
“I haven’t found my caps. All I want is my Baggy Greens back, please,” he said.
“Unfortunately, this is my last resort to do this, but a couple of days ago our bags got freighted via Qantas,” he said.
“We’ve gone through CCTV footage. They’ve got some blind spots apparently. We’ve spoken to the Quay West Hotel who we absolutely trust, and we’ve gone through their cameras and no one has come into our rooms.
“Unfortunately, someone has taken my backpack out of my actual luggage which had my backpack and my girls’ presents in there.
“Inside this backpack were my baggy greens. That’s sentimental to me and it’s something I’d love to have back in my hands walking out there come this week.
“If it’s the backpack that you really wanted, I have a spare one here. You won’t get in trouble.
“Please reach out to Cricket Australia or me via social media. I’m happy to give this to you if you return my baggy greens.”
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