It’s been years since Pakistan’s bowling attack really proved itself to be lethal and threatening as once again they failed to prevent Australian batsmen from putting a huge score on the board, and eventually they ended the first day of third Test match on 365 for 3.
Not only the Aussie batsmen especially the Centurions Matt Renshaw and David Warner succeeded to dominate Pakistani bowlers but they scored so freely and quickly at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Tuesday.
Misbah-ul-Haq again preferred a fast bowler over a pinner and replaced Sohail Khan with Imran Khan, setting aside speculation about inclusion of Muhammad Asghar for Sydney Test because of traditionally-spinner-supportive track.
But yet nothing went in Pakistan favour and David Warner struck a quick Century even before launch, becoming the first Australian batsman since 1930 to score a Test Century in the opening session of Day One.
Warner scored 113 runs off just 95 balls with 17 fours before he was caught behind off Wahab Riaz. Besides him, Matt Renshaw also scored a Century and remained not out till the end with 167 runs along with Peter Handscomb who was on unbeaten 40.
Usman Khawaja and Captain Steven Smith, however, could not convert their innings into special knocks. They scored 13 and 24 runs respectively.
For Pakistan, Wahab Riaz grabbed two wickets while leg-spinner Yasir Shah took one.
Apart from Imran Khan, Pakistan also replaced Sami Aslam with Sharjeel Khan as a debutant.
It was the SCG where in 1995, Pakistan secured Test victory last time in Australia against Kangaroos. Since then, Pakistan failed to find a way to dominate Australia.
During the current series, Pakistan has already been beaten in Brisbane and Melbourne, and if the visiting team suffers defeat in Sydney as well, it will be its record 6th Test defeat in a raw.
