Stumps Day Three: Pakistan 70-2 (Azhar 41, Younis 0)
And so ends day three of this first day-night fixture in Brisbane. Most of the day panned out as expected; Pakistan spent some time fighting and improved their score from paltry to mediocre. From there Australia scored quickly – moving at a clip of over 5 an over to set Pakistan 489 to win. There were however a few sub plots to note from the Australian’s innings – Steve Smith was at his belligerent best, racing to 63 from 70 deliveries via a number of shots that would have looked more at home in a video game than real life test cricket. They were brilliant to see. Usman Khawaja too consolidated his second innings credentials with 74, and Pete Handscomb bumped his average up with a quick 35 not out from 26 balls. Pakistan merely waited for the declaration.
Conversation will however centre on Nic Maddinson’s position, after Australia’s number six was dismissed cheaply yet again in the pursuit of quick runs. Should this particular failure count for less given the scant opportunity he had to impress? I’m guessing that he’ll benefit from his sides dominance and be afforded another opportunity.
For Pakistan, they’ll be encouraged by improved resilience in their second dig. It was the first time they’ve demonstrated an ability to both defend and counter the Australians, and despite the loss of two wickets, they should take some confidence from their batting display, finishing at 70-2. Azhar played with particular application, and he’ll be joined by the old war horse in Younis Khan tomorrow, when hostilities resume and Australia seeks to go one-nil up in the series. Although their second innings attack can look at times benign, Australia have given themselves so much time to dismiss Pakistan that we can safely say this is a matter of when, not if.
Until then, thanks for keeping me company tonight. As obscure as it was, I particularly enjoyed the conversation about fieldsmen forward of square. We’ll be back tomorrow to bring you the description – we look forward to you joining us then.
Cheers,
Sam
33rd over: Pakistan 70-2 (Azhar 41, Younis 0)
It’s Bird to deliver the last over, and Azhar manages it pretty easily. So much so that he puts a little exclamation point on proceedings with a fine drive down the ground to conclude the day. Warne to Basit Ali this was not.
Pakistan finish the day at 70-2, a far sight better than their performance with the bat for the large part of yesterday. Australia now have two days to take 8 wickets. They looked a little benign this evening, and will hope to threaten more tomorrow.
A day’s wrap to follow.
31st over: Pakistan 67-2 (Azhar 38, Younis 0)
Hazlewood to Khan. No run. A maiden. Really. Enough said.
In this, the penultimate over before the close of play - it would be remiss of me not to offer my own entry into the conversation about greatest forward of square fieldsman of all time. A disclaimer, I haven’t the breadth of cricket experience many of you, dear listeners, have. But this guy saved an enormous amount of runs inside the circle. He was the best ground fieldsman I have ever seen.
30th over: Pakistan 67-2 (Azhar 38, Younis 0)
Lyon is surprisingly out of the attack, replaced by Bird. It’s a curious change, as Lyon was looking pretty likely and had an increasingly raucous Gabba crowd behind him. Quite often Smith reverts to pace in moments of attack. It seems to take quite a lot for Smith to fully trust in Lyon, but not much for him to be discarded. Bird bowls a deliberately full line and is hit thrice to the boundary with glorious off and cover drives.
29th over: Pakistan 55-2 (Azhar 26, Younis 0)
Younis is feeling for the ball outside off stump a little here, a ploy that is asking Hazlewood to a bowl straighter one to strike the pad. He misses a couple before Hazlewood fires one in at middle stump that has Younis quickly jamming his bat down on it. Hazlewood was pushing 140km there. It’s full-on survival mode. That’s not to be confused with Survivor mode; the mode adopted by former Queensland first class player Lee Carseldine recently during his stint on Australian Survivor.
28th over: Pakistan 55-2 (Azhar 26, Younis 0)
Repeated cries of ‘Nice Garry!’ and ‘Yes Garry!’ and ‘Like the look of that Garry!’ permeate my ears as Michael Clarke opines on the work of a spinner’s ‘subconscious’ when deciding upon their bowling lines. Azhar handles the over pretty comfortably.
More of Wade's great DRS chat. Nevill's quiet DRS presence was bringing the team down. #AusvPak
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) December 17, 2016
27th over: Pakistan 54-2 (Azhar 25, Younis 0)
It’s getting precarious for Pakistan. You sense this twenty-odd minute period will be as testing as any for both Azhar and especially Khan, who’s just arrived (at the crease, not his career). His movements are impressively exaggerated as he negotiates Hazlewood’s heavy ball.
20915 crowd for today. 70612 over the three days.
— Neroli Meadows (@Neroli_M_FOX) December 17, 2016
27th over: Pakistan 54-2 (Azhar 25, Younis 0)
The 39-year-old Younis arrives to the wicket and promptly adopts a different strategy to Lyon, coming well forward and smothering with bat well in front of pad. He sees out Lyon’s over.
22 minutes of play remain.
Wicket! Babar c Smith b Lyon 14 (Pakistan 54-2)
Lyon gets his man. He’d been probing some dangerous foot marks outside off stump, creating the two-minds necessary to induce the false stroke. Babar lunged forward and the ball caught his outside edge, landing in Smith’s hands for a regulation snare.
Updated
As the umpires contemplate a ball change, the players take a quick drink. Here’s a perspective on day-night cricket from Kandukuru, who’s emailed in:
“I was a sceptic, chiefly because there’s nothing in sport so tragic as a ground decked up with lights, but with only the proverbial two men and a dog watching. A bit like being all dressed up and nowhere to go.
But the crowds have come, and I’m a convert now. At dusk, both the Adelaide Oval and the ‘Gabba have looked spectacular on TV. The exaggerated swing under lights seems to add an extra dimension to the play, like the Fremantle doctor does to post-tea sessions at the WACA. It adds to one of cricket’s unique strengths, the outsized influence of both the overhead and underfoot conditions. Changing conditions also leave room for tactical innovations (Faf-style early declarations, for example) for enterprising/funky captains, as they come to grips to night Tests.
A bit more personally, Australian day-night Tests start at 8:30am here in India, rather than at an ungodly hour at dawn. So today, Saturday, I’ve been able to watch the whole day, while also lazily reading a book on my couch. I suspect English viewership of Australian Ashes Tests would go up for the same reason.”
26th over: Pakistan 54-1 (Azhar 25, Babar 14)
Smith takes out his third slip, moving him to mid wicket. This allows Hazlewood to straighten his line and attack the stumps. It results, as an attacking line usually does, in a few well-struck drives, but Azhar cannot beat the prowling Warner on a few occasions.
It goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway - it’s a maiden.
25th over: Pakistan 54-1 (Azhar 25, Babar 14)
Lyon starting to make things happen as his field closes in. Smith appoints a leg slip to counter Azhar and Babar’s increasing reliance on a back foot policy to the Australian off spinner. Following the unsuccessful review, Lyon almost gets one through Babar and offers a half-shout.
Not out. To describe further, Lyon delivered one that spun sharply as Babar moved back and across attempting to flick the delivery fine. Wade was adamant, nobody else was. The technology revealed what they probably knew.
Updated
Review! Wade appeals with the sort of ferocity he was picked for, though his colleagues don’t seem so confident. Smith asks for it reluctantly. Stand by.
24th over: Pakistan 50-1 (Azhar 25, Babar 10)
Aside from an elegant straight drive from Azhar to commence the over, the miserly Hazlewood just does what he does. Perhaps the Australians have not found themselves in such control of a match in times of late, but a general sense of impatience pervades the ground and the commentary. It only takes one mistake or one ball to misbehave.
23rd over: Pakistan 47-1 (Azhar 25, Babar 7)
Conversation continues here about the relatively defensive fields to Lyon. The doyen of all, Warne, cannot understand why there are so many boundary-riders when they’ve got so many runs on the board. I share his confusion. A couple of singles milked, and nothing much else.
22nd over: Pakistan 44-1 (Azhar 24, Babar 5)
Josh Hazlewood returns for the Australians, hitting his stride immediately. The crowd allows itself a brief roar as their man, Garry, makes a fine save at point to prevent a couple of runs.
Speaking of wonderful ground fielding, here’s another brilliant homage to Derek Randall, from Robert:
“Dear Sam,
I’m old enough to have just caught the end of Derek Randall’s career when I was a nipper. Never saw him at mid-off but caught plenty of his ludicrously brilliant feats at cover. He was a game-changer (proven in the way every great fielder in the game immediately started copying his MO). It helped that he loved every minute of it, just for its physical pleasure, its mere joy and didn’t see much difference between a breathtaking catch and a startling prevention of a single run. His fluid grace and completely unexpected athleticism felt like an evolutionary leap. His running pick-up, 180 swivel and return throw in one single inimitable movement has never been bettered. And all while looking like a particularly amiable tramp. Top lad.”
Cheers Robert. My Dad talks about Derek Randall a bunch. Clearly I need to feast on some more highlights.
21st over: Pakistan 44-1 (Azhar 24, Babar 5)
Azhar and Babar are happy to play Lyon from the back foot here, picking up a two and a couple of singles for their efforts. Smith has a few fieldsmen out on the boundary for Lyon, slightly perplexing given the match situation. Perhaps he’s allowing Lyon the chance to settle in to his spell.
20th over: Pakistan 38-1 (Azhar 21, Babar 2)
Starc starts with a half volley outside off stump. Ali’s crisp off drive is athletically saved by Warner, who’s made his presence felt in the field this innings. Later on Starc shortens up his opponent with one that climbs to Ali’s grille before the splice of his bat intervenes.
Speaking of superior forward of square fielding, here’s some more Derek Randall love:
19th over: Pakistan 36-1 (Azhar 19, Babar 2)
It’s time for Garry, and the crowd will tell you. He’s immediately extracting significant purchase from the wicket, which will encourage the Australians immensely. His flat deliveries seem to be eliciting greater spin - and it’s not slow turn, either. Handscomb awaits under the lid.
Updated
18th over: Pakistan 34-1 (Azhar 18, Babar 1)
Starc continues here, as does the lull the game has entered. Australia understandably are patiently awaiting a mistake and a nick, Pakistan are simply surviving. Another maiden ensues.
An excellent contribution from Kandukuru Nagarjun on the ‘forward of square’ fielding conversation.
“How about Clive Lloyd, nicknamed SuperCat by Arlott because of the way he prowled the covers? Or Viv Richards, who ran a million people out in the ‘75 World Cup final from cover point and elsewhere in the outfield?
From that West Indies vintage, Roger Harper, sometimes described as the greatest all-round fieldsman ever? Or little Gus Logie, who pulled off many blinders in such positions?”
Brilliant offering Kandukuru, enough for me to want to stress that my entry is by no means meant to be understood as the best one!
17th over: Pakistan 34-1 (Azhar 18, Babar 1)
Bird is hovering around the late-120s mark, wobbling the ball on his requisite tight line. A good single to Ali stands out amongst other dot balls.
Earlier in the over a near mix-up has Warner shying at the stumps, and reverting to type by missing (possibly harsh there). He gives it a fair old heave though, it’d take some stopping.
Finally a taker on the ‘best forward of square fieldsman of all time’ vote. Zvon @LLBoban on Twitter writes: “I nominated Derek Randall but mistakenly sent it to Russell Jackson who will be confused when he wakes up and checks twitter.”
Cheers Zvon, here’s a pic of the great man.
That’s drinks. Pakistan would be reasonably happy to finish at one down there, I’d say.
16th over: Pakistan 33-1 (Azhar 17, Babar 1)
Wahey! Babar gets one through the off side and Pakistan have a run. After a few overs of nothingness, a restlessness has settled over the crowd. Starc inserts a leg-slip for Ali - I’d love to see that come into play...not so much for a fended catch, but for a full-blooded flick to fly to the fieldsman. That would come at greater velocity than an edge, I’d wager.
15th over: Pakistan 31-1 (Azhar 16, Babar 0)
It’s fairly ‘village’, as they say, to audibly count the dot-balls but 21 have now passed as Bird delivers another maiden. The over is notable for a moment where Bird’s towel falls out of his pants in his delivery stride. Ali is momentarily distracted and offers a limp waft of his bat to the ball before motioning the distraction to Bird. I don’t think Bird cared. In fact I think Bird may have lipped him for his troubles. Come on Aussie, I guess.
14th over: Pakistan 31-1 (Azhar 16, Babar 0)
Back-to-back maidens for the Australians. Channel 9 has picked up an anomaly in Starc’s run-up. Whereas he normally lands his front foot right at the tip of the bowling crease, he is a fair way behind it here. The upshot? Slightly decreased pace and rhythm - probably enough to make his offerings fractionally easier for the Pakistan batsmen.
No takers on the greatest cover / mid-off fieldsmen of all time, I take it? An obscure question, I know.
Updated
13th over: Pakistan 31-1 (Azhar 16, Babar 0)
Azhar moves back into a pretty defensive posture - no doubt in response to the loss of a wicket. Bird is happy to probe that fourth stump line. The over ends in a draw - a relatively untroubled maiden.
There’s something about Renshaw, isn’t there? It’s hard to escape the thought that he’s enjoyed a pretty charmed commencement to his Test career. He rode criticism of his slow-scoring against South Africa, but aside from that has looked pretty comfortable at this level. Being able to take excellent grabs at first slip no doubt increases his gravitas too.
12th over: Pakistan 31-1 (Azhar 16, Babar 0)
Starc, previously lacking penetration, gets Australia away in this innings with one that Sami probably should have left. Further replays confirm that the ball was of pretty good length, and that Sami didn’t appear committed to the stroke in the way the ball necessitated.
In other news Renshaw, who took the catch, has a pretty infectious smile, doesn’t he?
Wicket! Sami c Renshaw b Starc 15 (Pakistan 31-1)
Starc is reintroduced into the attack and strikes almost immediately with a fullish ball that Sami attempts to drive. He succeeds only in gaining a healthy edge which flies at face height to Renshaw, who takes the catch comfortably, crouched, fingers up, before falling slowly to the turf. Australia are away.
Updated
11th over: Pakistan 31-0 (Azhar 16, Sami 15)
Bird’s starting to make the ball talk, and it hits the pad of Azhar whose long stride saves him. It’s a stride that is heading a little further towards cover than is normal - he’ll probably need to straighten it. Bird finishes the over with one that swings away. This over has comfortably seen more swing than any other. Are the lights starting to take effect, is Bird bowling most skillfully, or both?
Meanwhile here is one of Queensland’s finest sons:
@rustyjacko I'll watch any show Hayden hosts as long as he does so from his tiny chair. pic.twitter.com/EVqUrIHGm3
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) December 17, 2016
10th over: Pakistan 31-0 (Azhar 16, Sami 15)
Hazlewood takes a points decision over Sami this over, eliciting a couple of inside edges and indecision from the Pakistan opener. He accrues another probing maiden to his name.
Phil Withall’s emailed in: “Evening Sam.
I understand the appeal of day/night cricket for broadcasters and cricket administrators, the crowds at the Gabba have been very impressive, but I’m not a fan. The difference in batting conditions are much more severe than is the norm.
I know people say test cricket needs to be innovative to attract media
coverage, sponsorship and the like but for me it creates a hybrid game. The only Day-Knight I’m interested in lives in Fountain Lakes and has a friend that nearly married Shane Warne.”
It’s a great discussion Phil, on both counts. I think there’s something to be said for guaranteed variety to Test match conditions. What do others think?
9th over: Pakistan 31-0 (Azhar 16, Sami 15)
My ears pricked up listening to Waqar Younis describe the state of cricket in Pakistan, sadly caught up in political machinations with implications far more sobering than what we’re used to hearing about on Channel 9. Fair play to them for encouraging the discussion. Younis is explaining the sadness of cricket being banned in his home country, particularly given the number of new and refurbished stadiums standing empty at the moment.
It’s at that point that Azhar drives Bird down the ground handsomely, taking Pakistan to 31 without loss.
8th over: Pakistan 26-0 (Azhar 12, Sami 14)
Hazlewood continues and manages to shape one past Azhar, notable as much for the rareness of such an occurrence this innings as anything else. The over passes without event, and one imagines Steve Smith may have expected a little more from his opening bowling ‘cartel’ (as Malcolm Knox coined them) this evening.
Separately, following Rowan’s backhanded compliment to the Handscomb-Maddinson middle order (backhand to Maddinson, compliment to Handscomb), Sarah writes: “Handscomb looks grand. 2nd turn at bat = on fire. At least we haven’t wrecked him, unlike Jennings: cracking debut. Crap since.”
Agree about Handscomb. Has looked like he belongs at the level immediately. Jennings, to be fair to him, scored a hundred on debut in India! That’s worth at least a few more tests I would have thought.
7th over: Pakistan 26-0 (Azhar 12, Sami 14)
Jack Bird’s into the attack (the name has nice assonance to it) which reflects Pakistan’s assured start. Starc wasn’t terrible, but it was surprising that he was unable to elicit any of the prodigious swing or pace that we’ve become accustomed to. Bird gets a couple to leave the batsmen late, but they’re disinterest in playing renders the deliveries pretty harmless.
6th over: Pakistan 23-0 (Azhar 9, Sami 14)
A maiden to Hazlewood momentarily restores the status-quo. I guess that’s what he does. Sami looked pretty solid in defence nevertheless.
Rowan writes: “I for one am loving Australia’s new middle order.
If you combine the batting averages of Hanscomb and Maddinson, they’re 0.77 behind one Donald George Bradman! Not bad at all.”
Very droll, Rowan! I’ve always loved knowledge of statistics to two decimal points.
5th over: Pakistan 23-0 (Azhar 9, Sami 14)
Another boundary to Sami behind point makes this a pretty decent start for Pakistan. The left-hander then punches Hazlewood through extra cover but it’s quickly run down by Warner, whose anticipation probably saves one. When we talk about great fielders we often focus on those catching behind the wicket, or those effecting run-outs from backward point. But who are the best fielders in front of the wicket? I have one that comes to mind immediately...any other views out there?
4th over: Pakistan 17-0 (Azhar 8, Sami 9)
The familiar hum of a Mexican Wave filters through the TV as Hazlewood continues his commitment to the metronome. An assortment of balls on a 4th and 5th stump line are comfortably left by Sami, who then evades a pretty misdirected bouncer to finish the over. It’s always hard to detect just how off-target those bouncers are on TV - Sami’s nonchalant body language gave it away.
3rd over: Pakistan 16-0 (Azhar 7, Sami 9)
All 16 runs have come from Starc’s bowling, which to this point has been without much swing and sideways movement. Azhar leans nicely on one through the offside and picks up three, before the left-handed Sami spoons one up that falls safely between point and cover.
2nd over: Pakistan 6-0 (Azhar 0, Sami 6)
Comparisons in cricket are always fraught. The latest, most bothersome one is that of Renshaw and Hayden. I’ll make an exception for Josh Hazlewood though, who is increasingly McGrath-esque in his routine excellence in accuracy. He starts with a probing maiden.
Meanwhile Sarah writes in on Twitter: “Hey Sam. Watching from London. Loving it. PS. Even the pommy husband is enjoying this game far more than #INDvENG -- fine by me!”
Thanks for writing in Sarah. England are 424-7 in India, and although down in the series, I’m sure a number of Australians would bite your hand off for a score like that.
1st over: Pakistan 6-0 (Azhar 0, Sami 6)
Decibel levels at the Gabba have noticeably risen as Starc commences the innings. Three slips and a short leg explain the situation. Sami hangs his bat out at one which races through the ever-vacant fourth slip region for four, and whips a straighter one down to fine leg. The whip looked good too. Good carry for Starc, who’s immediately bowling 140+km/hr.
Updated
Australia has declared at 202/5, a lead of 489
Word is in, Australia has declared. No doubt kit is being strewn about the Pakistan dressing room as we speak while the Australians giddily back-slap each other.
That leaves the equation as follows: Pakistan will require 490 runs to win in seven sessions. For Pakistan’s sake, let’s all check the Brisbane weather forecast now.
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G'day
Greetings all and a happy day three dinner break to you, wherever you are around the world.
We arrive at the final session with Australia in total control of the fixture. A classic flurry of quick second innings runs – complete with bold stroke play and wild dismissals – has stretched Australia’s lead to an unassailable 489. At the time of writing, we are not officially wise to whether they’ve opted to declare or not. To be fair, it would be strange if Smith were to instruct of his decision at the start of dinner. That sort of stuff is best left to the last minute, thus leaving the Pakistan dressing room in total two-minded mystery as to what Australia will do. Then, when Smith advises of the declaration, presumably the Pakistan openers would find themselves frantically tossing gear around, deeply surprised by the Australian’s cunning. Alternatively, they’ve probably already started padding up.
While Australia remains in control, a couple of interesting subplots have emerged. In the pursuit of quick runs, Maddinson failed again. His place in the side is probably worth discussing ahead of Boxing Day, simply because he has failed three times with the bat.
‘But he was batting in night, pink-ball conditions!’ you say. That’s true, and it will be interesting to see what weight that’s given as the selectors convene ahead of the post-Christmas Test. What do you think?
On the same topic, but more broadly – is there something to be said for the stark difference in the batting conditions both sides have operated in? Is it manifestly unfair, or do you enjoy the added complexity? Not so long ago cricket suffered from a dearth of testing conditions – a night Test match almost guarantees variety every day. After near-decades of flat tracks, I’m inclined to think it’s a good thing. Whatever the case, these are strange new times in Test cricket.
I’ll fire up the regular comment upon the start of the third session. Would love to hear from you in both old and new forms. Email me at sam.perry.freelance@guardian.co.uk or tweet me at @sjjperry – I’ll be monitoring both, desperate for connection.
Desperation aside, I’m hoping for a bit of Pakistan resistance here, but it’s hard to see where it’s coming from.
Dinner on day three - Australia lead by 489 runs
39th over: Australia 201-5 (Handscomb 35, Wade 1)
And that is dinner. Handscomb belted one of the more forceful singles you’ll see out to the deep on the off side, Wade got off the mark with a single, and there was not much else happening. So with that, Australia go to dinner with a 489-run lead and will surely look to have a bowl in the evening. Taking you through that will be Sam Perry. Thanks for your company in the first two sessions.
38th over: Australia 199-5 (Handscomb 33, Wade 0)
Wade gets bat on a scorcher from Wahab to end the over and we’ll probably have just one more before the dinner break. That lovely man Sam Perry will be dropping by soon after to take you through the rest of the evening. Australia’s lead is now 486.
Robert McLiam Wilson has also dropped by. “Given your boyish love of all things Pakistani cricket, how are you feeling today, young Rusty? Is their first innings a crushing disappointment or is it mitigated by an Aussie side showing a bit of divil? Are you in a no-win or no-lose emotional/sporting predicament? Back in the day, this was how I used to feel when Peter Beardsley played for England. All victories were his and yet it was never not fun to see them lose.”
Answer: I’m a bit flat about it to be honest. Pakistan flogging Australia at the Gabba would have been the high water mark of cricket comedy.
More Bob: “On another point, how do you think Mark Ramprakash feels to see Khawaja so thoroughly stealing his shoulda-been career?”
I was actually hugely worried Khawaja would be our Ramps. Thank goodness it hasn’t come to pass.
Updated
WICKET! Maddinson c Azhar b Wahab 4 (Australia 199-5)
Maddinson departs! Oh dear, another cheap dismissal for the youngster but he was doing the right thing here, crashing a bouncer towards the fence at fine leg, where he’s caught. A ball earlier he hammered a boundary over Wahab’s head but his eventful innings is done after three deliveries. You can’t really cane him for that one, though people inevitably will.
37th over: Australia 188-4 (Handscomb 26, Maddinson 0)
Maddinson gets a wide one from Rahat first up and goes after it but doesn’t make contact. He’ll have about eight minutes to bat here. Not ideal.
Reader Phil Withall can come over to mine and fix the front garden if he likes. “The relentless wittering of ‘the local commentators’ drove me into the garden,” he says. “I trimmed hedges and mowed the grass in 30 degrees heat hoping that by the time I’d finished they would have stopped looking for a myriad ways to explain why they hadn’t/couldn’t/will declare. Yet they still seem to be able to discover new ways of doing it. I might have to go and dig a hole just for the hell of it.”
Now that you’ve said it Phil, how can I resist this one?
WICKET! Khawaja c Misbah b Rahat 73 (Australia 188-4)
Khawaja departs! What a shame. He played a beautiful knock here but departs looking for quick runs when he rocks back to Rahat and doesn’t quite get a handle on a heave towards cow corner, so Misbah holds a smart catch with a small dive. Nic Maddinson will bat after all!
Updated
36th over: Australia 184-3 (Khawaja 73, Handscomb 23)
Isn’t it funny: if out-of-sorts Nic Maddinson was in now you’d be nervous for him but Peter Handscomb is having a ball, clubbing one past gully with a superb square drive to pick up four and continue the spree. Khawaja goes one better when he uses Wahab’s pace to shovel the ball over the vacant cordon and pick up four. A single ends the over and hopes remain high that with some dash, he could get to a hundred before dinner. That is 15 minutes away.
35th over: Australia 172-3 (Khawaja 67, Handscomb 17)
Australia’s lead is now 459 strong and talk is turning to the declaration. As this Rahat over ends there is 20 minutes remaining until dinner and you’d think they’ll wait until then to declare, rather than bowl a speculative over or two before the break. The over contains a sublime cover drive to the fence from Khawaja, who is batting in especially regal style today.
34th over: Australia 163-3 (Khawaja 60, Handscomb 15)
In football terms you’d call this the “junk time” period, as both batsmen tuck in, but Handscomb adds some respectability to proceedings with a classic late cut for four. Misbah, on the other hand, has an embarrassing moment when a lazy dive costs Yasir a single that should never have eventuated. There’s a run off every ball of the over bar the last.
33rd over: Australia 154-3 (Khawaja 57, Handscomb 9)
Azhar continues with his leggies and gets swept for an emphatic boundary by Handscomb before Khawaja dances down the track and cracks a thick edge past Sarfraz to pick up four of his own, though he was very lucky not to perish to that wrong ‘un he’s not picking. Maybe Khawaja is batting with an imminent declaration in mind but Azhar is threatening more often than the full-timers.
32nd over: Australia 143-3 (Khawaja 51, Handscomb 4)
As Steve Smith scribbles away with a Biro in the sheds, Nic Maddinson looks on nervously as the next man in. He’s on a hiding to nothing here: a quick 25-30 means little but he runs the risk of another cheap failure. He might actually be hoping he doesn’t have to bat.
31st over: Australia 141-3 (Khawaja 50, Handscomb 3)
Khawaja thinks he’s glanced for his half-ton but Gunner Gould has other ideas and calls it a bye. Surely a leg bye was the call there? With Handscomb off the mark Khawaja does the job a few balls later, bringing up his milestone from 92 deliveries and in 128 minutes.
30th over: Australia 136-3 (Khawaja 49, Handscomb 0)
First innings centurion out, first innings centurion in. Peter Handscomb joins Khawaja, who gets a single to end the over and retain the strike and move within one run of his half-century.
Smith c Rahat b Yasir 63 (Australia 135-3)
Smith departs to an appropriately inventive shot! What even was that? He’s down the track to Yasir and turns his bat into a truly avant garde shape to loft the ball into the deep but it’s a lot of effort for no reward when Rahat moves around to swallow a simple catch. That was a most entertaining knock from the skipper, who seemed to be playing with a declaration in mind, and in the process he’s sacrificed a chance at twin centuries. Yasir kinda deserved that one.
29th over: Australia 130-2 (Khawaja 47, Smith 59)
The 100-run partnership is now up from 138 deliveries and Azhar continues with his entertaining leggies. Khawaja still can’t pick his wrong ‘un but I tell you what, a cover drive he creams for four bits here is as good as anything we’ve seen today and at odds with the smash and grab nature of Smith’s batting, if that’s not disrespecting the skipper’s effectiveness.
28th over: Australia 122-2 (Khawaja 42, Smith 58)
Like Misbah’s list of tactics, the Gabba pool is now empty, but that allows the crowd to delight in Khawaja’s sumptuous cover drive to the fence, which ends another luckless Yasir over. He had a decent shout for lbw a few deliveries earlier but Pakistan don’t have any reviews left.
27th over: Australia 116-2 (Khawaja 36, Smith 58)
Misbah now calls upon the leg-spin of part-timer Azhar Ali, which is a sign he’s run out of conventional ideas. Prematurely? There are always plenty of singles on offer with Azhar and some aggressive running also gets Smith three when he lofts over cover. Azhar does produce one big-spinning wrong ‘un that Khawaja doesn’t pick but it spins far too much to pose any real troubles. Australia’s lead is now 403. Another 70-100 runs and it’ll be time for a bowl.
26th over: Australia 110-2 (Khawaja 34, Smith 54)
The other things that Smith is doing here by raising the run-rate is increasing the likelihood that his side will have a bowl later tonight, because quick runs are good runs in this situation. We’ve got an hour until the dinner break, in which time he could really unleash. Yasir Shah is still grinning as drinks are called, bless him, but there’s not much to smile about for his skipper.
Smith (2,231) sneaks ahead of Warner (2,230) for runs in all 3 formats this year. Behind only Kohli (2,580) & Root (2,564) #AUSvPAK
— Adam Burnett (@AdamBurnett09) December 17, 2016
25th over: Australia 108-2 (Khawaja 33, Smith 53)
Rahat Ali bowled a gem of a spell earlier and starts off a new one much the same, slipping one past the outside edge of a jumpy Usman Khawaja first up. He gets a single to bring up Australia’s hundred, which means they now lead by 387, but none of that is as good as the pull shot Steve Smith plays soon after when Rahat drags one down. He’s like an urchin slapping bulbs off the tops of the neighbourhood agapanthus. He brings up his half-century from 59 deliveries with yet another boundary and waves his bat to the pavilion for the third time in this Test. Pakistan simply don’t have an answer for his unconventional genius right now.
24th over: Australia 99-2 (Khawaja 32, Smith 45)
Yasir had 0-19 from his first four overs and he’s back now for another go. One half-tracker here is so wide Steve Smith couldn’t even reach it with the combined jazz hands of the entire cast of the popular stage musical Wicked. A single to Khawaja is the only score of the over.
23rd over: Australia 98-2 (Khawaja 31, Smith 45)
Steve Smith is giving the crowd value for money here, even when he isn’t scoring. Mark Nicholas calls one pull shot in this over an “overhead smash” in tennis terms, but you could also convince me it’s an interpretation of a sword fight performed by some Melbourne dance troupe with too much government funding. Much like modern dance, I don’t entirely get it.
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22nd over: Australia 94-2 (Khawaja 30, Smith 42)
It’s a wonder he hasn’t tried it any earlier but Wahab produces a nice slower ball here, though it’s wide of off stump so Steve Smith’s misjudgment of it is moot. Far worse for the bowler is the frustration that follows when a thick edge by Smith flies away between gully and second slip. Why are there only two of them? As they shuffle across a bit in the wake of the horse’s bolting, Smith hammers a cover drive to the rope to add insult to injury. Wahab needn’t bother buying a Tattslotto ticket tonight.
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21st over: Australia 85-2 (Khawaja 30, Smith 33)
Pakistan are momentarily out of answers for this partnership, which has steadied Australia after the early loss of both openers. Amir bangs in a bouncer to Smith but he sees it coming and pulls for one. Amir is luckless later in the over when he squares Khawaja up and watches on in frustration as the ball flies to the right of Misbah at gully and runs away for four.
20th over: Australia 80-2 (Khawaja 26, Smith 32)
Poor Yasir Shah is having a ‘mare in the field here. He sprints out to the boundary to save a run but his dive at the rope is ungainly to say the least and he not only botches it but hurts his knee too. His ego is probably the main victim though, and and he stays on the ground. “Saving one run is not worth an injury,” say Mark Nicholas, speaking like a true batsman. Wahab is a little tetchy and slings down a bouncer, which Khawaja ducks easily.
19th over: Australia 76-2 (Khawaja 22, Smith 32)
No matter how high you rise in the game, you’re never immune from being proven mortal, as Steve Smith is here in crunching an inside edge onto that tender part of the inner knee known well to duffer cricketers everywhere. Typically, he follows that with something none of us could do, a back foot straight drive to the fence at cow after he’s turned in his crease to the returning Mohammad Amir. What a shot!
I must admit, I preferred the South Africa Tests where Australia got to be the rubbish team. #AUSvPAK
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) December 17, 2016
18th over: Australia 72-2 (Khawaja 22, Smith 28)
No-ball King Wahab strikes again, overstepping by the length of one of own boots, which are approximately the size of a your average Gladstone bag. Khawaja has been a little muted in recent times but drives through cover to three to remind us he’s engaged. An interesting stat: in 12 innings these two average a 57.41 run partnership, according to the local broadcaster. This stand is currently worth 48.
17th over: Australia 65-2 (Khawaja 18, Smith 26)
Smith dices with danger a little here when he smacks a lofted drive back at Yasir, who can’t get his hands up quick enough for the catch but isn’t far off. It thumps into the fence for four and three more follow with a cover drive along the carpet. Neither of those are Yasir’s fault as such but he can only blame himself for the final delivery of the over: a full bunger that Smith dispatches to the fence at cow with an imperious flick of the wrists. The Australian captain is on the charge again.
16th over: Australia 53-2 (Khawaja 17, Smith 15)
Wahab is getting decent bounce and carry, though I must say that every time I see him bowl I forget how stiff and jerking his approach is. It’s part of his charm, I guess. Khawaja is leaving him outside off stump and waiting for a slip-up, but it never comes, so it’s a maiden.
Meanwhile, in India, Amul Butter (pro tip: Google them and “cricket” and settle in for a while) have produced another gem of an advert.
Jimmy A even copping stick from the local butter & milk company!!@jimmy9 @bbctms @Vitu_E pic.twitter.com/RLRCxQSCCA
— Paul (@chirpycrow) December 17, 2016
15th over: Australia 53-2 (Khawaja 17, Smith 15)
Smith bookends the bad shot to finish the last over with another to start this one from Yasir, who drags it down a bit shorter and has Smith playing a loose cut shot. Khawaja gets one with a beautiful on drive out to the man at long-on but Yasir isn’t making the inroads he’d like.
14th over: Australia 49-2 (Khawaja 15, Smith 13)
Wahab comes, the ball goes. The left-armer comes on for his first delivery of the innings and it’s a rank half-tracker, which Smith duly crunches to the fence with an emphatic pull shot. Australia lead by 335 now. If these two get going and the lead stretches beyond 450 by the midway point of the evening session, they’ll have to be thinking about a declaration.
The over finishes with a big lbw appeal from Wahab when Smith shuffles across his stumps and gets rapped on the front pad as he tries to glance it. It’s not given but Pakistan call for the review almost immediately. It’s a close run thing but Smith survives, just. Pakistan have now burned both of their reviews but that one was certainly worth a shout.
Smith survives a close review from Pakistan! The tourists now out of reviews... #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/hHaO3ycvxc
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 17, 2016
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13th over: Australia 44-2 (Khawaja 15, Smith 9)
Yasir resumes after tea and Khawaja is moving immediately with a single down the ground. Yasir continues to purse a leg stump line to the left-hander though thankfully Shane Warne is out of the commentary box now and hopefully relaxing somewhere with an iPod, maybe listening to some of the music of...well, you know the rest. Just a note on music: I’m often laying into the Nine DJs for what appears in highlights packages but we’ve just heard New Order’s Blue Monday, and yesterday there was some Primal Scream as well. Credit where it’s due.
This is now the best non-Ashes crowd at the Gabba
And that is no mean feat. Maybe we should be less cynical about the pool. The figures so far: 26,353 on day one, 23,344 on day two and 16,628 so far today.
Tea on day three - Australia 40-2 at the 20-minute breather
12th over: Australia 40-2 (Khawaja 13, Smith 8)
Rahat continues with his probing spell of fast bowling and retains those four slips of earlier with Khawaja on strike. Warnie is still spewing about Yasir’s first over, so angry that you wonder whether someone has just told him they don’t really rate Coldplay, the band lead by his very good friend Chris Martin. Khawaja turns a single to leg from the penultimate delivery and Smith blocks out the final ball to negotiate his side through to the 20-minute break. As he does so, I’ve just realised that Pakistan are sponsored by both Pepsi and Lay’s crisps. On that note I might go find a snack.
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11th over: Australia 39-2 (Khawaja 12, Smith 8)
In actual fact Yasir appears now for his first trundle of the day and you can expect him to bowl a lot of overs tonight, as he did in the first innings. He gets sharp turn and bounce, as per the prediction of Shane Warne earlier – too much for Khawaja to get bat on or Sarfraz to lay glove on as a bye is conceded. And again, Warne is furious: he thought Yasir bowled too straight in the first innings and he’s doing so again here, spinning it down the leg side. It does rather limit his modes of dismissal. I think we’ll now have one more over before lunch.
10th over: Australia 38-2 (Khawaja 12, Smith 8)
Khawaja loves it on his pads like Wordsworth loved flowers, or like Shane Warne adores Coldplay and their singer, his “very good friend” Chris Martin, who sings in the band Coldplay, who are really quite good if you ask Shano, and Rahat obliges this time by spraying one towards leg and allowing the batsman to turn him effortlessly for three. Those are the only runs of the over so Khawaja will resume battle with Amir in the next.
9th over: Australia 35-2 (Khawaja 9, Smith 8)
There’s an intriguing little battle developing here between Mohammad Amir and Usman Khawaja, who labours through this over by his impeccably high standards, not scoring until the final delivery, when he picks up a single. He was squared up hopelessly earlier, but looks determined to tough out this awkward period. Amir will have to rest soon enough.
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8th over: Australia 34-2 (Khawaja 8, Smith 8)
Steve Smith is equally unfussed by the state of Australia’s first innings and starts this Rahat over by picking up a boundary with a shot he didn’t even play, which is decent going. He wanted to pull it but backed off, deflecting it to fine leg in the process of withdrawing from his original idea.
Reader Kandukuru Nagarjun is not exactly loving what he’s seeing here. “Is it ever politically correct to talk about how boring Test cricket can be” he asks. “Australia probably have enough runs on the board to win this game already. Yet, for the next day and a bit, we’ll have the pleasure of watching Australia having an extended centre-wicket net. Sorry, sub-plots (will Maddinson find some form? Can Rahat Ali improve?) appeal only to tragics like us, and do nothing to spread the game’s appeal.”
“Just as the best Test cricket is the best sport there is, this sort of Test cricket is the most boring sport imaginable. ODIs can also meander, but at least the bloody thing gets over relatively quickly.”
I disagree Kandukuru. Following on rarely works out perfectly in Australia’s baking heat. Better to rest the bowlers up for a bit and get Pakistan in when the lights are on, I reckon.
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7th over: Australia 30-2 (Khawaja 8, Smith 4)
Unperturbed by all the chaos around him, Khawaja continues on constructing his strokes like charming sculptures. He should be playing in the Musée d’Orsay, really. There’s a wondrous pull shot for no run and a drive through point for two.
6th over: Australia 28-2 (Khawaja 6, Smith 4)
After all that excitement, Smith finishes the over brilliantly, clattering a square drive wide of the man at point to pick up a boundary and get himself off the mark. But make no mistake, Pakistan are making a real charge here. Their slips cordon is stacked and belief is high on the back of this superb bowling partnership between Amir and Rahat. The latter is making a very good case to keep his place for Boxing Day.
Not out! Smith survives
Pitched in line, hit outside the line. Phew, that was a close call but the Aussies skipper lives to fight another day.
REVIEW! Pakistan think they have Steve Smith
What is going on? Smith shuffled across his stumps and almost lost the leg variety, which only stays intact due to the ball deflecting off his pad. Pakistan like it as an lbw shout, or maybe caught behind, and I don’t blame them.
WICKET! Renshaw c Younus b Rahat 6 (Australia 24-2)
Renshaw departs! And that was no huge surprise. Rahat was all over him like a cheap suit earlier in the over, in which the youngster had groped at an away-swinger and almost sent an edge through to a stacked cordon; four slips and a gully when he’s on strike. Soon after the breakthrough comes when Rahat does claim a big chunk of that edge and Younus holds a sitter. Australia are wobbling here. Both openers are gone.
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5th over: Australia 24-1 (Renshaw 6, Khawaja 6)
Mohammad Amir is really hitting his stride now and starts this over with another screaming outswinger to the left-handed Matt Renshaw, who prods unconvincingly but recovers well a ball later to turn three through mid-wicket when Amir strays onto his pads. Amir finishes the over by snaking another past the outside edge of Khawaja, who fences at the ball hopelessly. It actually swung too much to be a genuine threat.
Meanwhile, Cricket Australia’s attempts to encourage greater diversity in their Test crowds seem to be reaping dividends...
4th over: Australia 19-1 (Renshaw 3, Khawaja 4)
Matt Renshaw is off the mark now, driving handsomely for three through cover when Rahat went searching for an outside edge and over-pitched just a smidgen. There’s half an lbw shout against Khawaja but it’s of no interest to the umpire. Actually, only Rahat was digging it, so it was more like one-eleventh of a shout.
3rd over: Australia 16-1 (Renshaw 0, Khawaja 4)
Speaking of bad shots, Usman Khawaja played an absolute howler in the first innings but will be looking to atone as he takes strike here. Like Warner, he is off the mark pressing forward and edging low through gully for four, which takes Australia’s lead beyond 300. For the rest of the over he’s leaving the ball with that lovely swish of the blade. Is there anything better than watching classy left-handers leave the ball? Well, watching them score runs with nice shots I guess, but you must get my drift...
WICKET! Warner c Wahab b Amir 12 (Australia 12-1)
Warner goes to a horrible shot! Oh my. That was ghastly. He’s back and across to Amir and tries to flog it into row Z behind the bowler’s head with a straight pull, but he barely gets a handle on it and spoons a catch to Wahab at mid-on. What in the name of Wooloongabba was that? Mark Nicholas, who seems to know Warner very well, has a cryptic comment in the the aftermath that piques my attention: “Not quite himself I feel, for whatever reason.” He’s also a goner. First blood to Amir.
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2nd over: Australia 12-0 (Warner 12, Renshaw 0)
As Rahat begins his first over of the innings he’s copping an absolute pasting from Ian Chappell, who reckons he bowled like a drain in the first innings. Probably not too far off the mark. Three left-armers was always looking like too much of the same thing and if a change is made for Melbourne, it might well be Imran Khan in for Rahat. Rahat is not quite penetrating in this over to Renshaw, but it’s an accurate maiden.
1st over: Australia 12-0 (Warner 12, Renshaw 0)
Amir grabs the new ball for Pakistan and does so with immediate impact, though not the kind his side is looking for; Warner sends a streaky boundary low between third slip and gully then plays a square drive for an all-run four, which adds some novelty to proceedings. Amir only has himself to blame with his fourth ball, which is short, wide outside off stump and is mercilessly cut in front of point for four. Perhaps getting a little carried away, Warner tries to heave the next one through cow but its flight path is almost into the hands of first slip. Amir finishes with a jaffa. Of course.
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Warner and Renshaw sprint off to pad up
And Australia will look to pile up runs until the evening period, then get the tourists back in when the wickets were tumbling last night. We’ll be back in five minutes with the Australian innings.
WICKET! Rahat run out (Warner) 4 (Pakistan all out for 142)
Pakistan all out for 142 (Sarfraz 59 not out)
Again Sarfraz eschews easy singles and it pays dividends when he gets some width and spears four more wide of point with a late cut. The field comes up to stop the single and it almost comes in unusual style after a deflection from a direct hit at the bowler’s end, which causes a lengthy consultation with the third umpire. His verdict: out! Rahat’s bat bobbled up off the turf and he’s gone, so Pakistan’s innings end. Sarfraz is left stranded on 59 and Australia will bat again.
It was an eventful old over. Earlier Maddinson drops Sarfraz. The batsmean had treated Bird is treated with absolute disdain, getting down on one knee to flog him over mid-wicket with a slog-sweep but Maddinson couldn’t hold a running chance in the deep, instead parrying it for a boundary. But it matters not. They couldn’t get Sarfraz, but with David Warner’s direct hit run-out the Pakistan innings is done. Credit where it’s due: we give Warner a bit of a pasting on the OBO vis a vis his inability to hit the stumps with throws but that was a beauty from side-on.
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54th over: Pakistan 134-9 (Sarfraz 51, Rahat 4)
Sarfraz sweeps for a couple to start the over and repeats the feat a few balls later to move within a couple of what would be a well-earned half-century. And he gets it, turning two to leg and raising his bat after a 57-ball gem of a knock. It’s his 10th half-century in Tests and has spared the blushes of his batting colleagues.
Sarfraz protecting Rahat. Much like the man who tastes the soup before the king gets it.
— Jarrod Kimber (@ajarrodkimber) December 17, 2016
53rd over: Pakistan 127-9 (Sarfraz 44, Rahat 4)
Bird has 3-14 from 10 overs at the start of this one and looks good for a fourth wicket soon the way Sarfraz is teeing off outside off-stump, and he’s now far less trusting of his partner and refuses singles when he batters it at the men in the deep. Probably smart. From Bird’s penultimate delivery he finally takes one and Rahat survives the final delivery with a bit of village cricket-style forward defence; the ball ends up at mid-wicket to his barely-contained surprise.
52nd over: Pakistan 126-9 (Sarfraz 43, Rahat 4)
From Amir’s continued indignant reaction back in the sheds he hasn’t yet looked at the snicko and hot spot analyses, which clearly show he was out, if unlucky. Regardless, Sarfraz presses on against Lyon, picking up a single before there’s a huge lbw shout against Rahat. Lyon is utterly convinced but he’s waved off by Gunner Gould, who isn’t one to be swayed by theatrics.
51st over: Pakistan 125-9 (Sarfraz 42, Rahat 4)
After one of the slowest departures for the arena since Shane Watson disappeared from the Test scene, Amir is replaced by Rahat Ali and Bird brings to its conclusion the first over of his spell, but not before Rahat has slapped a sheeky boundary through gully when he gets some width.
WICKET! Amir c Wade b Bird 21 (Pakistan 121-9)
Amir can’t believe it but he’s gone! That just goes to show that you can’t always trust the batsman as hot spot showed a clear inside edge, which the batsmen didn’t feel. He was busy slurping away at a drink as the call came though and so absolutely flummoxed. He had it pegged as a nice chance for a breather but now he’s trotting back to the pavilion. Jackson Bird strikes in his first over!
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Review! Bird thinks he has Amir caught behind
It’ll be an inside edge if so.
50th over: Pakistan 118-8 (Sarfraz 39, Amir 21)
“GAAAAARRRYYYYYY, GAAAAAAARRRRRYYYYY, GAAAAAAAARRRRYYYYY!” That’s the sound ringing out across the Gabba at the start of the over and no, Garry Gary Beers has not made a surprise appearance. They’re going wild over Nathan “Garry” Lyon, who is on for his first over of spin. His efforts aren’t quite as good as the chants and Amir looks comfortable defending his wares for now, but it’s a maiden to start with.
49th over: Pakistan 118-8 (Sarfraz 39, Amir 21)
It would be overstating things to call it a huge concern, but Australia need to be careful of Amir’s growing confidence in his strokeplay here as he unfurls another attractive cover drive to Starc and picks up a couple. He looks like the senior partner at the moment, though Sarfraz re-establishes alpha dog status with a flashing, lofted square drive for four runs when Starc sends down a half-tracker.
48th over: Pakistan 111-8 (Sarfraz 35, Amir 18)
One thing we haven’t focused on enough this summer amid Australia’s batting woes and subsequent rally is the bowling of Josh Hazlewood, who is slowly but surely usurping Mitchell Starc as Australia’s most important bowler, if not its most obviously potent, because the secret to his success is his unerring consistency and durability (touch wood). This over he’s hitting his metronomic line and length to Amir but also slips in the most threatening bouncer of the day so far to get the Pakistani ducking out of the way. There’s a single to Amir to finish the over. He remains cool in this crisis.
47th over: Pakistan 110-8 (Sarfraz 35, Amir 17)
Ouch! Sarfraz is getting in line with the ball with Starc charging in but in attempting to turn a short one to leg he misjudges the bounce just a little and the ball cannons into his gloves. That wouldn’t have tickled. He’s off strike with a single a ball later and Amir plays his first decent attacking stroke trying to glide another short one through gully, but Peter Handscomb leaps like salmon to cut it off. Soon after there is not a soul on the ground who can stop the boundary when Amir smartly turns a yorker down to fine leg, then he pushes a single of his own through cover. Best of all is a late cut to finish the over, for which Amir picks up three.
46th over: Pakistan 100-8 (Sarfraz 34, Amir 8)
Bronx cheers echo out around the Gabba as Sarfraz manages another single to move Pakistan into three figures as Australian crowds continue to rediscover their mojo. Amir does the job at the other end. He’s 8 from 47 now and showing far more application than a few of his colleagues did last night.
45th over: Pakistan 99-8 (Sarfraz 33, Amir 8)
Again Sarfraz trusts Amir in taking a single early in the over and Mitchell Starc marauds in from around the wicket, peppering the tailender with an immediate if rather predictable bouncer. There are three slips and a gully in place, plus a short leg, and Starc’s vicious approach continues for the duration of the over. Amir’s not too fussed. He ducks, weaves and lives so that Sarfraz may score another single.
Just a note on our scorecard: yes, again it’s looking rather kind to the batting side by not showing wickets. Our techies haven’t found a fix yet but I’m beginning to suspect it was designed by a batsman. Apologies for the ongoing issue. We’ll get there eventually.
44th over: Pakistan 98-8 (Sarfraz 32, Amir 8)
And we’re under way on day three with Sarfraz looking to continue his efforts to add some mild respectability to this first innings total. His side is still 130 runs short of the follow-on as Josh Hazlewood steams in for the first ball of the day, which he creeps forward to and meets with a solid defensive stroke.
Sarfraz turns the ball to the vacant square leg region and senses two but Nic Maddinson has sprinted in to stop it happening, though doesn’t endear himself to Steve Smith – standing at the stumps in lieu of a Matthew Wade, who also set off on a chase – hammering the throw in as though his skipper is wearing gloves. He’s not, and reels in pain from catching the throw. Not real smart. Hazlewood bounces Amir but the tailender sees off the rest of the over.
The Gabba pitch
Is in pretty decent nick for batting right now with most of the moisture gone from the surface, though Waqar Younis and Shane Warne are currently discussing it and also serving as a visual reminder that it doesn’t really matter how placid the conditions are if the bowling is good enough. Pakistan know that well from their struggles last night. Warnie is tipping plenty of bounce and turn for Nathan Lyon and Yasir Shah, should the latter be required.
One place where moisture remains is the Gabba pool deck. There’s got be at least half a dozen band-aids floating around by now though, right?
Things are going pretty well for Australia so far
...but that doesn’t mean changes aren’t due. As well as Nic Maddinson’s spot coming under scrutiny, there’d have to be question marks about Matthew Wade’s spot behind the stumps. He missed a stumping chance last night – a howler really – and hasn’t batted any better than Peter Nevill was before him. Far worse, in fact. Ian Chappell for one thinks he should be dropped after this Test.
“It (the stumping chance) was not so difficult, he was so far out of his crease but he didn’t pick the bounce or the spin,” Chappell told Macquarie Radio. “The problem is India is our next tour. We’ve got to take our best wicketkeeper to India, and I am not convinced that man is Wade.”
On the topic of Wade’s batting, his former Test team-mate Mike Hussey has been asking questions, in his typically subtle and polite way. “Selectors are clouded because there have been so many batting collapses so they feel they have to pick our best batting wicketkeeper first,” Hussey said. “There is a perception that Wade is batting better than Nevill. They may have to review that before the tour (of India).”
I think he’s being kind there. And should we be surprised? Wade wasn’t actually hitting his straps in the Sheffield Shield when it came to his batting. How that was meant to change under Test match pressure is anyone’s guess.
Preamble
Good morning all and welcome to day three of the first Test at the Gabba, where Australia are well and truly on top after Pakistan’s evening collapse last night. They’ll resume at 97-8 in shambolic response to Australia’s first innings of 429. Russell Jackson here to take you through the first couple of sessions today before Sam Perry steps in to guide you through the evening.
Pressing news: the follow-on. Will they or won’t they? Ten minutes back Darren Lehmann appeared for a TV interview and said much will depend on how quickly his side can knock off the final two wickets, but then added this reasonably emphatic statement: “It’s more than likely that we’ll bat again.” Hmm. Far be it of me to claim an ulterior motive on that one, a quick kill would mean no number crowd on Sunday, wouldn’t it?
We’ve also heard via AAP that struggling Australia No6 Nic Maddinson has an ally in new team-mate Peter Handscomb, but the in-form Victorian doesn’t really know what to tell him, as per the below report:
Maddinson’s Test career is hardly flying after just two innings following another failure in the day-night first Test against Pakistan in Brisbane on Friday. He fell for just one in Australia’s 429 first innings but at least improved on his 12-ball duck on Test debut in Adelaide last month.
The Baggy Green is sitting a little more comfortably on teammate Handscomb. The Victorian struck a polished 105 on Friday – his maiden ton in his second Test – to back up his 54 on Adelaide debut. Yet asked what tips he could offer No.6 Maddinson, Handscomb said: “No real advice for him.”
“He got a great ball ...in his first Test and made one judgement error in this first innings (in Brisbane). I wouldn’t be too worried about it. If he gets an opportunity in the next innings he’ll make some runs.”
However, Handscomb inadvertently offered a mantra for Maddinson to live by when asked about his own form. “We all know cricket can be a pretty fickle game and it all can change pretty quickly,” Handscomb said. “So I will be doing all I can to make sure I stay as positive as possible and try to make as many runs as I can.”
Handscomb is living proof that a batsman can overcome the odds. It may not have been obvious in Brisbane but Handscomb had been a long time fiddler with his technique, resulting in inconsistency. In 2014 then Victorian coach Greg Shipperd and Handscomb finally got to the bottom of it. The result wasn’t pretty to look at – Handscomb has an awkward technique in which he stands deep and raises his bat high at the crease. But it clearly works.
“In my first three years of first class cricket I probably changed my technique every year,” Handscomb said. “But each individual batsman tries to find their way, tries to find what works. A couple of years ago I did a lot of work with Greg Shipperd and we found a technique to try and stop a certain mode of dismissal and we have. Since then I have been able to tinker with it - it seems to be going okay at the moment.”
So...just completely overhaul your techniquie, Nic. Simple. Remind me again why this guy was picked before he was ready?
Russell will be here shortly. In the meantime, check out all the action from yesterday as Pakistan lost 24-7 to land themselves in serious strife.
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