1st Test: Pakistan v Australia at Dubai October 7-11 2018

[Hutty1986]

Really top knock khawaja, well played. Him and Finch the only batsmen not to utterly embarrass themselves here

 

[AusKnightRKO]

Geez that was the most plumb lbw i’ve seen in a long time.

 

[Timbo]

Can these blokes please stop going right back against Yasir f**king Shah? It’s a fifth day bunsen ffs.

 

[AlwaysGreen]

Well played Khawaja. Really excellent innings.

Now we slide to our doom

 

[hineyrulz]

Pakis taking the new ball straight away shows what a blunder it was for us to bowl with the same ball for about 300 overs.

 

[Timbo]

That’s an exceptional leave from Paine there.

 

[hineyrulz]

FMD how did that miss???

 

[Timbo]

Pakis taking the new ball straight away shows what a blunder it was for us to bowl with the same ball for about 300 overs.

It’s this idiotic Australian doctrine that spinners can’t use a hard ball.

We are so bad at adapting how we attack with the ball for conditions it’s not funny.

 

[TheParraboy]

Hope Paine can hang around a bit, and Oozie just keep going but it will be tough

 

[Eelectrica]

Pakis taking the new ball straight away shows what a blunder it was for us to bowl with the same ball for about 300 overs.

Yeah. I understand delaying it until the start of a new day when the quicks have freshened up a bit, but we didn't even do that.

 

[hineyrulz]

It’s this idiotic Australian doctrine that spinners can’t use a hard ball.

We are so bad at adapting how we attack with the ball for conditions it’s not funny.

Yep agreed, David Saker as the bowling coach doesn't help. His greatest plan was to just bowl bouncers at the bottom order all day long.

 

[roofromoz]

I seriously thought we would be bowled out by lunch, so this is pleasing.

 

[hineyrulz]

Paine trying to run out Ooooozie. Criminal.

 

[umina panther]

I seriously thought we would be bowled out by lunch, so this is pleasing.

Hope is the most evil of emotions

 

[AlwaysGreen]

Paine being a pain in the Pakistanis necks

 

[Eelectrica]

If these two can last until tea... Maaayyybbbeer?

 

[mattyg]

This has gotta be Khawaja’s coming of age I think. His greatest innings for Australia and if it leads us to a draw here will be one of the best in a fair while. If only he got selected against India last tour.....

 

[TheFrog]

If Aus had scored the 300 they really ought to have in the first dig, after the start they had, Pakistan would be getting very nervous about now.

 

[Bring back John Fifita]

A bit of perspective in my opinion.

• Playing in the subcontinent - a region we have historically struggled
• Down on troops (bowling and batting)
• Tim Paine in only his 2nd game as captain, and who this time last year was on the verge of retiring.
• 2 debutantes (both scoring ducks in the first innings)
• Deficit of 280 odd after the first innings
• Oppressively hot conditions
• It's day 5 and Australia are fighting hard for the draw.

Yes this isn't the dominant Australian team of the past. I don't care where Pakistan are ranked in Test matches, who we've got, who has performed who needs to improve, what the pitch may be like.

That we are fighting to save the test the way we are this deep into the game is brilliant. Whatever happens from here.

 

[TheParraboy]

This has gotta be Khawaja’s coming of age I think. His greatest innings for Australia and if it leads us to a draw here will be one of the best in a fair while. If only he got selected against India last tour.....

He dropped some weight over the last 6-8 months, 7kg I believe

That alone would increase his stamina and mental strength

He could absolutely belt India in our summer