Australia made light work of Pakistan in the first test match of the Summer at Perth Stadium, Captains' Pat Cummins (left) and Shan Masood (right) pictured before the game.
(Photo: ICC Twitter)
The Australian Men’s cricket team has started the cricketing summer on a high after a 360-run dismantling of Pakistan.
Pat Cummins' men have picked up from where they left off last Test Championships, which culminated in a title-clinching victory over India. Australia came into the first test at Perth Stadium as major favourites, against an improving Pakistan squad.
The Perth pitches, whether they be at the famous WACA or the newly-instated Perth Stadium, are notoriously fast and bouncy tracks. So when Cummins saw a firm track with a nice covering of grass on it, he could’ve been excused for electing to bowl first.
The chance to unleash the pace trio of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazelwood and Cummins seemed a tantalising prospect for the Australian team. However, despite the surface looking conducive to fast-paced bowling, Australia won the toss and chose to bat first.
That sent the experienced opening pair of David Warner and Usman Khawaja out to the middle. Warner’s name has never been far from controversy and discussion with former fast-bowling great, Mitchell Johnson igniting more fire on the eve of the first test.
Although Johnson and Warner had once been teammates at the highest level, the former intimidating quick wasn’t short of criticism for one of Australian finest test openers.
“As we prepare for David Warner’s farewell series, can somebody please tell me why? Why a struggling test opener gets to nominate his own retirement date,” Johnson said.
“And why a player at the centre of one of the biggest scandals in Australian cricket history warrants a hero’s send-off.”
Johnson’s comments ignited sparks on the eve of the Australian summer, as Warner has performed far below his best for multiple years. The pressure was on Warner to have a big summer and finish his career in style at Sydney later this series.
Early on, the pair of Warner and Khawaja played and missed trying desperately to navigate the seam and swing that was on offer for the Pakistan bowlers. Despite being unlucky at times throughout the opening session, the Pakistan bowlers lacked consistency with their lines and lengths, and were unable to build any pressure on the Aussies as a result.
Australia spent a large part of the day scoring more than four runs per over, as they worked to build a huge first innings total. They finished the day in a commanding position, posting 5-346. Warner answered his critics in superb fashion hitting a barnstorming 164, with contributions from Khawaja (41), Travis Head (40) and Steve Smith (31).
Day 2
Australia rolled on to start day two with hometown hero Mitch Marsh and wicketkeeper Alex Carey at the crease. Both batsmen continued to play with aggressive intent, like their teammates before them. After Marsh was dismissed for 90 with the first ball after tea, agonisingly close to a century, the Aussies' tail fell cheaply as they were dismissed for 487 in 113.2 overs.
The Shan Masood led side were left with a tough task to erase the significant deficit but started positively through Abdullah Shafique and Imam Ul Haq. The Pakistan batters started considerably slower than what the Aussies had but were measured and composed under pressure to formulate a solid opening partnership.
Just when the pair looked settled at the crease, Shafique decided to take the aggressive route dancing down the track at Nathan Lyon only to flick one to Warner at leg slip.
Captain Masood came out next showcasing his talent and aggressive stroke play on his way to 30, before edging behind just before the end of the day's play.
Losing a wicket so close to stumps was a bitter blow for the tourists, undoing some of their good work throughout the day. They finished day two sitting on 2-132, still more than 350 runs short of Australia’s first innings total.
Day 3
Australia was looking for early wickets and a strong first innings lead coming into day three while Pakistan was looking to build partnerships around Imam Ul Haq (38-not-out). Things started well for Australia as Cummins dismissed nightwatchman Khurram Shahzad with the third ball of the day’s play.
That brought the fourth-ranked test batsman in the world, Babar Azam to the crease. He set about building a partnership with Ul Haq, who was looking to produce another hundred against Australia. Moments later, Mitch Marsh produced a crucial wicket to dismiss Azam for 21 signalling trouble for the tourists.
Soon after with the pressure building on Ul Haq, he couldn't stay patient as he ran past a sharp-turning delivery from Lyon, only to be stumped for a well-made 62.
That wicket sparked a collapse as Sarfaraz Ahmed (three), Saud Shakeel (28), Faheem Ashraf (nine) and debutant Jamal (10) all went cheaply. Shaheen Shah Afridi was the last wicket to fall as Pakistan were bowled out for just 271 after such a promising start.
Australia looked to build upon an already strong lead in their second innings. But things didn’t go to plan as first innings' centurion Warner (duck) and Marnus Labuschagne (two) fell cheaply to leave the Aussies reeling at 2-5. On a pitch which was becoming difficult to bat on, Smith and Khawaja survived until stumps leaving their team with a 300-run lead.
Day 4
On a fast pitch with increasingly inconsistent bounce, it appeared Australia may already have enough runs leading into day four. Australia lost Smith (45) and then Travis Head (14) early in the day before Marsh and Khawaja vied for quick runs. The Australian pair smashed the ball to all parts until Khawaja was dimissed for a wonderful 90 in search of a declaration. Marsh finished on 63-not-out, capping off a strong game with the bat for the hometown hero.
The chase was set and Pakistan needed to defy history to secure victory. 450 runs would be the target which looked near impossible on an up-and-down pitch which was offering plenty for the bowlers. The chase started terribly with Pakistan losing Shafique (two) in the first over, followed by Masood (two) and Imam Ul Haq (10) shortly after. The tourists put up little resistance against a relentless Australian attack.
At 6-79 heading into the last session, the game was all but over. There was one special moment to come however as Australia’s greatest off-spinner Nathan Lyon stood at the top of his mark with 499 wickets to his name. The crowd firing him up as he got one to slide past the inside edge of Ashraf to a chorus of appeals, only for umpire Richard Illingworth to shake his head and say not out.
The Aussies reviewed the decision and as the ball-tracking came onto the screen, it showed the delivery was crashing into the leg stump. A sound of rapturous applause followed as Lyon was mobbed by teammates celebrating the unbelievable feat of 500 test wickets.
The Aussies cruised to victory after that as the tourists were bowled all out for a dismal 89 runs handing the Aussies a 360-run victory and a 1-0 series lead.
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