Australia has suffered a stunning 5-10 collapse either side of tea on day three of the third Test against Pakistan, finishing all-out for 299 and 14 runs short of Pakistan’s 313.
Aamir Jamal, who scored 82 runs for Pakistan in the first innings, was just as outstanding with the ball in hand, picking up 6-69 to rout Australia’s tail end.
But Mitchell Starc responded with a brilliant inswinger to bowl out Abdullah Shafique for a duck in the first over of the second innings.
And Hazlewood picked up Shan Masood on the second ball of his own first over, with Masood wafting his bat at a wide ball and edging to Alex Carey. It left Pakistan 2-1 after just eight balls.
Between both teams, seven wickets fell for 11 runs in just 29 balls.
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AUSSIES COLLAPSE AMID ‘SPECIAL PERFORMANCE’
Australia resumed the day batting on 2-116, trailing by 197 runs, with Marnus Labuschagne (23*) and Steve Smith (6*) at the crease.
After a sluggish start from Australia and a bizarre delay, Pakistan struck twice late in the first session – in the space of seven balls – to dismiss the two set batters (Smith 38 and Labuschagne 60) and leave Australia 4-187.
After lunch, Pakistan debutant Saim Ayub dropped his second catch of the Test match to gift Mitch Marsh a second life on just seven runs, before Travis Head (10) fell shortly afterwards.
Marsh survived an LBW scare on review and built a crucial 84-run partnership alongside Alex Carey, before Sajid Khan bowled Alex Carey (38) on the stroke of tea.
Mark Howard said: “It came from nowhere, that dismissal!”
It sparked a collapse for Australia, with Marsh (54) dismissed just after tea, mistiming a drive straight to Shan Masood at mid-off as Pakistan’s Aamer Jamal took his third wicket, having already picked up Khawaja and Head earlier.
Pat Cummins was out for a duck two balls later, plum LBW to an Aamir Jamal full-toss immediately after a bouncer.
Australia had lost three wickets for four runs. But it wasn’t finished yet.
Lyon added five runs before edging Jamal to third slip, with Saud Shakeel almost dropping the catch and only just managing to hold on.
And Jamal made it 6-69 for the innings – his second five-fa this series – when Hazlewood edged him two balls later to Salman Ali Agha in the slips.
Australia had lost 5-10 off 19 balls in a stunning collapse.
Kerry O’Keeffe said: “This has been heroic, with the bat in the first innings 82 … he grabbed the ball in the second, he reduced Australia to a deficit of 14 … well done son!”
Speaking of Jamal’s incredible spell of bowling, Ian Smith said: “This will go down as one of the best.”
A beaming Jamal told Fox Cricket: “Obviously I’m over the moon now! … This is a wonderful achievement for me.”
“What a hero,” O’Keeffe said.
Ian Smith said: “Such a special, special performance … Absolutely magnificent.”
TEAMS
Australia: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (capt), Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood (capt), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Agha Salman, Sajid Khan, Hasan Ali, Mir Hamza, Aamer Jamal
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DEBUTANT’S COSTLY MISS BEFORE JAMAL STRIKES
Shortly after lunch Salman looked set to claim a third wicket of the innings when Marsh (on 7) marched down the ground and chipped a cover drive towards Saim Ayub at mid-off, but the debutant – standing very deep – dropped the ball as he dived forward.
Wasim Akram said: “Don’t tell me he’s dropped it … That’s a costly miss by Saim Ayub.”
Mark Waugh said: “That’s a big moment in the game because Mitchell Marsh is so dangerous. It’s definitely carried.”
“It’s almost cut and paste from the first two games. When Pakistan have had the chance to nail Australia, the catching has let them down again,” Waugh added.
“That was such a big miss,” Adam Gilchrist added later.
It wasn’st the first tough moment for Ayub on debut, having been dismissed for a duck, dropping a catch earlier in the innings, and almost suffering a major injury on Friday morning.
Attempting to slide and collect a ball in the outfield, Ayub’s knee was caught in the turf and sent him tumbling.
As he cartwheeled, his hat fell off and stopped the ball – an infraction that can attract a five-run penalty. But because the incident was an accident, and the hat had not been left unoccupied on the field, Pakistan avoided the penalty.
Luckily, Aamir Jamal struck shortly afterwards to nab Travis Head LBW for 10, with Head unsuccessfully calling for a review. It left Australia 5-205.
SMITH AND MARNUS FALL IN BACK TO BACK OVERS
It took a while for Pakistan to strike on day three, as Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne slowly built a solid partnership – before both fell in the space of seven balls.
With Mir Hamza bowling, Pakistan shifted three fielders into an ‘umbrella’ in the short covers, with a clear plan to bowl full balls outside the off stump to entice Steve Smith into a risky drive.
Smith (38) fell straight into Pakistan’s trap when they placed three fielders in an ‘umbrella’ in the covers,
The very first ball, Smith attempted to do just that, but his bid to hit over the cover fielders ended up going straight into the outstretched hands of Babar Azam.
Ian Smith roared: “Can you believe it? Can you believe it? First up, he’s fallen for it!”
“That’s remarkable,” Michael Vaughan said.
Vaughan added: “He’s a great player, but he’s fallen into the trap … it’s the first ball since they went to that trio at short extra cover … Steve Smith falls into the trap.”
Smith paused on the pitch for some time, shaking his head and gesturing at the pitch, apparently blaming it for his poor shot – with analysis showing the ball held up in the pitch slightly.
“I think Steve Smith had made his mind up anyway to go over the top,” Mark Waugh said.
And before Australia had added another run, Labuschagne fell for 60 when a brilliant Salman Ali Aghar delivery exploded off the rough and cannoned into the stumps. The ball had 9.2 degrees of spin, deviating 65cm from its original line at the time it hit the stumps.
Wasim Akram roared: “What a delivery, unbelievable!”
“It’s a beautiful delivery. Nice shape, drops as well,” Mark Waugh added. “Marnus can’t believe it.”
Australia was left reeling at 4/187, having lost two for none.
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‘OUTRAGEOUS’ DELAY STUNS
After yesterday’s controversial delays due to bad light and then rain, there was an even more bizarre delay – a black bundle of tape sitting atop the white covers nearby the sightscreen.
Vaughan said: “There’s no way that can be stopping (play)!”
Kerry O’Keeffe said: “This is outrageous!”
Smith said: “I think I’ve seen everything now.”
After a lengthy delay, a groundsman then clambered over the covered seats to retrieve the offending object – and earned a standing ovation from fans.
Ian Smith said: “I can’t believe the guy who got the ball is getting a standing ovation!”
“He saved the Test match that bloke, he saved the Test match,” Smith laughed.
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‘LOAD OFF MY SHOULDERS’ – WARNER MYSTERY SOLVED
Meanwhile, the search is over. David Warner’s treasured baggy green is back with the retiring opener after a nationwide search, he revealed on Friday.
“Hi everyone, I am pleased and relieved that I have got my baggy back in my hands,” Warner announced on Instagram.
“Any cricketer knows how special that cap is and I’ll cherish this for the rest of my life.
“I’m very grateful to all those involved in locating it, the Qantas team, the freight company, the hotel and our own team management.
“It’s a load off my shoulders going into the last couple of days so I really appreciate it. Thank you all.”
Cricket Australia said: CA: “David Warner’s missing baggy greens have been located. The bag in which they were packed was found at the team hotel, with all the contents inside.
“The movements of the missing bag are unknown despite extensive searches and the review of CCTV footage …”
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BEAUTIFUL SCENES FOR JANE MCGRATH DAY
Day three at the SCG is always a special day, as the Pink Test turns the colour up to 11.
And this year is no different, with Sydney turning on its finest shades from salmon to rose.
Wasim Akram said: “A lot of you see this every year. I come over once every three years … I never stop being amazed by the public support for the McGrath Foundation.”
He added: “I love the fact that everybody buys into it. It’s impossible not to come to the Sydney cricket ground and not be moved.”
Over the last 15 years, the Pink Test has raised over $22m for the McGrath Foundation, which funds free Breast Care Nurses around Australia in honour of Jane McGrath, who passed away in 2008 after a second bout of breast cancer.
NEW THREAT TO SYDNEY TEST AS CA SHOWDOWN LOOMS
Play didn’t reach 2.30pm on day two before players were taken off due to bad light, while rain arrived later to washout the day’s remainder.
The forecast is looking more promising on Friday with the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) predicting only a 40 per cent chance of 0-1mm of rain in the New South Wales capital.
Nonetheless, it is the seventh time in the past eight Sydney Tests to be hit by weather delays, while four of those matches ended in draws.
While there is no suggestion that the New Year’s Test will move from the Harbour City, there is increased pressure on the event, offering Cricket Australia greater negotiating power while planning future schedules.
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The Sydney Morning Herald reports that a showdown looms between CA and the NSW government with both South Australia and Western Australia sniffing around the event.
It comes after pointed remarks on day one from Venues NSW chairman David Gallop, who reportedly said: “The New Year’s Test belongs in Sydney and it belongs at the SCG. Just as the Boxing Day Test belongs in Melbourne and at the MCG.”
CA’s chair and chief Mike Baird and Nick Hockley were in attendance to hear the comment, that was reportedly taken well, but the tension grows, nonetheless.
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