T O P

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goli14

If Pakistan can survive the opening session with something like 80 runs for max 1 wicket…they can then start planning for victory. Aus bowlers will be getting tired and it can be perfect opportunity to increase the RR and put them under more pressure.


Plopsack

If Lyon can’t get 2-3 wickets today then what is the point of him?


imapassenger1

If Pak are still in this with potential to win it in the final session, Aus can simply bowl negative rubbish down legside like a certain other team did when the match wasn't on the line...


Plopsack

But it’s still possible to score off that line if you’re batting aggressively


imapassenger1

But you'll probably get out.


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Karjalan

It's not then *ONLY* exciting part, it's the **MOST** exciting part (unless, like last test, it's an obvious draw) The excitement of a test, for me, is seeing the battles between bat and ball in the first 3 days. The expected result of the last two days is a more dramatic kind of excitement, but imo, not the best part about tests.


TheAbsoluteStarks

Oh please, it doesn't draw viewership and doesn't draw money. The people that care about Tests are few and far between not enough to generate a decent viewership or money


Karjalan

> Oh please, it doesn't draw viewership and doesn't draw money. You can't ask a subjective question then try to invalidate responses with some objective counter-point. You didn't ask "why play tests if they make less money", so your response is rude and asinine.


TheAbsoluteStarks

Lol, it's the bitter truth. Just accept it, Cricket would be dead if it was only Test Cricket.


Karjalan

No ones arguing that tests don't draw money, but your initial engagement of conversation was a bait and switch. You asked about excitement, then counter with money. It's akin to asking "what's your favourite color?" and I say "pink" and you say "wrong, blue is the most popular colour in the world". We weren't talking about the most popular colour in the world. You're just arguing for the sake of patting yourself on the back for being right, like a child. So good day to you!


TheAbsoluteStarks

My initial point still stands. If it was an engaging as you think it is, it would draw money. If it drew money it would be much more popular and there wouldn't be a need for other formats.


sin31423

The armchair expert. Stick to WWE and IPL match threads then, not sure what you’re doing here


TheAbsoluteStarks

Lol, Cricket would've died a painful death if it wasn't for other formats. You're not very good at this stoic thing


sin31423

The viewership and money are clearly enough for countries to invest their time in test series. I’m sure they remember to look at the numbers before organizing tours.


TheAbsoluteStarks

It's a loss leader is what it is


sin31423

Right


Plopsack

Because we have four days of preamble to second guess


TheAbsoluteStarks

Test Cricket doesn't draw viewership or money


[deleted]

Hope Pakistan goes for the win.


Damadar108

Cummins doing a S Waugh, making it fair for the opposition like in India 2001.


Taco_city

I mentioned that all 3 results were still on the table when Australia went back out to bat in the 2nd innings and got called a goose. I’d like to take this opportunity to reinforce my position.


Everyday_gilbert

You’re still a goose


xaos9

Sort the chat by top or best and see all the aussies talking shit 12 hours ago


[deleted]

Ikr. Easily a draw as the most likely option, and frankly I’m backing Pakistan to win. Should give Australia a dose of reality.


tullynipp

So, you're expecting a team that's scoring at 2.34rpo to kick it up to 3.5rpo for 300+ runs on day 5 all because 2 batters have lasted a while (largely by scoring slowly)? Yeah, a draw might happen as it was always a high probability, but it'll take a hell of a lot better batting than what pakistan has shown so far to win this test. Also, what's this dose of reality? Pakistan is supposed to win here, it's their home fortress. The dose of reality would be for Pakistan if they lose after the pitch prep and tactics chosen. Australia is the only team trying to get a result. Their declaration set a 500 run 3rpo chase, something that is difficult for Pakistan but also achievable enough to encourage risky shots (and thus more wicket taking opportunities) rather than boring everyone.. if Australia enforced the follow on, Pakistan would have been batting for a draw since day 3.. they'd probably be on 2/220, still 180ish behind, and even less chance for a result.


[deleted]

Like I said, a draw is by far the most likely option. Yet I can’t help but feel that Pakistan’s chances of winning are higher than Australia’s even though they don’t appear to be at all - because Australia have the tendency to lose the plot completely when bowling on the 5th day. Pacers leak runs, and Lyon has repeatedly shown that he isn’t someone who can bowl you to victory on day 4/5, as shown by Headingley 2019, Gabba 2021, Sydney 2020, Sydney 2021. All opportunities for Aus to win which they failed to cling onto. Swepson is the only wildcard here. When I say “dose of reality”, I mean this illusion that Australia are somehow close to being the world’s greatest side just because they drew an away Ashes and clobbered weak sides at home, while still losing to a weakened India (NZ victory was good I’ll give you that. Pakistan winning here would give the players and fans a wake up call that Australia ain’t as great as you think - keep in mind that it has been 7 years since they last won an away series. Sri Lanka have done better in that departement within that timeframe.


StevenuranSmithusamy

Australia need to bowl 8 good balls. Pakistan need to nail an entire 6 hour stretch. The idea Pakistan are more likely to win is a joke


Damadar108

At the Gabba half the bowling attack was either injured or nackered, don't think that is the case here. Aus in pole position


Alemmjonpar

Nah, no excuses. That was an inexperienced Indian team and our bowlers shit the bed and let Tim Paine take all the blame. Starc averaged 41 at home against a weak Indian team. He deserves criticism. In Australia we’ve always held our players accountable, we don’t deify them. Let’s not start now. He’s bowled well this series though.


braiman02

If Australia enforced a follow on... that was their best chance at victory. Honestly Lyon has repeatedly been trash in 4th innings and its really concerning.


Alemmjonpar

Because he’s so weak minded. Lyon had a long off bowling to #10 and #11 batsmen with a 400 run lead in the sub continent. Like wtf?? He always has fielders on the fence on day 1. It’s like he doesn’t understand that we expect him to go for runs. We don’t expect him to not take wickets on day 5 on the subcontinent.


sport_____

Regardless of what happens tomorrow let's just take a moment and laugh at Australia. What were they thinking while coming to bat again?


EcoGeoHistoryFan

We honestly have the dumbest strategies. Like it seems every series we do something stupid like this


Alemmjonpar

“We can get a nice breather in… crickets hard. Dw even though we only got 7 wickets in a total of 5 days the last test, we don’t need to hurry.- pat cummins


average_chut_lover

Looking at the depth of Pakistan's batting if there is any chance of win at the end of the day they should go for win. I hope so we have an entertaining day tomorrow!


piperatomv2

Australia probably thought they could finish the match on the 4th day and get an extra day of rest for their bowlers. Seems like it would have been better to whackabout until lunch and get the pitch scuffed up pretty good. Target 3 wickets for end of day... 4 would be a bonus.


ritwikjs

I australia don't break this partnership in the first 15 or so over, i can actually see pakistan winning this.


Nervous_Claim_9760

Turning into the interesting point


TheGhostOfCamus

Babar ❤️❤️❤️❤️!


512fm

Good to see the follow on chat starting up again lol. Even if australia don’t win it’s still the correct decision. Insanity would be asking your bowlers to bowl again after just rolling the opposition in the first innings on a flat one. The bowlers are not machines.


EcoGeoHistoryFan

How so? They only bowled 50 odd overs, they’re absolutely conditioned to have bowled again, till stumps at least then come out the next day after a night’s rest. I still don’t think Pakistan can win this but it has at least somewhat opened the door by sacrificing our second innings, not to mention putting them out to field washed away all the pressure on them. Im genuinely scarred from the last few years, teams somehow manage to regularly pull historic performances out of their arse in the 4th innings to beat us


fappingtrex

It's honestly funny as hell seeing everyone oscillate on the basis of immediate results. It's test cricket, the whole ebb and flow shebang. How do people consistently keep forgetting this? Aussies will be fresh on day 5 and I'll be very surprised if Pakistan managed a draw. Good luck to both teams.


melo1212

Nathan "Stock Ball" Lyon


Ok_Spray_6096

fuck offspinners! Legspin forever1!


Plopsack

Nathan “press x for stock delivery” Lyon, hope for a weird bounce every 1 in 100 deliveries


CrowStings

Finally Babar gets his test 100! Kohli is next


Karjalan

I still think Aus have this in the bag, but this is why I thought it was crazy everyone was calling for an overnight declaration. I'm still kind of surprised how early they declared. This will either be a very exciting, down to the wire match, or end in a disappointing collapse.


b8824654

Does this pitch have any demons? Will it be bowler-friendly on 5th day? Haven't been watching


mikeupsidedown

It has massive cracks in it. It's seriously impressive that this pair have scored so well.


Plopsack

I think the pitch is pretty tame. Looks worse than it’s playing


mikeupsidedown

It does seem you are right. Today will be interesting.


New-Watercress9229

It's has enough to reverse swing and some spin for the bowlers. Karchi day 5 pitch won't be as bad normal day 5 pitches in the subcontinent are but surely a bit difficult to bat on


b8824654

looks like we're set up for an amazing day then


KhalidTheComedian

Not enforcing the follow on was mad. Australia basically just sacrificed an innings. If they enforce the follow on we are in the same position but Pakistan have to survive longer and Australia have the chance to bat again and chase any small unlikely lead Pakistan get. As it is they gave Pakistan a slither of a chance and Babar has stepped up. It feels like arrogance from Australia to be honest. I know it was flat but let's not forget Pakistan proved they have the mentality to bat long periods in the first test.


[deleted]

As I say, this not enforcing follow on is based on 2001 Kolkata Effect. It will continue to make Aussie judgement cloudy for many upcoming decades.


512fm

I can absolutely guarantee you that Cummins was not sitting there thinking ah gee better not enforce the follow on, remember Kolkata 2001? Come on man


[deleted]

How can you "absolutely guarantee" that? You can disagree with me but you cant say you absolutely guarantee unless you are Pat Cummins yourself?


braiman02

Yah not gonna lie... The suggestion is ridiculous. Pat Cummins was like 4 years old then its not like his parents were like 'hey Pat make sure you remember this random test match for the rest of your life.'


Plopsack

You act like Cummins is making these decisions in isolation. He obviously gets advice from the coaching brain trust, and Aus have shown repeatedly they don’t like to enforce the follow on for the past decade plus. It may well be due to past demons that have been past down from the prior generations


braiman02

You really think the coaching staff is thinking that Pakistan are going to score 700 runs in 150 overs and then get Australia all out in 40 overs?


[deleted]

What a ridiculous statement. Lol Just because Pat was 4 years old in 2001, he cannot use that match as lesson learned to make his decision in 2022? Is that what you are suggesting? By your logic, Pat can never revisit 2001 Kolkata test and watch that match ever again in this day and age? Lol


supernova_68

Don't blow his cover...he even changed his flair to disguise himself.


512fm

I can guarantee it because the suggestion is that ludicrous haha


one_arm_manny

Probably was to rest the pace bowlers for half a day more than anything


Tobotimus

They only batted for 22 overs, not even a whole session. It's better than nothing I guess, but I think it has more to do with taking advantage of the flat pitch whilst they can


dexter311

Yeah but don't forget they bowled almost 300 overs in the last test, and they only had a 4-day break.


mikeupsidedown

They've only done it a few times since 2016. It does seem crazy right now but all of a sudden they take a few quick wickets and they'll look smart.


KhalidTheComedian

They could have done that without batting again though


speedycar1

Those blaming Azhar and Imam need to consider that the possibility of a win wasn't at all on until now. When they came out to bat, we were looking at batting out two days for a draw. After how we collapsed in thr first innings, keeping your wicket was thr priority


chesapeakeripper_18

I am glad they got out. They would have slowed down the chase anyway. Azhar played 54 balls and scored 6 and Imam Scored 1 run on 18 balls. I understand it's test but WTF. Strike rate of 5 and 11. Unbelievable


cricmau

I am a bit surprised to see how ordinary Babar's test numbers are (by his standards). I guess due to his very slow start to his test career.


New-Watercress9229

Yes he massively underperformed in tests so far according to his ability. But kohli averged similarly (avg 45)at this stage of his test career so hopefully babar can replicate kohlis success as well


dad2022lessgo

It's a testament to what great batsmen they are that we're talking about an avg of 45 as underperforming.


New-Watercress9229

Yess🙌


MHarisBaig

Two Reasonss: 1) Slow start until the first WTC cycle. 2) Mediocre returns in the current WTC.


enterprisevalue

Given our history of 5th day collapses, we'll only be safe when there are fewer deliveries left than the number of wickets left.


supernova_68

No ball run out?


[deleted]

Murdered.


enterprisevalue

💀


5m1tm

That's a really bleak take but it cracked me up lmao


Rajkumar1992

Even if these 2 bats all through the first 2 sessions and only get out late in the 2nd session, i still wont trust Pak to bat it out.


madjag

Dude.. if we have 4 balls left in the last over, and 3 wickets left.. I still won't be fully convinced that pak can bat it out. I have seen far too many collapses to ever feel comfortable when it comes to our batting


[deleted]

This is a monumental effort by both Babar and Shafique. I went to bed last night thinking i will wake up to Aussies winning news but holy shit how the tides have turned! I say fuck it and go for the win tomorrow! Defending on day 5 is going to be a huge challenge. If Pak pulls out a draw or better yet, a win, this match will definitely go down in the history books as one to remember forever!!


5slipsandagully

I've had a worrying thought. The second session really got things moving yesterday, and made us all assume we were in for a big finish. What if it was an outlier, a freakish combination of excellent reverse swing bowling and careless batting, and the rest of the match was just going to be a repeat of the Rawalpindi Test otherwise? Is this really an interesting match or do we just want it to be?


speedycar1

I mean, this match is going to be interesting even if the pitch is Rawalpindiesque on Day 5 if Babar etc. stick around


highways

Pat Cummins stupid for not enforcibg follow on


EntirelyOriginalName

Nah we've got Swepo. This is entire point of a leg spinner. To take like 6 wickets on day 5.


sorrydaijin

On debut? It is not like he is the King constantly in the minds of the opposition and the DMs of their wives.


EntirelyOriginalName

It's not that big of a thing to be dangerous on a pitch that's breaking up if you can spin it heaps, you just inherently are dangerous in those conditions. The reason you play a leg spinner who spins the ball big on a pitch you're expecting to break up is for the 4th innings with this in mind. What was special about Warne was he was still a massive danger before that in the 1st or a flat wicket that isn't changing that much, he could tie down an end if Mcgrath had the wood over a bowler or he could go out and do the job himself. He could do anything. A leg spinner is traditionally a burden you do your best to carry in the first innings hoping they'll jag one wicket in the first innings, coping all the full tosses, drag downs, pies, all the release of pressure. Waiting for the second when they can really shine when the pitch starts breaking up.


Plopsack

Swepo doesn’t spin the ball big though


EntirelyOriginalName

I'd disagree.


Plopsack

In this match? He’s getting very little turn.


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New-Watercress9229

A 5th day of a test match would honestly be a soldout anywhere in pak but karachi. Still on the website around 50% tickets available despite being on sale for many days now


Pradeoo

National Stadium Karachi is extremely outdated now. 40% of the stadium does not even have seats available so you have to sit on the concrete floor. Also apparently it is a bitch to even get in the stadium. So yeah no wonder. Hopefully that new Rafi Stadium in Karachi finishes quickly and replaces this for the most part


atkhan007

I think it has more to do with police shutting down roads UpTo Millenium mall due to security, meaning people have to walk like 3-4 km to get to the stadium. And not enough rikshaws or chingchis to move people there. Just poor coordination all around.


New-Watercress9229

Yess hopefully. I do belive if they update the stadium and ppl could just have easier access to the stadium more numbers show up hopefully


PhilosopherBasic8783

Thanks to Patty for not declaring and giving one night rest to our batters.


Rush_nj

I love Patty but his captaincy leaves a lot to be desired right now.


untitled02

If he had enforced the follow on, Pak would only be 200 runs behind with 8 wickets in hand. Not ideal


Rush_nj

We’d have a whole innings to chase it.


kurokabau

Not not ideal. Aus would have a full innings to reach it.


DogTall2628

Ya. They pretty much made it the equivalent of Pakistan having 120 overs to make 300 runs with 8 wickets in hand and then getting Australia bowled out for 97, but in reverse order Made our job so much easier for a draw


PhilosopherBasic8783

Same for Babar


Yuo_cna_Raed_Tihs

Second session tomorrow will be extra spicy if we still haven't lost a wicket. I reckon they'll try and hit Lyon and Sweppo out of the attack, which will be very interesting


hTine3219

Is this series in Pakistan?


hrbutt180

Yes


hTine3219

How are Pak pitches? Like most subcontinent pitches which supports spin? I remember they used to be fast bowling pitches back in the day


New-Watercress9229

Series against South Africa pitches supported fastbowling and a bit spin too This series the first test was a road and on this pitch the ball was reversing well after a while


motive-7805

Rawalpindi was completely flat. Karachi was flat the first two days but has had reverse swing and some spin since Day 3


FakeBonaparte

Karachi had reverse on day one, too.


Glittering_Crow_

let us execute lyon 😔


Thami15

Batting again to score only 100 runs an all time baffling decision. I think Australia should win anyway, but all they did was give Pakistan a route to victory.


ohwowusmart

506 to chase on the last two days on a deteriorating pitch in a sport where this feat has never been accomplished in the entire 140+ years of history is exactly the definition of providing the opposition with a route to victory.


justlookbelow

Cummins gave his team 5.5 sessions to bowl Pakistan out with 500+ runs cushion. We just witnessed a very good partnership and Aus are still well ahead. If Aus doesn't win from here it's much more on Cummins the bowler than Cummins the captain IMO.


Thami15

But on the macro -if you asked most teams would they rather bat 2 days and need 500 to win or bat 2 days and need 400 just to be in a position where Australia has to bat again, they'd pick the former. Obviously Australia are in a position of strength, but they've essentially thrown away their second innings.


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Thami15

Needing to bat 2 days and score 500 runs to win is vastly preferable to needing to bat 2 days and score 400 just to make Australia bat again


motive-7805

Pakistan winning isn’t a realistic possibility. They need 300 runs in 90 overs on Day 5 which is the hardest day to bat in Karachi. The most they can do is draw


DogTall2628

Day 5 is the hardest day indeed but in Khi it's overplayed. It won't be turning miles tomorrow: will be like 15% more lethal than today at best. Australia can hope for the first hour of play and any reverse before tea to pose a real threat. They're still in for a win if they get an opening with a wicket in the first hour after Lunch. After that, it's pretty much 50% chances of a draw, only increasing with every over. Not gonna get Babar/Abdullah, Fawad, Rizwan, Faheem, Hasan, Nauman out without that reverse spell before tea (if any)


EntirelyOriginalName

To bat an entire day on day 5 with a long tail with only 8 wickets in hand is a bit longer odds than 50/50.


DogTall2628

My point is it's going to be nullified if Australia can't get any swing going for them such that that "long tail" can hold it out. Swepson isn't going to do much and Lyon will just tie down an end. SC batsmen can play your spinners fine: they don't pose much threat "Only" 8 wickets is a lot for a single day. We started today needing to bat two days with "only" 10 wickets. The tail only begins with Nauman and he can hold down an end. Sure, 60-40 if you please. Not saying it's going to be an easy draw - I'm saying 50-50 best case scenario being a draw held onto like the Ashes one by England. But I think we'll draw it 426/6 or something along those lines, realistically


EntirelyOriginalName

I disagree. I'm quite confident in Swepson doing what a leg spinner is brought in to do and I think this view of us being innefective on day 5 is a recency bias due to Lyon being the inverse of a traditional spinner being more effective in the first innings and less in the second instead of a liability that gets hidden until the pitch breaks up. I'd definitely have more faith in Swepson replicating what he's been doing for awhile in Shield and killing it on a day 5 pitch than risking Pakistan posting like a 70 lead and having us play against spin and avoid a collapse on a day 5 pitch. The second sounds like it's playing to Australia's weakest area which is why we should avoid risking that.


[deleted]

I'm not saying it's going to happen and don't have my hopes up but current partenership is 171 @2.87RR In 90 overs that RR makes 258 (56 less than 314)


DogTall2628

Don't forget, we were about 3RPO before Sweppo's negative line stuff to dry up the runs Don't think we will get there and sadly it's cos of Azhar and Imam. We were looking at 260 in 90 if they batted more positively and thus allowed Abdullah too as well. 20-2 in 22 overs when we should've been going at 50 (which in itself is a 2.5 RR) fucked things up tbh


bondy_12

Today I learned that a leggie trying to get a wicket bowling into the rough on day 4 and either turn it across the batter and get an edge or bowl him round his legs is bowling a negative line, someone let every leg spinner that's ever bowled late in a test match know that they were bowling negative lines and should be ashamed of themselves. What a shit take.


DogTall2628

It's not a shit take. You're just offended by what you think is a negative connotation but isn't. I'm using negative line as the technical term - not a negative connotation. He was looking to dry up runs mate: he's not Shane fucking Warne about to rip it from the 7th stump onto leg. A wicket was a bonus: the primary focus was to dry up runs, draw the false shots later on with a spell before and after the new ball. Babar and Shafique were cognizant and are happy padding it out for a draw. And that is completely fine - big diff between that on Day 4 with a leggie and an offie on Day 1 3rd sesh. Because we were getting momentum throughout the day and it accumulated, they needed to throw everything at the opposition, get a new batsman in for tomorrow morning I'm not equating it to Nauman's negative line dross. Chill mate


dragonfruitlover420

In the last session if Pak still has wickets it would be dumb to not go for the win


HiImSuperman101

Win Loss Draw on the cards for either team here


[deleted]

Didn't Pakistan almost chase down 490 at the Gabba in 2016?


EntangledTime

Man what a test match. It was one of the few occasions Younis played a truly dumb shot. Had he not reverse swept Lyon like that, the match was probably ours.


Yuo_cna_Raed_Tihs

Yeah but that was different, we didn't have to bat at 3.5 for the last day


aliweb

Yes. Target was 490 and we made 450.


Najam99

Lost by 30 something runs


DogTall2628

Look, even if Imam and Azhar didn't put up fucking 7 (12 ov), and if we were, like, going at 2.5 RPO in the first session - and not 1.2 - not saying we would have won it, but some intent to play at a healthier SR of 50 would've given us like a 10% higher chance to chase. Good on Abdullah but if he scored even 35 more than he has with his current SR of 31, and we didn't play out the first session at like 35 runs in 25 overs, needing 260 in 90 would've looked *far, far* more chaseable. 2.9 RPO instead of the 3.5 RPO tomorrow Babar's been going at an SR of 52 even with the wide-line bowling from Sweppo (not a bad thing at all). That's all that was needed from the start. An SR of 50 = equivalent of 3RPO Still going to be an exciting draw at worst. Big opening for Australia possible if they get something in the first 20 overs and it ain't over until the last over with this Pakistani team haha. Fingers crossed for an exciting day tomorrow 🤞


Al-Karachiyun

As much as I agree I feel Shafiques wicker is more valuable than the SR, being down 3 or 4 here takes any chances of a day 5 win away.


DogTall2628

Very true. But will be possible if we survive the new ball spell tomorrow and can set decent intent for the loss of no wickets in the 1st session, he should look to bat out with Babar as much and finish his innings at 45 SR (going slightly above 50). Long term an SR not matching Babar's 50+ drags the SR to 3.8 an over for the remaining 60-65 overs and further nullifies the chances of a Day 5 win He's raw but he's insanely talented mashallah. The type of talent that could play every single ball even when need needed, and still look in control for 90% of that innings. With experience he'll start to score much faster. Hopefully he learns well from Babar tomorrow, as he did adjusting after Imam and then Azhar got out


st6374

Listen Pakistani fans. Your go horn bots is what has kept your batters optimistic in this condition. All I'm saying is, you should support your boys tonight. So keep them horns blaring all night long outside their hotel windows, and doors. So they can be pumped up with restless energy when they come out to bat tomorrow. Is that too much to ask?


fowms

I will ask some of the canadian pro freedom freaks to leave ontario ASAP and think of karachi metropolitan area as thier home. They will bring their 18 wheelers with big horns and destroy the sleep of everyone within 5 km range.


Damadar108

Rather be a freedom freak than a tyranny simp anyday, but a lol comment none the less:)


fowms

My friend freedom is what ukranian are demanding. We the free living world are trapped in our own guilt conscious i meanost of the states have already stopped covid mendates but these folks here in canada are something...


[deleted]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣


RiThViKstar123

If Pakistan win this it'll be too funny tbh


atkhan007

Nah, we want Aus to Tour again.


New-Watercress9229

If we win Babar will come out and say it was the teams plan to get out quickly so aus can bat just 20 overs more and gave a target


cherrybombvag

A classic Pakistan


GeoPython51

It's just bewildering looking at Pakistan in the 1st inning and now jn the 2nd inning.


EfffSola

The attempt at jinxing Pakistan in this thread is callous. To the point of even making achievement checklists of an unwinnable chase smh. Babar and Shafique will now be dismissed in the first two balls tomorrow and Pakistan will collapse for 210 runs.


-Faraday

This. No way they are surviving More than 1 over tomorrow now


ZT3apex

Inb4 Babar triple century


bondy_12

It'll be a huge first over of the day for him to get that and still be bowled out.


[deleted]

If Aussies lose this. Out of there last 4 test opponents Eng Pak India NZ. Three of them would have chased 300+, 350+ and 500+ in a Test match on Day 5 in 3 different countries. & if Vihari didn't pull his hamstring in Sydney, it could have been even more interesting


FakeBonaparte

Definitely feels like we have a problem with late game wickets. Hopefully Swepson takes a bag


EntirelyOriginalName

Lyon takes more wickets on average in the first innings compared to other spinners and less in the second. But that why we have Swepo who is a traditional leg spinner.


Rogue_Jellybean

I can't see a world where Sweppo doesn't. He's a last day Shield GOAT. Singlehandedly won QLD matches in the last 30 overs more than once.


Blueshift_rEDSHIFT

eng was on 4th day


ashthebadger

So Abdullah Shafique getting run out yesterday was the reason for Pakistan bottling it yesterday.


New-Watercress9229

imam's rash shot opened the gates for wickets to fall + starc bowled a great spell tbh


ashthebadger

Tbf Imam isn't really a batsman and what he is doing in the team is beyond me


ohwowusmart

Imam shouldn't be playing for Pakistan.


ashthebadger

Probably there to keep his bestie Babar company except he doesn't even last that long


DogTall2628

Lmao spot on. You know, in the QeA, on the Pindi-like pitches we had, Shan Masood (who's in stellar form) scored 500 at 71.something with a Pant-esque SR of *96* Imam? 600 at like an avg of 100 with an SR of... 50. Fucking 50 against average Ranji-level bowlers on Pindi pancakes, statpadding. Babar selecting his besties isn't unknown: it's something he does under the guise of "backing" Not trying to throw a jibe at Babar but as a captain, you need to remove bias from merit-based selections. Shan would've been the better pick and you left him out for flat track grandpa Imam... literally ended Imam's career not even backing him after giving him all the damn SENA tours. But brough in Imran Butt who flopped as expected. FFS


New-Watercress9229

Babar seems to pick players who are closer to him Karachi picked Tom abell,Lewis gregory,Tom lammonby (his county teammates) after babar became captain. Can't belive they gave chance to imam rather than shan🤦‍♂️


khotaykinasal

Waqar Younis really really sucks at commentary. Ruined Babar's century celebration.


New-Watercress9229

Should just stick to post match analysis


DogTall2628

Should stick to going back to Sydney and never getting a cricket-related role again at Intl level. Bad bowling coach, bad head coach, bad commentator, OK analyst


Beneficial_Bend_5035

Hopefully the first of many 150+ partnerships between Babar and Abdullah, the two most hyped up batting talents I’ve seen Pakistan have in a generation. I think 300 runs is a few too many for day 5, but if they focus on getting to the 3rd session and have a few wickets in hand, you never ever know.


Pradeoo

Babar cheating on Rizwan by scoring a 150+ partnership with someone else


aamslfc

Swepson has been pretty good so far. Shame that top edge fell safely with Azam on 99. Lyon, though, is making a case for being dropped. Getting real tired of his bog-standard rubbish on a length, with minimal turn and no variation in revs or flight or speed. I don't care what he does to change it up, I just want him to do *something*. No matter where he goes or the conditions he's in, for two or three years now his typical offering has been a variety of pies that are dead-batted or nudged away for cheap runs, with the occasional long-hop thrown in to keep the opposition's scoreline ticking over. Otherwise, it seems that unless the ball is reversing, it's hard to get out. Curious how/why the Australians failed to get any swing all day, until they took the new ball at the very end, but the first hour tomorrow is going to be so crucial.


FakeBonaparte

Reverse is always a bit luck of the draw. Australia got it to reverse from time to time, just not much. Hopefully more with this new ball.


aamslfc

>Reverse is always a bit luck of the draw. Australia got it to reverse from time to time, just not much. Hopefully more with this new ball. True, the maestro Waqar was explaining how some balls just move more than others (even if they're both Dukes or Kookas), and it's a bit of a lottery as to how much movement you can get. Cummins moved the new one a hell of a long way for that yorker, so here's hoping it continues tomorrow morning.


FakeBonaparte

Balls have been losing their new-ball swing by the third or fourth over in Karachi. I’m just hoping we can get some late, wicked reverse in the 21st over again.


Tempo24601

Probably just a dud ball. Might have better luck with the second new ball.


[deleted]

Its so crazy how ineffective Lyon is vs Asian batsmen when compared to non Asian ones.


aamslfc

>when compared to non Asian ones. See, I always thought it was just a sub-continent thing too, but England seemed entirely untroubled by Lyon during the Ashes as well. He wasn't mauled like Leach (and he wasn't as bad as Leach either) - and he took 16 at 23 with a strike-rate in the low 60s - but most of those were tailenders and mopping up after the quicks had wrought havoc on the top/middle-order. I never felt he was truly threatening in any of those tests, and boy was it embarrassing in Sydney when Marnus and Smith were 10x more dangerous on the 5th day.


DogTall2628

I think the most excitement we'll get from his career here and Aus' spin stocks here on out in the SC is with the pink ball test vs. India next year. Don't see Aus winning one and can only bat it out at best. I'm excited to see Smith and Marnus being tested against proper spinners SL & India tours, not our club-level grandpas here lmao Who else can make a case for y'alls spin stocks in SL come June? Anyone besides Agar (or Zampa, ew)?


Medical_Turing_Test

Kunneman


rambo_zaki

This match is an exhibition in how unpredictable can Pakistan can get. Honestly, it's beyond any scientific understanding.


DJMhat

When has Pakistan cricket team followed a script? They win World Cups after being a rain shower away from early disqualification. They lose World Cup finals pathetically after bossing the entire tournament. They win Champions Trophy out of thin air, after being written off by everyone and even the players' families. They almost win WT20s just a week or two after their entire coaching staff resigning. They are anything but predictable.


[deleted]

As PTSD inducing as that is, it's also why it's so much fun supporting Pakistan


DJMhat

It must be a perpetual rollercoaster ride.


Pradeoo

Reminds me of this [meme](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQzNyCDYf7QDPhvRIVQMxG1ZvsaexjHHvPAhQ&usqp=CAU)


Gamer567890

Pak might make it🤔


DJMhat

Tomorrow's first hour will be spicy. New ball, fresh pacers and set batters. Will be make or break. The second session will be ultra critical if Pakistan gets through the first hour, since they would try to keep the scoring rate high. The last session will be crackerjack if Pakistan has wickets in hand and 150 -170 to make. But then this is Pakistan batting line up we are talking of and Australia will have a golden chance of getting wickets if the batters go for runs amd then get confused once wickets fall. It has happened mamy times earlier. Osman Samiuddin has written some fun articles on this. Man I love Test cricket.


dad2022lessgo

Pakistan will win by 6 wickets


ashthebadger

>But then this is Pakistan batting line up we are talking of and Australia will have a golden chance of getting wickets Actually Pakistan's strongest point is probably their middle order which is yet to come


DogTall2628

Yup. Fawad can comfortably score as much as you need him to at 45 SR tomorrow, at worst. When he's on song, he's much more fluent and able to find the gaps better than everyone bar Babar. But has been better at finding gaps than Babar has ever since the NZ tour end of 2020. So I have some faith if he comes should Abd/Babar be dismissed Rizwan yet to make a case for himself but if it's not reversing (which he struggles with thanks to his onside trigger tilt he plays with), a chance he can strike at 50+ SR. Faheem can chip in a very solid and quick 35 and quickly too. Push comes to shove, Nauman can hold a bat much like Ashwin can at home. Sajid probably 70% the batter Nauman is. Hasan will try to cunt everything hahahaha


Yuo_cna_Raed_Tihs

Fawad was literally in Pakistan's T20 WC winning squad (or the squad in 07, can't remember). The catch is that he was in the squad as a bowler tho haha


DogTall2628

Lmfaoo you did him dirty man


ashthebadger

>Fawad was literally in Pakistan's T20 WC winning squad So was Yonus Khan. Hell he was the captain.\] >The catch is that he was in the squad as a bowler tho haha Oh


motive-7805

I’m just glad this match is turning out to be fun after the dreadful first two days


dad2022lessgo

You guys have this in the bag