Asad Shafiq is living on the edge against Nathan Lyon. The off-spinner pitches just outrside off and gets big turn. Shafiq withdraws his bat at the last moment and is hit on the pads, Australia take a review and even though it’s crushing in to the leg-stump, they adjudge it not out. Another close call on the last ball of the day and he survives again. Stumps on Day One.
Maiden over by Siddle. Pakistan batsmen are batting for stumps. Australia need wickets.
Younis is gone as Mitchell Johnson gets the new ball. It comes back in off a length and traps him in front on the back-leg. He reviewed, but he is gone.
OUT! Younis 106(223)
Younis Khan moves into the 90s and is dealing with the spinners quite well. Misbah is taking it easy and is content in giving Younis most of the strike. And he gets his ton. He danced down the track and smashed it for a six. That is his first Test ton against Australia and now he has one against each Test playing nation.
Misbah survives a review as Lyon seemed to have struck him on the pads as he tried to sweep. However, the ball had hit his arm and is given not out. Younis Khan is going solid and this is a good stand for them.
Pakistan are moving stably. Younis is now in his 70s. Misbah has slowed down a touch as they deal with Stephen O’Keefe. Pakistan will depend on this partnership to take things forward.
Pakistan have resumed after tea with Misbah and Younis in the middle. They have started solidly again and they are going well. Siddle is hit on the body.
That is tea. It has been slow progress, but they have batted well. Apart from the wicket of Azhar, it has been held together by Younis. Misbah is in the middle and has started off with a boundary. They need to play well to get a good score.
Azhar Ali is gone as Mitchell Johnsol induces the mistake. He lobs a catch straight to Alex Doolan at cover. After grinding it out in the middle, he has thrown it away.
OUT! A Ali 53(174)
Both the batsmen have got their fifties. They have batted very well after the early strikes. They are comfortable here.
Azhar Ali and Younus Khan have steadied the Pakistan innings. Azhar has played flamoyant shots of the both. The run-rate is still sticking near 1.5. But the partnership is what matters.
Careful start by two not out batsmen in the post lunch session. Pakistan is looking for an partnership.
Lunch on day. Good fight back by Younus Khan and Anwar Ali. They have steadied the ship for Pakistan after Australia got two early wickets. Though the run rate is poor but, the Pakistan batsmen have done what the doctor ordered.
These two batsmen are slowly taking away from the early trouble which was caused by Johnson and Siddle. The batsmen are getting occasional boundaries and singles on and off.
Peter Siddle has been the most impressive of the Australian bowlers so far. He has been quick, he has moved the ball away and the lines have been strict. The good thing Australia have done is to push the pressure on the Pakistan batsmen on a wicket which had nothing for the fast bowlers. Siddle has interstingly fowled four maidens out of total five overs.
It has been a tough stay for both the Pakistan batsmen all these overs. Younus Khan has has struggled against the bowling while Azhar Ali has managed to get few runs away. These two batsmen need to stay at the wicket and also gather some runs.
The veteran Younus Khan has looked rusty so far. He was lucky to have escaped a tight lbw shout by Siddle. Steven O’ Keffe has bowled two good overs, lot of air to ball but no signs of spin so far.
Another wicket. This time Peter Siddle picks up Shehzad. That’s a sad start for Pakistan. The Australian quicks are already troubling the batsmen.
OUT!Ahmed Shehzad b Siddle 3(9)
Full and inswinging yorker from Mitchell Johnson gets Mohammad Hafeez in the first over of the match. He asked for the review but it was dead straight.
OUT!Mohammad Hafeez lbw b Johnson 0(2)
Another Imran Khan making his Test debut for Pak after 43 yrs. He is Mohd Imran Khan, a 27 yr old right arm pace bowler from NWFP #PakvAus
Misbah-Ul-Haq wins the toss and elects to bat first.
Hello and welcome to CricketCountry’s coverage of the first Test between Pakistan and Australia at Dubai. I am Varun Arora, and I will be bringing you live updates of this match.
After a long break, the two teams meet again for a fresh fight at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday. Australia haven’t had the best lead-up to the first Test match owning to their thumping 153-run loss against Pakistan A. The success of the junior team would have infused a feeling competitiveness in the minds of the senior men who had earlier failed to find a way ahead of the Australian team. But Test match is a different ball game, not only the colourful kits change into a uniform white dress but also the tactics and playing style changes.
Australia is likely to float in two spinners in the form of Steve O’ Keefe and Nathan Lyon would play a prime role in the spin department. The presence of Mitchell Johnson will also be crucial for Australia. Mitchell Marsh who was absent from the side due to injury is likely to make Test debut for the side. While, David Warner and Michael Clarke have a lot to do as both of them are coming out of injuries.
Pakistan at this moment will be the more confident of the both sides. they have named a 16-man team for the first Test which looks quite promising on paper. The team comes with re-instilled faith and more confidence but main worry which comes attached to the Pakistan team is the inconsistency with batting. Pakistan as a batting unit appeared poor in all the earlier games. Ahmed Shehzad and Asad Shafiq got runs in the four-day match at Sharjah which is one good sign for Pakistan.
The presence of senior names in the Pakistan squad garnished with some talented youngsters give Pakistan team a revamped and a promising look. While the Australian side which struggled against reverse swing in Sharjah will have a lot to prove.
Squads:
Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq (c), Ahmed Shehzad, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Ehsan Adil, Haris Sohail, Imran Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Talha, Rahat Ali, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Shan Masood, Taufeeq Umar, Yasir Shah, Younis Khan, Zulfiqar Babar.
Australia: David Warner, Chris Rogers, Alex Doolan, Michael Clarke (c), Steven Smith, Shane Watson, Phillip Hughes, Brad Haddin, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, Mitchell Johnson, Steve O’Keefe, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon.
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