By Kersi Meher-Homji
January 4th 2010 @ 1:25am
Related coverage
Pakistan’s Mohammads put Aussies on the hop
Pakistani bowler Mohammad Asif. AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena.
I don’t want to say I said so, but remember that I wrote in my last column: “Pakistan may surprise Australia. Ricky Ponting’s Australia should not take Pakistan lightly in the second Test in Sydney after winning comfortably in Melbourne on Wednesday.
History suggests that Pakistan bounce back on the SCG after being mauled by Australia in a previous Test.”
And the article ended with:
“Never take Pakistan lightly. They are awful one day, awesome the next – especially when playing on the SCG turf.”
On a wet, green pitch yesterday, Ponting won the toss. And for reasons known only to him, he decided to bat.
And the two unrelated Mohammads – Asif and Sami – ran through the strong Australian batting line up like a knife through melting butter. Just like Imran Khan and Sarfraz Nawaz had done on the same venue 24 years ago.
Here is how the drama unfolded on the suspenseful opening day at the SCG yesterday – Australia falling like seven pins: 1 for 2, 2 for 2 (Ponting out first ball), 3 for 10, 4-36, 5-51, 6-51 and 7-62.
Was this really happening? Will I wake up from this incredible dream? Will Australia be bowled out for under 100?
Then there was some token resistance. 8 and 9, Mitchell Johnson and Nathan Hauritz, put on 44 runs for the 8th wicket. Still, 127 was a pathetic total for a side known for its batting riches.
Sami set the tone capturing the first three scalps. Then it was all Asif who claimed 6-41.
What a sensational turnaround from the Melbourne Test only a few days ago when Pakistan looked disheartened with that “Day-o, day-o, daylight comes and we wanna go home” expression.
Now they appear full of beans, high in spirit and chanting “revenge is mine.”
Cricket is unpredictable and known for its glorious uncertainties and inglorious certainties. Australia has the talent to hit back on subsequent days.
But Pakistan had the upper hand on day one in Sydney. No (As)ifs and (Salman) Butts about it!
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vinay verma said | January 4th 2010 @ 6:29am | Report comment
Very clever,Kersi…now IF Australia bowl well and limit the lead to 50 they have a chance. BUT this depends on the Pak batsmen. Should be an engrossing day today. As they say in Golf the second day is the moving day. The rain delivered a sporting pitch and it made for riveting cricket. If only curators would get the messsage.
Jay said | January 4th 2010 @ 8:40am | Report comment
Agree vinay. it was a superb wicket prepared by the curator. If only more test wickets were like this.
Alot of Australian batsmen threw their wickets aways, but one of the best first days of test cricket that I have seen in a long time.
James said | January 4th 2010 @ 8:01am | Report comment
Ponting again stuffs up as captain.
Fisher Price said | January 4th 2010 @ 8:40am | Report comment
Quite.
But then the brain’s trust has just the one tactic: put runs on the board and exert scoreboard pressure through patience and deep-set fields. No flexibility.
JohnB said | January 4th 2010 @ 8:23am | Report comment
Fair to say a heavy majority of the Channel 9 commentators leaned towards batting on winning the toss, so at least some other people thought they could see reasons to go that way. About the only person on the pre-game TV coverage I recall being unequivocal about bowling first was Geoff Lawson (when he accidentally wandered into shot and was called over to say a few words – making it a pretty good day for predictions by regular Roar columnists). Also fair to say a decision like that would not be made by just Ponting – impossible to believe senior players like Clarke, Hussey and Haddin, and the coaching staff, would not have had their input.
By the way, I think Saturday (the third day) is usually regarded as “moving day” Vinay.
As to what happens today – what’s the weather like in Sydney? If it’s fine and clear it could be a reprise of the NZ test in Brisbane in the 80’s when Richard Hadlee took his 9 for – a slow and interrupted first day, then very humid and overcast day two and Hadlee was utterly unplayable; sunny and clear the rest of the test and Martin Crowe hits 180 to earn a big lead and a big win.
Fisher Price said | January 4th 2010 @ 8:47am | Report comment
Buck stops with Nielsen and Ponting. As with previous stuff ups in Nagpur and London.
Tactical dunces.
vinay verma said | January 4th 2010 @ 9:12am | Report comment
You are right JohnB..I follow and play golf but am not an expert.All I know is that I dont make too many birdies but have this big albatross around my neck.
JohnB said | January 4th 2010 @ 4:21pm | Report comment
I don’t claim expertise either Vinay! Assume your albatross reference (3 under par on a hole – the rarest bird in golf) was deliberate?
vinay verma said | January 4th 2010 @ 7:48pm | Report comment
JohnB..deliberate and accurate. But coming to the game today Pakistan batted positively and kept moving the game forward..Umar Akmal four fours in an over..shades of Hooksey. Even the skipper scored his 40 odd off about 55 balls.Australia have to be positive and the opportunity is there if they concentrate.Big one for Hughes and Ponting tomorrow.
M1tch said | January 4th 2010 @ 8:24am | Report comment
They planned for Hughes and Ponting perfectly, tight line and Sami should have had a hat trick
Fisher Price said | January 4th 2010 @ 9:00am | Report comment
Jim Maxwell” “A typical Australian performance against the moving ball… they don’t have the game to dig in.”
Jameswm said | January 4th 2010 @ 9:12am | Report comment
Jim Maxwell’s right. They’re a bunch of flat track bullies.
I never thought I’d say this, but Watson as opener looks like the rock at the top of our order. He batted well and was unlucky to receive a cracker.
Hughes looked completely out of his depth and was lucky to get to 0. I’ve said all along – he might be a good future project but FFS pick the best now. I’d have gone with Jaques. The selectors were covering their backsides and getting the public back on side after dumping Hughes mid-Ashes. Hughes’ technique has more holes in it than a soccer net.
Ponting had two early brain explosions. If tyou’re not going to bowl on that wicket, you never will. So bowling first backfired once. So did enforcing the follow-on (Laxman). That doesn’t mean you never, ever, try it again. And what the hell was that shot he played?
If this collapse meant some much needed changes would be made, I wouldn’t mind so much. But it won’t – the team will continue on its bumpy path, winning enough (on natural skill and a tough local comp) to keep Ponting, Neilsen and Hilditch’s jobs safe. Why must it take adverse failure for people to see the need for change?
By the way – conditions in Sydney this morning – overcast, sun threatening to poke through, starting to steam up.
Fisher Price said | January 4th 2010 @ 9:22am | Report comment
Or Rogers?
Re: Ponting. He’s a great player with a wonderful record but his ability has been fading for a few years; however he retains supreme confidence in his team’s and his own ability. I’m still for Katich at 3 and Ponting at 5.
Changes? No chance. Failures in India, at home to SA and in England weren’t sufficient.
Ian Whitchurch said | January 4th 2010 @ 9:29am | Report comment
This is what one-day cricket and crap pitches does to batsmen – as soon as conditions are not fixed in their favour, they go to water.
This is the weakest Australian side in thirty years – and, yes, I’m including the mid-80s. This is only disguised by the fact that, right now, everyone else is crap as well (Ok, I will admit that this Indian side can bat).
Placey said | January 4th 2010 @ 9:30am | Report comment
Only 2 of the Australian batsmen can lay claim to be victims of the vicious SCG wicket yesterday, Watson & North, while the rest of them didn’t put enough value on their wickets. Ponting, Clarke, Hussey & Haddin all out to dreadful shots which couldn’t be attributed to the conditions, but a lack of application to the cause.
Brett McKay said | January 4th 2010 @ 2:46pm | Report comment
Clarke was bowled by a very good Asif delivery that nipped back in by almost a full bat width, so hardly could be said he played a dreadful shot. Simply, brought undone by superb bowling (for which we’re allowed to give credit, too). Hauritz went in a similar fashion. So you could extend your allowance to 4, but even still, it’s hardly a vicious wicket. Swinging yes, and it seamed a bit yesterday, but certainly not vicious..
Jameswm said | January 4th 2010 @ 1:49pm | Report comment
Yeah FP – or Rogers. I find Jaques a more imposing figure though, and he scores faster and is 2 years younger. Age can come into it if two candiates are otherwise too tough to split. I’m also from NSW…
I wouldn’t argue with Katich at 3 and Ponting at 5. Or Watson at 3 for that matter.
They just aren’t tough enough – who woulda guessed watto would be among our toughest batsmen? Maybe because he’s fresher and more determined to make his mark. Ponting needs a rocket up him to prize his wicket like he used to.
They do get the chance to bat again this match so let’s see if they learn anything. And if Pakistan are dismissed for less than 300 the match is still open, if heavily in their favour.
whiteline said | January 4th 2010 @ 10:01pm | Report comment
Hopefully the Pakistani’s can bowl as well as they did in the first innings tomorrow to see if the Aussies learn something – that is, how to bowl on a pitch that seams (we were half a metre to a metre too short virtually all day – hence all the play and misses rather than knicks) and also how to bat when it’s not a billiard table. I loved the first day, hopefully it’s one all going into the third.
Fisher is right, there will be no changes but Siddle for one just doesn’t seem to have it. He is awefully good at hitting the middle of the bat and doesn’t seem like he has any sort of plan at all.