6 Things We Learned From the Australia V Pakistan 2nd Cricket Test

Steve Smith of Australia (C) celebrates with teammates after catching out Mir Hamza of Pakistan off a delivery from Mitchell Starc of Australia to defeat Pakistan in the Second Test match between Australia and Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne, Australia on Dec. 29, 2023. AAP Image/James Ross

Commentary

Australia triumphed over Pakistan, notching up a resounding 79-run victory on the hallowed grounds of the Boxing Day Test.

With the challenging pursuit of 317 runs, Pakistan’s hopes crumbled in the second innings as they were bundled out for 237.

In the face of adversity, Pakistan’s captain, Shan Masood, exhibited resilience by notching up a commendable 60, while Salman Ali Agha joined the run-scoring brigade with a half-century of his own, tallying up 50.

Alas, for some of their compatriots, fortune took a different turn. Aamer Jamal, Shaheen Afridi, and Mir Hamza, unfortunate souls, all departed with a duck. One can only imagine they’ll steer clear of pancakes at the breakfast table tomorrow.

1. Will We Ever See Another 5 Day Test?

Let’s hope. Three years back, rumblings of four-day test matches infiltrated the cricketing discourse, with claims that they'd be a boon for the game.

If you believe that, you’d believe Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was giving you $275 back off your electricity bill.

The proliferation of four-day tests is becoming more apparent, yet truncating them to a mere four days, especially considering the unpredictable twists of weather, and the toll on bowlers and batters enduring 98 overs in a single day, threatens to make victorious outcomes as scarce as sightings of the prime minister in his homeland.

2. Pakistan Needs Some Catching Practice

Oh, the lamentable state of Pakistan’s fielding acumen! It’s a carnival of bungled catches, fruitless reviews, undisciplined bowling, and a theatre of the absurd in the field.

Picture this: the fateful drop by Abdullah Shafique on that ominous Thursday, a blunder that allowed Mitchell Marsh to escape unscathed at a mere 20 runs.

Little did we know, Marsh would metamorphose into a saviour, orchestrating a cricketing rescue mission with a formidable 96, entwined in a salvation-seeking partnership of 153 runs alongside the ever-stalwart Steve Smith.

Steve Smith of Australia catches out Mir Hamza of Pakistan off a delivery from Mitchell Starc of Australia during Day 4 of the Second Test match between Australia and Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia on Dec. 29, 2023. AAP Image/James Ross

Oh, what might have been if Shafique’s grasp had held firm on that pivotal day! The cricketing gods, it seems, have a wicked sense of humour.

3. Pat Cummins Can Bowl

Pat Cummins displayed cricketing brilliance, claiming dual five-fors with figures of 5/48 and 5/49 in each innings. This marked his second decimation of 10 wickets in a match across his 57 Tests, a testament to his prowess on the field.

Pat Cummins of Australia fields his own ball during Day 4 of the Second Test match between Australia and Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia on Dec. 29, 2023. AAP Image/James Ross

As the final act of a truly illustrious year, Cummins not only guided Australia to the pinnacle of the World Test Championship but also seized glory in the 50-overs World Cup and ensured the coveted retention of the Ashes on English soil.

A triumphant crescendo to a year etched in the annals of cricketing glory.

4. Adam Gilchrist Should Take Up Fortune Telling

Enter the prophetic realm of Adam Gilchrist (“Gillie”), who, much to our astonishment, unfolded as a cricketing Nostradamus. In a moment that could only be described as clairvoyant, he foretold the demise of Pakistan’s opener Shafique in the Fox cricket commentary box.

With an eerie prescience, Gillie declared, moments before the deed was done by Mitchell Starc, “If you get three maidens in a row, generally there’s a wicket waiting.”

As if this weren’t spine-chilling enough, Gillie extended his cricketing oracle status to the World Cup, predicting not only the finalists but also foreseeing Australia, deemed underdogs on their home turf against India, emerging victorious.

It’s a cricketing soothsayer’s saga, and one can’t help but wonder if Gillie might share his insights into next week’s Powerball numbers. A bit of divination beyond the boundary, perhaps?

5. Labuschagne and the MCG Do Not Make a 100

Marnus Labuschagne’s odyssey towards a Test century on the hallowed grounds of the MCG persists as an unfulfilled quest.

Despite the elusiveness of the three-digit milestone, his resolute performance on Boxing Day was nothing short of captivating.

Confronted by an MCG pitch that witnessed the fall of 16 wickets over two tumultuous days, predominantly through catches behind the wicket, Labuschagne’s innings were a spectacle to behold.

Battling not just the bowlers but also an impending storm in fading Tuesday afternoon light, his four-hour sojourn, facing 155 deliveries, gleamed as a standout.

Amongst the Test’s combatants, the 29-year-old lingered longer at the crease and weathered more deliveries than any other batter.

Yet, despite his cricketing prowess showcased at Australia’s other prestigious Test venues since his 2018 debut, Labuschagne’s record at the colossal MCG remains an anomaly.

As Labuschagne strolled away, taking his time after being dismissed and right before the team could use a new ball, his up-and-down play at the MCG turned into a real head-scratcher. Figuring out why he doesn’t shine as much on this important Aussie turf remains a mystery—a puzzle that’s proving tricky to crack.

6. Khawaja Has a Shoe Fetish

Usman Khawaja, a man we find is fond of inscribing his thoughts on his footwear after facing hurdles in displaying “all lives are equal” and “freedom is a human right” on his playing shoes.

Undeterred, he pivoted to imprinting a message on his shoes for the Boxing Day test, a move that might raise eyebrows and make one wonder if he was once a recalcitrant schoolboy.

Khawaja previously ran afoul of the ICC’s Clothing and Equipment Regulations by wearing a black armband in Perth, explaining it as a tribute to a personal loss.

Usman Khawaja of Australia celebrates reaching his half century during Day 4 of the first Test match between Australia and Pakistan at Optus Stadium in Perth, Australia on Dec. 17, 2023. AAP Image/Richard Wainwright

Now, in the ongoing saga of rebellion, he took to the MCG for the first innings, batting for two and a half hours, with the names of his two children, Aisha and Ayla, etched on his shoes.

This audacious act might escape scrutiny, given that David Warner, too, has embellished his shoes with his children’s names for an extended period without facing inquiry.

As the cricketing drama unfolds, the third test at Sydney’s SCG, which commenced on Jan. 3, 2024, promises to be a poignant occasion as the home crowd bids farewell to Warner.

Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.