Australian captain’s perfect 10 as Mitchell Marsh’s dream resurgence continues: Boxing Day Test Player Ratings

Australia has retained the Benaud-Qadir Trophy after defeating Pakistan by 79 runs in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.

Captain Pat Cummins, who received the Mullagh Medal for player of the match, claimed the second ten-wicket haul of his Test career, steering the hosts towards victory despite some nervous moments in the fourth innings.

The dead rubber between Australia and Pakistan gets underway at the SCG on Wednesday, with the first ball scheduled for 10.30am AEDT.

Watch Australia v Pakistan on Kayo Sports. Every Test match Live with no ad breaks during play. New to Kayo? Start Your Free Trial Today >

REPORT: Perfect Pat blitzes Pakistan as visitors collapse late in dramatic MCG finish

Talking Pts: ‘Genius’ Pat leapfrogs legend as ‘under pressure’ Aussie finally responds

‘A curse on this beautiful game’: Pakistan coach blows up over controversial wicket

DAVID WARNER — 4

38 and 6

Warner sadly didn’t get the fairytale Boxing Day farewell he would have liked.

The veteran opener was lucky not to depart for 2 in the first innings, gifted an extra life by Abdullah Shafique on day one, eventually throwing his wicket away on the final delivery before lunch.

There were no second chances for Warner on day three, chopping back onto his stumps after miscuing a pull shot off Pakistan seamer Mir Hamza.

USMAN KHAWAJA — 5

42 and 0

Much like his opening partner, Khawaja was guilty of lazily fishing outside off stump in the first innings, surviving the morning session before giving the slips cordon some catching practice.

However, there isn’t much the Queenslander could have done with the gorgeous outswinger Shaheen Shah Afridi produced on day three, edging behind for a second-ball duck.

MARNUS LABUSCHAGNE — 7

63 and 4

Labuschagne was the only Australian to reach fifty in the first innings before falling victim to a peach from Pakistan seamer Aamir Jamal, nicking behind to first slip.

However, the Queenslander could consider himself unlucky following his dismissal on day three, feathering a wayward delivery down the leg-side on the final delivery before lunch.

‘Lucky to get a hand to it’: Waugh roasted in brilliant catching masterclass

‘Oh what?’: Aussies left baffled again by shock DRS call

STEVE SMITH — 7

26 and 50

Smith was far from his fluent best in Melbourne this week, but his contributions with the bat proved vital.

The Australian vice-captain formed a 153-run partnership with Mitchell Marsh on Thursday, rescuing the hosts after a disastrous start to the second innings. He didn’t score a boundary in his first 100 deliveries, crawling towards the second-slowest fifty of his Test career,

However, his soft dismissal on the final delivery of day three gave Pakistan a glimmer of hope.

TRAVIS HEAD — 3

17 and 0

It’s inevitable that Head’s attacking approach to Test batting will occasionally backfire.

The South Australian’s lack of footwork proved his undoing in the first innings, flashing at a wide delivery from Shaheen Shah Afridi and edging to first slip.

However, there wasn’t much he could have done about his dismissal on Thursday, copping a brutal inswinger from Mir Hamza that crashed into the pegs.

MITCHELL MARSH — 8

41 and 96

They’re not booing him anymore.

Marsh’s remarkable Test resurgence continued at the MCG this week, with the West Australian blasting Pakistan’s seamers to all corners of the iconic venue, albeit with some assistance from the slips cordon.

He unfortunately fell short of a maiden Boxing Day Test hundred in the second innings, continuing the Marsh family’s MCG curse.

ALEX CAREY — 7

4 and 53, three catches and one stumpings

It’s no secret Carey has struggled with the bat since the Jonny Bairstow stumping at Lord’s, but the South Australian showed promising signs in Melbourne the week.

The left-hander steered Australia’s lead beyond 300 on Friday morning, bringing up his first Test half-century in 11 knocks.

However, Carey did drop a tough chance off Nathan Lyon’s during the evening session of day four, handing Pakistan wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan an additional life on 27.

MITCHELL STARC — 7

0-69 and 4-55

After going wicketless in the first innings, Starc once again showed his value with a stellar bowling performance on day four.

The left-armer snared the first breakthrough of Pakistan opener Abdullah Shafique before cleaning up the tail with a trademark bumper barrage.

However, Starc conceded more than four runs per over across the match.

PAT CUMMINS — 10

5-48 and 5-49

This has arguably been Cummins’ best bowling performance in the Test arena.

The New South Welshman was at the peak of his powers at the MCG this week, taking a five-wicket haul in both innings of the match and leading Australia towards a thrilling victory.

He stepped up when his teammates desperately needed him, repeatedly creating breakthroughs just when the things were swinging in Pakistan’s favour.

NATHAN LYON — 6

4-73 and 0-84

Following a superb bowling performance in the first innings, Lyon was far from his best with the ball on day four.

The off-spinner lacked rhythm and got his lengths completely wrong, with Pakistan’s middle order feasting on his bowling on Friday.

However, Lyon snared the crucial wickets of opener Imam-ul-Haq and captain Shan Masood in the first innings.

JOSH HAZLEWOOD — 7

1-43 and 1-34

The Bendemeer Bullet didn’t finish the Boxing Day Test with a bag of wickets, but his contributions with the ball were more than handy.

Hazlewood produced an absolute peach on day four to knock over Pakistan superstar Babar Azam, which proved a game-changing moment in the fourth innings.

He potentially bowled a fraction short throughout the match, which denied him a couple of LBW shouts.