Pakistan once had one of the most feared bowling lineups in world cricket, and even in this series, when they had an inexperienced and young attack, they were impressive.
But the one area that has consistently proven to be a challenge for the side has been its batting lineup. They collapse like a house of cards every time a gust of wind blows and often cost the team a victory.
Since long, Pakistan's batting has been a thorn in the side, which has kept the whole body uncomfortable.
While the universe may have hopes of experiencing seismic upheavals, such as Israel becoming one of the most compassionate countries in the world or England abandoning its empire-creating divide-and-rule formula, Pakistani batters have consistently struggled to read match situations and apply themselves during crucial moments. This chronic issue prevents Pakistan from achieving its full potential, as players frequently falter in their shot selections, surrender advantageous positions in crucial games and inexplicably end up on the losing side.
Throughout the series down under, numerous examples illustrate the team's failure to seize the opportunities that came its way, opting instead to lose wickets in clusters.
Despite the high expectations, Babar Azam fell short in technique and temperament whenever the Australians put him under the cosh. Even Imamul Haq, usually supported by yours truly, faced criticism with some pretty damning statistics
Players like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shan Masood, and Abdullah Shafique have all been guilty of choosing inappropriate moments to play unnecessary shots, costing their team dearly. We especially see such behaviour when the team is positioned to thrust forward and dominate the opposition.
In my opinion, the middle order is the culprit, specifically Saud Shakeel. Once expected to be a mainstay, Saud has displayed a lack of patience and application, seeming completely out of sorts at times. After enduring a disappointing World Cup campaign and now a dismal tour of Australia, he has put a question mark on his selection.
Watching him struggle, I kicked my cricketing acumen because I really believed in Saud as a player.
Despite the high expectations, Babar Azam fell short in technique and temperament whenever the Australians put him under the cosh. Even Imamul Haq, usually supported by yours truly, faced criticism with some pretty damning statistics reflecting his struggles outside of Asia. For once, I was not in a position to embark upon an Imam-supporting frenzy. I have finally understood that Imam needs to perform better on testing pitches far from home.
While showing promise, Abdullah Shafique needs to show consistency in his performances. He desperately needs to enhance his fielding after dropping a crucial catch, which perhaps cost the team a match.
Despite the 3-0 scoreline favouring Australia, the series does highlight many positive aspects for Pakistan.
The bowlers, led by Aamir Jamal, impressed by taking 47 wickets.
One can safely say that Aamir Jamal is the find of the tour. It seems we have finally found a genuine all-rounder who could pick up the mantle of so many greats before him
Shan Masood's captaincy drew praise for intelligent bowling changes and effective field placements. He was fearless in picking young talent, backing them and extracting memorable performances from his young charges. He has impressed hugely as a leader. In particular, I was greatly impressed with his ability to read the opposing batsmen's minds and get them out by employing a field position which would result in their wicket.
But as a batsman, Masood has room to improve; he must convert his 50s into hundreds.
Pakistan woefully missed the presence of a world-class spinner. Packing a team without one for a trip to Australia was like forgetting to check your tyre pressure before heading out on a long trip. Of course, the result could be a flat tyre, which means either you'll fail to reach your destination or face huge delays.
The team's shortcomings in batting and catching were evident and, in the final reckoning, proved to be the difference between winning and losing. Senior batters, especially Babar Azam, must step up and address the technical and temperamental flaws in their game. His poor form cost the team heavily in the series.
Players like Jamal, Agha, and Rizwan consistently performed well to carve a niche in the hearts of Pakistani fans. One can safely say that Aamir Jamal is the find of the tour. It seems we have finally found a genuine all-rounder who could pick up the mantle of so many greats before him.
One area that Jamal can easily tighten up is the bowling speed. He can easily bowl at 140, a facet that'll help him on flat subcontinent tracks.
He iss definitely the find of series.
Salman Agha has impressed with the bat, but he has the potential to be a genuine spinner as well. He can perhaps help fill that void for Pakistan through hard work in the off-season.
Beyond individual improvements, there is a pressing need for the management, especially the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), to address the team's playing schedule. The call for playing at least 12 tests a year is fully justified. Which decent country plays just seven tests a year? It's diabolical! I would strongly like to highlight the urgency for the board to act decisively and address this grave issue. Better performances depend on a more robust playing calendar, and if the PCB cannot manage that, then they should go home.