‘Get him out of there’: Pakistan torched as ‘crocodile jaw’ blunder blows hopes of upset

Cricket legends were tearing their hair out when a shocking blunder let Australia off the hook just when they were on the ropes.

Australia were on the cusp of a rare Test defeat on home soil, only for one dropped catch to undo all of Pakistan’s work and all but snuff out hopes of victory.

Pakistan’s paceman tore through Australia’s top order on Day 3 of the Boxing Day Test to have the Aussies reeling at 4/16 — their worst MCG start since 1911 — with a slender lead.

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So it was a golden opportunity when Mitch Marsh edged a delivery from Aamer Jamal to first slip, only for Abdullah Shafique to drop a sitter of a catch.

It wasn’t the first chance Shafique has dropped this series and former Australian batter Mark Waugh said he had to be taken out of the slips cordon.

“I think you’ve got to get Shafique out of there,” Waugh said on Fox Cricket.

“He has not looked like catching one all series. He’s hung on to one, only just. At some stage you’ve got to get the hook out and say, ‘Out of there son’.

“It’s just like a crocodile jaw trying to catch a ball. It’s unfortunate but you’ve got to get him out of there. His confidence is so low at the moment. How’s he going to catch the next one?

“You’ve just got to get him out of there and get someone else in. Babar’s a good catcher, he should be in at slip. Shafique, go and have a roam in the paddock out wide.”

Abdullah Shafique drops a sitter that would have put Pakistan on top. Photo: Fox Cricket.

You can’t drop those at first slip. Photo: Fox Cricket.

Kerry O’Keeffe added: “The Test match is on that catch at the moment. It’s regulation first slip.”

The man standing at second slip also had a chance to take a juggling rebound catch, but his hands were closed and was too slow to react.

The reason I love watching Pakistan is days like this … they go from Genius to wheels off within in 10 mins .. #AUSvPAK ..

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) December 28, 2023

That dropped catch off Marsh was really quite embarrassing for the slips. First slip dropped it, but as the ball arrived second slip had his hands clasped together, totally unprepared for a catch. Dunno what’s going on there. #AUSvPAK

— Matt Bevan (@MatthewBevan) December 28, 2023

Wasim Akram said it was just another example of Pakistan’s notoriously poor fielding.

“I’m kind of used to it with Pakistan cricket,” he said on Triple M.

“(Shafique) shouldn’t be in the slips. He doesn’t look comfortable. He looks anxious, tight.”

To rub salt in the wound, the very next ball Marsh drove a delivery to Pakistan captain Shan Masood, who had a clumsy misfield and let the ball go to the boundary.

“This is why they’re the most mercurial side in world cricket,” O’Keeffe said.

“They can be absolutely brilliant and then put two balls together like that. The dropped catch and the skipper letting one through.”

Isa Guha added: “The wheels are off for Pakistan all of a sudden in the field.

Adam Gilchrist said: “All the momentum was with Pakistan and it just stopped. The air got pricked out of the balloon.”

The dropped catch let Australia back in the game. Photo: Fox Cricket.

Marsh (96) and Steve Smith (50) proceeded to put on a 153-run stand that likely put the game out of Pakistan’s reach, although a couple of late wickets will give the tourists hope.

At stumps Australia were 6/187 with a lead of 241. Alex Carey was unbeaten on 16.

Australia have lost only 11 Test matches on home soil since the start of 2010.

Pakistan opened the door and had the sniff of a rare upset, but Shafique’s dropped catch may have slammed the door shut on any hope of a boilover.