Pakistan won’t be happy with the way the day progressed but given the last five wickets put on 225 runs and they were able to prise out the hero of the 1st Test Usman Khawaja before stumps to a strangle down the leg side, they have finished in the better position. Despite being dropped by Marnus Labuschagne off Jon Holland before the carnage began, debutant Zaman acquitted himself well, showing that he is not a one trick pony in regard to short form cricket. He showed a lot of promise and played a great hand before stumbling on 94. The skipper too was excellent. Sarfraz Ahmed came in at 5/57 and immediately took control, aggressively taking away the spell that Nathan Lyon had created, and brought the cricket back to a normal setting. His innings saved Pakistan when the innings could have capitulated, and he has now given his bowlers an opportunity to pull their team back into it on the second day.
Nathan Lyon’s amazing period where he took four wickets in six deliveries to carve away the top and middle order was amazing bravado and came as he outwitted the Pakistan batsmen who were looking to be aggressive against him. The extra bounce and turn in the first day wicket allowed him to get through the defences of batsmen who are comfortable playing against spin bowling. It was probably surprising then when he allowed himself to become flustered when Sarfraz came in and took to him, to hit him off his line and length. And he succeeded, so well that Lyon failed to take another wicket for the innings. Bowling figures of 4/4 became 4/75, and while he could be pleased with his initial strikes he will be contemplating just how good it could, or should, have been.
Apart from Starc’s opening three overs both he and Siddle looked tired, perhaps a reaction to the great amount of bowling they had to do in the heat of the 1st Test. Before play there had been rumours floating that Starc would be rested, but that would have exposed the lack of depth currently in the bowling attack. The Pakistan batsmen also looked to impose themselves early against Siddle, and not let him tie up an end like he did last week. It worked. Starc picked up the first and last wicket of the innings but did little else in between. He will be hoping his batsmen can give him at least a full day of rest before he must go out and do it all again.
Jon Holland will wonder just when the luck is going to start running his way. He forced the false shot from Zaman in the first session, but the popped ball was out of Labuschagne’s hands at short cover as quickly as it went in. From that point he didn’t look like making a breakthrough, while both Lyon and then Labuschagne himself found the way to dismiss the batsmen. Not much has gone for him, but he has also been much less dangerous than both other two spinners. He will be hoping to do some major damage in the second innings to keep his name prominent in the future when Australia is looking for a second spinner.
Apart from the spilled chance which may (or may not) have made a difference to the day’s end result, Labuschagne had a day out. Two catches, and three wickets with his leg spin, has him being spoken of as a Test all-rounder for years to come. Of course, he must make runs in order to fulfil this prophecy… though Mitch Marsh and Shane Watson have been exceptions to this rule at various times. His fielding is good, and his bowling shows promise. Hopefully on day two he will make a big score to help Australia do well, and in the process nail down his spot for the coming home series against India. He and Mitch Marsh look to be fighting for the one spot, so runs will count.
Australia performed above par on Day One, and now must back in up with the bat on Day Two. With Khawaja already gone, the pressure lies with the Marsh brothers in particular to improve on their 1st Test efforts. It is quite possible the result of the Test will be known by the end of the day. If Australia can bat well they will have gone a long way towards being the team on top.
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