Our report from day one:
Updated
Close of play: Australia 288-3 (Smith 110, Handscomb 64)
A pretty good day’s cricket in Brisbane, I thought…
Despite an otherwise unremarkable scoreline, it was a momentous day for cricket in Australia. Day-night cricket reached the Sunshine State for the first time, and brought with it an unprecedented level of conjecture over what the traditionally-humid city would serve up.
People often speak lazily about what it means to produce a ‘good wicket’, or what it means to have ‘good conditions’. Too often in this country we equate a hard, white wicket with ‘a good one’. Equally opposite, we’re quick to bemoan green-seamers then render free scoring impossible. This is before we even consider the commercial implications of fast-finishing tests. The latter issue was surely the biggest, if not most private, concern of Cricket Australia ahead of today. What transpired, however, was a wicket and set of conditions that could truly be considered good – because it offered something to everyone.
It was, in the end, an excellent day for Australia – underscored by an innings of maturity by young buck Matt Renshaw. The knock had all the hallmarks of a fairytale: a toothy grin, a home ground and friends present. His departure wasn’t in keeping with the assuredness of his innings, but he will be buoyed by the result anyway. Eyebrows remained raised over Peter Handscomb’s methods, but perhaps without the same vigour as in Adelaide. His undefeated 64 included impressive periods of both attack and defence – a sure sign of his ability to adapt to a game’s scenario.
The day, of course, belonged to Australia’s captain. He did fly under the radar for most of his innings though, as Australian viewers continued to contemplate the wares of its new batsmen. By the time he reached his hundred, early reflections revealed an innings of both patience and style. He had some luck too.
Pakistan on the other hand can count themselves pretty unluck. Both Yasir and Amir threatened all day, and Yasir’s bowling partnership with Wahab after dinner could easily have turned the game. Sadly, Amir’s injury put paid to their bowling plans, and it allowed Australia enough time to re-seize the initiative and move the game away their opponents.
As tomorrow looms, eyes will be on Handscomb as Australia looks to solidify its batting group. Nic Maddinson will get his chance, and provided both current batsmen don’t perform remarkably, Maddinson should be able to bat in daylight. It could get difficult for Pakistan, but then again this is Australia, who have shown a capability to be five out-all out.
Join us tomorrow as we follow the action.
Sam
90th over: Australia 288-3 (Smith 110, Handscomb 64)
Yasir concludes the day with a smile. It’s uneventful as Smith takes a single off the back foot and Handscomb finishes the job. A little wrap to follow..
Finally, I was desperate to give the final word to Tristan Brumby-Rendell, who finally found the picture of Miandad I was after. Alas, image rights preclude me from posting it (and possibly my luddite-ness here). Suffice to say, Javed Miandad hearts New York.
89th over: Australia 287-3 (Smith 109, Handscomb 64)
More runs down the ground for both batsmen as the earlier parked bus now offers a sharp counter attacking threat. This is Bayern Munich 2013-esque as Smith and Handscomb suddenly look at ease again.
Enthralling as it’s been, I’ve remained at least equally interested in the matter of Miandad and the ‘I heart NY’ cap. A few developments:
@sjjperry the case is building pic.twitter.com/rwYkZ5Izdo
— James Payten (@paytenj) December 15, 2016
88th over: Australia 280-3 (Smith 106, Handscomb 60)
Of the array of strokes offered by both Smith and Handscomb this session, their driving down the ground has been particularly majestic. Here Handscomb collects three early in Rahat’s over, before a hard cut finds his top edge - sailing over first slip for four. Pakistan have really given everything to even the honours this session, and may be forgiven for feeling a little luckless. As the day winds down, the scoreboard will show a dominant Australian performance. It hasn’t always been so.
Smith reaches his ton!
87th over: Australia 274-3 (Smith 106, Handscomb 54)
The tension breaks as Smith drives Amir down the ground for four to bring up his hundred. It’s been an innings of all gears, probably most impressive for his evident maturity through the nineties. Given the rate of his scoring leading up to that point, he could have been forgiven for expecting to maintain that for the remainder of the day. But resolute defence and that catchcry of his - resilience - saw him to the milestone. Of course, Amir finally catches his edge, only for the ball to run for four through that perenially vacant fourth slip region.
Updated
86th over: Australia 266-3 (Smith 98, Handscomb 54)
Australia has officially parked the bus here, as Handscomb’s back foot defence repels Rahat. He offers no stroke to a few tempters outside off-stump - a different policy to that of 30 minutes ago. Efforts to contrive singles also appear to be off the table, and it very much appears as though Australia’s aims are now two-fold: ensure the captain gets his ton, and that no wickets are lost. It will be Amir to Smith to start the next over.
84th over: Australia 266-3 (Smith 98, Handscomb 54)
Handscomb certainly knows where his off-stump is, as another couple of scorching Amir deliveries sear past his pegs. It’s hard to know where he’ll score from at the moment. Whatever the case, this is an excellent spell of bowling from Amir, who elicits an edge off the second last ball of his over that falls short of third slip. It brings Smith on strike for the last ball of the over...there is no run.
Cameras pan to the Australian dressing room, where both Nic Maddinson and Nathan Lyon have the pads on. Five overs remain.
83rd over: Australia 265-3 (Smith 98, Handscomb 53)
Whereas the conversation earlier was of ease, rhythm, and ‘picking-off’ runs, we’re now contemplating balls that talk, angles across, and - that greatest of all reveals - Steve Smith facials. Rahat has joined Amir’s act. The boy from Sydney’s South almost beats mid-off to bring up his ton, but an outstanding, sprawling dive prevents him. Of course it does. This is getting a little difficult. Smith remains on 98.
82nd over: Australia 265-3 (Smith 98, Handscomb 53)
Amir keeps it exceptionally tight as Smith increasingly wanders across his stumps in search for on-side runs. One ball lifts remarkably to beat the Australian captain’s outside edge yet again, as the tempo of the contest turns. Smith eventually succeeds in finding a run on the on-side. Handscomb executes an exceptionally tight leave to see out the over. Amir is bowling very well.
81st over: Australia 264-3 (Smith 97, Handscomb 53)
It’s Rahat from the other end, can he elicit the same movement as his colleague? On first evidence the answer is yes, but somehow it lacks the electricity of Amir’s. Still, Pakistan are a far better prospect in this scenario. Conversation continues about Smith’s edge. I said that ‘snicko’ had revealed it - I meant ‘hotspot’. No one appealed, what can you do? Handscomb sees through the over, leaving Smith on the brink of another ton at the other end. He’ll have to get past Amir under lights to achieve it. Stand by...
80th over: Australia 264-3 (Smith 97, Handscomb 53)
Amir returns with the new ball, which is incredible considering his position just over an hour ago. He takes the new pink ball - not quite in the titillating scenario we’d hoped earlier - but he achieves swing nonetheless. Provided Amir can stay fit, my bet is that the quality of this contest will ramp up a notch. Amir beats Smith with his first ball to him, and the crowd is ‘oohing’ and ‘ahhing’ again. Did he hit it!?? Snicko is saying yes! Incredibly, no appeal! Smith survives and remains on 97. That was eventful. Welcome back Amir!
79th over: Australia 263-3 (Smith 97, Handscomb 52)
Both batsmen’s dominance is underlined by two things: easy runs and Ian Healy remarking on the ‘yoga like flexibility’ of a photographers sitting style. Facing the deteriorating threat of Yasir, Smith moves to 97.
That’s 80 overs, the new ball is now due..
78th over: Australia 259-3 (Smith 93, Handscomb 52)
I failed to mention earlier that Smith and Handscomb’s partnership has now exceeded 100. This session has truly turned on Amir’s departure. Ali returns to the attack and, despite looking dangerous at different stages today, looks more part-time than frontline as both Australians continue to pick off runs.
Handscomb reaches fifty
77th over: Australia 255-3 (Smith 90, Handscomb 51)
Peter Handscomb hits his second fifty in as many matches via a glide for four and copybook drive for three off the bowling of Riaz. It’s a promising beginning for the man who ply’s his trade at St Kilda, Victoria and now his country. I’m sure a number of cricket fans could get used to the image of the long-sleeved batting assassin who bats with the certitude of his own method.
76th over: Australia 248-3 (Smith 90, Handscomb 44)
Yasir’s questions seem to be diminishing in ‘oomph’ as Smith and Handscomb work him for a couple of singles each. Handscomb has quietly worked his way to another decent score; no doubt he’ll be eyeing more.
On Smith though, and speaking of grade cricket, there appears to be growing fascination with his connection to kit. He reportedly has more pairs of gloves than anyone can imagine. Some might say ‘he can do what he wants’. Others might offer Tim Rogers’ famous question though... ‘How much is enough?’
75th over: Australia 245-3 (Smith 89, Handscomb 42)
In brilliant news, Amir is apparently back on the field and Ian Chappell offers him sage advice from the commentary box to ‘never slide’. Meanwhile Smith stays good to the grade cricket adage that the best time to cash-in is in the last hour. He strikes two boundaries and it’s starting to look pretty ominous for Pakistan.
Just quickly, earlier I asked for photo evidence of Javed Miandad scoring a double-ton against Australia in an ‘I heart NY cap’. James Payten kindly tweeted the below in. Not full photographic evidence, but close. Anyone good (or bad) at photoshop?
@sjjperry not quite but enough to imagine it pic.twitter.com/VzQ6b3qLuG
— James Payten (@paytenj) December 15, 2016
That would appear to be drinks...
74th over: Australia 237-3 (Smith 81, Handscomb 42)
It’s difficult to think of a batsman who so rhythmically builds his score as does Steve Smith. Amidst a compelling battle with Yasir, he still manages to strike his own stylish blows. This over he whips one through mid-wicket for four (dancing down the pitch, of course), and laces one through cover for another two. Yasir is still bowling with spin and drift.
I have an entirely unrelated photoshop request to follow..
73rd over: Australia 230-3 (Smith 74, Handscomb 42)
Australia has now added 42 in the post-dinner session, and appear to be through the tough spell of the Wahab-Yasir axis. Rahat’s overs feel a little subdued in comparison, as Smith manages a single from his over.
72nd over: Australia 229-3 (Smith 73, Handscomb 42)
Yasir comes around the wicket to Handscomb, presumably in an attempt to ask a new question, as it were. The Victorian can consider that a small win, particularly as Yasir stays over the wicket to Smith. It’s a wonderful battle between all as both batsmen insist upon using their feet at every available opportunity. Meanwhile, a tough image to process below.
71st over: Australia 225-3 (Smith 72, Handscomb 39)
Rahat is reintroduced, probably where Amir would have bowled. It’s hard to overstate the impact of the 23-year-old’s injury. Rahat had only completed his post-dinner spell some 25 minutes ago and now returns looking fractionally lethargic. Smith and Handscomb each pick up singles as the fire somewhat dissipates from the contest. Yasir is a threat in his own right, though.
70th over: Australia 222-3 (Smith 71, Handscomb 37)
Yasir curiously inserts a silly mid-off when bowling to Smith, perhaps detecting a fallibility when defending on the off-side. Despite Amir’s departure, Yasir’s danger remains. He gets one to bounce to conclude the over, and Smith does that jolty hand gesture immediately afterward to confirm it. Sort of looks like interpretive dance.
69th over: Australia 221-3 (Smith 71, Handscomb 36)
For posterity it should be added that Amir’s attempt to stop Handscomb’s shot was fruitless; the Australian picked up a boundary. The implications of Amir’s departure are huge. It probably takes the sting out of the pressure Pakistan were building, though the impact will probably be a little more long term. Wahab completes the over without incident.
Amir update: assisted by team-mates and in the presence of both team’s Doctors, Amir is assisted from the field. Play is understandably held up. He rises to his feet and alights the medicab. Any notion of him returning tonight, or for the match, seems unlikely. What a huge shame.
69th over: Australia 216-3 (Smith 71, Handscomb 31)
Oh no. In attempting to field a Handscomb pull, Amir digs his knee into the turf and goes down. His team surround him and for the moment, he’s staying down...
Updated
68th over: Australia 216-3 (Smith 71, Handscomb 31)
A beautiful over from Yasir, mixing pace, flight, spin and drift. Whereas Australia were rocketing along a few overs ago, a few maidens render the Wahab-Yasir axis on top for now. Is it the lights? Maybe. Just feels like excellent bowling. Sort of feel for Nic Maddison. Any danger of a bat in daylight?
67th over: Australia 216-3 (Smith 71, Handscomb 31)
You feel this is an important period in the match. Both Yasir and now Wahab are adopting attacking lines and lengths as the lights take effect. Handscomb, normally so assured on the back foot, worryingly shows all three stumps in attempting to defend Wahab’s thunderbolts. You’d never accuse a Test batsman of backing away, but it looks something close to it. Whether Wahab is full or short, Handscomb seems late. Nevertheless, he survives. This contest is starting to boil.
66th over: Australia 216-3 (Smith 71, Handscomb 31)
Yasir almost sneaks under Smith’s attempted pull shot from the crease, and catches Smith’s outside edge on the next delivery, which falls just short of Younis Khan at first slip. Wahab and Yasir taking on Smith and Handscomb is pretty good viewing here. Thankfully for Yasir, he’s bowling to two right handers which removes the bizarre consideration of that ugly leg-side line he adopted earlier in the day. He starts with a maiden and points-decision.
It’s Yasir Shah from the other end now...
65th over: Australia 216-3 (Smith 71, Handscomb 31)
A number of runs have emerged from the early balls of Pakistan overs. Smith is all over a slightly overpitched Riaz delivery, hammering him through cover for four. Riaz’s comeback delivery (there must always be a comeback) sees Smith attempt to leave in typical windscreen-wiper fashion, only for the ball to catch the bottom of the bat. Smith then repeats the first shot for another boundary. Wahab is bending his back a little here and he’s making things happen, but most of it is going for Australia. Smith is all-of-a-sudden 71. Wahab’s attacking length shows that his team are just beginning to gamble for a breakthrough.
64th over: Australia 206-3 (Smith 62, Handscomb 31)
The faint echo of a Mexican Wave countdown greets the start of Ali’s over. Warne, commentating, cracks-wise about what a great bloke Ian Gould is, ‘one of the best on the Umpire’s circuit’. Actually think an ‘umpire’s circuit’ might be surprisingly good. Smith and Handscomb pick up one each as their partnership moves past fifty.
64th over: Australia 204-3 (Smith 61, Handscomb 30)
Rahat’s off, Riaz is on. The menacing quick err’s with a wide, though a similar follow-up delivery reveals his desire to find some swing. Such are the risks of aggressive bowling. It appears there is none - for him, at least. He comes around the wicket, a left-arm trajectory that almost feels owned by Mitchell Johnson - especially at this ground. Wouldn’t mind seeing similar menace, too. It’s an otherwise dry over.
63rd over: Australia 203-3 (Smith 61, Handscomb 30)
Ali continues and Handscomb is immediately dancing down the wicket to him. Twice he fails to beat mid-on, but on the third occasion he’s able to flay a wider ball behind point for four. This Australian start smells awfully like a Lehmann command to ‘push the game forward’. It’s working. Still thinking about Miandad in the ‘I heart NY’ hat, too.
62nd over: Australia 199-3 (Smith 61, Handscomb 26)
Zero evidence so-far of night-time, pink ball, Gabba demons as the runs flow from both Smith and Handscomb’s blade. A couple of drives are notable less for style and more for how ordinary the bowling is. Twice already Australia has threatened to take the game away from Pakistan, and twice Pakistan has responded. You rarely get three chances to do so in an innings of Test cricket. I have nothing to back that up with, mind.
61st over: Australia 192-3 (Smith 57, Handscomb 23)
Azhar Ali, who caused more than a few problems at the back-end of the middle session, rolls in from the other end. Smith takes three with a hard back-cut that’s followed by a reasonably comical attempt to rope the ball in at the boundary. Handscomb skips down the deck to pick up one for himself.
60th over: Australia 188-3 (Smith 54, Handscomb 2)
It’s Rahat to commence evening proceedings and, speaking of rock ‘n roll, Handscomb responds to his first ball by cutting him hard behind point for four. He defends the rest of the over from the depths of his crease before a thick edge brings him two more. The shadows are lengthening but it still looks pretty light. Who will it be from the other end?
On Russell’s piece below, if anyone, anyone, has an image of Javed Miandad batting against wearing an ‘I heart NY’ hat - I would be eternally grateful. Could anything be more rock ‘n roll in cricket?
I’ve no idea whether Russell pushed out his Guardian piece from this morning, but if you’re up for a poignant cultural lens on Australia-Pakistan cricket, his piece is well worth a read.
Some Aus-Pakistan history in the lead-up to the first Test. https://t.co/D16RScPeuv
— Russell Jackson (@rustyjacko) December 15, 2016
Morning, afternoon, evening everyone – a pleasure to be here on this luminous occasion – literally – our first encounter of Test cricket on a Brisbane night. It’s Australia’s second day-night test of the summer, and my second shot at this OBO caper. For both, there’s a stark reality that sits underneath: we don’t know what will happen.
At face value, Australia should head into the session with a scoreboard advantage. Two wickets lost in the first, only one in the second. But given the uncertainty of what the pink ball may harvest tonight (still feels weird to write ‘tonight’), one more would probably have left matters even. Will Sarfraz Ahmed rue dropping Smith in that last over before the dinner break?
What comes next has arguably been the main talking point leading into this Test – a green Gabba wicket, a muggy Brisbane night, a pink ball, floodlights, an unsettled Australian middle order, and Amir. While the evidence so far today doesn’t point to major swing, it’s night time and it’s hot and the ball is a different colour…even the most fervent Australian hopes, deep down, for something wild. We’ll see.
In the meantime, I’ll be ticking the blog over throughout the break and we’ll rejoin play when the players return. If you want to get in touch – I’m at @sjjperry on Twitter and sam.perry.freelance@guardian.co.uk
Yasir Shah tied up one end for 186 minutes, bowling 23 overs. #AusvPak
— Ric Finlay (@RicFinlay) December 15, 2016
Dinner on day one - Steve Smith is dropped by Sarfraz Ahmed!
59th over: Australia 181-3 (Smith 53, Handscomb 15)
Oh dear. The part-timer has somehow forced a false stroke from Steve Smith but the thin edge that results thuds into Sarfraz’s gloves and straight back out again onto the turf. Smith can’t believe his luck. Sarfraz is shattered. What a way to end the session. That wicket might have tilted it Pakistan’s way but the Aussie skipper survives and will press on after the 40-minute dinner break. Sam Perry will be the man taking you through the final session. Thanks for your company!
58th over: Australia 180-3 (Smith 53, Handscomb 15)
A maiden from Rahat! Handscomb really is counting down the deliveries until dinner. Peter Salmon is overcome by all the other distractions. “So a Test match in the middle, and an Olympic swimmer in the pool on the boundary. Can we not get a game of footy happening at fine leg, and some 400 heats going around the outside? Go the whole phys ed class atmosphere, where someone rings a bell every fifteen minutes and everyone rotates round to the next sport? God I hated phys ed.”
Speaking of distractions...
So, I downloaded Warnemoji's. It has made it almost impossible to type on my phone, but it is so worth it pic.twitter.com/ExIvOdKcJd
— Peter Miller (@TheCricketGeek) December 15, 2016
57th over: Australia 180-3 (Smith 53, Handscomb 15)
Yasir finally gets a rest and Azhar Ali returns with his leggie, as per the closing stages of the first session. It’s not as bad as his over earlier, but Peter Handscomb is probably being polite.
PHandscomb remains one of 17 Australians to have made double figures in every Test innings played. #AusvPak
— Ric Finlay (@RicFinlay) December 15, 2016
56th over: Australia 176-3 (Smith 52, Handscomb 12)
Rahat hasn’t covered himself in glory today but gets his chance for atonement with a couple of overs before the dinner break. He steams in, rocks into his action, and...gets belted through cover for four. Over-pitched. Again. That takes Steve Smith to his half-century from 93 deliveries and he’ll be loving himself a bit of Rahat. Ian Chappell, meanwhile, is worried that Yasir is being over-bowled. I’m more concerned that he’s not wearing any SPF 40+. He’s looking like boiled beetroot at the moment.
55th over: Australia 173-3 (Smith 49, Handscomb 12)
STOP THE PRESSES: PETER HANDSCOMB HAS SCORED A RUN! Not only that, but it’s four as he gets down the pitch and cracks a straight drive past the bowler, who really should have stopped it. Then there’s a single. Calm down, Pete. By the end of the over he’s finding runs everywhere and Rahat is stopping balls with his feet in the outfield. That’s more like it.
54th over: Australia 165-3 (Smith 48, Handscomb 5)
Reader David Kalucy thinks Ian Chappell was onto something. “Poor Renshaw, I hope it wasn’t the nerves provoked by the grass in his shoe,” he says. “After the last few Tests we’re down to jinxes, and that new normal is just about waking up and reading the paper. Eternal hope for the baggy green.” Amir continues his miserly, probing efforts and sends down another maiden.
53rd over: Australia 165-3 (Smith 48, Handscomb 5)
Peter Handscomb is really bogged down at the moment – five runs from 37 deliveries and the pressure is mounting with every dot. Yasir Shah produces another maiden and ends it grinning maniacally, like a child frying an bull ant with a magnifying glass.
52nd over: Australia 165-3 (Smith 48, Handscomb 5)
Shane Warne is calling the Hobart debacle Steve Smith’s “lightbulb moment” now, which seems a little premature, though change has been as good as a holiday with this Australian side. Smith faces up to Amir now, which is probably for the best. He comfortably negotiates a maiden.
Meanwhile, Olympic champion swimmer Stephanie Rice is flying the flag for local sports heroes over on the pool deck. But of course.
51st over: Australia 165-3 (Smith 48, Handscomb 5)
Yasir Shah offers up a rare bad ball here and Steve Smith cashes in, slapping a full toss to the fence before picking up a single. Peter Handscomb is generally a very good player of spin but Yasir is causing him the odd problem here and the Pakistani is literally licking his lips.
As all that happens OBO favourite Robert McLiam Wilson arrives. “Musing this morning, as I so often do, upon the eccentricity and euphony of cricket mathematics, I was struck anew by the fell difference between 151 for 2 and 151 for 3,” he writes.
“One is all sunny uplands near harvest time, the other all lightless skies and distant rumbles of menace. 47 for 1 is something the same (and 218 for 4). What is it about some rather festive scores that they become so depressing with the loss of a single wicket? I speak as someone who once went in to bat at 33 for 9.”
I once went in to bat at 13-4 and was still standing there as the last wicket fell at 31. You’re right though: just looking at “151-3” makes me a bit anxious. It’s a score that says you’re about to be karmically punished for not visiting your Nan enough.
50th over: Australia 160-3 (Smith 43, Handscomb 5)
As Amir produces another maiden and continues to press at Peter Handscomb, news has filtered through that the knee injury to Australia’s one-day paceman John Hastings will indeed require surgery, which will put him out for months. Rotten luck.
49th over: Australia 160-3 (Smith 43, Handscomb 5)
There’s a long delay as Yasir Shah has his spikes tightened, and that is not a euphemism. Apparently when they’re loose it can tend to put his back out. I repeat: not a euphemism. The delay doesn’t appear to throw him off his stride too badly and it’s a maiden.
48th over: Australia 160-3 (Smith 43, Handscomb 5)
Amir does indeed return and almost strikes immediately when Handscomb moves back, defends the ball into the ground and watches in horror as the ball almost plops down on top of his stumps. A ball later an inside edge saves him from a wholehearted lbw shout and he’s suddenly on tenterhooks. Pakistan are humming in the field, perhaps sensing that the removal of Handscomb possibly opens up an end, because Nic Maddinson is a greenhorn at six. It’s a very testing maiden from Amir.
47th over: Australia 160-3 (Smith 43, Handscomb 5)
Yasir speeds his way through another over, conceding a single to each batsman and one would assume that Mohammad Amir is due for another burst soon.
46th over: Australia 158-3 (Smith 42, Handscomb 4)
Wahab comes around the wicket to the new man Handscomb and angles it in towards his middle stump on a fullish length, but he errs with another no ball, overstepping by a good six inches and not for the first time today. Handscomb holds firm.
45th over: Australia 157-3 (Smith 42, Handscomb 4)
Steve Smith appears to be relishing the chance to face Yasir Shah so far this afternoon and hits him ‘inside out’ for a couple to start this over. With an hour left in this second session, you’d have to say that another wicket here will almost give Pakistan the honours for the afternoon, which is an odd one because for long periods they’ve looked listless.
44th over: Australia 155-3 (Smith 40, Handscomb 4)
There is a tricky little period to negotiate here for Peter Handscomb, who needs to get started in this twilight phase of the first day. Wahab is cranking it up in the 146-147kmph mark but Handscomb gets onto his back foot and sends a delightful late cut wide of point to pick up four and get moving.
WICKET! Renshaw c Sarfraz b Wahab 71 (Australia 151-3)
Wahab strikes! Well he was excellent an over ago to Renshaw and now gets his man as the left-hander is neither forward nor back, playing nor leaving, and just dangles his bat out to send a nick behind to Sarfraz. The crowd give him a warm round of applause for his efforts but he’s livid with himself. There was a maiden century here for the taking and he’s missed out.
Updated
43rd over: Australia 151-2 (Renshaw 71, Smith 40)
There is a gentle turning of the screws here as Yasir also exerts some pressure on the Australians with a string of dot balls, though Steve Smith might have utilised better placement on a couple of drives. Regardless, a long hop eventually comes from the final delivery and he cuts it square to pick up four. Scrap what I said at the top.
42nd over: Australia 147-2 (Renshaw 71, Smith 36)
Wahab is bowling to Renshaw and goes dot, dot, dot, and then, with the pressure building, sends a screamer past the outside edge of the left-hander. He’s actually testing Renshaw here, which hasn’t happened for a regrettable period of time as far as Pakistan are concerned. It’s a maiden over and Wahab gets a bit of swagger back.
41st over: Australia 147-2 (Renshaw 71, Smith 36)
Yasir has a leg slip and a short leg to Renshaw but he continues to be milked for singles, and then Renshaw a few better, belting him over cow for three more and it’s all a bit easy for the Australian pair at the moment. Usman Khawaja looks on forlornly in the sheds as everyone else has fun, like William H Macy’s character in Boogie Nights.
40th over: Australia 142-2 (Renshaw 67, Smith 35)
Wahab reappears for another burst and starts around the wicket to Steve Smith for something different, so Rahat does indeed get the rest he was due. Renshaw gets a streaky boundary through gully and Misbah is soon presenting the ball to Ian Gould, wondering whether it might need replacement. Gunner waves him off with a joke, hamming up his indignation at the suggestion but checking the offending item out nonetheless.
39th over: Australia 136-2 (Renshaw 62, Smith 34)
Rahat is indeed panting away at fine leg now but only after a long chase to retrieve another leg glance from Renshaw, who picks up three. The runs are flowing freely but by the sounds of the crowd there’s a Mexican wave happening, so it’s clearly not absorbing them completely.
38th over: Australia 130-2 (Renshaw 58, Smith 31)
Rahat is bowling like a drain in this spell and really needs a rest. Now he overpitches to Smith and gets belted straight for another boundary. “That’s not a bad area” says Michael Slater of Rahat’s last ball, sounding like a well-meaning grade cricket team-mate. I think the best area for Rahat could be fine leg for the immediate future.
37th over: Australia 123-2 (Renshaw 58, Smith 25)
Renshaw is bossing this now and moves down the track to clatter another lofted boundary between cover and mid-off. A Matthew Haydenesque sweep a ball later doesn’t come off but he gets another go at it a few balls later and picks up three with a subtler paddle stroke.
36th over: Australia 116-2 (Renshaw 51, Smith 25)
Smith follows a single from Renshaw with a drive past the stumps for two but the real sight to behold is the resultant outfield throw from Wahab, which is...hmm...interesting. I don’t think he’ll find a second career at right field for the Yankees, put it that way. Smith slashes at the final delivery of the over and is perhaps a little lucky that it not only falls short of first slip but runs away for four.
Matt Renshaw posts his first Test half-century
35th over: Australia 109-2 (Renshaw 50, Smith 19)
It took him 95 deliveries and featured seven boundaries, and Matt Renshaw now has his first Test half-century as he pushes Yasir for a single and brings his home crowd to their feet. Renshaw’s modest wave of the bat seems also a statement of intent that he’s only half-way done, if that. As the applause subsides Steve Smith continues to shift the momentum, dancing at Yasir and walloping him over cow for another boundary. There’s an lbw shout to end the over but Yasir can’t have liked it that much as he foregoes a review.
34th over: Australia 102-2 (Renshaw 49, Smith 14)
Steve Smith clicks into EA 96 computer game mode now and hammers Rahat through mid-wicket for a pair of almost identical boundaries when the quick drops culpably short. Misbah puts a man back on the fence in reaction to that, which sends the wrong message to the bowler if you ask me.
33rd over: Australia 94-2 (Renshaw 49, Smith 6)
Renshaw moves closer to his maiden Test half-century by cutting Yasir for two and does everything bar seal the deal with a variety of drives, cuts and flicks in the rest of the over. People are now tweeting me adverts starring cricketers, which I’m always up for. Send ‘em in folks.
@rustyjacko Fairness creams: bane of the subcontinent, but seemingly quite profitable for Afridi, Shoaib Malik et. al. pic.twitter.com/qMwVUSqxqB
— Nagarjun Kandukuru (@knagarjun) December 15, 2016
32nd over: Australia 92-2 (Renshaw 47, Smith 6)
Renshaw turns Rahat off his hip for a single and just for something totally different he’s forced to ditch his boot half-way through the run and completes it with only a black sock to protect his left foot. There’s a brief delay as he puts it back on an Ian Chappell is dismayed to note the youngster hasn’t brushed all the grass off the bottom of his socks before putting the shoe back on. I feel a Les Favell anecdote coming on...
31st over: Australia 89-2 (Renshaw 46, Smith 4)
Aaaand we’re back with Yasir Shah wheeling away to Steve Smith, who is confidently striding down the pitch to play his shots. It’s a decent start by Yasir and a maiden. We’re about to see some more of Rahat Ali.
Another word from our generous corporate partners. #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/Lng2JZdCfO
— Russell Jackson (@rustyjacko) December 15, 2016
Tea on day one - Australia 89-2
30th over: Australia 89-2 (Renshaw 46, Smith 4)
The session comes to a close with an over of novelty spin from Azhar Ali and his 70+ Test bowling average. Renshaw knows he’s heading off soon for a bite to eat but tucks in early by slamming the first ball of the over through cover for a boundary. He does actually look to have the makings of a half handy part-timer, Azhar, but he’s bowling right-arm runs to start with. Eight runs come from the over and the players wander off after a session in which Australia dominated for the most part before two late wickets. Pakistan are hanging in there.
29th over: Australia 81-2 (Renshaw 39, Smith 3)
Yasir started his first spell today with the intention of merely containing the batsmen, which seemed odd at the time and odder still now that he’s embraced the truth, which is that he’s a rock ‘n roll spin bowler who should attack at all times. Renshaw clips him to long-on for a single to start the over but he ties up Steve Smith thereafter.
28th over: Australia 80-2 (Renshaw 38, Smith 3)
Another maiden from Amir, who continues to harass Steve Smith with his bounce and swing. He has 1-22 from nine overs and but for a period where he lost his way a little late in his first spell, it’s been an impressive return to Australia so far.
27th over: Australia 80-2 (Renshaw 38, Smith 3)
Hooley dooley. Yasir Shah could have run Matt Renshaw out at the bowler’s end here as the Australian found his foot gripping to the turf short of his ground and his bat in a tangle, but the bowler doesn’t release the ball when he threatens to throw so nothing comes of it bar general bafflement and a wry grim from Renshaw. The latter is almost undone again a few balls later when Yasir sends down a wrong ‘un, which the youngster isn’t really picking today.
26th over: Australia 75-2 (Renshaw 35, Smith 0)
Amir tightens the screws further now with a maiden, though Renshaw might have taken full toll on a half volley that he seemed to play around with a drive. We’re close to the afternoon tea break now and the Australians will probably look to shut up shop until then.
25th over: Australia 75-2 (Renshaw 35, Smith 0)
Steve Smith arrives at the crease now, something he wouldn’t have anticipated 10 minutes ago. Replays of the Khawaja dismissal are no less damning. He seemed to peg it as a half volley and decided to cash in, but he might have waited a while before unfurling a shot like that.
WICKET! Khawaja c Misbah b Yasir 4 (Australia 75-2)
Khawaja departs! Oh dear, that is a terrible shot by the new batsman, who gets forward to the leg spinner and hammers a drive straight into the hands of Misbah at short mid wicket! What was he thinking? He does have a habit of falling to head-scratching dismissals, Khawaja, and that one is near the top of the pile. Pakistan are back in it.
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24th over: Australia 74-1 (Renshaw 35, Khawaja 4)
Amir starts brightly to Khawaja but soon sprays one down the leg side and the Australian No3 is delighted to flick it down to the fence with that signature turning-the-steering-wheel motion he adopts for his leg glances. Khawaja was pointed to the Pakistan dressing rooms by a member of the Gabba’s security staff on Tuesday. I think everyone in the ground will know who he is today.
WICKET! Warner lbw Amir 32 (Australia 70-1)
Warner goes! And Amir is the man to get him, first ball of this over when the Australian shuffles across his crease and misses an attempt to turn one to leg. It was probably hitting middle and leg so after a brief period of deliberation with his partner Warner does the right thing by the team and foregoes a review. Sheesh did Pakistan need that one. Amir is back!
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23rd over: Australia 70-0 (Renshaw 35, Warner 32)
Reader Phil Withall is spying on his employees. “Afternoon Russell, I’m not near a television and was wondering what sort of crowd is at the Gabba. On of my chefs was late for his shift due ‘to traffic congestion’ near the ground. I won’t use any information given for retribution so no need to worry about that.....”
It is a decent crowd now actually, Phil. It’s always hard to tell off the TV with those Gabba seats, which brazenly attempt to make the ground look more full than it is (handy for Brisbane Lions games I guess) but I’d say 12-15,000 easy. The Yasir over is uneventful until Renshaw toes a slog sweep into the square leg region,. Thankfully for him it lies vacant and the ball falls safely.
22nd over: Australia 68-0 (Renshaw 34, Warner 31)
Mohammad Amir makes a welcome return now as Wahab cools his jets. Renshaw has a good look again to readjust and then eases another three runs through mid-on with an efficient turn of the blade. Amir finishes the over with half a shout when he nips one back into the pads of Warner but he’s been ever so slightly off the boil so far.
21st over: Australia 64-0 (Renshaw 31, Warner 30)
Crack! Renshaw shows another side to his game now, skipping down the track to Yasir and smashing the spinner down the ground to pick up a boundary before working a single. This innings is really blossoming and Yasir doesn’t pose a threat for now.
20th over: Australia 58-0 (Renshaw 26, Warner 29)
Without wanting to bang on about the commentary, it’s a breath of fresh air to hear Waqar Younis analysing these pacemen on Australian TV. He doesn’t seem sold on the length of Wahab’s bowling here, and he has been a bit short. Right on due he slings down a promising yorker, which snakes in late and forces some determined defence from Matt Renshaw. The latter finishes the over with an attractive leg glance for one and continues to look at ease at the top level.
19th over: Australia 57-0 (Renshaw 25, Warner 29)
Oof. Warner plays a false stroke here against Yasir and almost loses his wicket, gliding at one outside off stump and feathering an edge just short of Misbah at first slip. There’s a hint there for the bowler, I reckon: abandon the leg theory.
18th over: Australia 55-0 (Renshaw 25, Warner 27)
Wahab adopts the tea pot now, scowling at David Warner as he brings up Australia’s 50 with an edgy slash through gully, but the bowler can only blame himself when he oversteps for a huge new ball. For a week or so I’ve been convincing myself that Pakistan could defy history and win this series but this start has shades of their last trip, when they didn’t win a single game in any format.
17th over: Australia 49-0 (Renshaw 25, Warner 22)
Well this is just a bit rubbish from Yasir, to be honest. Is he aiming purely for containment? Foxing? Late in this over he perhaps concedes that the leg-stump approach is not a winner and comes around the wicket to Renshaw but does so with mixed results when he angles one for the left-hander to slam through mid-on. There is a very unconvincing dive from the man out there, who throws his legs at it instead of his arms, and the ball runs away for four. That was Tufnelesque.
16th over: Australia 44-0 (Renshaw 21, Warner 21)
After a quick drink and a few moments to think, the tourists need to regroup here and shake off their lethargy. The more pressing problem in this over is Wahab’s frequent journeys into the ‘danger zone’ during his follow-through. He’s duly warned by Ian Gould and worse, he’s only roughing the pitch up for Australia’s off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
15th over: Australia 42-0 (Renshaw 21, Warner 20)
I feel it’s worth mentioning for the record that, in an attempt to get patrons through the gates for this game, the Gabba have installed a 30,000-litre pool by the boundary’s edge, which strips away three rows of seats and any semblance of self-respect for the game of Test cricket. Still, there seems to be more people flapping around inside than sitting in the rest of the stand behind it so maybe they’re onto something. Here starts the campaign to get your good friend Russell Jackson a jacuzzi to OBO from.
On that topic, my colleague Josh Robertson took a good look at the pool earlier in the week, which counts as a pretty good day at the office I suppose.
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14th over: Australia 41-0 (Renshaw 21, Warner 19)
There’s half a chance here when Wahab pins Warner back with a ball that angles in and raps him on the top of his front pad, but height is a problem so when the lbw shout is turned down by Gunner Gould, Misbah has far less enthusiasm for a DRS review than his bowler. Warner finishes the over with a single but the tourists are doing a decent job of stopping the flow of boundaries now.
13th over: Australia 40-0 (Renshaw 21, Warner 18)
Shane Warne was talking Yasir up a few minutes ago but now he’s baffled: the Pakistani spinner is bowling with a stacked on-side field and pitching them on leg stump. What is going on here? He draws a false stroke from Renshaw with his wrong ‘un but it’s a very unusual start from Yasir – defensive and counterintuitive.
12th over: Australia 37-0 (Renshaw 20, Warner 16)
Wahab Riaz time now, and he’s cranking it up around the 140kmph mark straight away, the muscular left-armer. We’re treated to the obligatory replay of his ferocious wonderspell to Shane Watson during the Cricket World Cup last year, but things are a little more placid for the Australian batsmen right now and Matt Renshaw is happy to have a good look, leaving anything outside off stump and letting it slide through to Sarfraz behind the wicket. It’s a maiden from Wahab, only the second of the afternoon so far, but he’s frowning and circumspect as he grabs his cap back from the umpire.
11th over: Australia 37-0 (Renshaw 20, Warner 16)
OK, we’ll get some spin now as Misbah figures it’s drifting away from his side a little right now. It’s a pretty ragged first over from Yasir, who is far too straight and has both batsmen looking to attack him immediately. I’m not sure what research they’ve done on Renshaw but a leg slip soon moves in and he immediately works the ball past him with no problem at all.
A note of apology: Yes, we’ve been having some technical difficulties with the OBO today. In the misheard words of Peter Moores, we’ll have to look at the data and get back to you. Sorry for the frustrations.
10th over: Australia 33-0 (Renshaw 18, Warner 14)
As Warnie starts carping on about his collaboration with Coldplay, Rahat goes a bit more Black Sabbath, staring out Warner and giving him a few choice words. There are no bats around, sadly, at least not the animal kind. Renshaw finishes the over by creaming the paceman through the on side for another boundary. The Australians are rattling along nicely.
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9th over: Australia 27-0 (Renshaw 14, Warner 12)
I’d probably have given Wahab Riaz a speculative bowl by now if I was Misbah but he persists with his openers for now and Amir alternates between cutting them in close to the body of Warner and swinging them away towards the cordon. We haven’t even reached the 10th over and Warnie is already talking about his Christmas shopping list. It’s not that dull. Warner bunts a single to cover and hares through like a madman.
8th over: Australia 27-0 (Renshaw 14, Warner 12)
Warner gets off strike with a quick single and Renshaw follows suit soon after, setting the scene for a truly strange shot from Warner, who shapes to cut a ball that is far too close to his body so he ends up shoveling it uppishly into the path of the man posted at cover. It falls short but Warner is lucky to get away with it.
7th over: Australia 24-0 (Renshaw 13, Warner 11)
You can work yourself into knots on StatsGuru and over-analyse things, but in the instance of Matt Renshaw it must be said that he simply looks like a Test batsman. Amir is working him over with all sorts but he’s unflappable, and perhaps assisted by the friendly batting conditions in this instance. The Queenslander leaves and defends with authority and negotiates the over calmly.
6th over: Australia 23-0 (Renshaw 13, Warner 10)
A bit of variety now as Warner tucks one down to fine leg for our first single of the afternoon, and all of a sudden the ball is not swinging so much. “That is worrying for Pakistan,” says Waqar, something of an expert on the topic. The ball is also not carrying through to Sarfraz at any great height. He’s mostly taking them around his knees and sometimes his ankles. This could be a tough day at the office for the quicks. Misbah should be looking to make a change soon, I reckon.
5th over: Australia 20-0 (Renshaw 12, Warner 8)
This is becoming a worrying pattern for Pakistan here. Again Amir bowls a probing and lively over but again he lets himself and his side down by straying with a single delivery, which Renshaw works off his hip for another boundary. It’s hard to build pressure conceding a boundary an over.
4th over: Australia 16-0 (Renshaw 8, Warner 8)
Waqar is talking now about one limitation of this attack without Imran Khan (the young one, not the cornered Tiger), namely that their pace attack is an all lefty affair. Right as I type that, Warner presses forward again and punished Rahat through the covers for belligerent boundary. Those are the only runs of the over but the Australian pair will be happy with their work so far.
3rd over: Australia 12-0 (Renshaw 8, Warner 4)
This is better from Renshaw, who sweats on a straight one from Amir, moving across his crease well to turn an attractive boundary through mid-wicket. That makes Amir wonder whether his short leg is worthwhile and ‘no’ is the answer there, so he’s dropped back. Amir continues to probe away and we’re getting a decent look at what we’ve been missing for the last five years. I must say, his appearance is the thing I’ve been most looking forward to out of this summer.
2nd over: Australia 8-0 (Renshaw 4, Warner 4)
Rahat works his way in now and his first ball is perfectly acceptable – a teasing line and length with some lovely wobble away – but Warner steps forward with typical arrogance to crunch it through cover for four. My word that’s a cricket shot. Rahat brings his length back just a touch after that bracing welcome, and he’s got three slips and a gully in place as he works through the crease with that lovely, easy action of his. There’s no further damage to the scoreboard for the rest of the over and it’s an impressive one from Rahat.
1st over: Australia 4-0 (Renshaw 4, Warner 0)
We’re off and away in the series with Amir breezing towards the crease before whizzing the punk ball past Renshaw. Amir’s first two hoop away but the third ducks in fractionally to catch the young batsman by surprise and almost kiss the outside edge. Nothing bar a few strands of rusty-coloured hair are out of place in Amir’s first over and the final delivery squares Renshaw up hopelessly, and he’s lucky a thick outside edge screams away through gully and out to the fence.
The national anthems are now done
And as the home broadcaster ratchets up the “fortress Gabba” material, let’s instead go to a word from our sponsors...
Me RN. #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/YXYXZyIHv3
— Russell Jackson (@rustyjacko) December 15, 2016
And another thing...
Wahab and Yasir almost came to blows in a pre-game football kickabout. Some people think this is a bad thing but personally I like to see fast bowlers getting angry. If Wahab can produce something like his feisty World Cup 2015 spell against the Aussies, look out. Perhaps someone should hold up a giant poster of Shane Watson to get him in the mood.
A little bit of Australia-Pakistan history for you before we get under way
If I do say so myself...
“Yasir Shah is the best spin bowler in the world”
Not me, not Yasir Shah himself, but none other than Shane Keith Warne. The Warne-dog says Yasir can adapt to any conditions in the world and that he’s going to enjoy watching him bowl today, as will the rest of us. How great is it when Warnie talks about leg spin? It’s the rest that usually falls flat. He’s now analysing the “revs” imparted upon the ball by Yasir; lots of them. It helps him to drift it considerably. Keep an eye out for Yasir today.
Australia win the toss and elect to bat
Hello all and welcome to day one of the first Test at the Gabba, where Steve Smith has just won the toss and elected to bat on a lovely looking deck in bright Brisbane sunshine. The other big news – apart from Channel Nine adding Waqar Younis to their commentary roster (hallelujah) – is that NATHAN LYON WILL PLAY! Yes, the G.O.A.T is in the paddock. Common sense prevails. Steve Smith steps up and rightly points out that his spinner has an excellent track record here in Brisbane. Me? I think it should never have been a conversation at all.
Australia: Warner, Renshaw, Khawaja, Smith, Handscomb, Maddinson, Wade, Starc, Hazlewood, Lyon, Bird.
Pakistan have gone with three seamers and a spinner too, with Yasir Shah returning to the fold. They would have loved to bat this morning, I sense, but Australians will get our first look at Mohammad Amir since 2009-10. Happy days.
Pakistan: Azhar Ali, Sami Aslam, Babar Azam, Younus Khan, Misbah ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed, Yasir Shar, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Rahat Ali.
Russell will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s some essential reading from Russ himself and Geoff Lemon to pass the time, in case you missed it:
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