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Mohammad Hafeez backs Sarfaraz Ahmed after dismal performance in Perth Test

PERTH: Pakistan’s team director Mohammad Hafeez backed wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahmed amid criticism following the latter’s dismal performance in the first Test against Australia.

Sarfaraz Ahmed had a forgettable outing in Perth as he scored a total of seven runs in two innings.

However, Hafeez defended the wicketkeeper saying that he was excellent in the last series and has served Pakistan with great performances in past.

“Sarfaraz has given a lot of performances for Pakistan. In the New Zealand series in Pakistan, he was excellent. Unfortunately, this match didn’t go well for Sarfaraz according to our expectations,” Hafeez said in the post-match press conference.

“However, we can’t start thinking something totally different after one match. Sarfaraz isn’t new – he has toured Australia, South Africa, and England before.”

Hafeez stressed the fact that the management cannot drop a player over the performance of just one match.

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“Yes, he didn’t perform up to expectations as a batsman and keeper. But this doesn’t mean that we should start doubting someone’s skill and saying they can only play in certain conditions,” he concluded.

Notably, Australia are currently leading the Test series 1-0 after thumping Pakistan by a huge margin of 360 runs in the first Test match at Perth Stadium.

Australian bowlers bowled the Pakistan team for a meagre 89 runs in the second innings after setting a mammoth target of 450 runs to register a dominant victory.

Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh was adjudged man-of-the-match for his brilliant performance in both innings with scores of 90 and 63* as well as one wicket in the first innings.

Pakistan and Australia will square off in the second Test match of the three-match Test series at Melbourne Cricket Ground, which is scheduled to start on December 26.

Pakistan Test squad

Shan Masood (c), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafiq, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Nauman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Afridi, Saud Shakeel, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Sajid Khan

READ: Nathan Lyon becomes the eighth bowler to take 500 wickets in Test cricket

Pakistan Test squad to reach Melbourne on December 19 for second Test

Pakistan Test squad will reach Melbourne on December 19 to partake in the second Test match of the three-match Test series, which is scheduled to start on December 26 at Melbourne Cricket Ground

Pakistan Test squad will participate in the training session on December 21 in Melbourne before playing a two-day practice match against Victoria XI on December 22 and 23.

They will then take a day to rest before resuming their training at the MCG on December 25.

Meanwhile, the Australia team will report to Melbourne on December 23 and partake in the training session for two days before kicking off the Boxing Day Test on December 26.

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Australia are currently leading the Test series 1-0 after thumping Pakistan by a huge margin of 360 runs in the first Test match at Perth Stadium.

Australian bowlers bowled the Pakistan team for a meagre 89 runs in the second innings after setting a mammoth target of 450 runs to register a dominant victory.

Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh was adjudged man-of-the-match for his brilliant performance in both innings with scores of 90 and 63* as well as one wicket in the first innings.

Pakistan Test squad

READ: Nathan Lyon becomes the eighth bowler to take 500 wickets in Test cricket

Nathan Lyon becomes eighth bowler to take 500 wickets in Test cricket

PERTH: Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon has become the eighth bowler to take 500 wickets in Test cricket during the second innings of the first Test against Pakistan at Perth Stadium.

Lyon claimed his 500th wicket by dismissing Faheem Ashraf with the help of DRS after the on-field umpire turned down the LBW appeal.

He picked another wicket in the same over to help his side bundle Pakistan for a meagre 89 runs and register a huge 360-run victory in the first Test of the three-match series.

“It’s something I’m very proud about, I don’t think it’s hit me yet,” said Nathan Lyon after the match.

“There’s obviously been a lot of hard work gone into the journey and I’ve had a lot more bad days than good days, but to be back out there in the middle … it’s pretty special.

“I still pinch myself when I see my name next to those guys,” he said of the exalted company he has joined, including fellow spin kings Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne.

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Nathan Lyon became the third bowler from Australia to achieve the landmark of 500 Test wickets after spin legend Shane Warne (708) and pace bowler Glenn McGrath (563).

However, he is the slowest among his countrymen as he took 123 Test matches, while Warne took 108 and McGrath took 110.

Nathan Lyon is also the fourth spinner across the globe to join the elite 500-wicket club after legends Muthiah Muralidaran, Warne and Anil Kumble.

Notably, Muralidaran is the fastest to claim 500 wickets as he took only 87 Test matches to reach the milestone.

Nathan Lyon made his Test debut in 2011 against Sri Lanka and picked the wicket of Kumar Sangakkara with the first ball of his Test career.

Lyon has taken a total of 501 wickets in Test cricket at an average of 30.85 with 23 five-wicket hauls and four 10-wicket hauls.

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Australia bundle Pakistan for 89 to win Perth Test by 360 runs

PERTH: A combined bowling effort saw Australia bundle Pakistan for a meagre 89 runs in the second innings to register a huge 360-run victory in the first Test of the three-match series at Perth Stadium on Sunday.

Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh was adjudged man-of-the-match for his brilliant performance in both innings with scores of 90 and 63* as well as one wicket in the first innings.

Pakistan set to chase a mammoth 450 runs on the fourth day, started horribly as they lost their top three batters with only 19 runs on the board.

Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel established a brief stand of 29 runs for the fourth wicket, which was the highest partnership in Pakistan’s second innings.

Australian skipper Pat Cummins removed Babar Azam (14) to break the stand.

Pakistan were reeling at 53-4 at the tea break on the fourth day with Saud Shakeel and Sarfaraz Ahmed on the crease.

However, the Australian bowler picked quick wickets after the break to wrap Pakistan’s innings, picking the remaining six wickets with an addition of only 36 runs.

Shakeel top-scored with 24 runs from 51 balls, with the help of four boundaries.

Josh Hazlewood dismissed Shakeel and Khurram Shahzad on back-to-back wickets to seal the victory for his side.

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Hazlewood returned with brilliant bowling figures of 3-13, while Mitchell Starc claimed 3-31. Nathan Lyon picked two wickets and became the eighth bowler in history to pick 500 wickets in Test cricket.

Earlier in the day, Usman Khawaja and Mitchell Marsh helped Australia set Pakistan to chase 450 after declaring their second innings at 233-5 on the fourth day.

Australia added 149 runs to their overnight score of 84-2 to set Pakistan a mammoth total in the second session.

Australia resumed their innings with Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja on the crease but lost Smith early after Khurram Shahzad got him out lbw.

Aamer Jamal then dismissed Travis Head to reduce Australia to 107-4, bringing out Mitchell Marsh to bat.

Khawaja and Marsh then knitted a solid 126 run-stand to help Australia reach 233 before Babar Azam caught the former off Shaheen Afridi.

Australia declared the innings with this wicket to set Pakistan to chase a mammoth 450-run target with a session and a day remaining.

Khawaja top-scored with 90 runs from 190 balls with the help of nine boundaries, while Marsh played a quick-fire knock of 63 off 68, laced with eight boundaries and two sixes.

Debutant Khurram Shahzad led the bowling charts for Pakistan with figures of 3-45, while Jamal and Afridi picked one wicket each.

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Smith, Khawaja power Australia to 300-run lead against Pakistan

PERTH: Experienced batters Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja powered Australia to a dominating 300-run lead against Pakistan at the conclusion of Day 3 of the first Test on Saturday.

Australia, after having a disastrous start to their second innings, recovered to 84/2 at the stumps on Day 3 with Smith and Khawaja firm at the crease.

The hosts succumbed to 5/2 in the eighth over when Khurram Shahzad removed David Warner (0) and Marnus Labuschagne (2) in quick succession.

However, Khawaja was then joined by Smith and they batted sensibly to anchor the home side.

Pakistan resumed their first innings at 132/2 with Imam-ul-Haq and nightwatchman Khurram Shahzad at the crease.

It took just three deliveries for Australian captain Pat Cummins to get rid of Shahzad, who could score a mere three.

Imam was then joined by Babar Azam and they put together a brief partnership for the fourth wicket.

They added an important 48 runs before Mitchell Marsh claimed the prized scalp of Babar. The star batter could score 21 in 54 deliveries with the help of two boundaries.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s mainstay Imam also walked back to the dugout after falling victim to Nathan Lyon.

He remained the top-scorer for Pakistan with a cautious 62. His 199-ball knock featured six boundaries.

Pakistan then further slipped to 195/6 when Mitchell Starc outclassed wicketkeeper batter Sarfaraz Ahmed (3) with a sensational in-swinger.

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All-rounder Salman Ali Agha then joined Saud Shakeel in the middle and they offered a brief retaliation against a ruthless Australian bowling attack.

They stitched a 35-run partnership and took Pakistan past the 200-run mark but could not stretch their stand as Josh Hazlewood got rid of Saud, who scored 28.

Agha then put on brief partnerships with Faheem Ashraf (9), Aamir Jamal (10) and Shaheen Shah Afridi (4) before Australia booked Pakistan on 271.

He remained stranded at the crease with an unbeaten 28 in 76 deliveries, laced with four boundaries.

For Australia, Nathan Lyon picked up three wickets while Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins bagged two each.

Marsh and Travis Head, on the other hand, had a wicket apiece to their names.

Attaining a massive lead of more than 200 runs, Australian captain Cummins decided against enforcing the follow-on on Pakistan.

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