Saleque Sufi
January 14, 2010, 9:19 am
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Melbourne 14 January, 2010 (Crickettomorrow.com)-Australia 3 for 302 (Ponting 137*, Clarke, 111*) v Pakistan Day 1
Hobart test at Belrieve Oval is the last that Australia plays this summer at home. They have already taken unassailable 2-0 lead in the three match test series against Pakistan after fighting back to win an almost lost case at s Sydney. Captain Rickey voted by a panel of experts as the best cricketer of the past decade celebrated the first day with a brilliant unbeaten century his 39th in test. Dropped before scoring and struggling at the early stage of his Innings he remained not out 137 at stumps. He and his worthy would be successor Michael Clark weathered the quality swing and seam bowling of Aaamer, Asif and Gul to register unbroken 231 runs 4th wicket partnership. Clark remained not out on 111 his thirteenth and the first at Hobart.
The day started with Ponting winning yet another toss under bright sunshine. Ponting elected to bat. Australia brought back Kattich. Pakistan made 4 changes. Butter fingered Wicket Keeper Kamran Akmal for his dismal Sydney test Second innings (Dropped 4 catches – 3 of Michael Hussey) was replaced by Young Srafraz Ahmed. Two underperforming batsmen Faisal Iqbal and Misbahul Huq were replaced by Khurram Manjoor and Shoaib Mailk and fit again teenager fast bowler Aamer returned in place of Mohammad Sami.
By the time play started sky over Belrieve got cloud cover. Condition dramatically changed to favour swing bowling, first day wicket also had some moisture to assist seam. Pakistan started bowling brilliantly. Kattich and Watson were never at ease. Watson could be out in the 4th over when in his attempt to blast Aamer he skied high over the sips two Pakistani fielders running back could not latch on to it. However Pakistanis got reward for persistent line and length bowling. The uneasy stay of Kattich was terminated getting LBW on review to Aasif at team score of 28. Ponting could be gone before he opened his account. Aasif set trap for his instinct pull stroke .Ponting obliged but Aaamer fielding at deep square leg dropped a sitter. Ponting one of the greatest batsmen of all times got this lucky break. He was having the leanest summer. After getting struck twice by Caribbean speedster Tony Roach Ponting was struggling in timing his pull strokes. He was severely tested by Aaasif, Aaamer and Gul. His timing was not there. Once he took a serious blow on her head. But brave Ponting fought it out. Watson left at 52 .His powerful square cut off Gul was picked up smartly by Imran Farhat .Hussey got a beautiful Aamer delivery to offer Srafraz his first test catch. At 71/3 Australian innings was really rocked before lunch. Ponting and Clark both played and missed several times.
Sun broke through after lunch and with that luck changed. Australians had their back to the wall. Pakistani bowlers were bowling brilliantly. Yet Captain Yusuf did not setting attacking fields. Not setting bad pad on the onside was a serious mistake. Ponting and Clark are too good batsmen to be missed out for a long time. With care and patience they weathered Paki fire and with time regained their touch.112 runs were added between lunch and tea. Yusuf and Pakistan fall back into defensive so easily. The ultra defensive strategy can not win test against good teams. Australins had two great batsmen at the wicket. At tea Ponting with 89 and Clark at59 looked firmly in control.
Pakistan strategy after tea was so unprofessional that it received flogging from all commentators. Yusuf set seven two offside fields and instructed his bowlers to continue bowling wide outside off stump. This strategy was deplorable. With four good wicket taking quality bowlers on the first day of a test this negative strategy must get appropriate action by PCB whatever be the result of this test. Ponting and Clark both had patience to wait for opportunity. Whenever Aasif, Gul or Kaneria attack stumps they looked like getting wickets. But still Yusuf remained unflustered.Ponting got back his brilliant form and Clark was always going great. Yusuf also delayed taking second new ball. At stumps Australia was 3/302. If Yusuf does not give his bowlers good attacking field on the second morning and Pakistan do not take catches this test will be gone. Pakistan then will have fight for avoiding white wash for the remainder of the test.
January 14, 2010, 9:19 am
