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Mitch Marsh and Steve O’Keefe made solid yet unremarkable debuts yesterday as Australia bowled admirably but without fortune on day one of the first Test against Pakistan.
In an attritional day of Test cricket on a lifeless, dry wicket in Dubai, Pakistan’s batsmen showcased an unexpected level of caution and dedication to reach stumps at 4-219 from their 90 overs.
The opportunities handed to Marsh and O’Keefe were in no small part due to the parched state of the deck. Believing it would offer minimal assistance to the quicks and take turn as the match progresses, Australia fielded two specialist spinners which ensured Marsh would secure the all-rounder position as the third pace option.
FULL PAKISTAN VS AUSTRALIA SCORECARD
Both men were tidy with the ball, maintaining the pressure built by attack leaders Mitch Johnson and Peter Siddle. But neither looked likely to skittle the Pakistan batting line-up which, after two early wickets, was very comfortable on the soporific surface.
O’Keefe, in particular, rarely troubled the batsmen. The New South Welshman’s benign offerings at times prompted some snide commentary from the television experts, who noted the lack of revolutions he imparted on the ball.
Devilish turn is not in O’Keefe’s weaponry. Unlike banned Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal or recently-retired English offie Graeme Swann, he does not rip the ball from his fingers with ferocity.
More similar in style to the understated yet effective Sri Lankan left armer Rangana Herath, O’Keefe relies upon accuracy and guile. Herath’s subtle changes of pace, flight and release point allowed him to reap 37 wickets at an average of 23 across his team’s five Tests against Pakistan this year.
But where Herath posed a constant threat to the Pakistan batsmen, O’Keefe was played with ease yesterday. The Australian bowled with trademark accuracy and maintained an impeccable length but struggled to challenge the batsmen in the flight.
O’Keefe certainly gave himself every chance, tossing the ball up generously throughout his first few spells. However, his low, round arm action does not lend itself to getting heavy overspin on the ball.
As such, O’Keefe does not often get his deliveries to dip or bounce sharply. Perhaps out of frustration, O’Keefe began to deploy a flatter, quicker arc as the day wound on.
It must be said, however, that Pakistan were clever in the manner in which they played both he and Nathan Lyon. Against Sri Lanka, the Pakistan batsmen had been too keen to impose their will on Herath, aiming for positive intent but instead displaying overconfidence.
Yesterday they were content to sit on both O’Keefe and Lyon, believing neither was likely to make inroads into their batting line-up. Younis Khan, who compiled a wonderfully-patient century, led the way as the Pakistan batsman largely played Australia’s spinners from the crease – deflecting them for ones and twos with no risk.
Similar to O’Keefe’s approach late in the day, Lyon was often guilty of firing his deliveries through too swiftly. When bowling with a slower, more tantalising loop, he looked significantly more dangerous.
Although Australia’s quicks were far more potent on the opening day, Lyon and O’Keefe will have much larger roles to play in the second innings.
Yesterday it was pace veterans Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle who led the way, with the latter displaying a marked increase in pace. Siddle was dropped from the Test side in South Africa after his pace had slumped into the low-130s over the preceding 12 months.
Noticeably stronger in build, the veteran seamer hit 138km/h with his first delivery and soon after reached 143km/h. Not surprisingly, he looked a more dangerous bowler.
Meanwhile, Marsh confirmed his expansive talents in his role as the third quick.
The 23-year-old all-rounder entered the match with doubts surrounding his fitness due to a hamstring injury. While he operated a notch below his optimum pace – hovering in the low-to-mid-130s for most of the day – he impressed with his accuracy and ability to gain both traditional and reverse swing.
Marsh’s main role will be to provide impetus in the Australian middle order. But his frugal and consistent offerings with the ball were heartening.
Australia will need both he and O’Keefe to be close to their best with the ball on a pitch which demands bowlers toil long and robustly.
Just what a par first innings score is on this deck remains uncertain. It seems likely to get lower and slower as the match progresses and began to offer a sharper degree of turn late in the day.
Australia’s batsmen have famously struggled both against reverse swing and on spinning tracks. As expected, it appears they will have to counter both of those elements to win this match.