Pakistan's missed opportunity of winning Test Series in Australia 1979

[Sarwar89]

History only remembers that Sarfaraz Nawaz cleaned up Australia in that Famous Melbourne Test 1979 for brilliant 9 wickets in 2nd Innings. It was a match Pakistan was destined to lose since Aussies only needed 80 odd runs with 8 wickets in hand.

But from legacy point of view, Mushtaq Muhammad's Team were unable to complete the job at WACA Perth. Giving a stiff target of 240 odd with just 60 overs left in the day. Pakistan's pace battery against a weakened Australian team and new Captain Kim Hughes were unable to repeat the wonders of Melbourne. Sarfaraz went wicket-less in 2nd innings and young Australian team (inexperienced) managed to secure a win and series Tied 1-1.

That was arguably Pakistan's best opportunity to win Test Series in Australia. Even current Aussie team which is playing Tests against India is far stronger and experienced then the one Kim Hughes led in 1979 against Pakistan.

I would say that was BIG Opportunity lost. Allan Border (youngster) was a real thorn and made the difference in that Perth Test.

 

[umerz]

History only remembers that Sarfaraz Nawaz cleaned up Australia in that Famous Melbourne Test 1979 for brilliant 9 wickets in 2nd Innings. It was a match Pakistan was destined to lose since Aussies only needed 80 odd runs with 8 wickets in hand.

But from legacy point of view, Mushtaq Muhammad's Team were unable to complete the job at WACA Perth. Giving a stiff target of 240 odd with just 60 overs left in the day. Pakistan's pace battery against a weakened Australian team and new Captain Kim Hughes were unable to repeat the wonders of Melbourne. Sarfaraz went wicket-less in 2nd innings and young Australian team (inexperienced) managed to secure a win and series Tied 1-1.

That was arguably Pakistan's best opportunity to win Test Series in Australia. Even current Aussie team which is playing Tests against India is far stronger and experienced then the one Kim Hughes led in 1979 against Pakistan.

I would say that was BIG Opportunity lost. Allan Border (youngster) was a real thorn and made the difference in that Perth Test.

Wow Aussies chased 240 in 60 overs against our bowling line up. Must have been great achievement

 

[Buffet]

Wow Aussies chased 240 in 60 overs against our bowling line up. Must have been great achievement

Inexperienced Aus scored 236/3 (48 overs) to chase the target against Pakistan by thrashing Pakistani bowlers. Even in ODIs, it was very hard to score in those days.

Home ground advantage works wonders. Current team has one the best bowling units and batting is average but they are playing in their home ground. Yet, people were writing off Aus easily. Since Aus won the 2nd test, tendency to underrate them has reduced, but it was comical to see posters writing Aus off so easily before series started.

 

[Xoib]

Inexperienced Aus scored 236/3 (48 overs) to chase the target against Pakistan by thrashing Pakistani bowlers. Even in ODIs, it was very hard to score in those days.

Home ground advantage works wonders. Current team has one the best bowling units and batting is average but they are playing in their home ground. Yet, people were writing off Aus easily. Since Aus won the 2nd test, tendency to underrate them has reduced, but it was comical to see posters writing Aus off so easily before series started.

I believe it was 8 ball overs

 

[Buffet]

I believe it was 8 ball overs

Correct. Run rate was not as high as 48 overs will suggest here, but it was extremely difficult to score 236 runs in 48 overs( 8 ball over) in 1979 in the test format for an inexperienced batting line up. Most of us underestimate the advantage of playing on home grounds.

 

[Bleedgreen4ever]

History only remembers that Sarfaraz Nawaz cleaned up Australia in that Famous Melbourne Test 1979 for brilliant 9 wickets in 2nd Innings. It was a match Pakistan was destined to lose since Aussies only needed 80 odd runs with 8 wickets in hand.

But from legacy point of view, Mushtaq Muhammad's Team were unable to complete the job at WACA Perth. Giving a stiff target of 240 odd with just 60 overs left in the day. Pakistan's pace battery against a weakened Australian team and new Captain Kim Hughes were unable to repeat the wonders of Melbourne. Sarfaraz went wicket-less in 2nd innings and young Australian team (inexperienced) managed to secure a win and series Tied 1-1.

That was arguably Pakistan's best opportunity to win Test Series in Australia. Even current Aussie team which is playing Tests against India is far stronger and experienced then the one Kim Hughes led in 1979 against Pakistan.

I would say that was BIG Opportunity lost. Allan Border (youngster) was a real thorn and made the difference in that Perth Test.

Agreed

But if India don't win this series it will be the biggest disappointment ever....no asian side has ever got this close against such a weak AUS side

 

[Buffet]

Agreed

But if India don't win this series it will be the biggest disappointment ever....no asian side has ever got this close against such a weak AUS side

Indians are not close to winning series here. Series is 1-1 and momentum is with Aus.

I see posters writing off Aus, but Current bowling unit of Aus will rivals many countries all time best bowling units. Indians bowled as good as anyone touring Aus and yet Aus batting put enough runs. I will say Aus batting in Aus is lot stronger than most poster think.

Aus is not getting lucky due to poor bowling by India. They have batted well enough. Aus bowling has been top class and relentless. Not sure what makes everything think that this is so weak Aus side that Indian victory should be guaranteed. Aus batting is surely weaker in absence of their 2 best batsmen, but I think many of us are underestimating Aus here.

 

[Bleedgreen4ever]

Indians are not close to winning series here. Series is 1-1 and momentum is with Aus.

I see posters writing off Aus, but Current bowling unit of Aus will rivals many countries all time best bowling units. Indians bowled as good as anyone touring Aus and yet Aus batting put enough runs. I will say Aus batting in Aus is lot stronger than most poster think.

Aus is not getting lucky due to poor bowling by India. They have batted well enough. Aus bowling has been top class and relentless. Not sure what makes everything think that this is so weak Aus side that Indian victory should be guaranteed. Aus batting is surely weaker in absence of their 2 best batsmen, but I think many of us are underestimating Aus here.

Are you joking?

This is the weakest AUS side ever

Batting is boosted by lower order which is saving them on countless occasion.
Their bowling is average ... starc is not a threat as he is in ODIs
Without Lyon they would struggle big time.

Shame on India if they can't win from this side.

 

[jeetu]

Agreed

But if India don't win this series it will be the biggest disappointment ever....no asian side has ever got this close against such a weak AUS side

That was 1985 series. India should have won test 2 and 3 , but missed it. Rain played part too.
1st Test: Australia v India at Adelaide - Dec 13-17, 1985
Australia 381 and 17/0; India 520
Match drawn

2nd Test: Australia v India at Melbourne - Dec 26-30, 1985
Australia 262 and 308; India 445 and 59/2
Match drawn

3rd Test: Australia v India at Sydney - Jan 2-6, 1986
India 600/4d; Australia 396 and 119/6 (f/o)
Match drawn

 

[Markhor]

We were closer in 1972-73 - we should have won that series 2-1.

We were blown away in the First Test but suffered 4th innings meltdowns in the Second and Third Tests. Our 4th innings implosions are nothing new !

In the Second Test, we had a 1st innings lead of 133. Majid Khan, Zaheer Abbas, Inti and co belted Lillee and Thomson around the park. However we let the game slip and allowed Australia to set 293 in the 4th innings, and got bowled out for 200.

The next Test was the original Sydney heartbreak ! Set 159 to win, Max Walker took 6-15 from 16 overs and we lost by 52 runs.

 

[Napa]

Indians are not close to winning series here. Series is 1-1 and momentum is with Aus.

I see posters writing off Aus, but Current bowling unit of Aus will rivals many countries all time best bowling units. Indians bowled as good as anyone touring Aus and yet Aus batting put enough runs. I will say Aus batting in Aus is lot stronger than most poster think.

Aus is not getting lucky due to poor bowling by India. They have batted well enough. Aus bowling has been top class and relentless. Not sure what makes everything think that this is so weak Aus side that Indian victory should be guaranteed. Aus batting is surely weaker in absence of their 2 best batsmen, but I think many of us are underestimating Aus here.

Nobody is writing off Australia, they are currently the bookies favorite to win the series. Unfortunately with the teams being close in strength, the team which wins the tosses will likely win the next two game.

 

[Napa]

In the Second Test, we had a 1st innings lead of 133. Majid Khan, Zaheer Abbas, Inti and co belted Lillee and Thomson around the park. However we let the game slip and allowed Australia to set 293 in the 4th innings, and got bowled out for 200.

3 runouts on the way to losing by 92 runs.

 

[Napa]

That was 1985 series. India should have won test 2 and 3 , but missed it. Rain played part too.
1st Test: Australia v India at Adelaide - Dec 13-17, 1985
Australia 381 and 17/0; India 520
Match drawn

2nd Test: Australia v India at Melbourne - Dec 26-30, 1985
Australia 262 and 308; India 445 and 59/2
Match drawn

3rd Test: Australia v India at Sydney - Jan 2-6, 1986
India 600/4d; Australia 396 and 119/6 (f/o)
Match drawn

What a series that was! The Indian batsmen led by Gavaskar absolutely demolished the Australian bowlers. Series averages:

Gavaskar 117.33
Amarnath 74.33
Srikanth 72.75
Vengsarkar 60
Azharuddin 56.5
Chetan Sharma 54
Shastri 45.5
Kapil Dev 45
Yadav 47
Binny 38
Kirmani 21

Nowadays, if an Asian batsman averages 40+ in a SENA country, we congratulate him. If a team has 3 such players we think the team is doing very well. In that series no fewer 9 Indian batsmen averaged over 40+, and 3 averaged 70+.

India averaged 62.46 per wicket over the entire series. Given that the Australians averaged 32.24 per wicket over the entire series, this has to be the luckiest team not to lose a test series.

I don't think any other country came close to this batting performance. The Indians absolutely demolished Australian bowling like it had never been done before, and will likely not be done again.

Absolutely the best performance by Asian or likely even any other country batting in Australia, and a travesty that India did not win the series.

[MENTION=134300]Tusker[/MENTION] [MENTION=143530]Swashbuckler[/MENTION] [MENTION=76058]cricketjoshila[/MENTION]

 

[Buffet]

Are you joking?

This is the weakest AUS side ever

Batting is boosted by lower order which is saving them on countless occasion.
Their bowling is average ... starc is not a threat as he is in ODIs
Without Lyon they would struggle big time.

Shame on India if they can't win from this side.

I am not sure how can anyone call it the weakest Aus side.

1979 Aus side against Pakistan and 1985 against Ind was weaker than this side. This side has a very good bowling and it can challenge many countries all time bowling units.

 

[Napa]

Are you joking?

This is the weakest AUS side ever

Batting is boosted by lower order which is saving them on countless occasion.
Their bowling is average ... starc is not a threat as he is in ODIs
Without Lyon they would struggle big time.

Shame on India if they can't win from this side.

The Australian bowling is close to ATG. The pacers are exceptional, and Lyons is doing great. Your statement "Without Lyon they would struggle big time" makes no sense as Lyons is indeed part of bowling attack, so he is not to be excluded when judging the attack as "average".

 

[Buffet]

Nobody is writing off Australia, they are currently the bookies favorite to win the series. Unfortunately with the teams being close in strength, the team which wins the tosses will likely win the next two game.

Yes, Toss is going to play a major part here.

I was talking about posters in PP writing off Aus team. Bookies are lot more grounded.

 

[Tusker]

That was 1985 series. India should have won test 2 and 3 , but missed it. Rain played part too.
1st Test: Australia v India at Adelaide - Dec 13-17, 1985
Australia 381 and 17/0; India 520
Match drawn

2nd Test: Australia v India at Melbourne - Dec 26-30, 1985
Australia 262 and 308; India 445 and 59/2
Match drawn

3rd Test: Australia v India at Sydney - Jan 2-6, 1986
India 600/4d; Australia 396 and 119/6 (f/o)
Match drawn

What a series that was! The Indian batsmen led by Gavaskar absolutely demolished the Australian bowlers. Series averages:

Gavaskar 117.33
Amarnath 74.33
Srikanth 72.75
Vengsarkar 60
Azharuddin 56.5
Chetan Sharma 54
Shastri 45.5
Kapil Dev 45
Yadav 47
Binny 38
Kirmani 21

Nowadays, if an Asian batsman averages 40+ in a SENA country, we congratulate him. If a team has 3 such players we think the team is doing very well. In that series no fewer 9 Indian batsmen averaged over 40+, and 3 averaged 70+.

India averaged 62.46 per wicket over the entire series. Given that the Australians averaged 32.24 per wicket over the entire series, this has to be the luckiest team not to lose a test series.

I don't think any other country came close to this batting performance. The Indians absolutely demolished Australian bowling like it had never been done before, and will likely not be done again.

Absolutely the best performance by Asian or likely even any other country batting in Australia, and a travesty that India did not win the series.

[MENTION=134300]Tusker[/MENTION] [MENTION=143530]Swashbuckler[/MENTION] [MENTION=76058]cricketjoshila[/MENTION]

Umpires played the most decisive role in that series. A clear bat-pad catch ( YT had this video clip ) of the last man was not given when Aus were still behind and then along with Allan Border the last wicket pair erased the lead and put enough runs to hold out for a draw. (Some things never change lol )

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

Are you joking?

This is the weakest AUS side ever

Batting is boosted by lower order which is saving them on countless occasion.
Their bowling is average ... starc is not a threat as he is in ODIs
Without Lyon they would struggle big time.

Shame on India if they can't win from this side.

Biggest disappointment is Cummins.
Harmless bowling at mid-late 130s. Not a threat.

He bowled much better vs Ind in India.

 

[shaaik]

Even 1999 tour might have had a different result , had we won thay and test if not for Peter Pocky Parker. There's no way Australia should have won that test. The third test would have gone either way with series tied 1-1 and momentum with us and Shoib Akhtar bowling probably the fastest he ever could and saqlain and wasim at their peak, we could have pulled it off.