First Test, day four, Gabba, Brisbane
First innings: Pakistan 240, Australia 580
Second innings Pakistan 3-90
Shaan 39, Babar 34
Australia has resumed its attack on Pakistan’s beleaguered batsmen looking for an early end to the first Test at the Gabba.
The home side started the day 3-64 seven wickets away from taking a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series after their top order finally found some rhythm and all performed at the same time.
Pakistan’s Shaan Asood resumed on on 27 and Babr Azam on 20.
With fine weather forecast for Sunday and Monday, Pakistan faces the prospect of having to hold on for two more days.
Mitchell Starc took two wickets and Pat Cummins one late on Saturday to put Pakistan on the back foot
Starc’s opening-spell wickets go with his four in the first innings, and come after a difficult Ashes series in which he had been overlooked for all but one Test.
He dismissed captain Azhar Ali lbw on Saturday evening in his second over and nicked off Haris Sohail in his next off another poor shot by the disappointed No.3.
Cummins’ wicket also came from an edge, although his ball that angled across Asad Shafiq was much more difficult for the batsman to negotiate.
“The process here is quite simple,” Australian batsman Marnus Labuschagne said when asked of Sunday’s plans.
Keep bashing the wicket – it looks like Nathan (Lyon) is getting some spin out there, especially to the leftie.
“There’s little bit of up and down so, hopefully, we can get a few hitting in the cracks and staying low.”
Australia has been thrilled at the return to form of David Warner who hit his first century since the ball-tampering ban, while Joe Burns locked himself in as his opening partner.
Labuschagne has also solved the problem of No.3 having kknocked off his first Test century on Saturday with an impressive 185.
Matthew Wade also hit a half-century, with Travis Head and Steve Smith the only men in the top six to miss out.
Indeed, given the only batsman of note to fail in Brisbane was the World No.1 Steve Smith – who fell for only four – the home side will be feeling confident that there’s plenty of batting improvement to come.
That Smith failed, and Australia still soared, is a thrilling development for coach Justin Langer. Indeed, it was the first time since the 2014 Boxing Day Test that an Australian side featuring Smith passed 300 without the star batsman making double figures.
Captain Tim Paine spoke last week of the need for others to stand up, admitting the Aussies relied too heavily on the man dubbed “the best since Bradman” in the Ashes.
“Steve is an amazing player but there are some amazing players in that line up,” Labuschagne said.
“The way Wadey came out and played and the way Davey and Joe played day two, you can’t ask for a better start for your openers.
“They really took the sting out of the attack and allowed the guys batting at No.4, five and six to capitalise.”
Labuschagne has at times been compared to Smith for his mannerisms. He fidgets like him, regularly played with the bails while batting on Saturday and even uses the Star Wars lightsaber leave.
“I have been doing that for a long time before I played, but the boys will say otherwise,” Labuschagne said.
I’m quite a visual learner, so subconsciously maybe. What better person to copy than the guy who averages 64.”
-with AAP
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