When asked about a pitch that generated 1,187 runs for just 14 wickets over five days in the first Test against Pakistan, Australia skipper Pat Cummins responded diplomatically.
Australia’s first Test in Pakistan in nearly 25 years ended in a dull draw in Rawalpindi on Tuesday, with Pat Cummins saying he would leave it to the spectators and analysts to make their own judgments. On the subject of a pitch that gave 1,187 runs for just 14 wickets over five days, Cummins remarked, “I believe players always want a fair struggle between bat and ball, and I think Test cricket is at its best and most satisfying when that happens.”
A spectator’s perspective is crucial in evaluating a show, which is why “you guys” (the media) are there to provide that perspective.
When the game finished without a result, Pakistan had 252 runs on the board in their second innings. In response to Pakistan’s first innings score of 476-4 declared, Australia scored 459 runs.
As a result of the draw in Rawalpindi, “turning up to a pitch—probably not a traditional pitch—you get here in Rawalpindi,” Cummins added.
It was the first time Australia had played a Test match on Pakistani soil since 1998 when the team refused to go due to security concerns.
Before the second Test in Karachi, which begins on Saturday, Pakistan’s openers took advantage of the fact that the match was already decided by a draw.
At one point, Imam-ul-Haq had his second century of the match, while Abdullah Shafique had his first century, Pakistan controlled the final day of play.
Following up his first-innings 157, Haq scored an unbeaten 111, while Shafique finished with 136.
After putting on a century-opening partnership for 105 on Friday, they were the first Pakistani pair to do it in both innings of a Test against Australia.
After nudging Cameron Green for a single, Shafique reached his century in 209 minutes. He ended up with 15 extras and six in total.
There’s a good chance that the record will
Haq pushed part-timer Travis Head for two runs to achieve his century in 276 minutes, his first Test match since December 2019.
The first-wicket partnership of 249 between Khalid Abdulla and Abdul Kadir in Karachi in 1964 is Pakistan’s highest in all Tests against Australia.
As a result of the two openers’ dominance, Australia conceded 100-plus opening stands in both innings for the first time in 51 years.
This feat was last accomplished by an English duo in 1971 in Adelaide against Australia, by Geoff Boycott and John Edrich.
The all-star Australian pace trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood, who had combined for 674 Test wickets prior to this match, only managed one more on the flat, lifeless pitch.
When Shafique scored a century, he expressed his joy.
As he went on to say, “This century will give me confidence and move forward my profession”
Nauman Ali, a left-arm spinner, took a career-best 6-107 in 38.1 overs earlier in the day to conclude with his third five-wicket haul in eight Tests.
After Australia resumed on 449-7, he contributed to Pakistan taking the final three wickets for only 10 runs.
At Karachi last year, Nauman had a career-best 5-35 in his debut against South Africa. He then promptly bowled Australia captain Pat Cummins for eight runs and Nathan Lyon for three runs.
Shaheen Shah Afridi, a left-arm paceman, finished with 2-88 in 30 overs to dismiss Australia opener Mitchell Starc.
