Australia v Pakistan, SCG Test: Aamir Jamal leads Pakistan fightback, David Warner inches from disaster
David Warner came close to disaster in his final Test as the opening day of the SCG took a dramatic turn in the final session thanks to an almighty fightback by the Pakistan tail.
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The scene is set for David Warner to give fans the fairytale they are craving, but not before the retiring hero survived a heart-stopping scare on the second last ball of the day.
Pakistan launched a stunning fightback at the SCG on day one from the earlier crisis point of 4-47, meaning Warner was thrust into the nerve-wracking hot seat of having to face one solitary over before stumps.
Commentators speculated whether nightwatchman Nathan Lyon might be sent out to see off the six tricky balls, but the SCG erupted when the local boy strode out of the members’ gate, before pausing for a poignant embrace with opening partner Usman Khawaja, who he has played alongside since he was five-years old.
Pakistan, who made a very competitive 313, paid Warner the respect of forming a guard of honour to welcome him to the middle.
Some might have questioned whether their generosity had gone too far when they pulled the surprise option of opening the bowling with spinner Sajid Khan – who Warner dispatched to the boundary off the very first ball.
But the blood pressure went through the roof on the penultimate delivery, when a Warner defensive shot bounced back over the stumps, clearing the bails by millimetres as Pakistani fielders threw themselves on the ground in agony at how close they came to spoiling the party.
Mitchell Marsh revealed post-match that Lyon was nearly sent out to protect the main act – but Warner will resume on day two on six, with the stage set for a signature performance in his final Test.
“History would suggest he’s always been able to find stuff when he needs to,” Marsh said.
“I saw the replay (of second last ball), and it was mighty close.
“As we always say in this game, you need a little bit of luck.
“It’s been an incredible build-up for him this week and one of our key themes for the week is to hopefully send him out with a win, but most importantly for him to enjoy his last five days as a Test cricketer.”
Fearless Pakistan conjured an unexpected rear-guard uprising late on day one, which kept them well in truly in the Test – and made star of the show Warner wait to take centre stage.
Pakistan No.9 Aamir Jamal hammered an extraordinary 82 off 97 to pile on a game-changing 86 runs for the final wicket, as Australia’s bowlers were given flashbacks to some of the Ben Stokes-inflicted horrors of the Ashes.
After threatening a cake walk with an early blitzkrieg that left the visitors 5-96, and then having their opponents nine wickets down for 227, Australia reverted to the short-pitched bowling tactics that failed against England, to let Pakistan back into the contest and post a more-than-handy 313.
Jamal was playing every shot in the book, including a Glenn Maxwell-style reverse sweep for six off Nathan Lyon, until the champion off-spinner finally got his man caught in the deep to end the innings.
And not a moment too soon.
Had Pakistan batted another 17 balls to extend the innings past 80 overs they would have likely been docked points on the World Test Championship table for a slow over-rate.
Cummins’ followed up his 10-wicket heroics in Melbourne with his third consecutive five-wicket bag – taking 5-61 in another performance which adds to his ever-growing greatness.
It was all too easy for Australia until Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan hit the accelerator with a brilliant knock of 88 off 103, before Cummins’ finally outsmarted him.
First-over specialist Mitchell Starc struck with the second delivery of the match and finished with two wickets, including the important stopping of another flying Pakistan lower-order hitter Salman Ali Agha (53 off 67).
All-rounder Mitchell Marsh had a roller coaster experience where he thought he had the wicket of Shan Masood only to have it taken off him for a big front-foot no-ball.
But Masood only added two to his score, before Marsh got him caught by Steve Smith at slip for a second time – and this time it counted.
“When I got the wicket obviously I was pretty excited, which quickly turned into embarrassment after my celebration,” Marsh said.
DAY 1 LIVE
With Joe Barton
6.00PM: WARNER REACHES STUMPS BY SKIN OF HIS TEEETH
How. Close. Was. That.
With the penultimate ball of the day, Warner is back and playing a defensive stroke and the ball bounces up off his front foot and millimetres over the stumps.
A millimetre from disaster. But Warner survives, on six not out, and Australia 0-6.
Australia blew their chance to truly drive home their advantage with a lacklustre final session, as Pakistan managed to push their first innings to 313 on the back of a wagging tail.
Warner had to survive just one over, and he did. By the skin of his teeth.
He’ll return tomorrow with runs on his mind on a batting wicket that looks to have minimal demons. And we’ll be with you every step of the way!
5.55PM: WARNER WALKS OUT FOR FINAL TEST
There was some speculation that Nathan Lyon was going to take one of the openers roles – given he sprinted off the field after taking the final wicket.
But there’s no shenanigans. It’s Warner and Khawaja out in the middle late on day one.
And in his final Test, it will be Warner who faces the first ball – and he thumps Sajid Khan for four through the covers.
That’s a nice nerve-settler.
5.46PM: WICKET! LYON WRAPS UP FINAL WICKET
Nathan Lyon gets the final wicket… and Pakistan’s innings comes to a close on 313.
Jamal the final wicket to fall, caught on the long-on boundary by Mitchell Starc for 82, but the final partnership of 86 has changed this match in a massive way.
And now? Well, as the final wicket fell when it did…. David Warner and Usman Khawaja will face at least one over, perhaps two.
5.40PM: TIME RUNNING OUT FOR WARNER
Time is rapidly running out for Daivd Warner to bat today – and he’s unlikely to want to watch a wicket fall in the next 10 minutes, because that would result in him facing one, or perhaps two, overs in the Sydney dusk.
If the 10th wicket falls after 5.50pm local time, that will conclude the day’s play – as 10 minutes are lost for the change in innings.
Australia, meanwhile, has turned to Travis Head with Pakistan 9-312 and Aamir Jamal unbeaten on 81 – his greatest first-class score.
He has humiliated the Australian attack and turned the context of the first day’s play.
5.30PM: PAKISTAN RATTLE AUSSIES IN GRUELLING SESSION
Aamir Jamal is having the innings of his life. And that’s not just because it’s only his third Test, and first half-century.
It’s just his third first-class half century – and he’s rapidly zeroing in on his best ever first class score, an unbeaten 80 in Pakistan.
He’s hit twin sixes of Josh Hazlewood, and reverse swept Nathan Lyon for a six also. He’s toyed with the best bowling attack in the world and, miraculously, pushed Pakistan’s total beyond 300.
His partnership with Mir Hamza – currently totalling 73 runs – is the greatest 10th wicket partnership at the SCG in nearly 40 years.
From 5-96 just after lunch, it is an extraordinary comeback from Pakistan.
5.10PM: AUSSIE OVER RATES RAISE EYEBROWS
We’re into the final hour of the day – including the extra half hour intended to give bowlers time to complete the allocated 80 overs.
And Australia still has a long way to go to get through their overs. And it’s probably why they’re turning to Marnus Labuschagne late in the day to roll the arm over.
It’s been a day of slow going, a lot of fast bowling and regular wickets… but is the bowling rate giving the fans value?
Officially, Australia is only two overs behind the official rate. And yet, with 20 minutes left on the scheduled day’s play, there’s still 21 overs slated to come.
They will not be bowled.
4.45PM: SHORT-PITCH STRATEGY CRUELLING AUSSIES
Australia’s obsession with short-pitch tactics at tailenders – and their strategy in general at this point in an innings – continues to come back to bite them.
The final-wicket stand between Aamir Jamal and Mir Hamza has lasted eight overs and contributed 24 runs.
Of those eight overs, Hamza has faced just nine deliveries. Jamal has comfortably handled the short-pitched bowling on a slower SCG deck, lifting Josh Hazlewood for two sixes into the Ladies Pavilion.
At the drinks break in the final session of the day, Australia look a tad predictable tactically.
And it’s bringing up the odd Ashes flashback.
4.35PM: PAKISTAN TAIL WAGS, AUSSIES GET LOOSE
It’s all getting a touch loose from the Australians at the moment. They’re sticking solid with the short-pitched theory, and it isn’t paying off.
The tail is wagging, and this final-wicket partnership is up to 26 runs. Jamal has hit three boundaries and a six, taking the long-handle to Josh Hazlewood in particular.
If it wasn’t already, this will surely soon frustrate Cummins and co. David Warner would’ve been thinking of padding up for the past half hour at least. Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood and Lyon may all have pictured themselves taking the final wicket.
But instead, Pakistan creep past 250 and keep thwarting the Australian attack.
4.20PM: COMICAL FIELDING TAKES OVER AT THE SCG
It’s getting gloomier, and gloomier at the SCG. And the radar suggests there is rainfall coming in from the west…. Perhaps hitting the SCG in an hour.
And with the floodlights on, Australia is responding with some funky behaviour in the field.
Both Steve Smith and Josh Hazlewood, NSW cricketers through and through, have made fools of themselves by losing the ball in the background while fielding in front of the Ladies Pavilion and Members Stand side of the ground.
Nathan Lyon very nearly produces a bit of brilliance, however, almost pulling off an athletic caught and bowled off Aamir Jamal – parrying a chance up, spinning around, and very nearly reeling it in to end the innings.
Instead, Pakistan are 9-238.
4.10PM: WICKET! AUSSIES STRIKE AFTER FAILED DRS
And just like that, Australia’s run out of reviews this innings.
Hasan Ali flashed at a wider delivery from Pat Cummins – who is chasing his fifth wicket – and no one was particularly convinced, perhaps aside from Mitchell Marsh who was very vocal.
Still, they turned to the third umpire, who confirmed no edge.
But two balls later, Cummins has Hasan caught out at fine leg for a duck.
After a pair of five-wicket hauls at the MCG, he opens with his first-ever Test five-for at his homeground SCG.
Is Michael Vaughan onto something? Maybe he could end up being Australia’s best since Bradman.
4.00PM: WICKET! END IS NIGH FOR PAKISTAN
Salman’s stand comes to an end – and it’s the short stuff that once again does the damage.
Mitchell Starc grabs his second, dropping one short and it’s another fairly soft dismissal – and a perfect plan.
Salman paddles one around the corner to Travis Head and square leg, to be dismissed for 52. Pakistan are 8-226.
That’s a disappointing end after a gutsy innings, but the end is nigh for this Pakistan innings. David Warner will bat tonight.
3.55PM: SALMAN NOTCHES HALF CENTURY
Back-to-back half-centuries for Agha Salman, who has showed so much more fight than some of his more fancied top-order teammates this series.
With eight fours, he’s played aggressively and has done superbly – along with Rizwan – to drag Pakistan towards a respectable score.
From 4-47, and then 5-96, it could’ve gone even more pear-shaped very quickly for Pakistan.
But Salman has shown this team has a backbone.
3.50PM: WICKET! CUMMINS THE MAN ONCE AGAIN
It’s getting gloomy at the SCG, the lights are on, and the mood in the Pakistan rooms just got a bit gloomier as well.
Sajid Khan falls into Australia’s trap, with Pat Cummins – it’s him, it’s always him – continuing with a short-pitched barrage.
But Khan couldn’t help himself, pulling a short one to mid-wicket where Nathan Lyon rocks back onto his heels and takes a sharp catch.
Khan goes for 15, Pakistan are 7-220, and with two hours left in the day, fans are starting to think they might get a glimpse of David Warner with the bat in his final Test.
But first, they might see another Cummins’ five-wicket haul. He has 4-47, but has never got 5 at the SCG.
3.40PM: IS RAIN HEADED TO THE SCG?
We’re back on at the SCG, with a big final session coming up.
And there’s a whisper around the ground that storms are moving in from the west of Sydney.
There’s no ground in Australia which is more plagued by bad weather than the SCG, but we’ve so far had nothing but sunshine and fresh air today.
Could that be disrupted before stumps?
Pakistan are 6-210 early in the final session for the day.
3.10PM: DROPPED! PAKISTAN SPARED FROM ‘DISASTER’
A life! Pakistan needed that. Sajid Khan hangs the bat out and Mitch Marsh probably should have a second – with Usman Kjawaja spilling a low chance around his ankles.
That would’ve been a killer blow for Pakistan right before the tea break.
“That’s regulation. That’s gone slowly,” says Mark Waugh on Fox Cricket.
“He’s up a bit too high. Should’ve been down a bit lower.
“That would’ve been a disaster for Pakistan if that had been caught.”
Instead, Pakistan survive until tea at 6-199.
3.00PM: WICKET! CUMMINS STRIKES TO REMOVE RIZWAN
The man with the Midas touch.
Pat Cummins brings himself back into the attack and with just his second delivery he breaks Pakistan’s resolve once again.
Mohammad Rizwan will be devastated to have thrown away a second century against the Australians, but he falls for 88 after skying a pull shot down to Josh Hazlewood at fine leg. That is a good, diving catch, and Rizwan is clearly disappointed as he trudges off the ground.
Pakistan are 6-191, and should still have their sights on stumps and a first-innings total of 300 or more. But that is a killer blow.
2.55PM: RIZWAN LEADS PAKISTAN FIGHTBACK
This session has just started to get away from Australia a little bit. Pat Cummins has pulled the right rein throughout the series – and throughout 2023, to be fair – but he may have let Pakistan off the hook a little bit here.
And perhaps it’s time the captain to bring himself back into the attack?
As the ball has gotten softer, and the pitch flattened out a touch, Mohammad Rizwan has taken the attack to the Australian bowlers.
And he’s got the best of them.
Rizwan is scoring with freedom, and at a strike rate of just a shade under 90, and has added 94 runs for the sixth wicket. Just when it looked like they’d be bowled out by tea, Pakistan have shown some resolve and regrouped to be 5-190 late in the second session.
“Can they go on with it? If they make 330, 340… they’re in the game. I didn’t think I’d be saying that a little before lunch,” says Fox Cricket’s Harsha Bhogle.
2.40PM: RIZWAN MAKES MOCKERY OF TOP ORDER
Mohammad Rizwan is making his top order look like a bunch of clowns right now, playing a sparkling knock to both frustrate Australia’s bowlers and give his homeland hope.
The aggressive nuggety keeper-batsman is playing with a cavalier attitude has plundered nine boundaries and a further two sixes as he storms towards what would be a sensational century.
It’s been largely a one-man show, however, with Pakistan 5-170 late in the middle session, and probably highlights just what a good batting deck is on offer here in Sydney.
2.20PM: VAUGHAN’S SHOCK CALL FOR ‘BEST SINCE BRADMAN’
By Jacob Kuriype
By the time he pulls stumps, Pat Cummins will be regarded as Australia’s second greatest cricketer ever, according to Michael Vaughan.
Asked on Fox Cricket which of Cummins or Dennis Lillee he rated higher, Vaughan took things further in his praise of the Australian captain.
“I honestly think he’s that good that we’ll be talking about him in a few years’ time as being just behind Sir Don Bradman as the greatest Australian cricketer,” Vaughan said.
Still only 30, Cummins has more than 250 Test wickets to his name at an average just north of 22. Alongside his ability with the ball, the right-armer also captained Australia to World Test Championship and ODI World Cup glory last year.
Nevertheless, it is a bold prediction from Vaughan given the long list of competitors for the title of best since Bradman – Shane Warne, Ricky Ponting, Greg Chappell, Keith Miller and Steve Smith to name just a few.
2.10PM: PAKISTAN REACH DRINKS WITH NO MORE DAMAGE
Another chunk of play, another wicket, and a little bit more resistance from Pakistan, but Mohammad Rizwan has steered them to the drinks break without any more damage.
5-122, though, means there is a lot of work to be done.
But with the first ball after drinks, Rizwan brings up his half-century with a pull shot off Josh Hazlewood. He’s played a fine knock. How on earth was he not selected in the first Test?
1.55PM: AUSSIES BURN A SECOND REVIEW
Australia is down to their last review for the first innings – with a caught-behind appeal turned down, first by the on-field umpire and then by DRS.
There was a noise as the ball passed Agha Salman’s bat, and Josh Hazlewood led the appeal. Certainly, it was enough to convince captain Pat Cummins to have another look.
But it’s simply clipped the top of the pad. Just the one review remains for Australia. Mind you, Pakistan are 5-107.
1.40PM: WICKET! MARSH LANDS THE BIG FISH
He’s done it… again!
Mitchell Marsh gets the edge from Shan Masood, and it flies to Steve Smith at second slip. It’s a replay of the one a few overs ago, where he overstepped and gave the skipper a life.
This time Marsh is behind the line and Masood’s knock comes to an end. Pakistan are officially on the ropes. They’re 5-96, and Australia smell blood in the water.
The wicket comes moments after Mike Hussey, on Fox Cricket, says that conditions are firmly back in the batsmen’s favour.
“You can already see that batting has become easier,” Hussey said.
“It’s an easy-paced pitch, they’ve been able to rotate the strike nicely. Conditions are getting better all the time.”
1.20PM: WICKET DENIED! ‘CARDINAL SIN’ SAVES MASOOD
Ooooooh, that could be a big moment in this match.
Mitchell Marsh has Shan Masood caught in the slips for 32, Pakistan lose their fifth wicket, and are on the verge of a disaster but…. It’s a no ball.
“It’s the cardinal sin if it’s happened…” says New Zealand’s Ian Smith on Fox Cricket.
Marsh has overstepped the mark and Masood gets an enormous let-off.
Can he make Australia pay? Pakistan are 4-88.
Mitchell Marsh got Shan Masood caught but it was a no-ball! Will Shan go on to score a century now? 👀 #AUSvPAKpic.twitter.com/en7qnMknMF
— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) January 3, 2024
1.15PM: HUGE SESSION LOOMS FOR PAKISTAN
What can we expect from the next two hours? For Pakistan’s sake, they need a complete reversal of the morning session.
Losing four wickets after winning the toss and batting at the SCG is unforgivable, and it could’ve been so much worse if not for captain Shan Masood.
His wicket will be the key for both sides, because he needs to be there at tea for Pakistan to have any hope of clawing their way back into the contest on day one.
It’s Pat Cummins and, in a bit of a surprise, Mitchell Marsh to bowl first after lunch.
1PM: PAKISTAN CALLED OUT FOR RESTING STAR
Mark Waugh has called out Pakistan for resting star quick Shaheen Afridi at the SCG, labelling it “just wrong”.
Down 2-0 and with the series lost, Pakistan opted to sit Afridi out for the final Test to preserve him for an upcoming T20 tour of New Zealand.
Wasim Akram intimated the rest was at Afridi’s behest on Fox Cricket.
“It’s a three Test series, a really marquee series for Pakistan to play against Australia in Australia,” Waugh said on Fox Cricket. “He should be playing, they can manage his workload in the Test.
“How many Test matches has Pakistan played in recent times? They’ve hardly played any Test matches so don’t tell me about workload.
“It’s just wrong – you’re best bowler is sitting watching this game”
12.35PM: LUNCH! AUSTRALIA DOMINATE FIRST SESSION
That’s lunch on a session where almost everything went right for Australia, despite Pat Cummins losing the toss for the second Test in a row.
That was quickly forgotten, however, as both Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood struck with their second deliveries as Pakistan slumped to 2-4 in a glorious, sunny Sydney morning.
What looked like a dream batting wicket turned into a nightmare when Cummins himself struck twice in quick succession – including the prized wicket of Babar Azam – to reduce Pakistan to 4-47.
Captain Shan Masood, as he has been throughout the series, has provided the bulk of the resistance from the visitors. He’s unbeaten on 32 at the lunch break, with the aggressive Mohammad Rizwan on 12 not out.
At lunch, Pakistan are 4-75 and facing a giant hill to climb to claw their way back into this contest.
12.20PM: SAFE! PAKISTAN SURVIVE CLOSE REVIEW
For what seems like the first time today, something has gone Pakistan’s way.
Shan Masood, the one batsman who has proven a thorn in Australia’s side this summer, is playing another lone-hand innings.
But Australia thought they had him, in the shadows of the lunch break, with a big LBW off an inswinging delivery from Mitchell Starc.
Richard Gough knocked it back, but Pat Cummins tried for a review – knowing the Masood wicket would be close to a death knell on this Pakistan innings.
But he survives, with the ball striking Masood outside the line. He’s on 27, Pakistan are 4-68.
12.05PM: NUMBERS BEHIND CUMMINS’ UNPLAYABLE WEAPON
By Jacob Kuriype
“I think his strike rate is about 3 with that ball, so he should bowl it a bit more” is what Mitchell Starc had to say about Pat Cummins’ inswinger to trap Babar Azam in front for 26.
Whether or not the strike rate is quite that impressive is unclear, but Fox Cricket did reveal the delivery is nigh on unplayable from Cummins.
“Since 2022, Tests in Australia bowling to right-handers, the nip-backer – the ball that seams back to the right-hander – he’s got 10 wickets at an average of 12.4,” Michael Vaughan said.
“The in-swinger to the right-hander – 10 wickets at an average of 6.40.”
Neither seem like much fun to play. Nor does his bumper, which he rocked Saud Shakeel with before taking his outside edge with a delivery the left-hander felt out for.
11.50AM: WICKET! PAKISTAN FOUR DOWN AFTER ‘SOFT’ EXIT
Pat Cummins can do no wrong, and he has a second – with Saud Shakeel getting a feather of a touch through to Alex Carey.
He’s out for just five after an eventful, but largely unimpressive innings.
Pakistan are now 4-47 and that is an absolute worse-case scenario after winning the toss and batting, and former England captain Michael Vaughan does not hold back on the young Pakistan star.
“That’s not great batting,” Vaughan said on Fox Cricket.
“The plan and the field that was set got into the mind of Shakeel. It’s a poor shot, it should’ve been left. Brilliant from Australia, really poor from Shakeel.
“At this level that’s really soft.”
11.40AM: SHAKEEL ROCKED BY BOUNCER, SIGHTSCREEN DRAMA
Saud Shakeel is in a spot of bother, after being struck by a nasty bouncer from Australian skipper Pat Cummins that rocketed into his shoulder.
That’s a nasty one, and Shakeel is seen for treatment by the Pakistan medical staff, but he’s able to continue.
It’s been an eventful few minutes for the Pakistan batsman, who caused an earlier delay when facing up to Nathan Lyon – with a complaint about a black spot near the sightscreen which was in his field of vision.
“If Shakeel’s looking at that zone, it’s probably 20 metres away from where he should be looking.” Michael Vaughan said on Fox Cricket.
“I worry for Shakeel here, if his focus is so far away from the ball out of the bowler’s hand. He's distracted from what he should be really thinking about, which is just staring at the ball.”
11.25AM: WICKET! CUMMINS LANDS KILLER BABAR BLOW
Oh boy, it’s on for young and old now. Babar Azam looked in supreme touch, but a big inswinger from Pat Cummins has ended his stand prematurely.
That’s a cracking delivery, thudding into the front pad, and Cummins went up a with a huge appeal. He’s momentarily denied, but the skipper opts for DRS and luck, as ever, is in his favour.
He sees the three reds and Azam is on his way for 26. Pakistan are 3-39 and suddenly those with tickets for Day Four of this Test might be starting to wonder about refunds.
11.20AM: BABAR PUTS HORROR YEAR BEHIND HIM
One player who would be keen to put 2023 behind them is Pakistan maestro Babar Azam.
The tourists’ biggest star had a torrid 12 months, averaging a mere 22.6 from five Tests, with a top score of 41.
It’s early days, but he’s started 2024 in the right frame of mind – racing to 26 after coming to the crease with Pakistan in all sorts of trouble a 2-4.
There’s few with a better looking cover drive on the planet and Azam has plundered four boundaries despite being under constant threat from Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins this morning.
After close to an hour of play Pakistan are 2-38, but the fightback is on with their two most experienced batsmen at the crease.
11AM: PAKISTAN MAKE HISTORY FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS
How bad was that start for Pakistan?
Literally the worst in history.
it was the first time in history that the first Test of a calendar year started with ducks to both openers, with Abdullah Shafique and debutant Saim Ayub both falling for two-ball ducks.
For the first time in Test history, a calendar year has started with both openers falling for a duck. #AusvPak
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) January 2, 2024
10.40AM: WICKET! HAZLEWOOD DELIVERS, PAKISTAN IN MAJOR TROUBLE
Welcome to Test cricket, Saim Ayub.
The Pakistan debutant has copped a lovely delivery from Josh Hazlewood, on a perfect length and gets it to nibble away from the left-hander – it takes the edge, and Alex Carey does the business behind the stumps with a good, low diving catch.
A two-ball duck, and Pakistan are 2-4. This is a disastrous start to 2024 for the tourists after winning the toss.
Babar Azam – who endured a difficult 2023 – joins his skipper at the crease, with Pakistan in desperate need of a lift.
10.32AM: WICKET! STARC STRIKES IMMEDIATELY
A wicket! With the second ball of the day, Mitchell Starc removes Abudllah Shafique – who is having a nightmare summer.
Shafique offers a loose drive, taking a thick edge which flies to Steve Smith at second slip, and he’s gone for a two-ball duck.
It’s been a tough series for Shafique, with the hands especially, and that is a disaster for him and Pakistan on what looks like a tremendous batting day.
The tourists are 1-0. In comes the skipper Shan Masood.
10.20AM: ‘MAKES ME LAUGH’: SELECTION BOMBSHELL MOCKED BY PAKISTAN GREAT
By Lachlan McKirdy
Pakistan legend Waqar Younis has criticised the visitors for their decision to rest star bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Afridi claimed six wickets in the Boxing Day Test and was slowly getting back to his best form at the MCG.
However, the 23-year-old has been managed ahead of the upcoming Pakistan T20 series in New Zealand, making way for right-arm spinner Sajid Khan.
“That makes me laugh, to be honest,” Younis said on Channel 7.
“Because that’s what we play for, we play for Test match cricket. We don’t play for T20s or one-day cricket.
“And if you’re missing Test match cricket purely because you are being rested, I do not understand.
“That’s a real shocker for me because I was expecting him to be a part of this Test match because he looked good in the previous match. He started feeling like the old Shaheen Afridi and started to swing the ball and the pace was getting better.”
The Sydney Test is the first time that Pakistan has selected an out-and-out spinner this series with captain Shan Masood confirming in his pre-match press conference that he felt the SCG wicket would be more conducive to spin.
10.00AM: PAKISTAN WIN TOSS, BAT FIRST
David Warner’s farewell party has been put on hold, with Pakistan winning the toss and electing to bat first at the SCG.
Pakistan skipper Shan Masood showed no hesitation in electing to bat after Pat Cummins lost the toss for the third and final Test of the series.
Australia named an unchanged XI from the team that captured a 2-0 series lead, but they might have their work cut out for them early on a sunny Sydney day and a wicket that looks built for runs.
“It’s just how things are done at the SCG,” Masood said of his decision to bat first.
“Hopefully we can put in a good first innings score and just see how it plays.”
9.45AM: WARNER SNR SLAMS ‘SCUMBAG’ BAGGY GREEN THIEF AS HUNT GOES ON
– Ben Horne
David Warner’s baggy green caps have failed to turn up before his farewell Test, with his father taking aim at the “scumbag” who stole it from his son’s bag this week.
Warner issued a desperate plea for whoever had taken the backpack containing his baggy greens out of his luggage en route from Melbourne to Sydney, to return his treasured caps with no questions asked.
Qantas launched a full scale search for video footage which might give clues for how the bag disappeared, and Cricket Australia and players’ association chiefs also added their voices to Warner’s pleas for the items to be returned.
Speaking on SEN Radio with Jimmy Smith and Michael Carayannis, Warner’s father Howard predicted his son’s caps would end up dumped somewhere by the thief.
“I haven’t heard anything this morning. His video went viral I know that much – everyone in Australia knows about the baggy green,” Howard Warner said on SEN.
“Whatever scumbag has taken it is going to have to lay it off very shortly. They’ll find it dumped somewhere.”
Howard Warner said his son was emotional about the theft, with the baggy green a sacred item for most Australian Test cricketers.
It’s extraordinary that it would disappear days before his last Test.
“I know he’s emotional. He would love to walk out with the baggy green on,” Howard said.
“(But) if he can’t, he can’t. Again, what do you do.”
Former Test captain Kim Hughes said the disappearing caps was a “kick in the guts” for Warner ahead of his momentous 112th and final Test.
Speaking on Fox Cricket, Warner reiterated his plea to have the caps returned.
“I haven’t found my caps,” he said.
“As I said in my video, if you have got my back pack, I’ll give you my back pack, all I want is those baggy greens back, please.”
9.00AM: BAGGY GREEN ‘DISTRACTION’ WON’T OVERAWE DAVID WARNER
– Jacob Kuriype
Kerry O’Keeffe has backed David Warner to overcome the loss of his baggy green in his final Test match.
Warner took to Instagram on Test match eve to plea for the return of his baggy green caps, and confirmed on Fox Cricket ahead of day one that he was still waiting for good news.
O’Keeffe was in little doubt the baggy green loss would weigh heavily on Warner’s mind, but expects the opener to still fire at the SCG.
“This is a distraction, because your baggy green is your membership card to an exclusive club,” O’Keeffe said on Fox Sports News.
“The only piece of memorabilia I have in my house is my baggy green – No.253. I treasure it because of the 10s of millions of Australians that have stared playing cricket, under 500 have gone on to get that cap.
“Davey Warner has a capacity to dismiss the outside noise, but this is a distraction. He values that cap above any other and to have them missing on the eve of his final Test match will hurt him.
“But we know with Dave how strong a character he is and how uncomplicated he is, he should be able to rise above it.”
What the Baggy Green means 💚💛
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) January 2, 2024
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🔢 MATCH CENTRE: https://t.co/LJRxhcH2FCpic.twitter.com/zanZUNcdcG
8.00AM: PAKISTAN SKIPPER OPEN TO MOVING SLIPS FIELDERS
– Julian Linden
Pakistan’s hard-nosed skipper has warned his butter-fingered slips fielders they may find themselves patrolling different parts of the Sydney Cricket Cricket Ground in the third and final Test against Australia.
Already 2-0 down, the tourists have been left wondering what could have been after they contributed to their own downfall with their sloppy fielding, including several dropped catches that have proved critical.
They have made two changes to the starting side, dropping opener Imam-ul-haq and resting left-arm seamer Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Saim Ayub will make his debut at the top of the order while specialist spinner Sajid Khan comes in for Shaheen.
One of the main culprits has been Abdullah Shafique, who has been fielding at first slip.
Normally regarded as a safe pair of hands, he’s been guilty of grassing a number of chances, including a sitter off Mitch Marsh that proved decisive in the Boxing Day Test.
Under pressure to replace Shafique in the slips cordon, Pakistan captain Shan Masood was keeping his cards close to his chest when asked whether he needed to reshuffle his catchers behind the stumps.
“Abdullah Shafique has been a good slips man for us and those are the guys that practice for hours every day,” Masood said.
“So if on the basis of one catch or two catches, even if you change someone, you’re also knocking the confidence down.
“But sometimes like you do with batsmen or bowlers, they need some time away from that and then you give them that time and allow them to come back again.”
Pressed on whether he might consider replacing Shafique with Babar Azam at first slip, Masood – who also dropped a catch in the second test – said he was tempted but might see if he can find a diplomatic solution before wielding the axe.
“(Shafique) is a brilliant slips fielder. He’s got age on his side. You’ll see him standing in the slips more often,” Masood said.
“But I think if he doesn’t feel comfortable, Babar is a decent first slipper so we’ll put Babar there. Babar took a great catch over there as well.
“You also have to see, I think maybe on this track you might not need three slips all the time. So it might make our decision a bit easier and, and we’ll again see how Abdullah feels.
“In a game, your hands are tied because slips are very specialised. A lot of fielding places in Test cricket are very specialised. You can’t be moving people around to the slips. We had four genuine quick bowlers, so it was hard to get them into the slips.”
Originally published as Australia v Pakistan, SCG Test: Aamir Jamal leads Pakistan fightback, David Warner inches from disaster
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