Australia v Pakistan | 3rd Test | Sydney | Jan 3-7, 2017 | Day 1

[Junaids]

Because I have watched a lot of cricket, just because both Renshaw and Warner have scored hundreds here today does not mean that everytime Australia play here they will both score hundreds.

Besides that If butt did or was facing Asifs 120km/h thunderbolts in the nets prior to the match Starc would have yorked his middle stump out before his bat finished is upward lift.

He'd also have been facing Wahab Riaz in the nets every day bowling in the 140's.

 

[Justcrazy]

Very disappointing effort by Pakistan again here.

 

[Abdul]

Second new ball available now but fully expect Imran 'line and length' Khan to waste it. Trundler.

 

[Justcrazy]

Aussies getting into a position from where they can easily win

 

[Gilly]

He'd also have been facing Wahab Riaz in the nets every day bowling in the 140's.

How many batsmen has Wahab taken out with his yorkers in the last 6 months.

 

[Justcrazy]

Pakistan need to drop at least 5-6 players from this team after this series

 

[sandsaims]

If only Asif and Butt were playing, Pakistan would be unbeatable and again be the only deserving no.1 team.

 

[jog_1]

Australia will declare at 600/6 tomorrow at lunch

 

[Indiafan]

I disagree on both counts.

Firstly, Salman Butt was consistent in Australia and presumably would be in South Africa too. He scored well over 200 runs in two separate series in Australia.

Secondly, you forget that Pakistan posted over 440 in an innings in both Tests, combined with a collapse in the other innings in both Tests.

Australia's bowlers have struggled just as much on these wickets. But they have won both Tests because Pakistan have very old totally past-it batsmen at numbers 4 and 5.

It's Pakistan's batting that has underperformed.

I wouldnt call an average of 37 success when players in this series itself are averaging way more from Pak. Azhar averages 100, Asad 51, Sarfraz 45, etc. I dont think replacing a 27 averaging Younis with a 37 averaging Butt (in his first series) would change the results of any of the matches

 

[FlickedOffHips]

If only Asif and Butt were playing, Pakistan would be unbeatable and again be the only deserving no.1 team.

I your faith.

 

[Justcrazy]

150 for Renshaw

 

[MMHS]

Sharjeel can't win. If he scores 250 and 150 - which I'm not expecting - I will just point out that Salman Butt would score more.

On a serious, non-trolling note, I must confess this.

I have been consistent in saying that I wanted Asif and Butt back for these last nine Tests outside Asia in the last six months. I think Pakistan with them - and proper preparation - would have won all three series in England, New Zealand and Australia.

But I don't want Butt going forward and I'd only accept Asif because the options appear to be Imran Khan or Sohail Khan.

And my fear now is that - as we saw with Krishna Srikkanth and Dilip Vengsarkar previously - Salman Butt's absence from these endless away defeats has a terrifying chance of returning him to the captaincy.

PAK won't have won a single Series - let me explain why.

In ENG, the series was lost for one bad day, other wise 2 Tests were won without Asiaf & Butt. Now, for that Old Traford one, margin is so large that, to alter it Asif had to do match figure like 12/151 - last time at his prime, he averaged close to 35 against ENG on far better bowling condition. At Birmingham, Cook's negative tactics gave PAK a scope to bail out a draw, which they failed - don't back a batsman with close to single digit average in UK to save that Test. ENG declared with 4 wickets at hand & 400+ ahead - may be Asif could have made it 400 ahead with zero wickets at hand .....

In NZ, at best & I stress on that imagination, it could have been 1-1; still tough to imagine for a side that had scores of 131, 172, 216 & 230 with that 230 being 8/40 or in last session. Don't think, Butt with his 30 average could have done anything better than Sami - by your own words, that 30 average was managed against a non existent Kiwi attack.

In AUS, at Gabba, it was more than PAK, CA's accountant managed that close match - business usual, Smith could have enforced follow on with in an hour of Day 3, when his pacers were fresh & the wicket was faster - it's more like an innings & 39 runs defeat. Based on you logic, Butt has done hardly anything outside the best batting wicket in AUS, that's SCG. I give you the other one, for the sake of argument - at 10/120 from Asif could have made the match close enough for a genuine 39 gap with 20-20 wickets down. Least said about MCG is better & it's great for PAK that they haven't brought Asif - going by your logic from other end, 37 years old Asif with his 120KM line-length, would have gone at ODI rate, if not T20 here. Apart from first 5 overs, I don't think he is better than Imran now & I don't see him making AUS 25/6 in those 5 overs.

 

[Xoib]

another wicket for Amir fans as he beat the bat.

 

[PakLFC]

We've been batted out of this match already. Aussies will score at least 500, we'll need to at least equal that which we will not. Aussies have won this match on the first day on a batting paradise. It's here when the team batting first gains an unfair advantage. We can't be blamed for losing the toss on such a pitch.

 

[Justcrazy]

Another 100 runs partnership

 

[sarthak]

Imran is so damn inconsistent.

Bowled pretty well in the spell after lunch but now a boundary ball every over with the new ball.

 

[Solid Snake]

Getting spanked like there is no tomorrow

 

[Indiafan]

Wahab at least tries to go for wickets instead of bowling the same length and line throughout the match

 

[Xoib]

Wahab at least tries to go for wickets instead of bowling the same length and line throughout the match

you are hurting the feelings of Amir fans

 

[Mainul]

I don't think that anybody will say anytime anymore that Pakistan has a good bowling attack.

 

[FlickedOffHips]

solid day for AUS. Misbah getting closer to a tragic retirement.

 

[DRsohail]

PAK won't have won a single Series - let me explain why.

In ENG, the series was lost for one bad day, other wise 2 Tests were won without Asiaf & Butt. Now, for that Old Traford one, margin is so large that, to alter it Asif had to do match figure like 12/151 - last time at his prime, he averaged close to 35 against ENG on far better bowling condition. At Birmingham, Cook's negative tactics gave PAK a scope to bail out a draw, which they failed - don't back a batsman with close to single digit average in UK to save that Test. ENG declared with 4 wickets at hand & 400+ ahead - may be Asif could have made it 400 ahead with zero wickets at hand .....

In NZ, at best & I stress on that imagination, it could have been 1-1; still tough to imagine for a side that had scores of 131, 172, 216 & 230 with that 230 being 8/40 or in last session. Don't think, Butt with his 30 average could have done anything better than Sami - by your own words, that 30 average was managed against a non existent Kiwi attack.

In AUS, at Gabba, it was more than PAK, CA's accountant managed that close match - business usual, Smith could have enforced follow on with in an hour of Day 3, when his pacers were fresh & the wicket was faster - it's more like an innings & 39 runs defeat. Based on you logic, Butt has done hardly anything outside the best batting wicket in AUS, that's SCG. I give you the other one, for the sake of argument - at 10/120 from Asif could have made the match close enough for a genuine 39 gap with 20-20 wickets down. Least said about MCG is better & it's great for PAK that they haven't brought Asif - going by your logic from other end, 37 years old Asif with his 120KM line-length, would have gone at ODI rate, if not T20 here. Apart from first 5 overs, I don't think he is better than Imran now & I don't see him making AUS 25/6 in those 5 overs.

briefly describe what were the changes that would havemade pak a bit competitive....for me it was oldies replacement and fast bowling...like going with mir hamza and another good right arm fresh face,,

 

[Idrees1990]

Because I have watched a lot of cricket, just because both Renshaw and Warner have scored hundreds here today does not mean that everytime Australia play here they will both score hundreds.

Besides that If butt did or was facing Asifs 120km/h thunderbolts in the nets prior to the match Starc would have yorked his middle stump out before his bat finished is upward lift.

For the record, Asif has always been slow. It's his accuracy, seam/swing, and absolute control on the ball which made him such a successful new ball bowler.

 

[Idrees1990]

Wahab at least tries to go for wickets instead of bowling the same length and line throughout the match

That's all you can do on a dead wicket instead of bowling all around the place. Amir should have bowled more bouncers, Yorkers, and slower balls