Much of the pre-match attention may have been on veteran David Warner’s last test for Australia, but it was the pace bowlers who stole the spotlight Wednesday by ripping through Pakistan’s fragile top order in a torrid opening session.
Australia skipper Pat Cummins snared two wickets as Pakistan slumped to 75-4 at lunch after winning the toss and opting to bat at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Cummins, coming off a ten-wicket haul in the Boxing Day test at Melbourne, took the key wicket of Babar Azam. Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood set the tone by each taking a wicket in the first two overs.
Starc (1-28) struck with the second ball, teasing Shafique into an uncontrolled swipe which the opener could only edge through to Steve Smith at second slip. Hazlewood (1-23) struck in the next over when he had test rookie Saim Ayub edging through to Alex Carey in his debut innings.
From 4-2, Babar and Massood started the rebuild for Pakistan, with Babar especially attacking the Aussie quick bowlers. But the rally was short-lived as Cummins removed Babar (26) with a ball that came back at the right-hander and struck him on the pad. Umpire Michael Gough turned down the initial Australian appeal, but the TV umpire overturned the decision to reduce Pakistan to 39-3 at the end of the first hour.
Saud Shakeel was Cummins’ second wicket, edging behind to Carey to leave Pakistan’s first innings in tatters at 47-4.
The lead up to the match has been almost exclusively about Warner’s last test for Australia, and the 112-test veteran, flanked by his three daughters, led the home team out on to the SCG for his final test.
Australia won the first two tests in Perth and Melbourne to clinch the three-match series but with World Test Championship points at stake, Australia named an unchanged lineup for the third consecutive match.
Pakistan, which hasn’t beaten Australia in a test Down Under since 1985, rested pace bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi to bring in a second spinner, Sajid Khan, and dropped Imam-ul-Haq to bring in 21-year-old Ayub.
As the third and final test between Australia and Pakistan gets underway at the Sydney Cricket Ground, the spotlight may have been on David Warner’s farewell, but it was the Australian pace bowlers who made an immediate impact. Winning the toss and electing to bat, Pakistan were left reeling at 75-4 at lunch on Day 1.
Pat Cummins led the charge for Australia, claiming two crucial wickets including that of Babar Azam. Meanwhile, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood dismissed one batsman each in the early overs. Starc struck on the second ball, enticing Abid Ali to edge it to Steve Smith at second slip. Hazlewood followed suit, getting Saim Ayub out on his debut innings with an edge to Alex Carey.
Despite the early setbacks, Babar Azam and Shan Masood tried to rebuild Pakistan’s innings. However, their efforts were short-lived as Cummins trapped Babar in front of the wicket, with the TV umpire overturning the on-field decision. Pakistan found themselves struggling at 39-3 at the end of the first hour. Cummins then struck again, dismissing Saud Shakeel and leaving Pakistan in disarray at 47-4.
In contrast to the anticipation surrounding Warner’s farewell, Australia dominated the proceedings with their formidable bowling attack. Having already secured the series with victories in Perth and Melbourne, Australia fielded an unchanged lineup to maximize their chances in the World Test Championship.
Pakistan, determined to avoid a series whitewash, made strategic changes to their side. They rested pace bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi and introduced spinner Sajid Khan for his second test appearance. Additionally, 21-year-old Saim Ayub replaced Imam-ul-Haq.
With Pakistan’s top order in shambles, captain Shan Masood led the fightback alongside Mohammad Rizwan during the lunch break. The duo will hope to stabilize the innings and steer Pakistan away from the threat of a series sweep.
As Warner bid an emotional farewell to international cricket, the focus quickly shifted to Australia’s relentless pace battery, tearing through Pakistan’s fragile batting lineup. With Warner’s absence imminent, the home team aims to conclude the series with a commanding performance, while the visitors are desperate to salvage some pride in the final outing. The battle continues at the Sydney Cricket Ground, with both teams determined to make their mark in this historic contest.
