The late dismissal of Australian vice-captain Steve Smith has given Pakistan a glimmer of hope ahead of the fourth day of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
The hosts were in dire straits at 4-16 before Smith and all-rounder Mitchell Marsh combined for a 153-run partnership for the fifth wicket, putting Pat Cummins’ men in the superior position.
Australia is 6-187 at stumps, leading by 241 runs, with wicketkeeper Alex Carey unbeaten overnight on 16.
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Marsh falls short of Boxing Day Test ton | 02:35
SMITH SHOWS GLIMPSE OF BEST FORM
Champion batsman Steve Smith showed semblances of his best form when anchoring Australia to a secure position on the third day of the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan.
A day after Australian captain Pat Cummins said Smith was within range of returning to his world-beating best, the 34-year-old partnered Mitchell Marsh in a Test-saving partnership.
In front of a crowd of 39,802, which took the attendance after three days to 146,806, Smith and Marsh compiled a 153-run run stand after coming together with Australia at 4-16.
The vice-captain has endured a frustrating run of failing to convert promising starts into big scores since his most recent century during the Ashes Test at Lord’s in June.
Prior to the current series against Pakistan, he conceded his form had measured up to the usual lofty standards he has set during a highly-decorated career.
But Smith, who has now scored three half-centuries in his 11 innings dating back to that century against England, is still compiling runs at an average acceptable for many peers.
Smith is averaging almost 43 from his 23 Test innings this year which remains “pretty good going” according to Mike Hussey, who was inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame this week.
“He has obviously set lofty standards and the expectations are high,” Hussey told foxsports.com.au.
“That is something that he has to deal with as he comes towards the back-end of his career, and I’m not saying he’s finishing anytime soon or anything like that, but … the expectations are so high because of what he’s achieved in the game already.
“When you are coming towards the back end and expectations around the world are really high, if you can’t quite live up to them any more, the doubts start playing in your mind.
“Now I’m not saying for a second that he struggles with that at all, but I still think he’s had a decent year, averaging nearly mid-40s … and he has been on some tough tours.
“It’d be interesting to see how those numbers stack up against some of the other players from around the world. I think they’d still be pretty strong.”
Aussies top order fall to cheap wickets | 02:25
Former England captain Michael Vaughan believes Smith, whose career average sits above 58, is not far away from regaining his best form at the crease.
“He’s not really in that bad form. He was just not getting the big scores,” Vaughan said.
“There was clearly a mindset change that he’s maybe a little bit more fearful, he can answer that, and he doesn’t seem to come out of the traps as quickly as he used to. He used to come out and three or four fours.
“Whether it’s the fact that the bowlers (are) bowling better to him. Or maybe it’s the fact that he’s just lost a little bit of that mojo, which happens, but I’d back him to get it back.
“He is never far away from being really dominant and back to those heady days from a few years ago where he pretty much went out to bat and as soon he got to 10, you knew he was going to get to 100.
“Whether he gets to those heights again, I’m not too sure, but you’re never too far away.”
After posting the second-slowest fifty of his Test career to date, Smith was dismissed by Pakistan quick Shaheen Shah Afridi for 50 on what was ultimately the final delivery of the day.
Touching scenes as Jackson meets crowd | 02:34
‘WHAT THEY ARE PAID TO DO’: WORKLOADS UNDER THE MICROSCOPE
Australia is within reach of finishing its busiest Test season in a decade and England is about to embark one of the most hectic years of long-form cricket played in the history of the sport.
But former England captain Michael Vaughan believes there are enough quality cricketers for players to continue to perform well at the highest levels despite their current workloads.
“England have got plenty of cricketers to play all the Tests and all the one-dayers and all the T20s,” he told foxsports.com.au.
“It is just about rotation and resting players at the right time and fundamentally remembering that these cricketers are cricketers. That is what they are paid to do.”
At the completion of the current match against Pakistan, Australia will have played 13 Tests in 2023 along with the extended World Cup campaign in India in October and November.
In only ten other seasons has Australia played at least 14 Tests, with the national record of 16 set in 1993, a year in which the country posted seven wins and four losses.
England is scheduled to play 16 Tests in 2024, beginning with a five match series against India in late January before its defence of the T20 World Cup in the middle of the year.
They will play a further five Tests in the United Kingdom in the northern summer against the West Indies and Sri Lanka before away series against Pakistan and New Zealand.
Waugh ROASTS Jamal after he cops one | 01:59
“(Too much) cricket is a common theme when teams are losing, I guess. You only ever mention workload when a team is not being successful,” Vaughan said.
“It is their job. And there are not too many other jobs that get two months off, three months, to pick and choose.
“I am not saying it is easy. It is not. But being a cricketer these days, with the scheduling and the touring and the different leagues, you are getting well rewarded.
“I don’t think you would get too much sympathy from those outside the cricketing world when you start talking about workload. There are a lot worse things going on in the world than a cricketer having a rest for a couple of weeks.”
The Indian team of 1983 set the record for the most Tests played in a year with 18 and it was memorable for all the wrong reasons, with the nation failing to secure a single win that year.
‘TEN OUT OF TEN’: CUMMINS’ CAPTAINCY MASTERSTROKE
Heading into day three of the Boxing Day Test, Mohammad Rizwan loomed as the crucial wicket for the Australians.
The Pakistan wicketkeeper was in ominous touch on Thursday morning, switching to white-ball mode and slapping a couple of gorgeous drives through the covers.
With Rizwan at the crease, Australia was at risk of losing its first-innings lead. The 31-year-old’s partnership with Aamir Jamal was approaching fifty, but Pat Cummins produced a captaincy masterstroke to end the seventh-wicket stand.
At the change of overs, Cummins indicated for David Warner, who had perched himself at first slip, to move into the covers, placing a second catching player for the lofted drive.
The trap was set. The Australian captain would bowl a touch wider and fuller, luring Rizwan into attacking through the covers.
And the Pakistani couldn’t resist.
The very next delivery, Rizwan smoked a wide delivery directly towards Warner, who claimed a smart catch. Amid the celebrations, Cummins laughed, acknowledging his plan had worked a treat.
“It was a pretty obvious plan, and he fell straight into the net,” former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist said on Fox Cricket.
Former Test spinner Kerry O’Keeffe continued: “They set two covers.
“The catchers were there, and he found them.
“Tactically, that is a ten out of ten.”
Cummins has copped some criticism for his captaincy over the past 12 months, but the World Cup champion shows time and time again he’s a masterful tactician.
It was the New South Welshman’s fourth wicket of the innings, finishing with a five-wicket haul. He just makes things happen.
“Just fluky,” Cummins told Fox Cricket during the innings break.
“It never happens like that.”
Cummins masterstroke gets Rizwan wicket | 00:42
‘UNFORGIVABLE’: FOUR DROPS COST 137 RUNS
Pakistan opener Abdullah Shafique, who scored a half-century in the first innings of the Boxing Day Test, has enjoyed a superb start to his international career, averaging 49.11 with the bat in the five-day format.
However, Shafique’s slip fielding throughout the ongoing Test series against Australia has been woeful.
Since the start of the series opener in Perth, Shafique has taken one catch and dropped four chances, two of which were absolute sitters.
On day three of the Boxing Day Test, Australia was in dire straits at 4-46 when Pakistan seamer Aamir Jamal produced a gorgeous outswinger that found Mitchell Marsh’s outside edge, with the Kookaburra flying towards first slip.
However, Shafique somehow put down the regulation chance with hard hands, gifting Marsh an extra life on 20.
“You’ve got to get Shafique out of there,” former Test batter Mark Waugh said on Fox Cricket.
“He has not looked like catching one all series. He’s hung onto one and only just.
“At some stage you’ve got to get the hook out and say, ‘Out of there son’. It’s like a crocodile jaw trying to catch a ball.
“His confidence is so low at the moment.”
Former Australian spinner Kerry O’Keeffe continued: “The Test match was on that catch, you have to take it. It’s regulation.
“This is why they’re the most mercurial side in world cricket.”
Speaking on SEN commentary, former Black Caps wicketkeeper Ian Smith lamented: “I don’t know whether to laugh or cry on his behalf. They have to get him out of first slip. He cannot be there.”
Former Australian opener Chris Rogers replied: “It’s unforgivable at this moment in the game.”
Shafique’s drop proved a turning point in the day — Pakistan’s bowlers began to stray in line and length while sloppy misfields started creeping into the action. Marsh and Steve Smith combined for a 153-run partnership for the fifth wicket, putting Australia in the superior position at stumps.
Unfortunately, this was not Shafique’s only misdemeanour of the series. On day one of the Perth Test, he put down a relatively simple chance running back from the slips cordon to give Australian opener Usman Khawaja an extra life on 21.
On Boxing Day, Shafique handed David Warner a massive reprieve by dropping a dolly at first slip in the third over of the match, with the veteran opener surviving on 2.
The Pakistani’s other blunder came on Wednesday morning, when he grassed a low chance in the slips cordon to gift Australian tailender Josh Hazlewood an extra life on zero.
In total, Shafique’s four dropped chances have cost Pakistan 137 runs in the series to date. Later on day three, he was kicked out of the slips cordon and replaced by Babar Azam.
Slips catch efficiency against pace in past three years
89.0 per cent — South Africa
87.5 per cent — India
85.7 per cent — New Zealand
85.7 per cent — Bangladesh
79.5 per cent — West Indies
78.3 per cent — England
75.8 per cent — Australia
72.4 per cent — Pakistan
72.0 per cent — Sri Lanka
‘The Test match was on that catch!’ | 00:39
NO DREAM MCG FAREWELL FOR WARNER
David Warner unfortunately didn’t get his dream farewell to Boxing Day Test cricket.
After making 38 on day one of the MCG contest, the veteran opener would have been eager to make amends with a lengthy knock in the second innings.
However, Warner fell victim to Pakistan seamer M
Heading into day three of the Boxing Day Test, Mohammad Rizwan loomed as the crucial wicket for the Australians.
The Pakistan wicketkeeper was in ominous touch on Thursday morning, switching to white-ball mode and slapping a couple of gorgeous drives through the covers.
With Rizwan at the crease, Australia was at risk of losing its first-innings lead. The 31-year-old’s partnership with Aamir Jamal was approaching fifty, but Pat Cummins produced a captaincy masterstroke to end the seventh-wicket stand.
At the change of overs, Cummins indicated for David Warner, who had perched himself at first slip, to move into the covers, placing a second catching player for the lofted drive.
The trap was set. The Australian captain would bowl a touch wider and a touch fuller, luring Rizwan into attacking through the covers.
And the Pakistani couldn’t resist.
The very next delivery, Rizwan smoked a wide delivery directly towards Warner, who claimed a smart catch. Amid the celebrations, Cummins laughed, acknowledging his plan had worked a treat.
“It was a pretty obvious plan, and he fell straight into the net,” former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist said on Fox Cricket.
Former Test spinner Kerry O’Keeffe continued: “They set two covers.
“The catchers were there and he found them.
“Tactically, that is a ten out of ten.”
Cummins has copped some criticism for his captaincy over the past 12 months, but the World Cup champion shows time and time again he’s a masterful tactician.
It was the New South Welshman’s fourth wicket of the innings, finishing with a five-wicket haul. He just makes things happen.
“Just fluky,” Cummins told Fox Cricket during the innings break.
“It never happens like that.”
Cummins masterstroke gets Rizwan wicket | 00:42
‘UNFORGIVABLE’: FOUR DROPS COST 137 RUNS
Pakistan opener Abdullah Shafique, who scored a half-century in the first innings of the Boxing Day Test, has been enjoyed a superb start to his international career, averaging 49.11 with the bat in the five-day format.
However, Shafique’s slip fielding throughout the ongoing Test series against Australia has been woeful.
Since the start of the series opener on Perth, Shafique has taken one catch and dropped four chances, two of which were absolute sitters.
On day three of the Boxing Day Test, Australia was in dire straits at 4-46 when Pakistan seamer Aamir Jamal produced a gorgeous outswinger that found Mitchell Marsh’s outside edge, with the Kookaburra flying towards first slip.
However, Shafique somehow put down the regulation chance with hard hands, gifting Marsh an extra life on 20.
“You’ve got to get Shafique out of there,” former Test batter Mark Waugh said on Fox Cricket.
“He has not looked like catching one all series. He’s hung onto one and only just.
“At some stage you’ve got to get the hook out and say, ‘Out of there son’. It’s like a crocodile jaw trying to catch a ball.
“His confidence is so low at the moment.”
Former Australian spinner Kerry O’Keeffe continued: “The Test match was on that catch, you have to take it. It’s regulation.
“This is why they’re the most mercurial side in world cricket.”
Speaking on SEN commentary, former Black Caps wicketkeeper Ian Smith lamented: “I don’t know whether to laugh or cry on his behalf. They have to get him out of first slip. He cannot be there.”
Former Australian opener Chris Rogers replied: “It’s unforgivable at this moment in the game.”
Shafique’s drop proved a turning point in the day — Pakistan’s bowlers began to stray in line and length while sloppy misfields started creeping into the action. Marsh and Steve Smith combined for a 153-run partnership for the fifth wicket, putting Australia in the superior position at stumps.
Unfortunately, this was not Shafique’s only misdemeanour of the series. On day one of the Perth Test, he put down a relatively simple chance running back from the slips cordon to give Australian opener Usman Khawaja an extra life on 21.
On Boxing Day, Shafique handed David Warner a massive reprieve by dropping a dolly at first slip in the third over of the match, with the veteran opener surviving on 2.
The Pakistani’s other blunder came on Wednesday morning, when he grassed a low chance in the slips cordon to gift Australian tailender Josh Hazlewood an extra life on zero.
In total, Shafique’s four dropped chances have cost Pakistan 137 runs in the series to date. Later on day three, he was kicked out of the slips cordon, replaced by Babar Azam.
Slips catch efficiency against pace in past three years
89.0 per cent — South Africa
87.5 per cent — India
85.7 per cent — New Zealand
85.7 per cent — Bangladesh
79.5 per cent — West Indies
78.3 per cent — England
75.8 per cent — Australia
72.4 per cent — Pakistan
72.0 per cent — Sri Lanka
Mic’d Up – Steve Smith trolls Hussey | 01:43
NO DREAM MCG FAREWELL FOR WARNER
David Warner unfortunately didn’t get his dream farewell to Boxing Day Test cricket.
After making 38 on day one of the MCG contest, the veteran opener would have been eager to make amends with a lengthy knock in the second innings.
However, Warner fell victim to Pakistan seamer Mir Hamza in the third over after the lunch break, chopping back into his stumps for 6.
The 37-year-old’s eyes lit up after Hamza dropped short, looking to pull the left-armer through mid-wicket — but instead, the inside edge ricocheted back into his pegs.
Warner walked off the field to a standing ovation from the Melbourne crowd, acknowledging the left-hander’s final Test knock at the iconic venue. The New South Welshman begrudgingly raised his bat and handed his gloves to a young fans in the front row before returning to the sheds.
Warner scored 912 Test runs at 50.66 at the MCG, the venue where he made his international debut, reaching triple figures on three occasions with a career-best of 200 against South Africa in 2022.
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