SKIPPER Michael Clarke has shouldered the blame for Australias first Test meltdown gutted by a failure to fire or review a dubious dismissal against Pakistan in Dubai.
Australia will resume today at 4/59 still pursuing another 379 runs for victory with Chris Rogers on 23 and Steve Smith three.
Clarke conceded he was out of synch after falling for two and three here despite making a matchwinning, undefeated 161 against South Africa in March.
Im really disappointed with my personal performance in this Test match, said Clarke, now averaging just 34 against Pakistan over nine Tests.
Im not looking to blame anybody else or criticise anybody else. Ive always loved the challenge of facing spin bowling.
Ive been out twice to spin bowling in this Test match.
For me right now, personally I need to contribute more. Thats always been my goal as the Australian cricket captain, to make sure Im leading from the front and scoring plenty of runs.
David Warner (groin) and Mitchell Marsh (hamstring) carried injury concerns into this Test but Clarke was without serious match practice on recovery from a hamstring strained making 68 in a one-day loss to Zimbabwe two months ago. Dismissals for 10 and 5 followed against Pakistan A.
I read somewhere the other day that Im short of match practice and that probably sums my form up at the moment, said Clarke.
In the last Test match I played I scored a big hundred for Australia. But Im short of time in the middle.
Clarke declined to review an lbw decision despite appearing to inside edge the delivery from pumped up leg-spinner Yasir Shah in the 17th over. Australias hope of emulating the 369-run chase that clinched a four-wicket triumph against Pakistan at Bellerive in 1999 appeared a bridge too far with Clarkes dismissal.
My mindset is because Im unsure I didnt want to waste the referral when I knew the rest of my teammates were probably going to need them tomorrow, said Clarke
It was certainly a mistake, an error on my part looking back at the replay once I walked off the field.
Australia will have to replicate rival South Africas grit in Adelaide two years ago batting the final day to prevent a comfortable Pakistan win. Clarke is daring to believe with dogged Rogers and in-form Smith still at the crease.
I dont think Australians give up without a fight and thatll be our goal tomorrow, to fight our backsides off and you never know, he said.
Steve Smith is a very good player of spin bowling, Brad Haddin has a lot of experience, Mitchell Marsh looked good in the first innings and Chris Rogers is fighting.
So well wait and see.
Australias deficiencies on slow wickets have been methodically exposed by a patient opposition exploiting every inch of its home ground advantage.
