***Official*** Pakistan in Australia 2016/17

[Jono]

Reminder to Australia that this team got bopped by NZ and also lost a test to Windies.

 

[Scaly piscine]

$7 value for Pakistan? Yes there's rain forecast but Australia are looking very mentally fatigued, and it's hard to know how much rain will fall anyway.

Definitely value. If you wanted a bowling attack to force a win it would be Pakistan's. Just wouldn't want their fielding...

 

[Gnske]

Mitchell "I literally cannot stop going for runs even when I'm taking wickets" Starc

 

[morgieb]

Reminder to Australia that this team got bopped by NZ and also lost a test to Windies.

And probably could've lost two.

Have been very mentally weak this series. Took the foot off the throat in the first Test when Australia were looking at a 250+ run win to let Pakistan get extremely close to victory, and have conceded 400 from 4/130.

I do think Pakistan have played very well under pressure here, but some of Australia's bowling has to take a bit of responsibility IMO.

That said, you can't make a true judgement until each side has batted twice. Although at this point I expect us to lose by an innings rather than get 400 to make it an easy draw.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Oh and anyone suggesting Pakistan declare at lunch needs to be slapped with a fish remorselessly.

 

[morgieb]

Oh and anyone suggesting Pakistan declare at lunch needs to be slapped with a fish remorselessly.

You do realise there's rain forecast on Days 4 and 5? Plus while Pakistan would've taken 1-1 at the start of the series, they have to win this Test to remain a chance of claiming the series...

EDIT: Although on the other hand they only need an extra 10 overs to so to get to around 500, which is definitely a position that you'd consider enforcing the follow on. With that said, they only have four bowlers too, and there's a short gap between this Test and the next....

 

[Scaly piscine]

You do realise there's rain forecast on Days 4 and 5? Plus while Pakistan would've taken 1-1 at the start of the series, they have to win this Test to remain a chance of claiming the series...

Pakistan have scored 88 runs off the last 10 overs. There are officially 270 overs left in this match. That's 3 full days. Yep you'll probably lose some, but that's still a hell of a lot of cricket.

Apart from anything else the follow-on is the key figure for forcing a victory. 234 is not intimidating and you need a lot of things to go right for that. If it's 300 - that's a lot harder to attain.

 

[Tangles]

Only 6 overs out of 124 bowled by part timers. Could really do with a Watson who can bowl 10 or 15 tight overs. Lyon going at 5 is a problem but Smith obviously doesn't consider himself or Mad dog an option.

 

[Blocky]

Too early, they might as well make the most of having a guy set and a tail that can hit and lash out for 5-10 overs, if they put another 50-60 on, they dramatically increase their chances of winning.

Or 80.

12.32pm What a session for Pakistan: 22.4 overs and they have plundered 123 runs. The last 10 overs have brought them 88 runs. Sohail Khan has been brutal, Azhar delightful. Sohail has brought up his maiden fifty,he has added the highest eighth-wicket partnership for Pakistan against Australia, and Azhar is just four short of just the fourth double-century by an away batsman at MCG

 

[Blocky]

I can't recall seeing an Australian attack so hopeless at removing the tail in a home series before.

South Africa's tail wagged several times one series ago.

Lyon the worst bowler to get 200 wickets?

Easily the worst. Not even in question.


But in essence, Pakistan who absolutely struggled against NZ have had two out of three great innings against Australia. It's not the attacks, it's just how ****ing woefully easy batting is in Australian conditions. There is nothing there for the bowlers.

 

[morgieb]

Jeez that's pretty ordinary running between the wickets. Happened a bit earlier in his innings too.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Trademark Pakistan.

 

[Tangles]

He was strolling for runs and turning blind earlier but you would hope for some match awareness.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

That's pathetic from Sohail.

 

[morgieb]

Immense stuff from Azhar. One of the knocks of the year.

 

[Burgey]

That's a wonderful knock. Great innings.

 

[BeeGee]

That's some innings. Wow.

 

[Blocky]

Top innings Azhar... to think some people wanted him dropped before the NZ series is beyond me.

 

[Jono]

There's something in their water. Sohail barley tried there.

 

[Tangles]

Great innings by Azhar. Fully deserved.