Australia def Pakistan in first Test by innings and five runs
Australia have sealed a first-Test victory by a huge margin, with Pakistan's fight on the fourth day not enough to spare them from a crushing defeat - with youngster Marnus Labuschagne tipped for an enormous future by an all-time great.
Marnus Labuschagne could be Test captaincy material according to one of the finest leaders of the modern era.
Australia was last night celebrating a comprehensive Test thrashing of Pakistan, but the bigger triumph is the heralding of a rock-solid top three after years of batting instability.
One Test doesn’t make a summer, but captain Tim Paine is bullish about the futures of Labuschagne and Joe Burns alongside the veteran David Warner in the Australian engine room.
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Former England captain Michael Vaughan went one further and threw century-making man-of-the-match Labuschagne’s name into the mix as a future Test skipper of Australia.
“He made a big impression on me in the summer in the Ashes series, the way he came in for Steve Smith at Lord’s,” said Vaughan on Fox’s, Cricket 360.
“He’s 25 years of age. He speaks like a senior prop. He’s not that yet, but I’ve got no doubt he’ll become a senior pro in the years to come.
“He has a great mindset, great technique, a love of the game and when you put all those ingredients into the cake you’re producing a nice cricketing cake.
“He’s going to be around for many years … and he’s going to make a lot of Test runs.
“… No question over time he’s going to have a say in the leadership.”
Labuschagne’s 185 and Warner’s 154 helped set-up a crushing innings and five run victory at the Gabba – with Mitchell Starc (three wickets) and Pat Cummins (four wickets) bringing down the curtains on Pakistan inside four days.
Footsteps were thundering across the Tasman, as New Zealand – who will arrive in Australia for three Tests later this summer – humbled England.
But Paine is hopeful Australia has finally found the engine room to give his side the consistency they have long craved, as they set their sights on winning the inaugural Test Championship.
“We’ve known Burns is a quality opening batter for a long time. It’s great to have him back in the side, he has a great combination with Davey,” said Paine.
“Marnus was given opportunities 18 months ago when some people thought he shouldn’t have. But obviously the selectors saw the quality of talent he had.
“He’s taken the experience he learnt from Test cricket then, taken it to England and got even better. He’s come to Australia and looks like he’s got better again.
“We’re really happy with the top three this game. One innings doesn’t make a summer but we are happy with the positive signs we saw.”
Pakistan didn’t come away completely empty handed, despite the magnitude of the defeat – after superstar Babar Azam reinforced his class with a maiden hundred on Australian soil.
Gutsy wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan also avenged the howling decision he was on the receiving end in the first innings to make a 95 – and at least give the tourists something to hang onto as they look to regroup for the second and final Test in Adelaide on Friday.
Paine admits he was delighted Pakistan destroyer Mohammad Abbas was left out of the Test, given the way he tore through the Australian side in the UAE 12 months ago.
However, he expects an SOS will be sent for Abbas in Adelaide.
“I was pretty happy he didn’t play if I’m totally honest. I thought in the UAE on wickets that offered him absolutely nothing he somehow made it move,” said Paine.
“I think he probably would have been a handful out there.
“… I’m sure he’ll be looked at pretty closely for the next Test match. Our guys have seen him play and know what to expect and know how good he is.”
Originally published as Australia def Pakistan in first Test by innings and five runs
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