After what many believe was the Test match of 2016 at the Gabba, Pakistan have a lot to be buoyant about, heading into the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Few would have given Pakistan any shot at coming within 40 runs of victory when they were set 490 runs to win. Fewer still would have done it when Pakistan were reeling at 67-8 in reply to Australia’s first innings total of 429.
Having come within touching distance to pulling off the highest chase in the history of Test cricket - in a country where they haven’t won a match in two decades - should definitely give Pakistan a morale boost. Even so, the fact remains that Pakistan have now lost four Test matches on the bounce.
The video of the Pakistani team celebrating Asad Shafiq’s century, hence, perhaps sends the wrong signal to Australia. A team truly hungry for success won’t celebrate a near-miss, no matter how heroic it might have been.
Asad Shafiq
Pakistan need to go all guns blazing in what will be a knockout game for the visitors
This is why the first day of the MCG Test would be crucial. Pakistan need to throw the gauntlet to Australia, and tell them they won’t settle for being second-best in the second Test.
Pakistan basically lost the match on the second day, when the entire batting lineup collapsed barring Sarfraz Ahmed and Mohammed Amir. The latter, who was instrumental in helping Pakistan edge closer to the target in the fourth innings, has continually showed a lot of application while batting and should now have a permanent slot at number 8.
The batting approach in the two innings, especially the difference between the way the lower and top order batsmen played, highlights exactly how Pakistan should be looking to bat in the final two Tests.
The dogged, safety-first approach that epitomises Pakistan’s batting style, has worked successfully in the UAE. However, in Australia, you need to constantly look for runs, because the odds of batsmen facing wicket-taking deliveries are significantly higher Down Under.
Wahab Riaz
The Pakistani pacers bowled much better than they have for a while, without as much to show for it. Amir’s 4 for 97 in the first innings were his best figures since coming back to international cricket. Amir and Wahab Riaz - also with a 4-for - had actually done well to peg Australia back on Day 2, before the batting collapse ensued.
It’s hard to see Pakistan making any changes for the MCG Test. The word is that Asad Shafiq might have made way for Sharjeel Khan had he not made that staggering century in the fourth innings. Now the only opening for Sharjeel - who looks good facing short pitched bowling, despite not having a compact defence - would be Sami Aslam’s place, which would be the wrong call to make.
Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan have not been among the runs of late, despite the latter’s half-century in the fourth innings. That would absolutely need to change in the final two matches for Pakistan to have any chance.
Similarly, while Azhar has been scoring runs, he gets bogged down easily and needs to take the game to the Australian bowlers by being more positive.
Yasir Shah was never in the game at The Gabba, despite impressing on a Day 1 wicket without much reward. If Pakistan do get to bat first, Yasir can be the decisive factor on Day 4 and 5 in the coming week.
Pakistan need to go all guns blazing in what will be a knock out game for the visitors starting from Boxing Day. If they do go into a cage this time around, they might not be able to get out of it till after the series. n
