With all due respect to Australian skipper Steve Smith’s superb and unbeaten 165 to win the man-of-the-match award at the MCG, it was Mitchell Starc who made an improbable victory a reality on the final day.
It began with a 154-run partnership between the two in just 29 overs, with Starc the dominant partner. The left-hander hit 84 in an innings that included an explosive seven sixes – a record at the MCG, beating Andrew Symonds’ six.
That enabled Smith to declare at 9-624 – another MCG record – beating the previous record by 20 runs.
Pakistan had declared at 9-443 on the second day, and on Friday, they started their second dig 181 runs in arrears with just over two sessions to survive.
It was Starc’s turn with the ball.
The big bloke had experienced an ordinary first dig with 1-125 off 31 overs.
But cometh the hour, cometh the man.
With time running out, Starc finished the second innings with 4-36 off 15.2 overs which included 72 dot balls, and just two boundaries.
Surely these are man-of-the-match stats with both bat and ball.
Special mention must be made of offspinner Nathan Lyon, who had been universally regarded as soon to be dropped for the Test at the SCG next week.
On Friday, Lyon probably saved his bacon, with a ten-over stint up to tea that netted 3-21, including 46 dot balls and just one boundary.
It was easily his best performance of the summer.
He bowled at around 85 clicks, there was a loop in his delivery that’s been missing, and he was far more dangerous.
In fact, he set up Australia’s momentum.
Why he didn’t bowl for 11 overs after tea only Steve Smith can answer. It didn’t make any sense.
The delay was costly to Lyon.
He only bowled four extra overs – taking 0-12 with two boundaries – but he never looked like breaking through.
However, he did enough to hold his place for the SCG, which is spin friendly.
More importantly, the win at the MCG proves this Australian team is gathering momentum.
Earlier this year, Sri Lanka whitewashed the Australians by 106 runs at Pallekele, 229 at Galle, and 163 at Colombo.
South Africa beat the Australians by 177 runs at the WACA, and by an innings and 80 at Bellerive before the national selectors went for youth.
The new-look side defeated South Africa by seven wickets at Adelaide, and has beaten Pakistan by 39 runs at the Gabba, and by an innings and 18 runs at the MCG.
Three wins on the trot after five heavy losses has been an extraordinary turnaround.
Making it four on the trot at the SCG would be an ideal way to kick-start 2017, leading into the four-Test series in India during February-March which will be the acid test.
Matth
Guest
Lyon might not have finished off the innings, but he took out the Pakistan middle order and most experienced batsmen, which allowed Starc to burst through. Lyon did his job this time.
qwetzen
Guest
David, Would you please advise as to why you deleted my reply to your post.
twodogs
Guest
Tounge in sheek humour Dexy.
Basil
Guest
Agree. Starc won Australia the game.
Dexter The Hamster
Guest
What I don't get is those criticizing the non bowling of Lyon, but then rejoicing in the fact the quickies got the remaining wickets with plenty of overs to spare. Tubby and Warnie don't know everything.
Dexter The Hamster
Guest
No, its just poor form from David, Someone I usually support, but him giving a shiv to a fellow pro is pretty poor form.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Probably because if Starc hadn't spent numerous overs in the first innings chucking pies, his last day effort (where 2 of his 4 wickets were 10/11 batsmen) wouldn't have have been needed.
Morsie
Guest
Bang on David, who had the biggest influence on the game? Starc. Warners knock blew away any sort of complacency from the Aussies and got them into a good position, Smith was great, but when it came down to winning Starc's contribution was mighty with both bat and ball.
twodogs
Guest
Humour qwetzen. Lighten up son. I'm sure David had a chuckle. I certainly did.???????????????
John360180
Guest
Nailed it again David. It was a superb performance by Starc.
qwetzen
Guest
What!!! You go all childish when someone disagrees with you but you're perfectly happy to launch a total ad hominem on a fellow professional! Jaysus!
qwetzen
Guest
Smith was good and better. Starc was bad, good and better. I pick the one that had no bad.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
I agree Lordy. Azhar was unlucky too. No underestimating how a long time in the field, even with rain interruptions, really takes it out of a team. Fighting effort by Paks just couldn't hang on. That's twice this season teams have declared in the first innings when they could have used a bit more time and a few more runs.
twodogs
Guest
? ?
twodogs
Guest
There were two big innings both deserving. But Starcs 84 turned the match. Without it, time would have ensured a draw. David in essence is correct. The two big scores mean little if match drawn.
AlanC
Guest
Hi David, Funny isn't it? Any number of amateur "expert" commenters here on The Roar were calling for Starc's head during the first innings, wild claims of being a white ball bowler only abounded like hundreds and thousands at a kids birthday bash all of which adds up to a decent reason to ignore the comments pages.
Akari
Guest
Lordy - sorry but Pakistan is a joke of a team when touring Oz. Man of the Match should be the Pakistan Cricket team for capitulating as easily as they on a very good batting wicket. Send the buggers home so they could spend NYs with their respective families instead. By the way, did anyone make any money yesterday on that top performance from the Australian team?
JGK
Roar Guru
Shafiq got MOTM in a losing effort in Brisbane. I reckon Ali should have won it - without him the match was all over in 3 days (including rain). As it is, he'll have to content himself for a new world record of the highest score made for a side losing a test by an innings.
David Lord
Expert
Anyone is miles better than Mark Nicholas.
David Lord
Expert
Matthew, rarely does a losing side provide man-of-the-match, but I agree Azhar was superb. Without his double ton, Pakistan would have lost in three days. But even taking Azhar's unbeaten double, both Mitchell Starc and Steve Smith were far more deserving anyway.