First Test between Pakistan (476/4 d & 252/0) and Australia (459) in Rawalpindi ends in a draw

[MenInG]

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Result possible or a tame draw? Which side will walk away with a moral victory?

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[MenInG]

 

[Shafi]

Australia has good chance to win this test. Bowl out Pakistan under 150. Warner, Marnas, Usman, Smith can chase that 1 session. Our brittle batting always crumble under pressure.

 

[Sarwar89]

Australia has good chance to win this test. Bowl out Pakistan under 150. Warner, Marnas, Usman, Smith can chase that 1 session. Our brittle batting always crumble under pressure.

Our batting is not as fragile as you are suggesting. Neither it is rank turning pitch or Old Waca pitch.
Why not this possibility that If Pak gets out for 150 or 160, Aussies can also be bowled out for less than that.

 

[Gilly]

Our batting is not as fragile as you are suggesting. Neither it is rank turning pitch or Old Waca pitch.
Why not this possibility that If Pak gets out for 150 or 160, Aussies can also be bowled out for less than that.

For Australia to win only 10 wickets need to fall, for Pak to win its more like 20 wickets need to fall.

 

[MenInG]

Due to the late start on day four, play will start at 9.45am local time (3.45pm Melbourne/Sydney) on day five (Tuesday) with a minimum of 98 overs, and 83 overs to be bowled before the final hour is called.

 

[MenInG]

Nauman 5fer!

Australia 455/8 (138.5) CRR: 3.28
Day 5: 1st Session - Australia trail by 21 runs

 

[Cric1234]

Great Nauman will play another 20 tests after this.

 

[boomboomcheema]

What an effort by Nauman on a flat pitch.

 

[boomboomcheema]

Australia 459 AO and Pakistan lead by 17 runs.

 

[Anis Shivani]

Now what? Fully expect Imam to play as if it's the first innings with five days to go. Can't believe they sent him out.

 

[NoBallZombie]

Watch imam ul haq nicking to slips soon.

 

[NoBallZombie]

Now what? Fully expect Imam to play as if it's the first innings with five days to go. Can't believe they sent him out.

tbh, Imam made the most of the flat pitch. As soon as there is anything in the pitch for ballers, he would be a walking wicket. I expect an early exit because of the day 5 pitch now.

 

[Ahmed216]

Now what? Fully expect Imam to play as if it's the first innings with five days to go. Can't believe they sent him out.

What are you trying to imply? Possibility of a pak win?

 

[Sarwar89]

Aggressive start by openers was important. Imam and Abdullah have just done it.
They are 40/0

Even now if Pak gets bowled out for 175.
Aussies will find it very hard to chase 200 odd in 30 overs.

 

[Varun]

Heck, even a noob like me can go out and get a free 50 on this deck.

It's that serene.

 

[Anis Shivani]

What are you trying to imply? Possibility of a pak win?

Just have fun and entertain the crowd. Are they still taking it seriously?

 

[Zeshan547]

Heck, even a noob like me can go out and get a free 50 on this deck.

It's that serene.

Khuch Zyada nai hogya bhai, But I got your point.

 

[boomboomcheema]

Imam might get another century here at the rate at which he is batting.

 

[IAJ]

This is Pakistan's biggest problem. They can't figure out how they should bat or bowl before the opposition has done that.

In first innings they were tuk tuking and wasted a lot of time. Then Aussies came out and batted with positive intention and now pakistani batsmen have finally found out this is a road

 

[Rana]

Wake up and see Imam getting injured again

The softest player I have ever seen!

 

[IAJ]

Heck, even a noob like me can go out and get a free 50 on this deck.

It's that serene.

Don't know why Pakistan don't make spin tracks when they go in with 3 spinners or maybe they are more worried about Lyon than having faith in own spinners.

 

[Faran96]

Wake up and see Imam getting injured again

The softest player I have ever seen!

He is very injury prone, but I highly disagree that it makes him soft. You can’t be soft if your captain asks you to field at short leg which is a place most people don’t like to field.

 

[boomboomcheema]

Call the match off there's nothing to play for. Hope better pitch next match.

 

[Adi_62945]

Don't know why Pakistan don't make spin tracks when they go in with 3 spinners or maybe they are more worried about Lyon than having faith in own spinners.

The curators i believe dont have good expertise to produce spin tracks

 

[Ahmad-GERMANFC]

You would think they’d try to score at run a ball and maybe declare to make aus bat for a session and half.

But no. The most boring, defensive minded time in the world has no such plans

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

If i was babar id promote myself to 3, he needs runs

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Pakistan should go in T20 mode now and declare with a 200 lead

But no way Aussies are collapsing in last session on this road.

 

[Amjid Javed]

lets hope we dont lose a wicket; no one needs to see Azhar Ali send everyone to sleep with more tuk tuk on this day 5 road. Its fill your boots time with runs till match is called off as a draw just after tea.

 

[Amjid Javed]

It will get to a point where Aussies will give everyone a bowl including the keeper as this wicket is dead and they are going to run their main bowlers into the ground here.

 

[Rana]

You never know if you don’t try. Declare at 200 and dangle the carrot (30-40 overs)

If you get lucky with some wickets at the top, who knows what pressure can do

 

[Da_Future_Knick]

I understand not wanting to put yourself in a position to lose a match but this is horrific from Pakistan. Zero intent shown by Abdullah so far.

Push the pace a bit, don’t go out there wacking every delivery but Atleast try to get around 4-5 runs an over.

It’s pathetic to watch them leave short and wide stuff and continue to play defensive shots on poor deliveries.

 

[MenInG]

Moral victory at stake?

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

Pakistan should declare at around 210-240 runs lead with 40-45 overs remaining. Lure Australia a bit and try to create chaos in those 40 overs with high intensity. Worth a try.

 

[Da_Future_Knick]

Moral victory at stake?

Playing in home conditions, winning the toss and playing Australia after 24 years. There should be an actual victory. A moral victory doesn’t do anything for Pakistan.

 

[Mamoon]

Someone put a muzzle on Waqar.

 

[volcyz]

One of the most pathetic cricketing pitches ever produced

 

[Omer2002]

One of the most pathetic cricketing pitches ever produced

I agree completely only positive would be we got all Aussies wickets yet they have only managed to get 4 wickets in whole match but this is picking at straws ..

 

[Mamoon]

This is why the notion that Test cricket is the hardest format is a myth.

Au contraire, Test cricket on flat pitches is the easiest format in the game as far as batsmen are concerned.

 

[Amjid Javed]

You never know if you don’t try. Declare at 200 and dangle the carrot (30-40 overs)

If you get lucky with some wickets at the top, who knows what pressure can do

zero chance of that happening. Our batsmen just need batting practice here.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Moral victory at stake?

Zero positives on a dead wicket. Series is effectively a 2 match series now and we need better surfaces to play on.

 

[Maliq_Mudasir]

Poor cricket overall by Pakistan. They are scoring @2.9 an over which should have been RR during 1st inning. In this inning they should be scoring around @4-5 an over to give Aussies a target of 250-270 in 35 overs.

 

[IAJ]

Seems like they just want to make the Aussies toil in the field, if one of the main bowlers get's injured, Pakistan would feel the job is done for the day.

 

[Rana]

zero chance of that happening. Our batsmen just need batting practice here.

The only guys getting practice is Imam, Shafique and probably Azhar at this rate

 

[Amjid Javed]

100s in the offering here for imam and shaffique. Lets hope they save some runs, if we play on more challenging surfaces.

 

[IAJ]

100s in the offering here for imam and shaffique. Lets hope they save some runs, if we play on more challenging surfaces.

Bro they have already scored enough for next decade

 

[Amjid Javed]

Bro they have already scored enough for next decade

This is the issue with some batsmen, big runs on a dead wicket. Then failures on tougher surfaces, then they stay in team because the scored on a dead wicket.

 

[Muhammad Saad]

Play 15 more overs and set a target of 250 in 30 overs for Aus to chase , will make the game interesting

 

[Mamoon]

Play 15 more overs and set a target of 250 in 30 overs for Aus to chase , will make the game interesting

They will shake hands after both these batsmen score their fake hundreds.

 

[Rana]

Is Imam incapable of standing in his crease and clearing the boundary?

These guys practice so much, it’s not too hard to develop a slog sweep or a reach sweep!

 

[Mainul]

Pakistani batsmen have been playing this match for their personal milestone only. This team will never be a consistent top test playing nation unless they change their mindset.

 

[Rana]

With Labushange bowling into Imam, I know Fakhar would be eying that cow corner boundary every ball in this situation!

 

[Rana]

Pakistani batsmen have been playing this match for their personal milestone only. This team will never be a consistent top test playing nation unless they change their mindset.

They do it all the time

When was the last time any Pakistani player played for the team and not for his personal spot in the XI?

 

[Mamoon]

Australia winning the next two Tests on sporting wickets would be poetic justice.

Pakistan deserves to lose the series for showing such cowardice.

 

[Rana]

If Shafique gets a hundred here…

Day 5 Test hundred v Australia

AS: 1

Shubman Gill: 0

 

[Mamoon]

This match would have been 10x more boring had Fawad got a chance to bat in the middle.

 

[boomboomcheema]

Pakistan were so scared of losing that they prepared this disaster of a pitch. Very unfair to the fans who invested their time and money into this match.

 

[volcyz]

Pakistan were so scared of losing that they prepared this disaster of a pitch. Very unfair to the fans who invested their time and money into this match.

It's a travesty.

Feels like the pitch where India and Sri Lanka scored like 1500 runs for barely any wickets in the 90's

 

[Rana]

I’m upset at the Pitch robbing Pakistan off an easy test win against a SENA side at home,

The few positives however I see from this is that Pakistan did manage to get 10 wickets in this Test and Australia have toiled so hard for just 4. This hasn’t been the ideal 5 days for Australia in Pakistan (they probably hate being here but won’t show it). The turn around for the next test is in 3 days, hardly any rest whatsoever!

Pakistan will make suitable replacements by bringing in Hassan and Faheem instead of Naseem and Iftikhar. Australia will dread making any changes. Bringing in swepson means Cummins has to drop either Green or Head and go in with a batsman short. Is he brave enough to do that?

All in all, Pakistan are still going into the next Test as the dominant side

 

[Amjid Javed]

This match would have been 10x more boring had Fawad got a chance to bat in the middle.

Nothing worse than Azhar Ali blocking half volley after half volley. Hes alot worse then Fawad.

 

[Rana]

Pakistan were so scared of losing that they prepared this disaster of a pitch. Very unfair to the fans who invested their time and money into this match.

As if the fans at the stadium care.

They just want to be seen on TV and show off their banners. Pakistan doesn’t have intelligent cricket fans turning up to watch proper Test cricket like they do in England/Australia

 

[Rana]

Nothing worse than Azhar Ali blocking half volley after half volley. Hes alot worse then Fawad.

Mamoon is upset at Fawad because he came into the side and saved Pakistan’s blushes against SA and NZ, sides that have traditionally humbled and exposed our players in recent years. It goes against his narrative of constantly looking down on Pakistan cricket

 

[Mamoon]

Mamoon is upset at Fawad because he came into the side and saved Pakistan’s blushes against SA and NZ, sides that have traditionally humbled and exposed our players in recent years. It goes against his narrative of constantly looking down on Pakistan cricket

Fawad averaged 10 in England.

 

[Rana]

Fawad averaged 10 in England.

Which is fine. It can happen

How good was he in NZ?
How brilliant was he against South Africa in crucial moments?

He is Pakistan’s best Test batsman right now and he is one of the few capable of grinding out difficult situations.

He’s keeping no one out of the side. Azhar Ali with his age and ambition to play 100 Tests and Babar Azam due to his stature in PCB are keeping out Kamran Ghulam and Saud Shakeel

 

[Amjid Javed]

Shaffique onto 96*

 

[Rajdeep]

Why cant Pakistan declare and take a gamble?

 

[Rana]

Why cant Pakistan declare and take a gamble?

They should

 

[Rana]

30 overs

180 balls

10 special deliveries for a Test win

 

[Rana]

Babar would want to declare but these guys will cry for life if he robs them of hundreds

 

[Usman Chadda]

Why cant Pakistan declare and take a gamble?

No point, the pitch is a joke. Look at the famed Australian bowling attack made to look like club level wannabees.

 

[shariqnoor]

Nathan Lyon is easily the worst bowler I've ever seen with more than 400 test wickets. Has a combined total of 1 variation: off spin.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Pak 191/0 - Shaffique 99*

The coroner has declared this pitch is dead.

 

[imshally81]

36 overs remaining.. Pak should declare now..

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

I have a feeling Babar will declare after Centuries of Imam and Shafique.

 

[imshally81]

Nathan Lyon is easily the worst bowler I've ever seen with more than 400 test wickets. Has a combined total of 1 variation: off spin.

Spot on.... Proper Mediocre

 

[shariqnoor]

There's no point in a declaration. Australia isn't Pakistan to collapse in 30 overs on an absolute dead pitch. There's no sense in risking a twisted ankle or pulling a hamstring of Shaheen.

If anything, the onus was on Australia to declare last night with a couple of hours still left and put Pakistan under pressure. They didn't do it. Now Pakistan should just run the Aussies into the ground even more.

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

Nathan Lyon is easily the worst bowler I've ever seen with more than 400 test wickets. Has a combined total of 1 variation: off spin.

Like all spinners he needs something from the pitch. I mean even Warne would have struggled on such a dead track. The ball is coming at a nice slow pace, no extra bounce etc.
There is only so much a bowler can do.

 

[Omer2002]

Y declare ..no point 200 can actually be got in 20 overs on this wicket. Just grind them into ground

 

[silentkiller187]

AUS 459
PAK 476/4 d & 191/0 (55) CRR: 3.47
Day 5: Tea Break - Pakistan lead by 208 runs

 

[Rana]

Y declare ..no point 200 can actually be got in 20 overs on this wicket. Just grind them into ground

Mate this is not T20 cricket where you cannot bowl more than 4 overs and cannot have more than 5 fielders on the boundary after the initial 2 allowed in the first 6.

200 in 30-35 overs on any track in the world isn’t easy by any stretch of the imagination. The wicket is finally starting to take turn as well