Usman Khawaja reinforced his growing reputation as Australia’s most reliable batter as Steve Smith’s century drought continued on day one of the third Test against Pakistan in Lahore.
Khawaja continued his recent purple patch to anchor Australia’s first innings of the series decider but fell short of a century when he was dismissed via a spectacular catch from Pakistani captain Babar Azam on 91.
His innings was the bedrock of Australia’s day one total of 5-232.
Smith also looked on track for triple figures but was dismissed soon after the tea break for 59. In a rare sight in international cricket, Smith walked on an lbw dismissal before umpire Ahsan Raza had even had the chance to point skyward to send him on his way.
The pair put on a third-wicket partnership of 138 runs after Australia had slumped to 2-8 in the third over when David Warner (seven) and Marnus Labuschagne (0) fell within the space of three balls to left-arm paceman Shaheen Afridi.
Khawaja (31) and Smith (28) guided Australia to 2-70 at lunch but they were lucky to survive until the break.
Khawaja was on 12 when he edged spinner Nauman Ali to first slip – only for the ball to sneak under the fingertips of Azam and through his legs.
Then next ball, Nauman dropped a sharp caught and bowled opportunity when Smith was on 19 and the scoreboard read 2-44.The missed chances proved costly, with Khawaja and Smith settling after that to guide Australia safely to lunch and then through the next session before Smith fell soon after tea.
Smith has now scored just one century in his past 27 Test innings with his most recent triple-figure score 14 innings ago, his hundred against India at the SCG at the start of 2021.
The only longer spell on his resume without a ton was the first 22 innings of his career when he was primarily selected as a leg-spinner.
Smith was trapped plumb by an in-swinger from young paceman Naseem Shah.
Khawaja continued on towards what looked like another century after his monumental 160 in the second Test at Karachi.
However, he nicked Sajid Khan nine runs short of his ton and Azam snared a brilliant one-handed catch diving away to his right, just above the ground.
Travis Head departed for 26, also falling victim to Naseem Shah, nicking off to Mohammed Rizwan to leave Australia 5-206.
Alex Carey (8 not out) and Cameron Green (20 not out) safely negotiated the final overs of the day against the second new ball to help Australia get back into the fight.
Khawaja has amassed 392 runs for the series, the most by any player, at 130.67, and has passed 50 in five of his eight innings since his recall for the fourth Test of the Ashes series at the SCG.
Earlier, Australia won the toss and elected to bat on what was initially expected to be a docile pitch.
But it was carnage early as both Warner and Labuschagne fell victim to a chatty Afridi.
Warner was trapped lbw to a ball that would have gone on to hit leg stump.
And two balls later, Labuschagne was sent packing when he edged through to the wicketkeeper.
Smith was in the zone as he set about launching the rescue mission, with his steely concentration only broken when he expressed displeasure at the roving ‘buggy cam’ distracting him.
Khawaja opened up approaching lunch by whacking Ali for six.
Australia named the same XI from the drawn second Test, but former Test wicketkeeper Brad Haddin was surprised the visitors weren’t more aggressive on the selection front.
Haddin said he would have included Ashton Agar in the XI to form a three-pronged spin attack alongside Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Swepson.
“I would have left Travis Head out for example … and would have played Ashton Agar,” Haddin told Fox Sports.
“Runs haven’t been a problem and wickets have been a premium, so … we could have moved (Alex) Carey up the order, and Agar’s there ready to go.”
Pakistan made one change, omitting all-rounder Faheem Ashraf for 19-year-old paceman Naseem Shah.
Republican
Guest
Very risky declaration. Pakistan can win this I believe as the target is quite gettable, subject to how the wicket plays out. I reckon they'll ( Pakistan) go one up and take the series from here.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
good to hear I have not seen all his innings obviously he's going to be selected for next tour but he needs to find some runs next tour in Sri Lanka
Jeff
Roar Rookie
I'm not too fussed about a small sample size of 3 innings. Every batsman get's a ball with their name on it, sooner or later. Those dismissals may be aided by the batsman's approach, but TBH from what I have seen of Head's innings' this tour, I though he has looked in as a good a touch as any of the Aus batsmen when he has been playing his shots. Some lovely cuts, covers and a drive or two. He obviously just hasn't lasted as long. Last Test he was out LBW playing the most defensive of shots with his front pad 3 feet out from the popping crease. He just couldn't cover it enough with his bat. Didn't look reckless to me though.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
yes although I notice he faced 12 overs this time . 8, 23, 26 highly concerning considering the batting road first and batting first in the last two tests . An average of 19 is concerning for tour
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Ok. But I was asking about the aggressiveness and recklessness in this innings. When you say he was out early, he did bat through two hours. Did you mean out for a score in the mid 20s?
Pierro
Roar Rookie
he was reckless last test and now out early again this test . not good Jeff . we all know he's got excellent ability on Aussie wickets but on tour big question marks remain and he's had three tests to get it right now
matth
Roar Guru
Thanks Cricinfo
Clear as mud
Guest
it was also a way of getting guys into the team, with less pressure. you could argue it was the same for Steve Waugh, whose batting potential was always known, but whose allrounderism brought him time. Stackpole I think debuted at 8 with Chappeli at 7. Stacky bowled his toppies, as much as being in for his batting. but he was always going to be a batter. Simmo batted 8 in SA early on, behind all of Davo, Benaud and Slash Mackay.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
wow.. the one that wasn't. Like Bradman's 99.4 and Warnies 99 out off a tonk and Agar's 98. Spend the rest of your life thinking about what if... (but at they were in the spot..)
HR
Roar Rookie
That was during the "maybe we'll find another Warnie" period of Australian selection policy, wasn't it?
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I'd like to be as bad as Smith. Fastest to 8,000 runs, averaging 60. What's not to like. I'm not worried about Smith or Khawaja. It's the other 4 that have varying issues esp Warner n Head.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
rowdy it's hilarious how there is any talk on smith and his failure to convert 50s to 100s . if he makes 50 an innings then he's one of our best . the microscope needs to be on warner abroad and head reigning in his flashy style abroad . both are not playing near as well when they tour away from aus
Pierro
Roar Rookie
if he's consistently making 50 plus an innings then he's one of our best
Pierro
Roar Rookie
understandable martin no doubting head was fantastic over the summer . my concern is he needs to really reign in his style of batting when on tour it's to streaky and reckless exactly like his uk ashes tour . perhaps it might be appropriate when Aus are well in front and want quick runs but not first innings . the bigger worry right now is warner abroad . I've anticipated he would be under watch this series after his last foreign tour as he clearly bats well in Australia but has definitely lost his way and is slower in compiling his runs since the India tour of Australia . No doubt they will perservere with him abroad but at what cost . if he doesn't tour well in Sri Lanka surely he shouldn't go to India
Tempo
Roar Rookie
He was definitely picked as a bowler/bowling all-rounder for his first few tests. Which was bizarre, since when he was picked he was averaging 50+ as a batsman in Shield cricket with multiple hundreds and with an ordinary bowling record (40+ average). Topped the Shield batting averages and century count the season prior if I recall correctly. Agree the idea he was a leg-spinner turned batsman is a myth though - he was always a batsman coming through juniors, grade and state cricket. Australia were just making bizarre selections like when they picked Cameron White as a legspinner in India.
Tempo
Roar Rookie
Haha, for sure. To make it worse, it remained Steve's highest score at the WACA at the end of his career, making it the only ground in Australia where he didn't score a test ton (he even scored 100s at Cairns and Darwin in the only innings he played at those grounds).
Clear as mud
Guest
Have a million likes!
Clear as mud
Guest
yes i looked at the score and the dismissal and wished he had gone full frontal counter attacking Head. that seems his best role, and best form. we have Green, Carey and Cummins after him, who can all lock down if required.
Clear as mud
Guest
Smith was batting in the top 5 after his 5th test (and top 6 against England mostly by 2010-11. the myth of the leggie turned batter is just that, a myth. :cricket:
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
(including a 99*, stranded when his brother ran himself out) A cold dinner table that night....