Australia win the Boxing Day Test and the series two-nil
So that’s the lot from the MCG. A day where expectations were managed then exceeded as Australia plundered the runs required to declare before lunch and took the wickets required for an unlikely victory. In turn, they reclaim the trophy ceded to the Pakistanis in the UAE back in October 2014.
For the victors, captain Steve Smith comes away with an unbeaten and crucial century. It looked at times it would be for nothing, but he showed the control yesterday to keep the game moving along at a decent clip, then the extra gear this morning to set up all that came next.
Mitchell Starc’s four second-innings wickets followed his own enterprising hand of 84 with the bat, including seven sixes - a new MCG record. Not a bad effort considering they’ve played 108 Tests on the ground since 1877.
Australia’s talisman was especially potent in his final spell, returning to rip through Pakistan’s lower order with a masterclass of swing both conventional and reverse, just when it appeared the visitors had the reserves to save this game.
Nathan Lyon woke to reports of his imminent demise, but bowled with considerable drift, turn and flight in the middle session to gut the middle order, three wickets making the case for his retention.
All the while, Josh Hazlewood was superb, with a breakthrough to start both the second and third session. His 100th career wicket came earlier this match, and every performance highlights his prowess and seniority in this side.
Jackson Bird’s one wicket won’t look crucial on paper this afternoon, but it was a huge breakthrough in the context of the innings, looking the man most likely from the moment he was thrown the ball at the Members’ End. For the third Test in a row he’s justified selectors’ faith him him.
Speaking to the ABC, Steve Smith noted that “everything changed” in the squad after the Hobart debacle. Energy and enthusiasm, he cites for this. Whilst both hard to measure, it is equally hard to doubt the veracity. To win on a day like today requires supreme belief and everything to go right. Tick and tick.
So to Sydney we move, where a decent stint of selection speculation awaits. It is quite possible that the squad for the SCG Test starting on 3 January will be named in the next half hour or so when the Australian team front the media. With the series now in the bag, the temptation to use the fixture as a trial for India will surely be high. It’ll make for fascinating viewing.
And that’s just about enough from me. Be sure to read Russell Jackson’s report on the fifth day in the below link, I’m sure it’s a good’un. On behalf of Guardian’s over-by-over team from Melbourne, thanks very much for your company. Can’t wait to do it all again in Sydney. Goodnight.
The post-game, part two.
Josh Hazlewood is on the radio as well before the formal proceedings, saying that he expects to play in Sydney. He says his body is fine and he doesn’t need a rest. To be fair, that’s what you say after winning a match like that.
Chris Rogers thinks they will go the “cautious approach” to ensure that they are right to go in India, especially Starc. “We can’t afford to see him go down before that tour.”
Misbah is first up on the mic at the presentation. “In Test cricket you have to win sessions. You need to bat and bowl well in both innings, and we are not managing to do that at the moment.” That sums it up.
Man of the Match is next. It has gone to Steve Smith for his unbeaten 165. “We thought if we could get the ball to reverse soon enough it would be hard work for them.” He says that started to become the case when Pakistan were five-down.
“We have still got a long way to go, we are still a new team, but it has been a great transition,” he adds. On his own game: “I love batting here at the MCG.” He sure does.
Team talk? “It’ll depend on the conditions.” He says that it has taken to spin at Sydney this year, so that’s the best hint we’ve got as far as two spinners are concerned. And that’s our fill from ground level. Back in a tic to wrap up.
The post-game, part one.
Chris Rogers says that Michell Starc should be Man of the Man, and Simon Katich agrees on the radio. A brisk 84 runs and four crucial wickets when Australia looked just about spent.
Starc is on the TV now, saying that the “belief was there” when they went out to bowl this afternoon. “If we took those chances, we knew we’d get ten chances today and it is a fantastic way to finish a Boxing Day Test.” It’s easy to forget that it was his first, come to think of it. A brilliant day at the office.
Starc goes on with ABC: “We are all a bit knackered, but it is all worth it.” He goes on to explain that the captain Smith wanted a lead of 140-180 before having another bowl. And that’s exactly what happened.
Nathan Lyon is on the telly now. He isn’t saying a lot, the usual “credit to all the boys.” He notes that it wasn’t taking lot of spin and he doesn’t mind who got the wickets. Line and length - understandable in the circumstances.
The ABC radio team have Lyon now. Did he feel under pressure? “To be honest, no, I think I’ve been bowling well all summer.” He points out that it has been hard graft for all spinners in Australia this summer.
Presentation coming up next.
WICKET! AUSTRALIA WIN BY AN INNINGS AND 18 RUNS! Yasir c Bird b Starc 0 (Pakistan 163)
The last man Yasir gets a big, high leading edge and Jack Bird does the rest at mid-off. That’s a mighty win for the hosts, knocking over Pakistan inside 54 overs and winning by an innings. Awful from the visitors. More on that later as we move into the post game. Stick with us.
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53rd over: Pakistan 163-9 (Sohail 10, Yasir 0). Sohail drives Hazlewood down the ground to the rope with real panache. Good on him. The deficit is 18. Hazlewood follows up the only way appropriate by bouncing him. A nice defensive stroke ends the over as Umpire Gould calls out the drinks van. Enough time for one final plot twist? Hope so. Grab a glass of cordial.
The @MCG is about 4% full but my ears still took a beating when Starc took that last week. This stadium is the real GOAT
— Matt Nicholls (@mattnicholls29) December 30, 2016
52nd over: Pakistan 159-9 (Sohail 6, Yasir 0). A wicket-maiden from the very top draw, finishing with a full and straight delivery to the new man Yasir who does enough to defend it back to Starc. Australia are going to win by an innings here after Pakistan made 443-9 declared in their first dig.
WICKET! Wahab b Starc 0 (Pakistan 159-9)
It was bound to happen just like that. After twice beating Wahab with superb reverse-swing from around the wicket, he brought one back with the angle and crashed into his off-stump. Class fast bowling from the Aussie spearhead. To generate that movement away from a right-hander at pace around the wicket to set him up, then to execute the killer blow the other way. Yep. Class. One to get.
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51st over: Pakistan 159-8 (Sohail 6, Wahab 0). Sohail has really no choice but to attack the scoreboard with runs from here. Survival surely isn’t his jive, and certainly isn’t Wahab’s. That’s helped by four runs to start Hazlewood’s new spell from the Members’ End, it’s via an edge but that’s all of secondary importance. Another two through the same region comes next. The remainder of the over requires the huge hulk of a man to defend and duck twice each.
Remember when everyone was telling Pakistan to play a little quicker so they could declare earlier?
— Hassan Cheema (@mediagag) December 30, 2016
Updated
WICKET! Sarfraz b Starc 43 (Pakistan 153-8)
Starc is back on and with the last ball of his eventful over bends back the off-stump of Sarfraz from around the wicket! Brilliant fast bowling. An edge that didn’t go to hand followed by a play and miss may have discouraged a lesser competitor, but not Starc didn’t lose his bundle and did what he does best: hit the pegs at pace. 28 runs up Australia’s sleeve with two wickets to get and 17 overs to do it in.
49th over: Pakistan 149-7 (Sarfraz 39, Sohail 0). Well, some may say it would be appropriate if Pakistan lost their way to a run out next. It nearly happened in that Bird over, Sarfraz driving to cover and looking for a third, but probably forgot that Sohail is the slowest man in world cricket. Two will do. As it does again the next ball when the same batsman grabs another pair behind point. Then one to square leg. The deficit only 32 now. Sohail has two balls to look at, defending the first with sound technique and then doing it again to end the over. Solid. For now.
Best scenario: Pakistan bowled out 18 runs ahead with three overs to play. Lose two for change of innings. Test cricket Super Over.#AusvPak
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) December 30, 2016
48th over: Pakistan 144-7 (Sarfraz 34, Sohail 0). One of those 90-second overs from Lyon. Only a single from Sarfraz coming from it, but it can be a bit addictive running through the overs at the expense of building pressure. And will Sarfraz start milking a bit of strike?
47th over: Pakistan 143-7 (Sarfraz 33, Sohail 0). Just the one delivery for Sohail to see off, defending Bird. Pakistan 38 behind, will Sohail take a similar approach to the first innings where he made a brisk half-century in order to get rid of the deficit as quickly as possible? Couldn’t rule it out.
Bird is the word! Three to go for Australia #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/4BGwZkrgHK
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 30, 2016
WICKET! Amir b Bird 11 (Pakistan 143-7)
Outstanding bowling from the man most likely since the tea break. To begin his over from around the wicket Amir left and it nearly collected his off-stump, after the DRS survival he hung the bat out to a similar delivery. But on this occasion there was an inside edge, ricocheting back onto the stumps. Superbly done.
NOT OUT! It’s extremely close to the inside edge, but there’s nothing there. Amir to stay put. Australia’s challenge burned. They have one left, meanwhile Pakistan are all out of love.
Not out! Review! Did Bird hit Amir’s inside edge? We’re going to find out in just a moment. Stand by!
46th over: Pakistan 142-6 (Sarfraz 32, Amir 11). There’s still plenty of ‘Nice Garry’ from behind the stumps, but the dots are far less penetrative with the game slipping away. There’s six of them to Amir, it’s a good over, but of no real assistance to Smith’s side.
Give Handscomb the gloves and throw Matthew Wade the ball for some mediums. Wade can't bat or keep and he does have a Test over to his name.
— Matt Nicholls (@mattnicholls29) December 30, 2016
45th over: Pakistan 142-6 (Sarfraz 32, Amir 11). Sarfraz takes his now-customary three to the second ball of Bird’s over, driven wide of mid-off. It’s very clear his intention is to knock off the deficit as soon as possible to buy a couple more overs for the changeover if Australia do bowl them out. Amir is in no trouble anyway, grabbing two of his own runs behind point. He is beaten with the penultimate ball; that’s a delight from around the wicket. Reverse swing away from the left-hander after angling in. Superb. But no reward. To the last ball, Amir takes the strike himself for the next over via a single to square leg. This stand is now worth 40, and Australia’s time could well be running out if they can’t halt it very soon.
More to bowling changes than "it's reversing" or "quicks usually do a job". Psychology must be weighed up, for spinners especially #AUSvPAK
— Daniel Brettig (@danbrettig) December 30, 2016
44th over: Pakistan 136-6 (Sarfraz 29, Amir 8). Lyon spins the ball past the outside edge of Amir. Beautiful bowling. Slower in pace as well, which his former captain Clarke enjoys on the TV. A bit shorter, Amir doesn’t hesitate whacking through cover for a couple. That’s his area. Amir savvy enough to leave the last ball well alone, to give the strike back to his senior colleague Sarfraz. They’re doing it well, these two. 6189 at the MCG today. 142,188 for the Test.
43rd over: Pakistan 134-6 (Sarfraz 29, Amir 6). Sarfraz might want to knock off these runs the way he is looking, steering Bird behind point for a boundary, the lead now under 50. Another positive punch between mid-off and point nets a couple more. Considerably different situation for Lyon to operate in now, where runs increasingly a premium. Bird finishes with a bouncer, so it’ll be Lyon versus the left-hander Amir to start the new set. He’ll fancy that, at least.
42nd over: Pakistan 128-6 (Sarfraz 23, Amir 6). Praise whatever you praise, it’s Nathan “Nathan” Lyon into the attack at last! Replacing Starc from the Great Southern Stand end. He overpitches initially, clobbered through cover by Sarfraz. He has a 3-6 field in operation here; slip, backward point and mid-off the only men stationed on the push side. No silly point. Grrr. Naturally, his line is straight, Sarfraz sweeps beautifully beyond the sweeper at deep backward square leg for a second boundary. He pushes through the penultimate ball at 99kph, a single taken. Only two men around the bat - slip and bat pad - to the left hander Amir. He defends the single delivery he has to face. Not the ideal start. As Warne reiterates: who knows what that bizarre, protracted stint out of the attack has done to his earlier confidence? Time will tell. 25 overs, four wickets needed, 53 runs in the black for the Australians.
41st over: Pakistan 119-6 (Sarfraz 14, Amir 6). Evidently it’s Bird that’s the word, not Lyon. Animals, the both of them. Sarfraz gets off strike first ball, which probably isn’t advisable. But Amir has looked confident so far, so why not. Warne is filthy with Smith here. “It’s probably the best he has bowled all summer today.” He makes a good point about confidence as well; always significant with Lyon. He was sky high before Tea. But now? He’d be aware as anyone that faith hasn’t been shown in him here after the interval. So, the pressure back onto him when he does get the ball. Amir, meanwhile, is beaten on the inside edge - a little nibble there on the way through - then on the outside, a beautiful delivery from around the wicket.
Guys stop being so hard on Smith, he has to please the cricket gods by sacrificing a GOAT. #AusvPak
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) December 30, 2016
40th over: Pakistan 114-6 (Sarfraz 13, Amir 2). Starc again. This is getting quite odd now. Sarfraz takes five of the six deliveries without a huge amount going on, a single into the legside. Amir defends confidently to finish the set. 27 overs left.
Bird comes back on. Bizarrely still no sign of Lyon. Maybe he's already been dropped, backdated to this match #AUSvPAK
— Daniel Brettig (@danbrettig) December 30, 2016
39th over: Pakistan 113-6 (Sarfraz 12, Amir 2). Pattern continues, Sarfraz taking three half way through the over - well driven down the ground. Good batting from Amir, leaving then defending. “I’d love to see Nathan Lyon back,” says Taylor. Warne agrees. “It’s like Steve Smith doesn’t want him to take wickets.” He adds: “A left-hander is back in. Hello?” Shots fired.
38th over: Pakistan 110-6 (Sarfraz 9, Amir 2). Starc again. Hmmm. He wins the edge of Sarfraz but it doesn’t carry to Handscomb. Fantastic save. He gets through through cover when the quick overpitches. Amir is good enough to keep out a couple of full balls to finish the over; aka Starc’s party trick. Good cricket. Warne chipped Steve Waugh on the Nine commentary before. I don’t get it, it reduces him every time he does it. He says his former captain “used spinners as an afterthought.”
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37th over: Pakistan 107-6 (Sarfraz 6, Amir 2). Hazlewood continues from the Members’ End. Jim Maxwell on twitter raises the point that if Australia win maybe he should be Man of the Match given the batsman-friendly conditions? Usually a good idea to listen to Jim. He has four slips in place when Amir gets down the business end, Sarfraz’s push to cover leaving him half an over. He handles it well, leaving outside the off-stump.
36th over: Pakistan 106-6 (Sarfraz 5, Amir 2). Starc’s third over of the session. Sarfraz takes a couple then a single, exposing Amir to a couple of deliveries. The first of which nearly carries to Lyon point. About three feet short in the old money. He survives.
35th over: Pakistan 103-6 (Sarfraz 2, Amir 2). Hazlewood’s successful over concludes as Amir gets off the mark, a couple to third man through the cordon. Simon Katich on the radio suggests that Lyon is “absolutely giving it” to the new batsman from point.
A lot of people streaming into the MCG now. Not quite Border and Thommo numbers, but still.
Miraculously, a crowd has appeared.
— Ric Finlay (@RicFinlay) December 30, 2016
WICKET! Azhar lbw Hazlewood 43 (Pakistan 101-6)
It’s adjacent, it’s hitting middle and leg, it’s out! Josh Hazlewood has dismissed Azhar Ali for the first time in this match. A crucial moment, maybe the crucial moment. Australia could be on the cusp of a memorable Melbourne victory. So here come the Pakistan bowlers. Only the bold predict with any certainty what they will do with the bat. Amir is first up.
Azhar given lbw! Review! Stand by!
34th over: Pakistan 98-5 (Azhar 41, Sarfraz 1). Another Starc over. Bill Lawry is into it too. “Where is the spinner?”. Surely not far away. The press box equally as confused. For mine, I have some sympathy with Smith wanting to give his talisman a quick frolic before letting Lyon bed down the end till the death. Only some, though. Starc’s set begins by provoking a play and miss from Azhar. Not ideal from the Pakistan mainstay, who has faced more balls than anyone in this series, so says CricViz. He’s more convincing later in the over with a couple to cover.
Not using Lyon now really does defy all logic, unless the logic is to drop him #AUSvPAK
— Daniel Brettig (@danbrettig) December 30, 2016
33rd over: Pakistan 96-5 (Azhar 39, Sarfraz 1). Shout for caught behind, so decent that Bill Lawry called it as gooooone... but it was thigh pad, Safraz surviving Hazlewood’s initial post-Tea foray. Not his most accurate over of the summer, Azhar flicking him for a boundary earlier in the over as well.
Michael Clarke having his say on Smith’s post-Tea attack too.
Why is @NathLyon421 not bowling after the tea break?????????????
— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) December 30, 2016
32nd over: Pakistan 91-5 (Azhar 34, Sarfraz 1). It’s Mitchell Starc given the first crack from the Great Southern Stand end rather than Lyon in the first instance, who he has replaced. Ian Chappell says he’s surprised by that. Anyway, a short, sharp spell the likely story there. Not many people in there today, but the gates are now open so if you are following on in Melbourne, do get yourself to the Cricket Ground. It looks a treat as well, soaked in sun. Sarfraz is leaving then defending in sequence to begin the session.
I’ll be honest with you.
I’m not going to be objective about Nathan Lyon. When he first sprung onto TV as a South Australian T20 bowler it was exciting enough, given the last time I saw him was as our club captain at Western Districts University of Canberra CC the summer before.
When he was picked for Australia, and took five wickets on debut - with a handy bloke called Sangakarra first ball - I jumped around on my hotel bed like a madman; such was my pure joy for this lovely bloke. When he was dropped without justification - not once but twice - I seethed with anger.
By the time he’d really made it - going on to become the most prolific Australian off-spinner ever - I was on the tour myself and covered him with professionalism. If anything, I probably overcompensated at times.
But now, with his career reportedly on the line, I’m back to riding every ball. And I’m glad I’ll be riding it with you here on the OBO as this Test moves towards a potentially thrilling conclusion.
Adam.Collins.Freelance@theguardian.com for the corro, @collinsadam for the hot takes. Carn, Nath.
It’s all set for a thrilling final session in Melbourne
There are days when you’re happy to flee from the OBOing chair, but I genuinely envy Adam Collins today, because he’ll be bringing you either a sensational Australian victory or a classic rearguard from Pakistan. Either way I sense it will be gripping. Standing in Australia’s way is Azhar Ali, whom they haven’t dismissed all Test, but he’ll need some support. Can Nathan Lyon bowl Australia to victory and silence his critics? We shall soon see.
Tea on day five - Pakistan are in trouble
31st over: Pakistan 91-5 (Azhar 34, Shafiq 16)
And that is tea on day five. Josh Hazlewood had the last over before the break and had the new man Sarfraz in his sights, but he survives another accurate over of fast bowling from the big New South Welshman, getting off strike with a leg bye that drew a full-blooded appeal from the Australians. Azhar had the worst of it, wearing a short one to the fingers as he leapt back to defend. His side is well and truly on the rack here. Australia are pressing for the win.
30th over: Pakistan 90-5 (Azhar 34, Sarfraz 1)
Pakistan are deep in the mire now, and Azhar has to rouse something from his new partner Sarfraz. Going in the tourists’ favour is the fact that they batb deep, but this will test them. Sarfraz is off the mark driving uppishly to mid-wicket. Tension. Drama. I’m sorry we’ll have to stop this in five minutes when tea is called.
WICKET! Shafiq c Handscomb b Lyon 16 (Pakistan 89-5)
Lyon gets Shafiq! Oh my word that’s a big breakthrough. The Pakistani No6 charges the spinner and flicks towards leg but Peter Handscomb pulls off a truly sensational catch, anticipating the movement and juggling the ball successfully after it slaps into his left hand. What a snare! On the topic of Scorsese, if they drop Lyon after this he has every right to go full Travis Bickle.
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29th over: Pakistan 87-4 (Azhar 33, Shafiq 15)
Jimmy Henrix had Purple Haze, Australia have White Haze in the form of Josh Hazlewood, who replaces Starc now at the member’s end. His cover and mid-wicket are both short, and the staggered cordon remains, with the gap at third. Shafiq has a good look and is comfortable with what he sees.
Before anyone asks: yes I understand that Fredo is not a Goodfellas character, he just worked better in my analogy. Which Scorsese character would Nathan Lyon be?
28th over: Pakistan 84-4 (Azhar 31, Shafiq 14)
Amid all of the carnage of the Pakistan innings it is worth pointing out again that Azhar remains undisturbed in this Test; 205 not out in the first innings has been followed by a calm 31 here. We didn’t pick him in our Guardian Test XI of the year, which is starting to look like a judgment to rival with the snubbing of Goodfellas in favour of Dances with Wolves at the Academy Awards. Sorry Marty. Sorry Azhar. Lyon bowls a maiden. Let’s hope he’s not taken out onto the lake like Fredo at the end of this Test.
27th over: Pakistan 84-4 (Azhar 31, Shafiq 14)
Solid but unspectacular from Starc, who concedes a single to each batsman as this session settles into a pattern of relative normality. Azhar makes the best of the situation here, driving handsomely through mid-wicket to pick up three and send a cluster of Australian players into meaningful conference with their skipper Steve Smith.
26th over: Pakistan 79-4 (Azhar 27, Shafiq 13)
Lyon continues to heap pressure on Shafiq, though I would imagine a silly point could apply even more still. Extra cover will do for now. The off-spinner drops short and gets cut through the vacant point region for three. A mini-consolidation is being wrought by Azhar and his partner, though I said that before, didn’t I?
25th over: Pakistan 74-4 (Azhar 25, Shafiq 10)
With half an hour to go until tea, Mitchell Starc comes around the wicket to Shafiq and he’s got three slips (a fourth but no third), a short leg and a short cover. A bit like Lyon before him, Starc drops off in quality just a little and gets cracked for three through point by Shafiq. The big paceman is approaching from very wide on the crease but stump-to-stump could be the order of the day here, given the heightened stakes.
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24th over: Pakistan 70-4 (Azhar 24, Shafiq 7)
Shafiq starts the over with a single and it’s not Lyon’s best, to be honest, but every ball is met with anticipation by his team-mates. They can sniff victory now and continue to press the tourists.
Stat requests from Ed Cowan. Love it.
@RicFinlay what is Lyon's average on Aust with the ball please vs all finger spinners who have played more than 5 tests here?
— Ed Cowan (@eddiecowan) December 30, 2016
23rd over: Pakistan 69-4 (Azhar 24, Shafiq 6)
Foot to the floor now by Steve Smith, who brings Mitchell Starc back into the fray from the member’s end. His first is right on the button, shaping away from Shafiq and drawing him forward. The penultimate delivery draws a low edge from Shafiq but it’s no danger of being caught and flies past the cordon for a boundary.
22nd over: Pakistan 64-4 (Azhar 24, Shafiq 1)
Shafiq is off the mark with a single but Lyon has planted the seed of doubt now and finishes the over with a spirited lbw shout against Azhar Ali. Not out is the call from Umpire Ravi. It was close.
21st over: Pakistan 63-4 (Azhar 24, Shafiq 0)
Without being harsh on his team-mates, Asad Shafiq is actually the man you want out there for a crisis like this. He stands at the other end as Bird bowls a maiden, an over in which my laptop crashes. Hopefully that’s not an omen for Pakistan.
20th over: Pakistan 63-4 (Azhar 24, Shafiq 0)
Lyon’s superlative over continues to provide drama. His first ball to Shafiq draws a massive appeal for lbw, whicb is turned down by Umpire Ravi. Then, somehow, there is a near run-out of the striker when he belts one into Handscomb at short leg and the ball gets pinged back in at the stumps. This game has gone mad.
WICKET! Misbah c Maddinson b Lyon 0 (Pakistan 63-4)
Misbah goes too! Chaos at the MCG as Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq sweeps Nathan Lyon straight into the hands of Nic Maddinson around the corner on the 45. What was going through his mind? He played a similar stroke to his first ball and drew gasps, now he holes out to leave his side in a state of disarray. Two overs ago the tourists look good to kill this game off. Now they look like losing before tea. Nathan Lyon is on fire! Stick that up your jumper, armchair critics.
Updated
WICKET! Younus Khan c Handscomb b Lyon 24 (Pakistan 63-3)
Nathan Lyon strikes! And it’s the old master Younus who departs, turning one straight at Peter Handscomb at short leg. The Victorian holds his position, dips a little and then takes the chance an inch or so above the turf. What scenes! Nathan Lyon has delivered a wicket that could set off all sorts drama at the MCG!
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19th over: Pakistan 63-2 (Azhar 24, Younus 24)
Younus continues to show his wares, working Bird for three when he over-pitches. A few balls later Azhar flicks one off his pads and there’s half a chance for Wade diving down the leg side, but he doesn’t get to it. Hmm, I’d like to have a look at his footwork there. The angle of the deflection wasn’t huge.
18th over: Pakistan 56-2 (Azhar 20, Younus 21)
Clang! Younus goes after Lyon now, stretching forward into a full-blooded cover drive to pick up four more. One thing this series hasn’t delivered so far is a sustained period of batting brilliance from Younus. Maybe today is our lucky day. Remember when he played a year of Shield cricket in South Australia? OK, fair enough. That’s drinks.
17th over: Pakistan 51-2 (Azhar 20, Younus 16)
Both batsmen are rising to the task here and attaining a growing level of comfort. Azhar turns a couple through mid-wicket and also a boundary down to fine leg, and the radiant heat of this contest earlier is cooling off a little. Australia have 51 overs after this one to force a result, but on current trends it’s going to be a battle. Bird errs with another no ball. He must be hanging out with Wahab Riaz.
16th over: Pakistan 44-2 (Azhar 14, Younus 16)
An email arrives now from ‘Newcastle Person’, who says: “This thing with Lyon is idiotic. He goes test after test not being bowled enough, then we hear calls for ‘maybe it’s over’ and lately whether Australia should even take its front line spin bowler to India. Are we taking crazy pills here, wondering why this happens year after year?”
I think you’re right. Lyon has 220 Test wickets. Who is currently better? They’re not picking Fawad Ahmed and Jon Holland is injured. If it ain’t entirely busted, don’t fix it. I’m with #TeamGarry on this one. Let him be.
15th over: Pakistan 39-2 (Azhar 12, Younus 13)
In case you were wondering, Bird had two regulation slips to Younus but also a closer one at about fourth, so there’s a gap between him and Steve Smith at second. Bird is not not sending them down with quite the same brio as Starc or Hazlewood earlier but it’s neat and tidy at the very least, and Younus pays due respect to his tight line. Bird transgresses with a front foot no ball but it’s a quiet over otherwise.
Before this innings, Pakistan had batted 1483 minutes in the series. Azhar Ali was up one end for 867 of them. #AusvPak
— Ric Finlay (@RicFinlay) December 30, 2016
14th over: Pakistan 38-2 (Azhar 12, Younus 13)
Lyon tosses his second delivery up a little and Azhar sweeps it firmly but straight into the left leg of Peter Handscomb, who is fielding at short leg and very lucky to be wearing thick shin guards. I sense it still would have stung a little. Azhar has been there and done that, and Lyon isn’t troubling him unduly in an innocuous maiden.
13th over: Pakistan 38-2 (Azhar 12, Younus 13)
Jackson Bird has an army-issue haircut but his medium pace is far from military, and this over starts with a slightly streak boundary by Younus, who pushes through gully to pick up the runs. Better is a follow-up cover drive, which is timed well enough to garner three. This is a big five-over patch in the context of this result, but also in the career of Nathan Lyon. How often do we say that though? Poor bloke.
12th over: Pakistan 30-2 (Azhar 11, Younus 6)
Interesting. Spin time now. To say Nathan Lyon is under the pump here would be a significant understatement, and he really takes his time adjusting his field to Younus and getting things right before he rolls in for his first delivery. It’s fired down on a leg stump line and takes off, darting past Matthew Wade for four byes. Amazingly, there’s another run-out chance when Younus glances to Warner on the 45 and takes off for a single, but the throw misses at the bowler’s end. Lyon has a slip, a short leg and the man in the deep is three-quarters of the way to the fence at deep mid-wicket.
11th over: Pakistan 25-2 (Azhar 11, Younus 5)
Azhar and Younus are now inventing ways to put their wickets in danger, disagreeing over a single to point, which they eventually decide against. This is off the bowling of Jackson Bird, who has appeared now to replace Starc but been granted a slightly different field; the leg slip is gone and placed at short mid-wicket in addition to a forward square leg and a conventional mid-on. So you’d gather he’ll be pursuing middle and leg stumps. It’s a maiden. The tension builds.
10th over: Pakistan 25-2 (Azhar 11, Younus 5)
Hazlewood keeps up the pressure with another gem of an over to Younus, who is bobbing and weaving to avoid his bouncers and leaving when the signature Hazlewood line and length whistles by in the corridor outside off stump. It’s a pity there’s almost nobody here to witness this finale. It’s superb Test cricket.
Earlier:
Wow that's close! https://t.co/i0Fw1l8S79 #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/cOQsBme9Kg
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 30, 2016
9th over: Pakistan 25-2 (Azhar 11, Younus 5)
Another miserly over from Starc, who is a man transformed after his struggles of the first innings. It’s amazing what some runs can do. Earlier he broke the MCC’s Test six-hitting record with seven long bombs. Now he’s trying to rattle the ribs of a doubtless nervy pair of batsmen. Younus Khan has been here before, it’s safe to say, and calmly drives through cover for three, but the last delivery of the over decks away from Azhar’s outside edge and has him jumping about.
8th over: Pakistan 21-2 (Azhar 10, Younus 2)
You couldn’t get any more action in a single delivery than the first of this over from Hazlewood. He’s also got a leg slip in place, in this case for Younus. He spears one towards the pads and it takes a deflection between the leg slip and a diving Matthew Wade, but it’s not bat. Hazlewood, ad opposed to his team-mates, is asking for lbw rather than rueing a missed catch. No dice. It runs away for four regardless, and then a couple of balls later Azhar chops one inches from his off stump, arriving late in an attempt to kick it away after it caroms off both his feet. It’s cricket as directed by Buster Keaton here at the MCG.
7th over: Pakistan 13-2 (Azhar 7, Younus 1)
Starc continues with the leg slip to Azhar but his line early in this over is the ‘fourth stump’ style. “Ensure that you are drinking plenty of fluids during the day”, says the MCG scorecard, and to be honest this contest is slightly drunk at the moment after days of sober action. It’s a maiden from Starc, though not a scary or ominous one – just a neat line outside off and no need to play it on Azhar’s behalf.
Remember, we have precedent here:
Pakistan lost 9 wickets in a session to lose in New Zealand. Stay tuned #AUSvPAK
— Catherine McGregor (@CateMc3273) December 30, 2016
6th over: Pakistan 13-2 (Azhar 7, Younus 1)
Wahhhggghhhh! Hazlewood starts the over by jagging one past the outside edge of Azhar, who is thrusting his blade at ball he had to play. We’ll have a maximum of 62 more overs today, but they won’t need ‘em if it keeps going like this. Azhar flicks through mid-wicket to pick up three and restore some sanity to proceedings but it doesn’t last long as Younus edges the next just short of Steve Smith at second slip. There’s something happening nearly every ball right now. Strap in.
5th over: Pakistan 8-2 (Azhar 2, Younus 1)
Starc tries a yorker first up to Younus but strays down leg and gets clipped for a single. Nervous times for Pakistan. With Azhar on strike there are three slips, a leg slip and no gully. Very funky. Azhar defends stoutly for the rest of the over but this Test is brimming with the possibility of an unlikely Australian win unless this experienced pair can consolidate.
WICKET! Babar lbw Starc 3 (Pakistan 6-2)
Starc strikes first ball after lunch! Oh my word. That didn’t look convincing to the naked eye but Babar is on his way! Incredible scenes at the MCG. Pakistan are teetering at the edge of an abyss. This game looked dead an hour ago. Now the home side is cock-a-hoop.
Updated
Review! Starc thinks he has Babar trapped in front and Umpire Ravi agrees
I’m not so sure.
Five minutes until the second session
Hello all. Russell Jackson here to take you through session two. And who thought we’d be in this position? I still think Steve Smith should have kept Pakistan in the field on this deck, but we actually have a game of cricket on our hands now, so there’s that. In other news, whispers are spreading around the MCG that Nathan Lyon might be replaced by Steve O’Keefe for the third Test, but we shall see. My tip is two spinners in the squad, and maybe even two to actually play. Like I said, we’ll see.
This was fun...
Seven sixes for Starc - the most in a Test innings at the mighty MCG! #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/9IgaUrl7hx
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 30, 2016
Lunch on Day 5 - nine wickets for an Australian win
Or 64 overs for Pakistan to survive for a draw. It was an all-Aussie session, they added 159 runs in it, slogging happily thanks to Starc and Smith, and still declared in time to snare a Pakistan wicket before the sandwiches came out. Beautiful day in Melbourne, plenty of overs left, but it’s a blameless wicket, so Pakistan should be able to survive it. Should. Should. But Mitchell Starc probably shouldn’t have hit seven sixes, and he did.
Russell Jackson will be along shortly.
4th over: Pakistan 6-1 (Azhar 1, Babar 3)
So much tension in this last over before lunch. Hazlewood grooves that line outside the off stump, so relentless, so ever-present in his threat. Babar gets an edge along the ground through slips and profits by three runs. Azhar doesn’t mind not scoring when it’s required, we saw that in the first dig. He sees off the last few balls, and we’re at the break.
3rd over: Pakistan 3-1 (Azhar 1, Babar 0)
Pressure pushing down on me
Pressing down on you, no man ask for
It’s a Mitchell Starc maiden.
2nd over: Pakistan 3-1 (Azhar 1, Babar 0)
My, my, my. Two overs down, 66 in theory to go, and one of the wickets has already fallen. Such is Pakistan’s history that we’re already saying, “They couldn’t, could they?” It’s a bit like when Dravid made his doube hundred at Adleaide and then had to make 70 more to stop a small chase falling apart. In this case, Azhar Ali did all the hard work in the first innings, and now the onus is really on him to make sure that doesn’t go to waste. Onus Khan?I’ll stop. I won’t.
WICKET! Sami Aslam b Hazlewood 2
That’s the one they needed! Hazlewood hasn’t taken a bag yet this series but he’s been so good. This was on that difficult length, Sami came forward, inside edge, squeezed through onto the flap of his pad, and then rolled back onto the stumps. That ball was like a latecomer to a mosh pit forcing their way into the front row.
Updated
1st over: Pakistan 3-0 (Sami 2, Azhar 1)
Thanks Adam for the medical break, Geoff back with you to the end of the session and then it’s the charming Russell Jackson. I suppose musical chairs is appropriate for an OBO(E). Got a Bruce Reed joke anyone? Or Rob Key? I’m just the mouthpiece.
Starc sets off, unsurprisingly flinging in the yorker, trying to get this over quickly. Wants wickets and wants them fast. Much like his runs. What a knock that was. How many sixes? Anyway, he mixes up the short and full, and also mixes up how to bowl the full, giving Azhar a high full toss that is skewed through cover for a run. Three singles from that first over.
WICKET AND DECLARATION! Lyon c&b Yasir 12 (Australia 624-8 dec.)
After a couple of swept fours, the Lyon cameo was over when he skied Yasir, taken by the bowler who finishes with 3-for-207. Quite the ordeal for him over the last few days.
With that, Steve Smith races from the field, a lead of 181 in the bank and 70 overs remaining in this Test Match. The sun is shining, the radar looks clear and the lead is enough to suggest they won’t have to bat again. So it becomes fairly binary: can Australia take ten wickets? They will get 20 minutes to make inroads before the lunch break.
For Smith’s own part, he leaves with an unbeaten 165. An innings of control then command. Only one player could put Australia into this position, and it was him. That’s leadership. For the stats nerds out there (i.e. all of you) that pops his career average over 60 as well. Handy, considering it was half that after 11 Tests.
Righto. They’re the numbers that matter, and some that don’t. We’ve about seven minutes until the resumption. Talk then. Or talk to me, even? Adam.Collins.Freelance@theguardian.com.
141st over: Australia 614-7 (Smith 164, Lyon 3). Well look what we have here, Nathan “Nathan” Lyon promoted up the order. Those who read the OBO regularly will know what I am about to say next; that Nath made 90 in 50 balls in a club game in 2009 and since then, I’ve always been pushing for him to go the wallop. But it is some general chaos gets him off the mark today, reaching for a rubbish slower ball it went right in the air, somehow isn’t caught, and they take two anyway. As Dirk Nannes says on the radio: “that’s just village.” It sure is.
You lot like the Nathan Nathan-Lyon thing, by the way? We want to get it going, ala Gareth Gareth-Evans and Boutros Boutros-Ghali.
WICKET! Starc c Asad b Sohail 84 (Australia 608-7)
And it’s over. Just as we formally moved to Mitch Starc ton-watch, he’s taken nicely at deep square leg. Let’s not be sad it’s over, rather, let’s be happy that it happened. 91 balls, seven sixes and a stand of 154 with his skipper. Well played.
140th over: Australia 608-6 (Smith 161, Starc 84). Yasir’s first ball of the over is pulled by Smith for a couple into the deep, bringing up Australia’s 600. Later in the over Starc goes huge over long-on. For a moment there I thought that was going to land in our hands in the press box. And with that we have a record! Starc now has the most sixes ever in an MCG Test innings. Blimey.
139th over: Australia 598-6 (Smith 159, Starc 77). Sohail is back to try and redeem himself after the earlier drop. Some are speculating it is the worst drop in modern memory. It’s certainly in the discussion. This is probably worse. Anyway, sure enough Starc smacks a very-slow slower ball off the hip for four to begin the over. It’s a pie. When Smith gets his chance, he picks him over midwicket from outside off-stump because that’s what he does. The lead is above 150 now with 73 overs remaining in the day.
138th over: Australia 586-6 (Smith 154, Starc 71). This is really ugly for Pakistan now. As Gerard Whateley says on the call, “he’s just crossed a threshold.” This is evidenced by a huge six over long-on after dancing down to Yasir. But more again from a sweep that’s more a reverse-drive or something? It’s madness, it’s four, and he’s now beyond 150. Not the captain’s most important knock of all time, but he’s put Australia into a position where they can somehow win the series today. I’m not saying it is going to happen, but I’m saying there’s a chance.
137th over: Australia 574-6 (Smith 142, Starc 71). Boom, boom! Starc does like Boris Becker, popping Azhar over the rope long and straight with consecutive deliveries to begin the over! Pakistan truly reeling after the Sohail dropped catch a short while ago. A couple more into the deep, then a single to give Smith the strike makes 15 from the first four balls. Another single for the captain will mean he retains the strike - 16 taken from the set. The lead is 131. A nasty little session™ surely awaits the tourists before the lunch interval. Meanwhile, Starc has bounced through the 60s quicker than [add rockstar who indulged in amphetamines].
136th over: Australia 558-6 (Smith 141, Starc 56). Adam Collins here, slotting in like your summer newsreader to take you through the next half hour. 100 run stand between these two comes up from 142 balls when Amir’s first ball is taken by Smith. Encouraging from Starc especially. Sure, this isn’t the most challenging innings he’ll need to play, but it isn’t all that long ago that he was very handy with the bat. More than handy. Then he forgot how to do it. With runs in Adelaide and and now Melbourne this summer, that’ll provide a bit of confidence. Especially given the stat that popped up on the TV the other day that Australia’s tail has been the second-least productive in world cricket in 2016. Later in the over Amir almost misses the pitch with a wide of Harmison proportions. Smith watched it go by with a smile on his face. That’s certainly one way to take time out of the game from Pakistan’s perspective.
Lots of selection talk out there with the Sydney squad set to be named after play today. A speccy then from Simon Katich on ABC, one that Jim Maxwell is fond of as well.
Good call from the Kat on ABC gstan for Ashton Turner's inclusion. Selectors love all rounders and O'Keefe and Turner have the form
— jim maxwell (@jimmaxcricket) December 30, 2016
135th over: Australia 553-6 (Smith 140, Starc 54)
Azhar to continue. The double-centurion of part-time spinners. Smith ticks a single, then Starc has an almighty swat and misses entirely. Goes for a more modest drive down the ground, giving Smith the chance to drive two over cover, a bit dicey but it came off. Then another single to finish.
With the partnership on 99, I’ll hand you over to an expectant Adam Collins.
134th over: Australia 548-6 (Smith 136, Starc 53)
Amir is back, and posing no immediate threats as he tries to find his rhythm. Smith flicks two more runs square - how many has he scored there today? 56 runs between midwicket and backward square in all. Then a single, and the batsmen trade a couple more of those before Starc is hit on the pad. An optimistic DRS review from Pakistan - why not, I guess? But that’s going way down leg.
133rd over: Australia 543-6 (Smith 132, Starc 52)
That’s what the people want! Azhar Ali, having made a double hundred and then been smashed on the scone while fielding at short leg, they want him to bowl as well. He’s actually a very decent leg-spinner for a part-timer. Had Smith dropped by the keeper in Brisbane. Flights them nicely, lands them nicely, turns them a bit.
First couple of balls look pretty good and then... oh, it was foretold. One of the simplest catches you’ll ever see dropped at long-off. Starc looked to hit his long-on zone again, got a big leading edge, it wasn’t that high, it was a gentle arc, and Sohail stood casually under it with his hands cupped down, looked to take it by his chest, and the ball just slipped out. So, so, easy, and yet another chance goes begging. Mickey Arthur has a team with heart, but he has to make them a team with skill. Catching boot camp first on the list.
132nd over: Australia 540-6 (Smith 130, Starc 51)
Sohail, too full, and Starc whacks it down the ground for four. Funny, that - he’s hit four sixes but that’s his first four. Gets off strike with a nudge to leg, gets back on strike via the same method, then gets one just a touch too short and is able to lean back and dump it over mid-on for another four. Fours, hey? Turns out they’re fun!
That brings up Mitchell Starc’s eighth Test half-century. Impressive stuff. I like the way he’s stolen Nic Maddinson’s job.
At drinks, enjoy this tragic tale from OBO reader Robert Wilson.
“Personal injury stories? I thought of regaling you with my sporting wounds, multiple, still crippling but not hugely amusing. I think my list of ex-girlfriend-inflicted injuries has more chance of getting a giggle. Including being romantically beaned on the bap with my own cricket bat (neatly on-topic). One ardent eye-gouge ending in casualty. A loving battery-acid burn that lasted all summer. And two adorable broken toes from some kind of ninja stamp I did not expect.”
“But the one I’m sentimental about is the permanent hearing deficit in my right ear produced by the best left hook I’ve ever seen given by a well-brought-up, five-foot nothing blonde actress. What kind of man drives decent women to such extremes, you ask? That last one was because I had cheated at Monopoly (I concede that can be annoying).”
“I’m not the worst. A friend of mine got three broken ribs when his girlfriend hugged him when he proposed to her.”
131st over: Australia 530-6 (Smith 129, Starc 42)
Wahab bowls straight, and Smith can finally flick to the leg side without the requirement of any acrobatics. Gets two, then a single that Starc doesn’t want. The lower-order man is immediately hit again. This is a tough innings from him, he’s sticking it out. Attempted yorker, angling down leg, lefty to lefty, and it swings late and too far. Starc’s able to get a nick on it away fine for one.
130th over: Australia 526-6 (Smith 126, Starc 41)
Smith has had enough of this quiet period, by the looks. Tries a massive pull at Sohail but jams it nowhere off the bottom edge. Then tries a forcing shot on the other side of the wicket but has a similar problem. Finally gets his cut shot going, first for two, then for three thanks to a misfield and an overthrow.
I missed this assessment from Simon Bogli on the email half an hour back.
“Yasir is going the way of Imran Tahir a la Adelaide Oval. Hitting him for fun. Yasir is arguably more underwhelming than a Wahab Riaz no ball. Ironically, the last time a leggie performed on our shores was Danish Kaneria.”
If that’s the case, I’ll take any difference between those bowlers that I can get.
129th over: Australia 519-6 (Smith 120, Starc 41)
Wahab hits Starc! On the upper arm more than the helmet maybe, he ducked into it a little. Fierce short ball, after beating the outside edge two more times. What a spell this is for no wickets. You have to believe there’s one coming though. Nearly does via a run-out. Starc is not enjoying this barrage, so he hits to mid-off and goes with teh stroke. Would have been out by a foot had the throw hit. The captain with the ball there. Bad miss. Smith looks less troubled, works a single into the leg side and invites Starc to resume. He survives the last ball, down leg.
128th over: Australia 517-6 (Smith 119, Starc 40)
Top over from Sohail. This may be a brief Pakistan revival but they’re showing the skills of Test cricket. Beats Starc three times, the last of them taking an edge, but it bounces in front of slip. A single from the fifth ball, too wide, is the only score.
127th over: Australia 516-6 (Smith 119, Starc 39)
Wahab Riaz has changed the complexion of this innings in a couple of overs. Suddenly the Australians are on the defensive, wanting to avoid an incision. Having to respect good bowling. Another maiden as Wahab works on Smith around his off stump. Far more attacking lines than Amir.
126th over: Australia 516-6 (Smith 119, Starc 39)
Decent over from Sohail to follow up, only a single from it. Smith was tied down the first couple of balls, then once Starc got strike he still seemed spooked by the previous over. Dodged a bouncer and missed a fuller ball.
Gerard Whately and Osman Samiuddin on ABC radio are marvelling at Steve Smith’s prolific run-scoring in the last three years. For those tracking such things, Smith’s live average is up at 60.02.
125th over: Australia 515-6 (Smith 118, Starc 39)
Oh, good over from Wahab. He’s one bowler who can find something extra when things are falling apart. If you can keep your head with all about you... in his case it’s more about finding heart. He rips a couple of short balls into Starc, and suddenly this tail-end batting isn’t so fun any more. One is nearly fended behind, then the yorker nearly finds the stumps, then we’re back at the body again, short and fast. Great bowling, and a maiden.
124th over: Australia 515-6 (Smith 118, Starc 39)
Sohail, not so hearty. The enigmatic right-armer starts up for the day after his one-ball cameo earlier this morning. Sends down an utter pie outside off, but everything must go (to the leg side) in Sniffer Smith’s Boxing Day Sail. He’s cruising along, and smacks that for four through midwicket.
Bookmakers are apparently targeting fringe BBL players - there’s a Guardian report here. Who would have thought a proliferation of domestic short-form cricket broadcast internationally would have led to this?
Updated
123rd over: Australia 509-6 (Smith 113, Starc 38)
Another milestone up, the fifty partnership, as Wahab comes in for his first bowl of the day. Starc gets off strike, then Smith goes walking. He loves wandering outside off to hit Wahab through the leg side, remember him doing it from off the pitch at the World T20 earlier this year? Gets a couple more in that style - less extreme, but still - then another run through point. Starc pulls two more. Runs coming easy.
If you don’t know what I’m talking about, check the video at the top of this page.
122nd over: Australia 503-6 (Smith 110, Starc 35)
A couple of singles from Amir’s over, then a shorter ball that Smith is able to pull for two. If you’re bowling a dry line and going at four an over, you’re not really doing your job. There’s the Australian 500. Time to make Pakistan a nice cup of depresso.
121st over: Australia 499-6 (Smith 107, Starc 34)
Yasir trying to unlock this puzzle. He found Australian locks much easier to pick in the Arab Emirates in his debut series. A nice shorter ball outside Starc’s off stump fizzes in towards the batsman and has him defending awkwardly across the back foot. But then he gets a fuller one and drops onto his knee, proposing to send it over the midwicket fence. The ball accepts, then three balls later, it heads to long-on for a honeymoon. Finally, from the last ball, Starc tries for a third, but is ignored as the ball evades his bat. Trouble in paradise? Still a dozen from the over.
120th over: Australia 487-6 (Smith 107, Starc 22)
Well, it’s a maiden, but hardly the product of brilliant bowling. That’s just Amir aiming several feet outside off stump. Smith thinks about walking across to one, but gives up the idea for the rest.
119th over: Australia 487-6 (Smith 107, Starc 22)
Yasir again to Starc, they’re trying to buy him out, but it may yet be an expensive enterprise. His first couple of runs are whacked competently into the leg side, but his next comes via a big slog that doesn’t connect properly, flies way up, but lands between the two men in the deep on the leg side. Smith just pokes one more run to cover last ball. Doing it easy. Find a run and get Starc to do the scoring.
118th over: Australia 483-6 (Smith 106, Starc 19)
Short from Amir at Starc, but you have to start very short to get up at the lanky Australian paceman. This ball ends up around nipple height, and Starc is able to bunt it away for a single to the leg side. The field is deep set for Smith on the off side, and Amir is already bowling a dry line. Is this what Pakistan see as their best chance to get Smith? Frustrate him out against a left-armer’s angle? The first ball out there he’s already moved across to off, as he does, and so knocks it square. Starc gets a full ball on his pads and keeps it out, gets another run behind square. Wasn’t entirely sure that he hit that, but the umpire gives him a run anyway.
117th over: Australia 480-6 (Smith 105, Starc 17)
Clobbered! That answers the question about how Starc intends to play, at least. Gets the leg break from Yasir, plays with the spin into the left-hander’s stance, and hits it over long-on into the seats. Two balls later he tries again, but they’ve dropped a man back to wide long-on and that ball rolls quickly towards him for a single. Smith and Starc trade a couple more singles.
116th over: Australia 471-6 (Smith 104, Starc 9)
Mohammad Amir is the choice to start the day in earnest after Sohail’s preliminary salvo. Again Starc faces most of the over, and again a single to him is the only score. This one is fortuitous though, edged into the cordon safely from the fifth ball. Amir has bowled far better than his figures suggest in this match.
115th over: Australia 470-6 (Smith 104, Starc 8)
Starc versus Yasir. This will give an early indication of Australia’s intent. Chris Rogers on ABC radio is of the opinion that Australia will just want to bat today, to avoid giving their bowlers more overs on a good pitch that has had very little wear. Your chances of getting ten wickets on this pitch, he says, are so slim that it wouldn’t be worth working your bowlers for it. So bat sensible and bat long. Starc sweeps a single fourth ball, but is otherwise circumspect.
114th over: Australia 469-6 (Smith 104, Starc 7)
There’s one ball left in the Sohail over that started yesterday afternoon, and it’s floated full. Smith whacks it down the ground for four. Good morning.
So where’s the game? Australia will resume 22 runs ahead, presumably, given they’re unlikely to give any chance to Pakistan. They’ll have the extra half hour for an early start, and some extra time at the end of the day given all the time we’ve lost. They’ve got Smith at the crease with a century by his name, and Mitchell Starc who loves giving the ball a whack. So I would assume that they’ll either bat the two and a half hours till lunch, or bat until they’re bowled out. But hopefully they bat aggressively to put runs into the game rather than batting defensively to take minutes out of it. If they can push up to 150 or 200 ahead and declare around lunch, they’ll put Pakistan back in with some chance of bringing pressure to bear and getting a win.
Updated
A question on TV about bowler workloads, after all the overs the Australians have sent down. “As a captain, I don’t want to hear that from the medical people,” says Ian Chappell. “Bowlers, here’s the ball, get some wickets.” Nice and straightforward, the Black Knight approach to team management.
I am here shortly indeed. More accurately I’m here tall-ly if you’re in the same room. Though I am sitting down. So many twists. Boxes within boxes. Geoff Lemon in the chair, still also known as the One-Armed Man given the plaster cast worn while hammering out this OBO, so drop me a line that I can copy-paste rather than type out line by line. Amusing stories of personal injury will be accepted: as someone who has separately broken at least half a dozen bones in his own body, I’m always keen to find my people.
Geoff will be here shortly. In the meantime, check out Russell Jackson’s report from day four in Melbourne.
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