Published: Dec 19, 2016, 02:02 PM (IST)
Edited: Dec 19, 2016, 02:02 PM (IST)
For the hosts, the fortress at The Gabba remained intact despite Pakistan astounding with a monumental comeback to get agonisingly close to their first win in Australia since 1994-95. Chasing an improbable 490 to win, Pakistan stood no chance especially after being bowled out for a mere 142 in their first innings. But the most unpredictable team in cricket showed its true colours and surprised with a fightback rarely seen from an Asian side in Australia in recent years. Asad Shafiq scored a fabulous 137, and stood strong between Australia and victory for long, shepherding the Pakistani tail deftly to take his side close to a historic win.
Shafiq scored a valiant century, but was surprised by a Mitchell Starc snorter that ended his innings and Pakistan’s hopes for victory. Australia, who remained on the top for most of the first Test, survived a massive scare and the Boxing Day Test gets set up pretty well after Pakistan’s resilient show. Centuries from Steven Smith and Peter Handscomb set up a big total for Australia in the first innings, and the fast bowling troika of Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Jackson Bird toiled for earning a 1-0 lead over Pakistan in the three-Test series. Let us take a look at how Australia’s team performed in the first Test:
Matt Renshaw (7/10): ‘The Turtle’ once again displayed his talent as a long-form specialist, notching up a fine 71 off 125 balls with 9 boundaries in the first innings. Renshaw’s innings on the first day set the tone in Australia’s favour, especially after David Warner’s unexpected failure. Renshaw did not last long in the second innings.
Live cricket scorecard: Australia vs Pakistan, 1st day-night Test at Brisbane
David Warner (5/10): ‘The Reverend’, on the other hand, had an ordinary game. Warner got off to starts in both the innings but failed to build on. In the first innings, Warner made a contrastingly slow start as he was dismissed for 70-ball 32, striking only two boundaries. In the second inning Warner perished looking for quick runs, and could managed only 12.
Usman Khawaja (7/10): Playing for the first time against the country of his birth, Khawaja fell to Yasir Shah for 4 in the first innings. But, playing at home, Khawaja has been one of Australia’s prolific run-scorers and the No. 3 batsman top-scored with 74 in Australia’s final innings.
Steven Smith (8/10): The Australian skipper was a bundle of nerves when Pakistan were inching towards a win on the final day. He not only looked nervous but also dropped a few catches on the fourth day. However, that run out of Yasir Shah that sealed a win for Australia takes off the pressure on Smith, who now has two consecutive wins after five defeats on the trot. Smith scored 130 in the first innings and 63 in the second (and held 4 catches), scoring far more runs than what his senior counterpart in the Pakistani camp did.
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Peter Handscomb (8/10): After a half-century in his first Test, Handscomb showed tremendous character to notch up a highly impressive century at The Gabba. Against the battery of Pakistani quicks, he used the depth of the crease well, collecting a lot of runs behind the wickets.
Nic Maddinson (3/10): Out of the three newcomers in the Australian side, it is Maddinson who is yet to make a mark. He had been dismissed for a 12-ball duck against South Africa on debut and managed a total of 5 in the Brisbane Test. He also bowled 3 overs without any impact.
Matthew Wade (2/10): Wade would have liked to score more runs in the two innings than the number of times he yelled ‘Nice, Garry!’ from behind the wickets to Nathan Lyon. While Wade remains vociferous with some clean glovework, his lack of runs will keep his position in danger.
Mitchell Starc (8/10): The leader of the pace attack made a lot of difference between the two sides. Pakistani batsmen remained unsure of how to face the lanky Starc, who worked up a lot of pace and bounce in the first innings, especially under lights when the tourists batted in their first innings. Starc claimed 3 for 63 in the first inning and 4 for 119 in the second, but perhaps the most crucial of the wickets that he grabbed was that of Shafiq — bouncing out the stubborn batsman with an unexpected quick delivery directed at his throat — in the fourth innings.
Nathan Lyon (4/10): As Australia toyed with the idea of playing four seamers at The Gabba, Lyon claimed in the press conference before the game that he was confident of selection. As it turned out, Lyon played and made a difference. Eventually, Australia won by 39 runs, and who knows, his 49-run stand with Jackson Bird made all the difference in the first innings, which pushed Australia to 429? Lyon claimed 2 wickets in the Test, both coming in the final innings when Australian bowlers toiled.
Josh Hazlewood (7/10): Perhaps the best bowlers from either side, Hazlewood showcased pure class. The no-nonsense Australian made Pakistani lives miserable with probing spells in both the innings, and registered the best economy rates of the game, 1.57 in the first innings and 2.35 in the second. He broke the middle-order in the first innings, and though his figures do not show, he did a tremendous job as Pakistan looked like pulling off a miracle.
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Jackson Bird (7/10): Bird claimed 3 wickets in each innings. He bowled with a lot of guile, making the Pakistani batsmen work really hard to score off him in the first innings. He emerged as a good third fast-bowling option, and will, in all likeliness, keep Chadd Sayers out of the playing XI.
