Cricket legend Wasim Akram torches Aussie batsmen over ugly issue

A cricket legend has stuck the boots into the Australian batsmen over a damning issue that unfolded during day two at the SCG.

Cricket legend Wasim Akram wasn’t happy with what he saw from Australia on the second day of the third Test.

Bad light and persistent rain brought an early end to the day’s play at the SCG, but the former Pakistan superstar was more worried about another factor.

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Australia made their way to be 2/116 in response to Pakistan’s first innings of 313, the slow approach however raised eyebrows.

Pakistan’s first innings saw them score at a tick over four runs per over, for Australia the number was a far more modest 2.47 runs per over.

While Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne have never been overly aggressive players, they both batted at a snails pace on day two.

Khawaja’s innings came to an end after scoring 47 runs from 143 deliveries, a strike rate of 32.87. Labuschagne remains a fraction above with a strike rate of 34.85 as he remains unbeaten on 23 from 66 deliveries.

Akram however wasn’t happy with what he was seeing and the lack of intent to threaten the Pakistan bowling attack.

The entertainment factor was nowhere to be seen. (Photo by Saeed KHAN / AFP)

“What’s wrong with them? They’re not batting on a minefield,” Akram said on Fox Cricket commentary.

“The ball is not turning. It’s a good pitch, the spinners are not bowling exceptionally well, but the run rate is 2.51.

“They’re not even trying to play. Usman Khawaja was well set but was just blocking everything, and if you do that you’re going to get a good delivery – and he got one in the end.”

With the forecast looking better for day three, it will be over to the Aussies to prove the post-David Warner era won’t be a completely dragged out block-fest where runs are few and far between.

No run. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

As Akram took aim at the Aussies over their run rate, fellow legends were left seeing red after play was stopped due to bad light.

Michael Vaughan made comments on the dire state of international Test cricket and the uphill battle it is facing to retain interest in the wake of the T20 revolution.

“I just can’t stand this happening in the game,” Michael Vaughan said. “Seriously? Is it that dangerous? Come on. There’s no threat to the batters. You might get out, you might play a poor shot but there hasn’t been a single delivery that Marnus or Steve Smith hasn’t picked up.

“The game continues to have these moments … the cameras are just going to be pointing to the players in the rooms doing nothing.”

“The light will probably remain the same for half-an-hour, 45 minutes,” Akram said, pointing to the umpires standing out in the middle chatting. “There is nothing happening.”

Justin Langer said the batsmen might not mind the decision, but it simply didn’t make sense to pull the carpet from under the crowd’s feet.

Bad light ended play early. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP)

“It’s so frustrating. Look, I have walked in all the shoes, as the player and as a batsman and you think, you want to be off, you want perfect conditions. We saw a with Steve Smith before. And then as a coach, you want what’s best for your team. But when you look at the big picture, it is crazy that these guys aren’t playing cricket here,” Langer said on Channel 7.

“They’ve got a big crowd here. They’ve come here for David Warner’s last game. It’s the Pink Test. It’s a competitive, combative Test match yet we’re walking off the ground. It’s not great for the game of cricket that this is happening right now.”

“And quite rightly,” Damien Fleming replied. “The crowd are booing. Because they want to see cricket. The lights are on. Let’s keep playing!”

Ian Smith echoed those sentiments on SEN radio.

“I love cricket but I’m not coming back tomorrow if I’m in the crowd and they’re going to do this. This is lunacy. Get back out there and play the game,” he said.