A match that only Pakistan could have lost....
The third test match at the SCG was what test matches are all about as a wonderful match ended in a result which Australian supporters would call as 'The miracle at SCG' [SCORECARD]. The match was won by Australia or rather lost by Pakistan.
Pakistan did all the right things by bowling Australia out for a miserly 127 runs and scoring 333 in their first innings to get a valuable lead of 206 runs. Asif bowled with heart and gave his team everything in the first innings as he picked up 6 of the 10 wickets. Australia scored 381 thanks to Watson's 97 (He has been making it a habit getting out in the nineties chasing his first ton), Mike Hussey's brilliant unbeaten century and Peter Siddle's effort with the bat. Needing just 175 runs to win the match, Pakistan did the unthinkable and started to self destruct. The end result was that Pakistan was bowled out for 139 handing Australia a victory by 36 runs, thanks to a Haurtiz magic and the Pakistani batsmen.
Credit must be given to Ponting's men for putting up a great fight and showing amazing character when the chips were down and the result looked deadening. The Australian team showed their steely resolve and the usual 'Aussie never say die' spirit was evident. A lot of parallels can be drawn between this match and the 2001 Calcutta match between India and Australia, where India came from the jaws of defeat to stun the then mighty Australians.
But Australia cannot be given all credit, as Pakistan also helped Australia every bit. After all 'how can a team lose when they bowled out the opposition for a little over hundred and have a lead of over 200?'.
Yousuf's captaincy was what Boycott would call as 'incredibly stupid'. His field placing and bowling changes were as bizarre as a penguin in the middle of the Arabian desert. Yousuf was defensive, unimaginative and was totally disinterested at entertaining the prospect of a victory. The field placement was so defensive that up to eight men were patrolling the boundary. Even when Peter Siddle was batting, the field was just as defensive, and one would think that Peter Siddle was surely Bradman batting on a hundred, if one just glimpsed at the field. Captain's aren't only the 'big man' who decides what happens, but also the player who stays positive with his body gestures and talks. He must upkeep the team morale, and instill belief of the the unattainable being attainable. Looking at the match, Yousuf, definitely doesn't qualify as a captain.
I wouldn't be surprised if there was yet another new name as captain in the scorecard in the next test series that Pakistan play in.
The Pakistan fielding also let down and dropped Hussey thrice. But why blame the fielders, when their player with gloves behind the stumps dropped four catches. Catches win matches, and this match has shown the world of the consequences of sluggish fielding. Pakistan would be hurting and hopefully will learn their lessons soon.
Another problem with Pakistan is their batting. Their batsman, are not short on talent and definitely have the ability to score runs, but they lack the commitment and concentration to do it. In the first innings, all the Pakistani top order batsman had starts but threw it away. They bat out the difficult, initial phase and get their eyes well set in, and their mind tuned with the pitch only to throw it all away with a reckless shot or loss in concentration. Lack of application seems to be their number one problem. Blame it on T20 or whatever, but as a batsman, basic application and shot selection is what batting is all about. Pakistan's batting is strong and on it's day can score 700 briskly, but they also have the days when they just self destruct and fall like a pack of cards. The SCG witnessed that today. Consistency and the Pakistan team must be as far as east from the west. Surely Pakistan, if they consider themselves as a test team, must not panic and stop pressing the self destruct button. The batsman must also understand that test cricket is about scoring big, and must learn to convert their starts into something fruitful.
Teams learn to win matches, but Pakistan look to have learnt how to throw away a match. Pakistan must be hurt, and bitterly disappointed at themselves and would surely be humiliated at the prospect of losing a match that was well and truly theirs. They would like to forget that the SCG witnessed an amazing match that only Pakistan could have lost....but hopefully learn from their mistakes.
Post a comment
Notify me of follow-up comments?
Post comment to Facebook
subscribe to rss 
Archives
RCB CALENDAR
hot discussions
WANT TO BE A
FANATIC FAN?
FANATIC FAN?
Latest comments
Great Write Up!!
I agree with Mahesh Sharma:- Watson has a century to his name already.
Kunal