Almanac Cricket – Australia v Pakistan: First Test Day 4 at the ‘Gabba

GABBA DAY 4

 

Supposedly the penultimate day at the Gabba.  Love that word but I think it might be the ultimate day.

 

Ah the parochialism of the Brisbane Sunday Mail after reading it this morning one would have thought that only one man played for Australia and an Afrikaans to boot. Sometimes I think our journos go just that little bit too far.  Then again as a Victorian it would lovely to see one of ours making runs at Test level. But what a journey for Marnus arriving in Australia with not a word of English only a great passion for cricket.

 

The batsmen have found no problems during the first 55 minutes of play but then Mahmood (42) tries to hook Cummins only to glove the ball for Paine to mark. 4/93

 

The captain’s glove work has been excellent in this match.  Keep up this work Tim and you can captain the team for a few more years despite 49 again directing field placings yesterday.

 

Further disaster for the visitors when Hazlewood gets a good one past Iftikhar (0) for Paine to gobble up and Pakistan are 5/94.

Babar Azam (67) is holding the side together and is looking very competent and not afraid to dispatch the bad ball and he is being supported by Rizwan Mohammad (17) as they go to lunch at 5/144.  They are certainly setting an example to their departed team mates who were found wanting when it came to protecting their wicket.

 

With the Adelaide test starting late next week the Australian team will probably go in unchanged although with the rotation of the speed team Michael Neser could get his first official cap at the expense of either Hazlewood or Cummins.  Mind you Pattinson has served his penance so he could certainly come in to calculations.  The batsmen are safe from extradition and sound performances from them again could see for the first time the same line-up for all five Tests.

 

Excellent batting by the two Pakistanis with Babar closing in on a century. He does with three fours from Cummins. He has faced 160 balls and hit 13 fours in an excellent innings.  It is his second Test century. Rizwan, a very, very promising player in my book, reaches his maiden Test 50 in his second Test from 86 balls.  I like his keeping and enthusiasm and at 27 should have a long career in front of him. The Australian quicks are peppering them with bouncers but they are handling them with consummate ease and Nathan Lyon is not troubling them at all.

 

Talk about jinxing a batsman Babar (104) plays a poor shot to Lyon and Paine does the rest.  Pakistan 6/226 and a fine innings comes to a disappointing end.

 

Yasir is a bit of an enigma as everything he does seem to lack ability a bit like “can’t bowl, can’t field, can’t catch (who again by the way authenticated his statement yesterday) but he hangs around with the bat and gave his team everything with the ball yesterday.  He is ably assisting Rizwan and they have put on 42 by tea-time.  The quickies are still frustrated and continue to bowl short and the batsmen are just swaying out of the way.

 

At tea Rizwan Mohammad is77 and Yasir Shah 16.  Pakistan 6/268

 

The weather here seems to have sapped the Australian bowlers of their energy as they certainly have struggled since just before lunch. In fact Pakistan have lost only 1 wicket (Babar) for 207 runs in the interim since Iftikhar was dismissed.

 

Rizwan’s marvellous innings comes to an end when he ramps Hazlewood to Lyon trying to get a six I reckon.  His highest Test score of 95 included 10 fours and at least he has been a plus for his team in this match.  Pakistan now 7/305 and the likelihood of the game finishing to day becomes very plausible.  However, they still have to get rid of Yasir Shah. As if on cue they do, when Shah mistimes a hook from Hazlewood he is caught by Wade at mid-on for his highest Test score 42.  Pakistan 8/324.

 

Afridi (10) did not look like staying as he swished around until he skied Hazlewood to Cummins and the visitors reached 9/331 still 9 behind. It is all over and Australia win by an Innings and 5 runs when Imran goes for a big one and Wade takes another safe catch of the bowling of Hazlewood. Pakistan all out 335.

 

Have been disappointed with the Pakistani tail who offered little or no resistance.  There was little attempt to stay and fight.  It happened in both innings and must make players such as Rizwan and Babar thinking “we gave it our all” only to be let down by team mates.

 

Australia now go to Adelaide next Friday for the second test full of confidence against a very disappointing Pakistani side who gave up with little fight.  If the people of SACA think that they are going to have big crowds well think again. We love our cricket but we also love a fight and when you look at the big picture we did not see that.  Good luck SACA.

 

 

Check out citrus Bob’s Day 3 report HERE

Check out Citrus Bob’s Day 2 report HERE

Check out Citrus Bob’s Day 1 report HERE

 

The Tigers Almanac 2019 is out soon.
Order copies HERE.

 

 

Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.

 

Do you really enjoy the Almanac concept?
And want to ensure it continues in its current form, and better? To help keep things ticking over please consider making your own contribution.

Become an Almanac (annual) member – CLICK HERE
One off financial contribution – CLICK HERE
Regular financial contribution (monthly EFT) – CLICK HERE