Going into the first Test, I was convinced that this Pakistan pitch was going to have its own tricks up its sleeve giving us a well-rounded bowling-orientated Test match, leaving a lot for both spin and pace
Well, I couldn’t have been more wrong. When I saw the first published images of the prepared pitch I became pretty sceptical about how it would play out because it didn’t seem much like the minefield that I was expecting.
This pitch was a total road, only offering anything for the spinners which was already expected. Now due to this flat wicket two classy innings were formed with the bat from both sides but the first innings coming from Pakistan was particularly impressive despite the pitch conditions.
Great scores between Imam-ul-Haq and Azhar Ali generated most of the 476 runs Pakistan made. Only four wickets fell in the first innings, which is a solid indicator of how lifeless the pitch was. You are not going to get world-class cricketers out on a pitch that doesn’t do anything – it either takes a hell of a ball or a solid fielding effort to get the full ten wickets unless batters make silly mistakes.
This point could define the Australian batting innings, however, they did bat very well, putting on 459 runs but were all bowled out at the end of their innings.
There were some convincing dismissals, such as Naseem Shah’s peach delivery to dismiss Alex Carey but wickets that included Usman Khawaja’s dismissal would be evidence of playing one too many risky shots.
We all know Usman does play the reverse sweep pretty effectively but it’s not the shot that’s going to be 100 per cent effective all the time and it cost him his hundred.
Obviously I am still going to give credit to the Pakistan bowlers, especially Nauman Ali for taking six wickets. Spin bowling was the favoured option because of the pitch conditions but that does not negate the effort that was put in.
Debates could say that the flatness of the pitch affected the overall Test match and I can see where that argument stands but I like to see it as the nature of playing cricket in different parts of the world. Every place is going to be different.
In Australia, you get more bounce and pace; in England the ball won’t bounce as much but it will move off the pitch a lot more often; India has absolute minefields that are very entertaining to watch when you team is bowling, and in Pakistan, the batsmen get to have a field day.
From how I see it, that’s what makes cricket so fun to watch, because wherever a game is being played, it will never be the same as any others.
The second Test is expected to be played on the 18th and once again I am keen to see how this match plays out.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
And it's up to the leadership to notice and then know what are the abilities of players at their disposal. Because Cummins rarely plays Shield cricket his only knowledge of Green probably comes from NSW journalists. They wouldn't know either.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
This is what I don’t get - Green was able to get reverse swing, the rest couldn’t. Yes the pitch was not great, but sometimes I think in Australia that we view wickets as really poor if they don’t aid our seamers and that says something about our ability to master swing. That said, the conditions weren’t particularly helpful for “natural” swing with the new ball. Still, there is more to fast bowling than just seam off the pitch.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Probably my main issue there is the visiting team will almost always bat first. -there willl be exceptions of course, but rare. I feel it would result in too much predictability/sameness across the series. I would still go with the visiting team choosing first for the First Test and then IF they win, the choice for the next match reverts to the losing (home) side and continues in this pattern for the remainder of the series.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
I wonder if it has ever occurred to a journo to ask Pat about this.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
I would too. He beat Pakistani batters in both innings for pace as well,with an old ball.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
It ,of course, wasn't the worst bowling performance by an Australian Test team attack. Just the third worst. It was probably the worst bowling effort by Cummins, Starc and Hazelwood though. Please post any corrections to this bold assertion. Never mind, there's the 2nd Test to look forward to.
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
There are not many "takeaways" in there, so here's a couple that haven't been mentioned anywhere! 1. In the Oz innings, while the comms, and allegedly the Oz Brains Trust, were opining that the Oz was still trying to win the game by getting a big score, Smith was dawdling along at 39.8. Easily the slowest of the top 6 who got a start. 2. The Oz (bowling) selections were based on bowling first. Lucky that we did... 3. As per the last series against Mark Wood, Warner, even on this pitch, displayed his waning reflexes against a genuine quick. As soon as the conditions are right, I'll be going in big against him making 50. 4. Lyon's recent form is sub-par. The end for him may not be far away either. 5. Starc once again was ineffective *and* our most expensive quick. His red ball average has now gone into Brett Lee territory. ie > 30. If ever there's an Over-rated Oz XI those two will open the bowling.
Rellum
Roar Guru
I am not saying we should have run through them but we took 4 wickets over the course of a Test match because, yes the pitch was poor but the truth is we did not have enough skill to pose some sort of threat in those conditions, Like I would have to say, the Pakistan bowlers did.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
I agree but in Pakistan we need to tread carefully it can be misinterpreted as a dig or insult we must be cautious in our approach!
Jim Prideaux
Roar Rookie
I’m sure it was tongue firmly in cheek, however, I’ll bite. The MCG produced a poor pitch through poor (over the years) preparation, there was nothing deliberate about it. Here we have a deliberately poor pitch, which is an utter disgrace. Prepare the best pitch you can, not the pitch anyone wants. That has to be the bare minimum.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Not sure that will happen if anything they will get a please explain & told to rectify future wicker rather than any official possible sanction!
Tempo
Roar Rookie
Yep, and that was rightly rated poor by the ICC. I hope the Rawalpindi pitch gets a similar rating to send a message that this sort of pitch is not acceptable.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
To be fair the MCG produced a similar wicket a few years back!
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Not exactly demonstrating any confidence in the injured players replacements are they . In other words congratulations on your selection but we think you are useless.. That statement of PCB chief sounds like a whole lot of spin to me .
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Yep most likely the puppets will wait till they lose the second test then all of a sudden Hazlewood & Starc will pull out due to general soreness & the non selector Cummings will admit the selectors had no choice :laughing:
Dirk
Guest
When was the announcement from CA that this was "officially the worst bowling effort by an Australian test team"? You must do an admirable job of walking with that NSW sized chip on your shoulder.
Gee
Roar Rookie
Labuschagne loved it. 90 and took half the Pakistan wickets.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Green reversed it both ways. I'd like to see him bowl with a ball with less than 40 overs on it.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Be interesting to trace some betting accounts. I'd suggest a draw was plunged in the days prior to the covers coming off.
Gee
Roar Rookie
No hope, not in the NSW mates club. Officially the worst bowling effort by an Australian test team but watch them wheel out ‘it was a horrible pitch’ excuse to keep the dud NSW 4 in the next test line up.