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Australia vs Pakistan SCG Test live: Josh Hazlewood takes three wickets in an over to skittle Pakistan

Josh Hazlewood, take a bow. It was almost looking like an even contest at the SCG, but the country boy had other ideas late in the day.

9 min read
January 5, 2024 - 9:37PM
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Australia is in the box seat at the close of day three at the SCG, thanks to a monster over from Josh Hazlewood.

It was a topsy turvy day of Test cricket, with both sides getting the upper hand at different moments as the pitch began to play a few tricks.

Australia resumed its first innings on Friday morning after reaching 2/116 at stumps on a day when bad light and persistent rain prompted umpires to abandon play early.

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But the home side were dismissed for 299 to trail Pakistan by 14 runs.

The hosts collapsed after tea, losing four wickets for 10 runs with paceman Aamir Jamal taking 6-69. He has continued his stellar debut series to become a crowd favourite, producing moments of gold exactly when Pakistan needed them.

Pakistan slowly built on their lead in the final session with debut opener Saim Ayub doing well to score a gutsy 30. But the Josh Hazlewood re-entered the match. The country bred fast bowler swung the game back into Australia’s favour, finishing the day with remarkable figures of 4-9.

Scroll down for all the key moments from day three.

5.50pm - Hazlewood pulls off stunning over

Josh Hazlewood has made a massive breakthrough before stumps, taking three wickets in his first over after replacing Travis Head.

Saud Shakeel tried being aggressive from the very beginning of the over and edged a cut shot to Alex Carey. Sajid Khan arrived at the crease and lasted just two balls before chopping on a defensive push back into his stumps.

And he struck again on the last ball of the over, forcing an edge off Salman Ali Agha into the safe hands of David Warner in the slips.

“I don’t believe what I’m seeing here,” Ian Smith yelled from the commentary box. “Absolutely incredible, one of the best overs he’s ever bowled in Test cricket.”

Josh Hazlewood has made a massive breakthrough before stumps, taking three wickets in a single over.
Josh Hazlewood has made a massive breakthrough before stumps, taking three wickets in a single over.

5.35pm - Head strikes!

Part-time off-spinner Travis Head has taken the big wicket of Babar Azam late in the day, forcing a miss-hit cover drive from the Pakistani number four. The ball snagged the edge and Carey did well to clean up the catch behind the stumps.

Azam fell for 23 and threw away another solid start.

Hailed as one of the world’s best batsman with an average over 50, Azam has struggled in his recent visits to Australia and hasn’t been able to capitalise once this series.

5.25pm - Debutant falls after gutsy knock

Saim Ayub was trapped LBW by Nathan Lyon and sent on his way for 33 after playing a solid innings to steady the ship for Pakistan. Ayub went upstairs for a review but hotspot cameras showed no bat was involved, and that be ball would have hit middle stump.

The game is delicately poised before stumps. Australia can finish the day on top with a few more wickets, but the slowly growing lead will be in the back of their minds.

5.10pm - Pakistani debutant makes a statement

Debut opener Saim Ayub helped stabilise the innings alongside Babar Azam after two quick wickets and looked in sharp touch as he made his way to 30. A particularly aggressive pull shot off Pat Cummins got the crowd going, as Pakistan’s lead grew to over 60 runs.

The 21-year-old has impressed the commentary box with his crisp striking against the world’s best attack on a tricky pitch.

If he remains not out at stumps, Australia could be in some trouble.

Australia threw away a review just as the final hour ticked over, after Nathan Lyon almost snagged the edge of Babar Azam. The umpire wasn’t convinced but it was very close to the bat so the Aussies went upstairs.

Hotspot showed no evidence, and Azam carried on his innings.

4.10pm - Hazlewood snags the skipper

Josh Hazlewood also struck in his first over, picking up the big wicket of skipper Shan Masood, who nervously prodded at a length ball and edged it to Alex Carey behind the stumps.

“That’s not a good shot, that’s nerves, pressure and a lack of focus from the captain,” Michael Vaughan said.

4.05pm - Starc strikes in the first over

Mitchell Starc has cleaned up Abdullah Shafique for a duck in the first over for the second time this game. The Aussie left armer got some swing from outside the off stump and beat the opening batsman for pace.

Starc has built a career off troubling batsmen with the new ball at searing speeds and will be a nightmare to face for Shan Masood and debutant Saim Ayub this afternoon.

Pakistan have one goal: survive to stumps with their top order intact to build a commanding lead. With the pitch deteriorating, it’s unclear what a perfect score will be, but anything over 250 might be a handful for Australia to chase.

3.50pm - Aussies tumble for 299

Aamir Jamal has pulled off one of the great SCG bowling spells, cleaning up Australia’s tail and finishing with 6-69 from his 21 overs.

It is his second six wicket haul of the series after taking a bag in Perth on debut.

He trapped Pat Cummins LBW for a duck in the same over as Marsh fell and sent Nathan Lyon on his way in the next over. He darted one past Lyon’s edge and sent a catch through to Saud Shakeel in the gully.

Josh Hazlewood arrived at the crease and lasted just one ball before wildly swinging at one and sending a regulation slips catch to Salman Ali Agha.

“This has been heroic, he scored 82 with the bat and then took the ball and has Australia with a 14 run deficit in the first innings,” Kerry O’Keeffe said.

Aamir Jamal has finished the innings with 6-69 as Australia collapsed for 299.
Aamir Jamal has finished the innings with 6-69 as Australia collapsed for 299.

3.36pm - Marsh falls after tea

Mitchel Marsh hit one of the shots of the summer off Aamir Jamal immediately after the tea break, bludgeoning him through the covers for four. But he got too trigger happy and tried lofting one two balls later and completely botched the execution. The ball sailed into the hands of Shan Masood at mid-off and Marsh was on his way for 54.

“We’ve got a real contest here,” Kerry O’Keeffe said from the Fox commentary box.

3.08pm - Marsh brings up half century, Carey falls

Mitchell Marsh has brought up a well earned 50 on day three. The powerful allrounder has been reserved by his standards to help Australia steady the innings, scoring at a measured strike rate of just under 50.

Alex Carey was looking good as well on his way to 38 but fell to Sajid Khan shortly before tea. The left hander missed the line and was bowled through the gate.

Pakistan have now broken into the lower order with Australia trailing by 24 runs.

2.20pm - Marsh survives DRS

Hasan Ali almost had Mitchell Marsh out LBW midway through the second session with a ball that skidded lower than the allrounder expected and struck him high on the leg as he attempted a mighty pull shot.

The umpire’s finger went up but Marsh wasn’t convinced, calling for a review.

Ball tracking showed the ball would have sailed over the top of the bails.

Marsh and Alex Carey have done well to steady the ship after Pakistan’s three quick wickets on day three.

1.25pm - Travis Head sent packing

Pakistan have taken control of the Test match after claiming the wicket of Travis Head shortly after the lunch break.

Head was trapped on his crease as the ball thundered into his pads. The umpire’s finger went up instantly before the Aussie sent it up for review.

Unfortunately it wasn’t to be for Head as the DRS noted the wicket was to stand with the umpires call.

The loss of the fifth wicket came shortly after Mitch Marsh was put down in what was yet another routine catch.

12.30pm - Lunch on day three

Australia only added 83 runs to the scoreboard while Pakistan claimed the critical wickets of Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne.

The Aussies remain 114 runs behind with six wickets in hand in what is a Test match that’s really hanging in the balance.

Will Australia’s bizarre bowling tactics at the end of day one come back to haunt them?

12.10pm - And now Marnus is gone

What a peach of a delivery.

Marnus Labuschagne can’t believe it but he’s gone after being clean bowled by Salman Ali Agha.

The delivery ripped off the pitch and went straight through Labuschagne’s bat and pad before clattering into middle and leg stump.

Nathan Lyon will be licking his lips in the dressing room watching on as the wicket continues to deteriorate.

12pm - Smith sent on his way

Steve Smith lost his concentration and threw away his wicket.

Smith walked down the crease and attempted to loft Mir Hamza over cover but badly mistimed his shot and was caught by Babar Azam.

Pakistan had loaded up the cover region with three fielders in close proximity and the tactic worked to perfect as Smith walked into the trap.

After Azam hauled in the catch Smith pondered at the pitch for a long time before making his way off the SCG.

11.50am - Farcical scenes unfold at the SCG

Bad light and rain stopped play on day two, day three is a ball of tape that brought play to a standstill.

No we’re not kidding.

In the middle of an over Steve Smith took issue with the sightscreen as cameras zoomed in and everyone attempted to figure out what the issue was.

A small ball of electrical tape was balled up on the white sheets which was the root of the problem.

“I apologise to everyone watching because we just don’t know what’s going on here. This is outrageous,” Ian Smith said on Fox Cricket.

“That surely cannot be the reason, it can’t be.”

Michael Vaughan added: “”There is no way that can be stopping play.”

11.35am - Marnus brings up his half century

Marnus Labuschagne has raised his bat at the SCG after bringing up his half century after a pull shot raced away to the boundary.

It was only the fifth boundary of his innings which took 131 deliveries before he reached the milestone mark.

The snail approach is still in full effect out in the middle of the Sydney Cricket Ground as Labuschagne and Steve Smith slowly inch away at the deficit.

10.40am - Australia remain in no rush to put runs on the board

Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith look like they’re locking themselves in for a long day at the crease in Sydney.

The two Australian stars have been watchful and on the defensive foot as the Aussies remain a tick under 200 runs behind with eight wickets in hand.

10am — Khawaja’s surprising retirement threat

After a miserable day of play on Thursday, calls emerged for Test cricket to transition to pink balls during days of poor light.

There were farcical scenes as players were called from the field on Day 2 because of the poor light, despite the lights coming on at the SCG.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan raised the pink ball option with Usman Khawaja on Fox Cricket — but the Aussie opener rejected it immediately.

“Pink ball is not the same as red ball,” Khawaja said.

Usman Khawaja reacts after his dismissal. Photo by Saeed KHAN / AFP.
Usman Khawaja reacts after his dismissal. Photo by Saeed KHAN / AFP.

“No bowler and no batter will ever tell you that pink ball is the same as red ball. It is not, it’s a different beast in itself. The red ball reacts way differently off the wicket, feels different off the bat. It acts different out of the hand.

“The red ball is Test cricket.”

When asked if playing all Test matches with a pink ball was the solution, Khawaja responded: “If it is, I’m retiring.”

8am — ‘Really odd’ tactic exposes Aussies

The Australian cricket team now boasts the greatest bowling quartet of all time, but they still have one glaring weakness.

It looked like the third Test could be over quickly when Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood dismissed both Pakistan openers for a duck on Day 1 and Pat Cummins picked up his third five-wicket haul in a row.

The tourists were 4/47 at one stage before Mohammad Rizwan score a counterattacking 88 to rescue Pakistan’s innings.

The job was nearly done at 9/227, only for No. 9 Aamer Jamal to play the innings of his life to frustrate the Australians and push Pakistan’s total to 313. Jamal finished on 82, his highest ever score in first class cricket.

Australia’s pacemen opted to send down bouncers at Pakistan’s tailenders. It yielded a couple of wickets but proved easy pickings for Jamal, who dispatched the world class bowling attack to the boundary.

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In the last session on Wednesday, less than 2 per cent of deliveries were aimed at the stumps.

“I don’t think spreading the field out and only trying to get one batter out works very often,” Fox Cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle tweeted.

“Australia didn’t try hard enough to get Aamer Jamal out.”

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