Australia lacked incisiveness on a placid Abu Dhabi pitch for the second day running and will now need their batsmen to save them from a whipping against Pakistan. Join The Roar for live coverage of the third day of this second Test starting 5:00pm (AEDT).
For most part of the second day’s play the pitch offered nothing for the bowlers. There were chances, and clear-cut ones at those but with the going having become tough, Australia failed to rise to the challenge in the field.
Mitchell Starc bowled a couple of decent spells, Mitchell Johnson troubled the batsmen in his first three overs of the day but apart from that there was nothing that went Australia’s way.
Brad Haddin’s shoulder injury only worsened it for Australia as he had to twice leave the field and hand over the gloves to David Warner.
Pakistan have all but sealed the series with what they had to offer on the second day. Fans may point out to what transpired earlier this year when Pakistan scored 451 in their first dig against Sri Lanka and still managed to lose the game but things are mightily different.
For one, Pakistan have amassed 570 and not 450 in their first innings, those extra runs will act as a buffer. Secondly, and more vitally, the Sri Lankan batsmen play spinners far better than the current Aussie side, which was the reason why they were able to reply to that 451 with 533.
To add to that, Sri Lanka then managed to bowl Pakistan out for 180 with Rangana Herath picking up six wickets in that second innings. Do Australia have a bowler of that pedigree for this pitch? The answer is an emphatic no.
In short, Australia have been pushed into a situation from where a draw looks their most likely option.
The early wicket of Chris Rogers won’t make it easy but with the likes of David Warner, Steve Smith and even Michael Clarke still remaining, the easy track should allow them to soothe any nerves.
What will be interesting to see is the amount of purchase that the Pakistani spinners get from the same track where the Australian tweakers suffered.
Join me for this third day of the second Test between Pakistan and Australia on Saturday here and you can follow the live score of this game from 5:00pm (AEDT) and post your comments in the section below.
cantab
Guest
Cheers Suneer, it would appear the notion that the pitch wont produce a result had been debunked again this series.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Cheers Suneer, enjoy the footy mate
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
End of another day that belongs to Pakistan. They carved out a monumental 309-run lead on the first innings and while they also lost two early wickets, Azhar Ali and Younis Khan have seen them through to the end of play with a lead inching towards 400. What makes the Aussie collapse even more surprising is that this time, five of the Aussie wickets fell to fast bowlers. Four of them to the reversing ball. Only Mitchell Marsh showed any kind of resistance and boy, did he look the part? The others, however, struggled and it showed on the scoreboard. Pakistan will look to push the lead up to 500 and then give themselves around 150 overs to get the better of the Aussies in the final innings. With that kind of a target. Australia will need to Faf it or smash it but one way or the other, a 2-0 scoreline looks quite imminent. Think Australia can escape that? That's all from me for now, off I go to a bar to catch some of the Premier League action! Have a good night ahead and hope to see you around tomorrow...
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
That's that, the light meters were out and immediately, the play has been called off. Pakistan have ended the day at 2/61 with a lead of 370.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Oooh! Siddle's rapped Younis again and this is going down the leg-side. Again, Younis had no clue to that one... 2/61 in 21, Siddle's bowled three maidens in a row.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Siddle continues to trouble Younis. He has found a way to reverse it back in to Younis and is getting the length just right - one of those where Younis is neither able to get very back or play well off the front foot.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Loud shouts of "Catch it!" from behind the stumps as Azhar has swept it in the air to the leg-side. Falls way short of the deep fielders. 4 off the over, 2/61 in 20
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Siddle's bowled another maiden, second on a trot. The shutters are down. 2/57 in 19.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Bit of a funny moment, with a spectator behind the bowler's arm being asked to sit down by Younis and Warner and the guy waving back at them. Giggles all around. 2/57 in 18, getting a tad darker.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Siddle starts off with a probing maiden over. 2/55 in 17
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Wow, another one, lbw appeal and they have appealed long and hard and still given not-out. Clarke's going to review this... ...unfortunately for the Aussies, the ball was hitting him outside the line of the off-stump. Live, that looked like it was hitting outside, and that's exactly how it is too. Younis was way, way outside his crease. Review wasted.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Peter Siddle has now been brought on to replace Starc. How about some Marsh? Would be confident after that 87... ...Siddle's gotten his first to swing back and - breaking news!! - beaten Younis! That's hit his pads and a loud appeal for lbw, given not-out. Clarke doesn't go for a review.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Maiden from Lyon. 0/13 from his eight. 2/55 in 16, lead's 364
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Lyon's getting an extended spell here. Dean Jones feels that it's a pitch where if Australia bat well, they can get out of it.
Nudge
Guest
Agree Suneer. Would South Africa have beaten Australia 2-1 just recently if they had of won the toss 2 out of 3.? I reckon they would of. Australia won first toss and smashed them. RSA won second toss and smashed us. Australia won toss 3rd test and won by 300 odd runs. All 3 games the team batting first scored big on a flat track. All 3 games the team batting second failed badly on a minefield
Brains of a bimbo (Atgm)
Guest
https://mobile.twitter.com/LiebCricket/status/528522063007338497/photo/1
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Nicely driven through extra-cover for a four. Younis Khan was letting those outside the off stump from Starc go away but this time he watches one till the end and then drives it through. 2/55 in 14.1
Felix
Guest
About time Lyon changed the angle up. He needs to get batsmen out of their crease and playing vertical shots more often outside off. This might start building some pressure. I think he has ability, but for some reason over the wicket has been black balled.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
The proceedings have become a bit dead for the moment. Hush in the crowd as Pakistan opt to play a tad defensively. 2/50 in the 14th, lead of 359
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Fair enough, would have been interesting for sure. Especially in the second Test after being down 1-0 and getting a chance to bat first to put the pressure right back on Pakistan.