Tag: Pakistan vs Australia

MELBOURNE: Pakistan’s young right-arm pacer Khurram Shahzad suffered an injury scare following his team’s crushing defeat against Australia in the first Test of the three-match series.

In an official statement, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) shared that Khurram Shahzad complained of discomfort in his left side during the Perth Test.

“Fast bowler Khurram Shahzad complained of discomfort in his left side during the first Test in Perth,” stated PCB.

“Following his complaint, Khurram was sent for an MRI scan after the match.

“Further details will be shared in due course after the medical panel assesses the MRI reports.”

Khurram Shahzad had a decent start to his Test career as he picked up five wickets on his debut against Australia in Perth.

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For the unversed, Pakistan succumbed to a 360-run defeat against Australia after their batting lineup unfolded at a mere 89 in the fourth innings while chasing a mammoth total of 450.

The touring side could yield 271 runs in their first innings in reply to Australis’s 487.

Pakistan, who were at the top of the World Test Championship (WTC) points table with a perfect, record, got another blow to their campaign when the International Cricket Council (ICC) penalized them for maintaining a slow over-rate during the Perth Test.

Pakistan were fined 10 per cent of their match fee and docked two ICC WTC points.

The sanction after a hammering defeat, consequently resulted in them slipping to the second spot with a winning rate of 61.11.

Two-time runners-up India benefitted from Pakistan’s demotion and reached the summit with a winning percentage of 66.67.

Australia squad:

Pat Cummins (captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Steve Smith, Mitch Starc, David Warner

Pakistan’s squad:

Shan Masood (captain), Sarfaraz Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Aamir Jamal, Khurram Shahzad, Sajid Khan, Abrar Ahmed.

READ: Babar Azam returns to the top of ICC Men’s ODI Batting Rankings

The Pakistan cricket team reached Melbourne from Perth today to partake in the upcoming Boxing Day Test against Australia, which is scheduled to start on December 26 at Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Pakistan Test squad will hit the nets for the training session on December 21 in Melbourne, after having a rest on December 20.

The Greenshirts will then play a two-day practice match against Victoria XI on December 22 and 23.

After the game against Victoria XI, the Pakistan team will 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 also made a tweak to their squad for the second Test match against Pakistan as right-arm pacer Lance Morris has been omitted from Australia’s squad.

His omission was the only tweak made by the Australian selectors, trimming the 14-player squad they had in Perth to 13 for Melbourne.

Notably, Australia’s first-choice pacers Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood did well in the first Test against Pakistan as they troubled the visitors’ batting unit, which led them to a thumping 360-run victory.

Their impressive performance in the Perth Test also indicates the possibility that skipper Cummins will opt for the same Playing XI for the second Test.

Australia Test squad

Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Steve Smith, Mitch Starc, David Warner.

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: Marnus Labuschagne fit for Boxing Day Test against Pakistan after injury scare

Australia batter Marnus Labuschagne said Monday that he was “definitely” right to feature in the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan despite suffering a painful blow to his right hand while batting in the recently concluded Perth Test.

Australia were sweating on Marnus Labuschagne’s fitness after a knock to his little finger saw him sent for scans.

During the sixth over of Australia’s second innings at Perth Stadium, Pakistan debutant Khurram Shahzad produced a jaffa that jumped off a good length and struck Labuschagne on the right hand.

He eventually continued batting after the team doctor and physiotherapist had a lengthy examination of his right small finger.

But, having faced just seven more balls before being dismissed by the same bowler, he continued to receive treatment from the medicos before being sent for X-rays at the close of play.

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The scans, however, revealed no visible fracture but Marnus Labuschagne admitted that he felt discomfort while facing express pacer Lance Morris in the nets prior to the fourth-day action in Perth.

The prognosis on Marnus Labuschagne’s finger can’t be too dire. Here he is facing the Wild Thing in the nets before play. Green and Boland also going full tilt at him #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/01UEsEoC0V

— Louis Cameron (@LouisDBCameron) December 17, 2023

 

Labuschagne further revealed that he was initially afraid of sustaining structural damage to his hand, but not of an extent to the hand injury copped by Travis Head, which kept him out of the action for more than a month.

“It hit me more on the knuckle side and jammed up my hand, so I was a bit nervous out there,” Labuschagne told reporters in Perth.

“I’ve had a lot of finger blows but this felt a bit different.

“Overnight it was a little bit sore but (Sunday) morning was fine, I had a hit and it was all right.”

“I wasn’t necessarily thinking about Trav’s finger hit, but it just got me in a bit of an awkward spot.

“There was no padding on that side of the glove, and it got me sort of underneath and jammed it so it didn’t feel that good.

“But I’ve actually got some really good range in it, so all good.”

For the unversed, Marnus Labuschagne was retained in the “trimmed” Australia squad for the upcoming Boxing Day Test against Pakistan, which saw the omission of right-arm pacer Lance Morris.

The lanky pacer will return to Perth Scorchers, who next face Hobart Hurricanes on Wednesday.

Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Steve Smith, Mitch Starc, David Warner.

Pakistan squad: Shan Masood (c), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

READ: Pakistan penalized for slow over-rate after Perth Test debacle

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 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

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

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.

READ: Will Young hits century as New Zealand edge Bangladesh in first ODI

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.

READ: Marnus Labuschagne to undergo scans on injured finger

Australia batter Marnus Labuschagne suffered an injury scare after a ball hit his little finger ferociously on day three of the first Test against Pakistan in Perth.

Earlier, the visitors’ batting lineup unfolded before lunch on the third day at Optus Stadium after they slipped from 3-188 to 271 all out.

However, the hosts’ plans of leaving Pakistan with an insurmountable total were hurt late when firebrand left-armer Shaheen Shah Afridi and debutant Khurram Shahzad wreaked early havoc.

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

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

Australia were sweating on Marnus Labuschagne’s fitness after a knock to his little finger saw him sent for scans.

During the sixth over of Australia’s second innings at Perth Stadium, Pakistan debutant Khurram Shahzad produced a jaffa that jumped off a good length and struck Labuschagne on the right hand.

He eventually continued batting after the team doctor and physiotherapist had a lengthy examination of his right small finger.

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But, having faced just seven more balls before being dismissed by the same bowler, he continued to receive treatment from the medicos before being sent for X-rays at the close of play.

“He was just with the doc and physio for the last hour just chatting through it, doing a few tests on the finger,” paceman Josh Hazlewood told reporters at stumps with Australia leading by 300 runs.

“I daresay there might be a scan … he was pretty sore I think.”

A Cricket Australia spokesperson confirmed a full diagnosis was expected in the morning.

Usman Khawaja, who was at the non-striker’s end when Marnus Labuschagne was hit, admitted his concern.

“It didn’t look pretty,” Khawaja said, adding: “Marnus is a pretty tough character. When he takes his glove and starts to do that I get a bit worried, because he’s a pretty tough guy.”

Hazlewood labelled Smith “incredibly brave” for soldiering on after he too required treatment before stumps when Shaheen Shah Afridi landed a blow to his left arm.

But Smith insisted at stumps: “It’s all right. Bit of a bruise, but I’ll live.”

With Australia already holding an imposing lead, signs of the pitch breaking up have encouraged the hosts’ bowlers.

Groundstaff had hoped the drop-in wicket at the cavernous stadium would show more signs of wear and tear after it largely held together for their Test against West Indies last summer.

Their approach looks to have succeeded, with temperatures in the mid-thirties helping to bake out and open up small cracks.

“Batting got really tough there at the end,” said Hazlewood. “As the game goes along I think the cracks will come more into play, another hot day tomorrow I believe.

“I think it’s probably going to be tougher to play the short ball than (it was) the first innings.

READ: 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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PERTH: Australia pacer Mitchell Starc removed Pakistan captain Shan Masood in the final hour to leave the Green shirts struggling at 132-2 at stumps on the second day of the first Test of the three-match series.

At the conclusion of the first day, Pakistan were left reeling at 132-2 with Imam-ul-Haq (38) and Khurram Shahzad (7) unbeaten.

Pakistan started their innings with a steady opening stand of 74 runs between Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq before Nathan Lyon dismissed the former after tea break.

Shafique scored 42 runs from 121 balls with the help of six boundaries.

Shan Masood then joined Imam-ul-Haq and played a counter-attacking innings while his partner played steadily from the other end.

They added 49 runs for the second wicket but Starc got Masood caught behind on DRS after the umpire turned down the appeal initially.

Masood scored 30 runs from 49 balls, featuring five boundaries.

Debutant Khurram Shahzad was sent in as nightwatchman to see off the remaining few overs.

He and Imam-ul-Haq remained firm against Australian bowling until the stumps were called.

Earlier in the day, debutant Aamer Jamal claimed six wickets to help Pakistan bowl Australia out for 487 after Mitchell Marsh played a 90-run knock.

Marsh and Alex Carey knitted a partnership of 90 runs for the sixth wicket to keep Australia in a commanding position in the first session.

However, Jamal castled Carey at a total of 411 after the wicketkeeper scored 34 runs.

Marsh held on to his end firmly and kept stealing runs while Pakistan bowlers kept challenging the other end.

He had two brief partnerships of 38 and 27 runs with Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins before another debutant Khurram Shahzad bowled him with scoreboard reading 476-8.

Marsh played a brilliant innings of 90 runs from 107 balls, laced with 15 boundaries and one six.

Jamal then claimed the last two wickets of Cummins and Nathan Lyon to bring the curtain down on the Australian innings at 487.

He returned with the bowling figures of 6-111, while Shahzad picked two wickets.

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Prior to that, Australia were comfortably sitting at 346/5 with Alex Carey (14) and Mitchell Marsh (14) unbeaten at the end of the first day.

Both Pakistan and Australia had a productive final session, the touring side picked up three wickets while the hosts added 136 runs to their total but their dominating outing in the first two sessions gave them an edge.

David Warner, played a pivotal role in Australia’s dominance, with a sensational innings of 164. He conceded 211 deliveries, laced with 16 boundaries and four sixes.

Aamir Jamal led the bowling charge for Pakistan with two wickets while Khurram Shahzad, Faheem Ashraf and Shaheen Shah Afridi made one scalp each.

Earlier, Australia’s skipper Cummins opted to bat first on a bouncy surface of the Optus Stadium when the coin flipped in his favour.

The Perth Test marked the first match for Shan Masood as the Pakistan captain while Khurram Shahzad and Aamir Jamal made their Test debut.

It would be a major challenge for Shan Masood as the Test captain as Pakistan sport a dismal record against Australia in Tests at the latter’s backyard.

Pakistan last triumphed against Australia in their home ground back in 1995.

Playings XIs

Australia: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood (c), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Aamer Jamal, Khurram Shahzad

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