- Australia defeat Pakistan by 92 runs in the first ODI in Brisbane
- Matthew Wade stars with bat as Faulkner and Cummins finish the job
Australia wins very easily...
A 92 run win for Australia after being 5/78: a heroic turnaround or an indictment on the opposition? While the home side deserve huge credit for the clinical cricket they played from the 25th over, it’s hard not to feel disappointed in Pakistan’s batting display. Here they played themselves into an eminently winning position, and ultimately suffered a huge defeat. How that positions them, Australia and fans for the remaining four matches is legitimate cause for concern.
Related: Matthew Wade century helps Australia defeat Pakistan in first ODI
A quick finish relieves all, I suspect. A few thoughts to follow...
And there it is. It’s another slower ball, this time from Cummins. Riaz slogs, but connects poorly. It’s caught by Starc; Cummins finishes with three wickets.
42nd over: Pakistan 174-9 (Riaz 5, Ali 0)
So Faulkner is coming away with the figures here, but I suspect the main conversation will be about Pakistan’s meek resistance. I doubt he’ll get another over here, as Smith just misses out on taking one over his head that would have given Faulkner five.
Amir had to go, as they say, but couldn’t. He too is duped by a Faulkner slower ball and pops one to Maxwell at extra-cover, who moves back to take the easy catch. Faulkner has four; one wicket to go.
40th over: Pakistan 163-8 (Amir 2)
It was a skilful over from Faulkner, rewarded with a wicket. The ball prior, it should be noted, saw Faulkner spill a very sharp chance off his own bowling. I doubt it will bother him given the events of the following ball. The end is near here.
Azhar falls as Faulkner claims another. Batting deep in his crease, he’s fooled by one of Faulkner’s multiple slower balls. He attempts to pick-up the Tasmanian’s delivery but only finds Warner at deep square, who scurries in to take a good catch. It’s a catch that is probably better than it seems, because he did all the work before taking it; great speed, great anticipation, great balance. Was Azhar’s second innings – given his injury – worth it?
39th over: Pakistan 159-7 (Amir 0, Azhar 22)
Marsh adds respectability to his figures, and his bowling has warranted it. Next in is Mohommad Amir, so we can at least expect some fireworks. He starts with a huge swish at Marsh, but misses. His smile that followed didn’t – he’s great to watch, even when he flops.
Marsh produces the slower ball and does enough to elicit another mistimed hoick out to deep mid-wicket. Warner runs in ten to fifteen metres and takes a comfortable catch at hip-height. Marsh clenches his fists in satisfaction; he does deserve a wicket.
38th over: Pakistan 157-6 (Wasim 29, Azhar 20)
Faulkner hits his mark straight away. One of his elaborate back-of-the-hand slower balls comes out perfectly, causing Wasim to spoon it, almost comically, into the offside ring. Despite four men in the vicinity, none were positioned well enough to get close. Wry grins ensue. There’s three from the over, as this slow, aimless march carries on.
37th over: Pakistan 154-6 (Wasim 28, Azhar 18)
A rare, big over for Pakistan – eleven from this one. I won’t call it a comeback, but nice to see some initiative late in the piece. Marsh’s copybook is slightly blighted; I’m sure he’ll be fine. Faulkner now back into the attack.
36th over: Pakistan 143-6 (Wasim 19, Azhar 16)
Ten overs for 28 runs, that’s Travis Head’s return after another over conceding just two runs. His bowling is clearly preferred to Maxwell’s: an indication of his standing ahead of India? He’s done himself great favours to support that view tonight.
35th over: Pakistan 141-6 (Wasim 18, Azhar 15)
Getting a little depressing here. Azhar is almost completely incapacitated from a running standpoint, and they can’t hit any boundaries. The enormity of the likely loss of Azhar from the series is starting to hit home; this, after the return home of vice-captain Sarfraz is pretty disastrous. Starc is attacking the stumps but can’t get through. There’s just under 130 needed from 90 deliveries here for Pakistan. The run rate has hoisted itself above eight and a half.
34th over: Pakistan 138-6 (Wasim 15, Azhar 15)
It’s all about Azhar here. Smith won’t give him a single, and Azhar is clearly in great pain – not just when running, but even as he prods forward to play a stroke. Away from Azhar injury-watch, Wasim survives what looked a pretty decent shouot for lbw at the conclusion of the over. Australia has no reviews left, so we plough on.
33rd over: Pakistan 135-6 (Wasim 13, Azhar 14)
After Starc rips through Nawaz we see captain Azhar Ali return to the crease. He is clearly injured, and cannot run at anything approaching full pace. It’s a hobble, more than anything else. Let’s see how he goes.
A classic Starc wicket. Full, fast, and enough in-dip to beat the swinging blade of Nawaz. The batsman did attempt to hit the ball to Fortitude Valley, but he was truly beaten. Azhar Ali is back in!
32nd over: Pakistan 133-5 (Wasim 13, Nawaz 1)
It’s Travis Head, what do you expect? Another miserly six from the South Australian, with two from it. He just chews up overs before you can blink. He’s at less than three an over now – some going when the opposition need nearly eight an over.
31st over: Pakistan 130-5 (Wasim 11, Nawaz 3)
Cummins clearly adopts a shorter length to new batsmen and he’s no different here. Nawaz eventually gets a single down to third man before Wasim sees out the over. It’s looking pretty tough from here for Pakistan.
Straight after drinks! That hurts. Rizwan tried to pull Cummins mightily but mistimed it completely. Mitch Marsh at deep midwicket made good ground, steadied himself, bobbled his first attempt then grabbed it one hand – semi-diving – with the second. It was one of those catches that look great because of the initial stuff-up. Marsh smiled knowingly, which is pretty endearing to be honest.
Drinks
Paul wrote in earlier asking for some statistical clarification. Nick has offered something up:
@flataboveashop@sjjperry M Waugh took an over to hit the 4 needed to finish on 102 here https://t.co/ubW1iW6pvr
30th over: Pakistan 125-4 (Wasim 9, Rizwan 20)
Huge credit to Head here, he is clearly exceptionally difficult to get away. The Both batsmen milk a couple to deep point and there’s a leg bye to finish. Head is going at three an over; it’s invaluable stuff for Australia. Even as we wait for Stanlake to have a chance to bowl again (he spent time off, so he needs to wait a while), will we get a chance to see Maxwell?
29th over: Pakistan 125-4 (Wasim 9, Rizwan 20)
Bang! Wasim clears the front foot and whacks Cummins straight back over his head for six – so straight it clears the sightscreen and lands on that black sheeting that extends the colour contrast for batsmen. He top edges a pull shot a few balls later before Cummins responds with a few dots. Better from the men in dark(er) green.
28th over: Pakistan 116-4 (Wasim 2, Rizwan 18)
Late in the over Rizwan treats us to a mini-festival of lap sweeping. Or is it a mere paddle? What is a paddle and what is a lap? Anyway, five runs come from the over. Not that many but not too few. Pakistan are still in the contest.
27th over: Pakistan 113-4 (Wasim 1, Rizwan 16)
The run rate approaches 7 an over as Marsh completes another set of bowling tight lines. Rizwan does show some initiative late in the over, charging Marsh vigorously and slapping him forward of mid-wicket for two. Oh no, Head’s back on. Bye.
26th over: Pakistan 109-4 (Wasim 0, Rizwan 13)
The game breaks open that little bit further. It must be remembered that Pakistan are nominally without their captain Azhar, who retired hurt earlier tonight; it may as well be five-for. Australia were thirty runs ahead of Pakistan at this equivalent position, and they were thought to be struggling. It’s hard to see how Pakistan changes this. Then again, funny things can happen in Brisbane.
Cummins returns, and so do a flurry of strokes. Unfortunately for Pakistan they still don’t yield a hefty number of runs. Babar, attempting yet another glide, runs one straight to Steve Smith’s breadbasket at first slip. Cummins has his first wicket of the night, as Pakistan’s hopes nosedive that little bit further.
25th over: Pakistan 102-3 (Babar 29, Rizwan 10)
Only three off this Marsh over again, and one can just sense the pressure building. Runs are mainly arriving via glides to third man and scurried inside edges. Babar, the senior partner, will be wanting (needing) to up the ante soon.
24th over: Pakistan 102-3 (Babar 29, Rizwan 10)
Head has bowled five overs for a measly 13 runs, it’s Imad Wasim-esque. As he continues to jam the ball from around the wicket into Pakistan blind spots, discussion about the relative merits of his bowling as compared to Glenn Maxwell’s commences on TV. It’s an interesting one. Head has certainly been given first crack here. Any views out there?
23rd over: Pakistan 98-3 (Babar 28, Rizwan 7)
Mitchell Marsh’s lines are so straight that he could run through the narrowest corridor of wet paint and emerge from a delivery dry. He’s miserly here in this over, as Pakistan appear struggling to find run scoring answers. Clarke et al praise their patience, but I think Australia are just defending well.
22nd over: Pakistan 94-3 (Babar 25, Rizwan 6)
Head retains his crampy, leg-stump line and it works. When given his bowling notes, I’d be surprised if the word ‘squeeze’ didn’t turn up on at least six occasions. Only one from this over and Marsh is back on.
21st over: Pakistan 86-3 (Babar 22, Rizwan 2)
We’re in to full ODI middle-overs cricket now. Mitch Marsh is on, Australia have three men out, and Marsh bowls straight and tightly enough to render the over a quiet one.
@sjjperry How many other Aus players have an ODI hundred off the last ball? Think Martyn did it around 02/03, but I might've imagined that
20th over: Pakistan 91-3 (Babar 23, Rizwan 5)
Maxwell is in under the lid at short-leg to Head, signifying more than anything that Australia are after wickets. Head is, speaking of wickets, coming around them, angling in to the batsmen in an attempt to cramp them. Both Babar and Rizwan are happy to take singles as they come, which is probably a sound strategy at this stage. It’s apparent they’ll need to use the majority of the fifty overs on offer here to be a chance of chasing these runs down.
19th over: Pakistan 86-3 (Babar 22, Rizwan 2)
Starc’s gone to another level here. The quick smells blood and enacts the junior cricket equivalent of ‘at his toes or at his nose’. One ball rises markedly past Babar, while another finds the boundary via, not before Babar’s leg stump was asking to be hit. Here comes Head.
18th over: Pakistan 81-3 (Babar 18, Rizwan 1)
See my last description of Head’s over and repeat. They’re coming in at about 88km/hr, and then it’s over. Two from it.
17th over: Pakistan 79-3 (Babar 17, Rizwan 0)
Starc really gave it to Akmal there. Necessary? Probably not. Also not really the point though, is it? He just kept yelling at him; he looked quite desperate for eye contact to be honest. Aren’t we all? Anyway, Mitch is in on the act now after a mixed start. Pakistan, effectively four down, are in trouble.
Akmal’s gone! Starc pitches short and Akmal, trying to heave him wide of mid-on, strikes the ball high on the splice. It lobs gently to Travis Head who takes a soft ‘mark’ above his head, requiring a little leap in the process. Easy to say now, but a terrible shot in the circumstances.
16th over: Pakistan 73-2 (Babar 16, Akmal 12)
Travis Head rolls through a 35 second over, conceding two singles. The bowling is flat, fast, and darty. It’s also hard to think and write anything before it’s over. I will strive.
15th over: Pakistan 71-2 (Babar 15, Akmal 11)
Six from the over here as Akmal starts to find his feet. He gets some luck as Akmal throws his hands at a wide Starc delivery; it flies over gully for four. He then helps Starc behind square for two. Pakistan need about six an over from here so overs like these are helpful.
14th over: Pakistan 65-2 (Babar 15, Akmal 5)
A tighter over from Cummins, now subject of discussion about his Indian tour chances on TV. Here he retains his back-of-a-length strategy, conceding only two from the over.
13th over: Pakistan 63-2 (Babar 14, Akmal 4)
A glorious straight-drive for four from Babar greets Faulkner’s first ball. They always say an early boundary is best (Why? A boundary at any stage has the same mathematical properties). A neat tuck off the hips garners him another three, before Akmal then biffs Faulkner over mid-on for four. But we now have a review! Akmal shuffles across the crease and misses an attempt to flick one fine. The umpire says not out, but Matt Wade is adamant as the stump microphones catch him saying ‘it definitely pitched in line!’. Akmal waits nervously.
12th over: Pakistan 50-2 (Babar 7, Akmal 0)
Babar produces a graceful checked-drive to pick up three early in Cummins’ over, before Akmal takes his tally to eight balls without a run. He’s thrilled us in Australia before, can he do it tonight? He really wanders across his crease; is an affliction only seen early in his innings or an affect picked up in recent years? Please advise.
11th over: Pakistan 47-2 (Babar 4, Akmal 0)
The scales tip a little in Australia’s favour after that one. Faulkner, so far the pick of Australia’s bowlers, knocks over Hafeez and confines Pakistan to accepting a wicket-maiden. Umar Akmal is the new batsman - always great to watch.
That’s two for Faulkner. Hafeez drives ambitiously at a Faulkner delivery that offered some width, but was on a pretty decent length, it must be said. He succeeds only in providing a healthy edge to a well-balanced Matt Wade, who moves smartly to his right to take the catch. Pakistan in a bit of bother now.
10th over: Pakistan 47-1 (Babar 4, Hafeez 4)
A good over for Pakistan, whose two new batsmen reap eight from a wayward Cummins over. Babar’s upper cut forward of point the pick of the strokes. Australia have bowled better than this, and will hope to tighten up proceedings from here.
9th over: Pakistan 39-1 (Babar 0, Hafeez 1)
The over finally ends. There was a wicket, a batsman retiring hurt, and umpire Shamsuddin called over after five balls. He quickly realised his error and ensured the correct completion of the over, even if everything else has felt a little ramshackle.
9th over: Pakistan 38-1 (Azhar 12, Hafeez 1)
Following his treatment for what appeared to be cramp, Azhar attempts to run again. He makes the 22 yards safely, but he’s clearly in great discomfort. With a wave of the hand he beckons new batsman, Babar, on to the field. Just like that Azhar leaves the field! It changes the complexion of the game, no doubt.
9th over: Pakistan 38-1 (Azhar 12)
The first one falls! After a ten minute over, Sharjeel attempts to hammer Faulkner over mid-on but doesn’t get it at all. He toes it to mid-on, where Maxwell snaffles an easy catch at head height.
8th over: Pakistan 38-0 (Azhar 12, Sharjeel 18)
In the absence of meaningful team context, some intriguing sub-plots remain here. Cummins, a player some tip for India, replaces Stanlake and immediately has Azhar hopping with a shortish length. The Pakistan captain counter-punches with a jab through the onside - it was notionally a front-foot shot, but it weight only. He is well back in his crease. He’s then on the ground, evidently cramping. So much cramping on both sides today (he says as he swigs a beer in his air-conditioned Melbourne home). A good five minutes elapse, with Azhar surrounded by an endless procession of medical staff, before Azhar is ready to go. It prompts predictable indignation from previously-fit Nine commentators.
What the hell is happening at the Gabba? This is like the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan. #AUSvPAK
7th over: Pakistan 35-0 (Azhar 10, Sharjeel 18)
Faulkner’s now into the attack and it’s fair to say early points are with the visitors here. They hover just below five an over but every over without the loss of a wicket probably tips the equation in their favour. Having said that, this match shows it’s not an easy wicket to ‘get in’ on, so they’ll want to make the most of their start. After a single to both batsmen, Sharjeel lofts Faulkner wide of mid-on before the Tasmanian beats him outside off. It’s six from the over.
6th over: Pakistan 29-0 (Azhar 9, Sharjeel 13)
Sharjeel picks Stanlake up off his hip, pirouetting gracefully as he lifts the Australian for six. Mitchelle Starc athletically plucks the ball, one-handed, but alas he’s over the rope. A few balls later Stanlake strikes Sharjeel fair on the top of crest of the helmet; the ball flies away for a leg bye. The batsman appears fine, but it was a hefty blow.
5th over: Pakistan 18-0 (Azhar 6, Sharjeel 6)
Opening batsmen from both sides made labouring starts, perhaps suggesting some difficulty in the Gabba wicket. Here Pakistan take five from an again-inconsistent Starc over. He’s hitting the high-140 mark, but he’s still both sides of the stumps. A great diving save from Cummins at mid on prevents a Pakistan boundary.
4th over: Pakistan 13-0 (Azhar 6, Sharjeel 1)
A really subdued start here, it has to be said. Stanlake can’t shift his leg stump line to the left-handed Sharjeel, though his swing seems to make it difficult for the Pakistan opener to lay bat on ball. Sharjeel eventually gets it right for a single to get off the mark after seven deliveries. It’s a straight-up mid-90s start to this challenging mid-90s chase. Pakistan are measured, assured and risk-free. Australia’s bowlers still searching for consistency.
3rd over: Pakistan 11-0 (Azhar 6, Sharjeel 0)
A mixed bag from Starc - a good one, a a short one, a few wide ones, and both sides of the wicket. Azhar picks him off through the off-side for a couple of two’s, before one absolutely rears from short of a length, rising well over the now-cramping Matt Wade, screaming to the boundary. Starc, despite conceding four runs for his team, looks literally elated.
2nd over: Pakistan 2-0 (Azhar 2, Sharjeel 0)
‘Big’ Billy Stanlake (imaginative, as always) finds some early swing, though the line and length are a little wanting. He has a huge gather before releasing the ball, his leap reminiscent of Neil Armstrong on the moon. He eventually fixes up his line and ties Azhar to the crease deep into the over. Bowling for Australia with two first class matches to your name cannot be easy. Stanlake completes his over, conceding only one from it. He’ll ‘take it’, as they say.
1st over: Pakistan 1-0 (Azhar 1, Sharjeel 0)
The shadows lengthen over the Gabba arena; Australia commences with two slips and a gully as Starc starts with a full length in pursuit of his occasionally-deadly movement. He does seem to bowl faster with the white ball. Azhar gets one to third man through a thick outside edge and Sharjeel can’t exploit two leg-side deliveries from Starc. We’re away. Stanlake from the other end!
Hello and welcome all to this - the good ship OBO - ahead of the second innings of this probably forgettable one dayer. That’s not a positive way to start is it? My apologies. I will say this though: for all the hoopla about the future of one day cricket and its place in an ever-crowded schedule in the modern era, that first innings had nearly all the hallmarks of a classic mid-90s total. There was a small part of me quietly hoping for an old-school chase of just over 200 (let’s say 218) that would ebb and flow throughout. Instead, modernity reared its spectacular head in the form of a run-a-ball hundred to Matt Wade. Almost everything about his innings was rearguard, except his outstanding score. 100 off 100, a numerical dream.
I’ll be back for the first ball of the innings shortly. Would love to hear from you, so please get in touch at sam.perry.freelance@guardian.co.uk or on Twitter: @sjjperry. Catch you then.
Well, what an innings from Matthew Wade. He timed the rescue to perfection. Stayed patient, played himself in, didn’t waste any of the innings by going too early. Then was able to cash in fully late in the piece, and keep his composure despite wickets falling at the other end.
Glenn Maxwell was his initial partner in crime, making 60 and forming a partnership with Wade of 82. Then Wade had to do most of it on his own, in brief combinations with Cummins, Starc and Stanlake.
50th over: Australia 268-9 (Wade 100, Stanlake 1)
Wade. Wanting runs, and wanting that hundred. Hasan digs one in short and hits him in the guts first up. That hurt. He’s winded, he recovers, and he backs away next ball to slam four runs through cover! He’s on 97.
49th over: Australia 261-9 (Wade 93, Stanlake 1)
This is Matthew Wade’s day. I still wonder about the decision to go for all pace at the end, when Wade is so adept at using it. Gets a full toss from Amir and heaves across the line of it, sending it flying through backward square leg. Four runs, then a wide outside off next ball. The partnership is 23 for the last wicket. Couple of dot balls as Wade can’t connect with more full tosses, and in frustration he comes outside off to try the ramp again. Amir hits leg stump! And the bails don’t come off. Good grief. That was another full toss, it beat Wade’s desperate swat as it zeroed in on the stumps, then there was a big wooden click as the ball passed by. But it wasn’t the bat that was struck, it was the outside of leg stump. And again, as we’ve seen so often, the Zing bails did not move. This is a genuine problem in cricket, it happens on a regular basis with the heavier bail. Results are being distorted. Perhaps it explains why Wahab doesn’t bowl at the stumps when batsmen step wide. It won’t work anyway. Two runs sprinted from the second last ball, then Stanlake makes it to the other end from the last to help Wade keep the strike. A century a chance for the Aussie keeper.
48th over: Australia 253-9 (Wade 86, Stanlake 1)
Wade is riding his luck like a unicorn over a rainbow. Belts Hasan over midwicket for four, and the skied ball lands in the gap in the deep. Then the outside edge through third man for four more. Then a top edge for a single. Pakistan grinding their teeth. They just haven’t been able to finish this innings off. Stanlake plays and misses from the last ball, and Pakistan burn their DRS review in desperation to have this innings over. It isn’t.
47th over: Australia 244-9 (Wade 77, Stanlake 1)
Amir to Wade. A single, then Stanlake produces a lovely shot. He’s a left-hander, and he drives through straight long-on. Would have been a boundary if not for a fine save, but they get a run from the diving deflection. This is all important support for Wade, who charges Amir and hits him into the pool! Well, just about, it landed on the pool deck way over deep midwicket. Then belts a single that nearly sees Stanlake run out, except for an errant throw, and Stanlake survives the one ball left.
46th over: Australia 235-9 (Wade 69, Stanlake 0)
The giant lanky figure of Billy Stanlake towers over Wade as they chat mid-pitch. Stanlake looks awkwards as he plays and misses, then just comes down across a ball that he keeps out of his pads. Survives.
Another change-up in pace, full and straight, Starc misses his flick, and Australia are nine down.
45th over: Australia 233-8 (Wade 68, Starc 9)
Starc finds his range: after a couple of singles he clouts Amir high over deep square leg. I don’t like to be too judgemental, but Sharjeel Khan in general gives an impression as a lazy cricketer. Then he does something like stand a few metres in from the rope, watching that ball sailed over his head, and then seeing it land six inches outside the rope. If he’d got back, he’d have caught that. Or at least had the chance of dropping it.
44th over: Australia 224-7 (Wade 67, Starc 1)
Wahab Riaz is back. Not sure about this. To borrow from a Hilltop Hoods posse joint, he’s been all over the shop like bar codes. Keep the spinners on, I would. Let the batsmen make the pace. Wahab bowls a no-ball first up, a beamer. Gets a warning. Wade gets the free hit, moves way outside off, and ramps it over fine leg for four. Not too bad, that. Then a top edged pull shot for four more! Wade doing the late damage. A couple of singles and we end with 11 from the over.
Wahab reacts to a moving batsman like a cat reacts to a laser pointer - can't help but follow it.
43rd over: Australia 213-8 (Wade 58, Starc 0)
Five runs and the run-out from Amir’s over. Who’s next?
Total mix-up. Cummins played Amir towards point and took a step for a run, then stopped. Wade had already committed in response and was sprinting down. Cummins turned to go back, then when he realised Wade was coming, he decided to sacrifice himself to leave the higher-ranked batsman out there. He ran to the non-striker’s end as Amir received the ball and got the bails off. There might just have been a run there if Cummins had bolted right away, but it would have been tight. Wade was going full tilt, so the other end was the best option for Akmal’s throw.
42nd over: Australia 208-7 (Wade 56, Cummins 13)
Matthew Wade is struggling - he calls out to the 12th man for a jar of pickle juice. Yep. Presumably it has salt that helps with cramps. It’s incredibly hot out there - the Hot Spot cameras showing up his sweat patches make him look like a dappled palomino. Kids around the country will be downing pickles any minute now, as Wade drops low and slogs Nawaz over long-on for six. That raises the fifty, and he salutes the sky in understated fashion. Related to Phil Hughes, no doubt, as Wade has his friend’s image tattooed on one arm.
41st over: Australia 195-7 (Wade 44, Cummins 12)
Brilliant spell from Imad Wasim. His ten overs are done, and 2-35 is the result, for a visiting spinner at the Gabba. His last over goes for only two runs, as Cummins again gets stuck driving back to the bowler more often than not. Still waiting to launch.
40th over: Australia 193-7 (Wade 43, Cummins 11)
Dropped! They hadn’t shelled one today, but Pakistan had to eventually. This is Cummins playing the same sort of shot as Faulkner, but stepping away from the ball and forcing it harder. Thicker edge, quicker to Hafeez but spinning towards the ground, and Hafeez didn’t drop his hands fast enough. Again that ball was shorter of length and spun away from the right-hander. Big chance wasted to snuff out this innings. Cummins could yet hurt them.
39th over: Australia 189-7 (Wade 40, Cummins 10)
Imad Wasim comes back, giving up a leg bye and three unremarkable singles. The last ball is better though, Cummins producing a very nice cover drive that gets him tw through cover. Amir has four overs left. Wahab has five, Hasan has four. But with spin working, Azhar will probably stick with it as long as he can, and have Amir bowling at the other end to the death. Wahab worked very hard through the Test matches, and looks tired today.
38th over: Australia 183-7 (Wade 38, Cummins 7)
They’re a little more proactive from this Nawaz over. Singles from the first three balls as Cummins settles. Plays one back to the bowler, the edges a couple more. Safely enough. he farms the strike from the last ball. Wade has 38 from 58, he’ll want to close that gap up by the end of the innings. Having to take this game deep though, Dhoni style.
37th over: Australia 177-7 (Wade 36, Cummins 3)
Who would have thought Pakistan’s spinners would be bossing the game at the Gabba? Australia doesn’t even have a spinner, just the part-time stuff of Maxwell and Head. Two singles from this Hafeez over, and the innings just keeps ticking by without any acceleration.
36th over: Australia 175-7 (Wade 35, Cummins 2)
Nawaz to Wade, driving a single to long-on, then Cummins blots up the rest of the over. Keeps pushing back to the bowler, until he finally get a run driving the last ball.
35th over: Australia 173-7 (Wade 34, Cummins 1)
Pat Cummins to the crease, who has been in some good batting touch in the BBL. Power-hitting lower order type. 30 off 20 (three 6s), 36 off 23 (four 6s), 39 off 26 (six 4s) and 22* off 20 (one 6) in the last few games. I was on BBC radio comms when he nearly made a first-class ton against Northants in a tour game last Ashes, but the captains shook on the draw with Cummins in the 80s. Robbed. Hafeez bowls a predictably quiet over to start with, three singles from it, and 21 from his six overs.
34th over: Australia 170-7 (Wade 32)
And there it is! There are only two singles from the over, Faulkner is looking to keep the runs ticking. Nawaz bowling left-arm spin pulls the length back, gives it a rip, and the ball turns. Faulkner is trying to push a straighter ball through point, instead the spin takes the ball to the edge of the bat, and Azhar has Hafeez in at first slip. Aggressive captaincy pays off from the last ball of the over.
33rd over: Australia 168-6 (Wade 31, Faulkner 4)
Hafeez back. 11 runs from his four overs earlier. Profited from a tricky time at the crease. This over concedes only four singles and a wide. This pair could still pile on some runs later, Pakistan will want one more wicket to feel confident of really putting the squeeze on.
Maxwell now averaging 135.5 for Australia at a SR of 167 since dropped against the West Indies back in June. #Maxwellball
32nd over: Australia 163-6 (Wade 29, Faulkner 2)
Much of the task is down to Wade now. Faulkner is joining him, who has a prodigious record in ODI run chases but not so much when settling targets. he has time to build an innings, and once he gets trike he sets about that. Blocking, leaving, getting the pace of the pitch from Wahab’s bowling. Gets two runs through midwicket from the last ball.
31st over: Australia 160-6 (Wade 28)
Show’s over. This set of six was going well for Maxwell - he gets a wide, then a short one that he crushes for four using the pull shot, then a cheeky top edge over the keeper. But Hasan keeps trying different slower balls, and finally one does for Maxwell, who sees the length and wants to flick over the leg side, not an outrageous shot, but he doesn’t time it. Hafeez comes around from mid-on to take the skied ball towards midwicket. Pakistan get the breakthrough, and end a partnership worth 82 runs off 88 balls.
30th over: Australia 153-5 (Maxwell 54, Wade 28)
Interesting shot from Maxwell: gets the short ball on his off stump from Wahab, and doesn’t even move his bat from its backlift. Just leaves it there, and the ball brushes the face and runs off for a single. Wahab tries another short ball that goes down leg for a wide, and even the impassioned appeal of Rizwan isn’t enough to distract the umpire. Short again, Maxwell pulls a single. Wade is beaten, then can’t score. Doesn’t look that easy to time shots out there today, most of the batsmen have struggled to some degree.
29th over: Australia 149-5 (Maxwell 52, Wade 27)
Brings up the milestone from Hasan’s first ball, a bouncer that Maxwell hooks hard for a single. Wade edges a run to third man, Maxwell cuts one to point, Wade to midwicket, Maxwell to mid-off. They’re chalking in those white lines on the wagon wheel.
28th over: Australia 144-5 (Maxwell 49, Wade 25)
Another reverse! First ball of the Nawaz over again. The field is all up on the off side, then back on the leg side. Maxwell knows that’s his spot, so he wants to get the ball over that off-side field even when the ball isn’t on a line to do so. The reverse is a way to do that. Slots this one, perfectly struck one bounce for four.
27th over: Australia 135-5 (Maxwell 43, Wade 22)
Hasan Ali returns, the young seamer spanked for 30 from three overs earlier today. This time he’s hanging too far back of a length, and for four balls in a row the batsmen are able to pick off singles and a two into the leg side. Easy done.
26th over: Australia 130-5 (Maxwell 41, Wade 19)
Wade is using his feet well now, just handing strike to Maxwell wherever he can. Maxwell says “Thanks, boss,” gets a ball outside off from Nawaz, and in a flash he’s reverse-sweeping that over backward point for four! Glorious bit of timing, he hits those as hard as he hits any other stroke. Flies away flat. 41 off 38 balls from a tough situation, and a partnership of 55. This is fine batting.
25th over: Australia 124-5 (Maxwell 36, Wade 18)
Ok, I’m handing back the captaincy. After getting the strike back fro Wade, Maxwell decides he finally has a read on Wasim’s angle and pace, drops to one knee, and gets almost under the ball to flip it away behind square for four! The first from Wasim’s bowling. Then the second, another sweep shot squarer this time, after having flicked two runs from the intervening delivery. 11 from the over! Nearly as many as Wasim’s previous seven conceded.
24th over: Australia 113-5 (Maxwell 26, Wade 17)
Mohammad Nawaz comes on. Another left-arm orthodontist, as a friend of mine used to say. Maxwell isn’t going to let him settle - he lofts the first ball over cover for four. Much needed boundary. He didn’t smash that at all, just calmly and almost gently lifted it, aiming for that big empty gap and hitting it. Then unts another in the air wide of long-on, but only a single there. Wade drives to the same area but along the ground. One run.
23rd over: Australia 107-5 (Maxwell 21, Wade 16)
Imad Wasim could be on track for one of the most economical returns in ODI cricket. He hasn’t gone for a boundary in seven overs. This time, it takes Wade three balls to shovel a single into the leg side, then a dot and a one to Maxwell before Wade defends the last ball. 2-17 from his seven now. Surely he should just bowl unchanged and really put on the squeeze.
22nd over: Australia 105-5 (Maxwell 20, Wade 15)
Amir continues to dish up the goods. Inswing again to the left-handed Wade, it beats his shot and hits the back pad. Out, lbw, but overturned by the DRS. That ball took a thick inside edge on its way through. Two balls later, one moves away to take the outside edge for four. Wade struggling, but surviving. Gets a single finally to escape Amir, and Maxwell makes it look easy by flicking two through midwicket. The Australian three figures arrive, the run rate is still languishing beneath five per over.
21st over: Australia 98-5 (Maxwell 18, Wade 10)
Maxwell, driving Wasim. There’s a yelp of “catch” as the ball goes in the air, but Maxwell had directed it square of the man at cover and gets a run safely. Wade shifts around in the crease to stab a run into the leg side, then Maxwell comes down the wicket to drive a couple of runs through wide long-on. This partnership finding its feet. So many overs to go.
20th over: Australia 94-5 (Maxwell 15, Wade 9)
Amir is abck to bowl his fifth over. 2 for 10 from his four to start the day. There’s stilla bit of movement about some of these deliveries. He’s targeting the pads though, and the batsmen are able to keep jamming the ball away into the leg side. Single, single, two, single, before Amir finally goes wider and Maxwell plays through point for one.
19th over: Australia 88-5 (Maxwell 13, Wade 5)
Imad Wasim is really tightening the net. Only two runs from this over, he’s conceded 11 from his five overs so far! And two wickets.
18th over: Australia 86-5 (Maxwell 12, Wade 4)
Wahab still a little easier to score off still. Four singles and a wide, helping this new pair feel a little more ease at the crease.
17th over: Australia 81-5 (Maxwell 10, Wade 2)
In comes Wade, another left-hander of the many around Australian cricket at the moment, and plays a premeditated sweep against Imad Wasim for a single to get off the mark first ball. Maxwell flicks one square. He’s been able to turn over the strike with ease, and Wade should fit better with that style. If they don’t have any disagreements about who should be batting where. Wade sweeps another run to finish the over. Already training for India?
The slow build hasn’t worked for Marsh the Younger. Maxwell hands him the strike with a single, then Imad Wasim delivers left-arm around and turns the ball. Marsh plays a heavy-handed drive at it after planting his front foot, and where he was playing for the angle, it turns to take the edge for Rizwan’s fourth dismissal out of five wickets to fall. Rizwan could be on for a record.
16th over: Australia 77-4 (Marsh 4, Maxwell 8)
Back to pace, and back to runs. Again Wahab gives width, this time to the right-hander, and Maxwell cuts behind point for four. Glances a single to fine leg, then Marsh blocks out the last couple before drinks. He has 4 from 16 balls, Marsh.
15th over: Australia 72-4 (Marsh 4, Maxwell 3)
Imad Wasim’s accuracy and Mitchell Marsh’s leaden-footedness make for a slow-scoring combination. It takes Marsh four balls to get a shot through the field, this one in the air down to long-off for a run. Maxwell goes to long-on, and has a smiling chat with the bowler at the end of the over. A bit of niggle.
14th over: Australia 70-4 (Marsh 3, Maxwell 2)
Marsh drives a single, Maxwell cuts two runs to open his account. Hafeez the bowler, darting in at him. The batsman plays out the last few balls without looking entirely comfortable.
Made for Maxwell. Not to hit but to bat, build innings under pressure. Can be a real statement innings #ODI#AUSvPAK 37 overs to go
13th over: Australia 67-4 (Marsh 2)
That’s the big one! Another quiet over with just a couple of singles. From the last ball, Imad Wasim angles a ball from left-arm around the wicket across the left-handed Head. It’s an arm ball, zips along after it pitches, and Head was forward and driving to provide a healthy nick. Rizwan gets his third dismissal, and it’s Maxwell to the crease very early.
12th over: Australia 65-3 (Head 38, Marsh 1)
Suddenly things have swung back Pakistan’s way. A quiet over from Hafeez, three singles from it, and quiet descends. Marsh off the mark.
11th over: Australia 62-3 (Head 36, Marsh 0)
Mitchell Marsh can be a very slow and rusty starter. Creaks into action, like an old combine harvester. Of course, when he gets going, he can wreak utter destruction, like his 76* from 40 balls against New Zealand a coupleof games ago. But for the moment he’s struggling against Imad Wasim, whose left-arm spin only concedes a single to Head from the first ball.
10th over: Australia 61-3 (Head 35, Marsh 0)
Well, Travis Head is in some touch. The batsmen cross before Lynn’s catch is taken, Hasan comes right arm around the wicket for the next ball, and Head slashes it for four. Wasn’t even all that short or wide, but he found the room. Next ball, fuller, and a classic cover drive nets four more. Then a single on the glide to finish the over and keep strike.
I was wrong, it wasn’t the end of Hasan. It is the end of Lynn, though. He gets a very wide and full ball outside off stump. I think there was an element of premeditation there, he was looking to punish that ball. Dropped to one knee and wanted to smear it over the leg side, but it landed even wider than he’d expected and in the end he was attempting to drag the ball too far across. Took the top edge high and behind the wicket where Rizwan pouched the sort of catch that we’ve seen other Pakistan players drop several times this summer.
9th over: Australia 52-2 (Head 16, Lynn 26)
Wahab on for his first over, and it doesn’t start happily. A wide bouncer first ball, slightly harsh call but it was high. Then a less short ball that draws a Lynn mis-hit, off the top edge to backward square with a single. That brings Head on strike, and he goes... four, four, four. None of them needing to be run for. Three balls in a row Wahab’s front arm comes low and he drags the ball wide, left-arm over to a left-handed bat. The first goes through cover, the next two through backward point. 13 from the over, 39 from 26 balls for the partnership.
8th over: Australia 38-2 (Head 14, Lynn 15)
That didn’t take long! Six over midwicket as Hasan gives Lynn a ball fractionally back of a length, enough for Lynn to stand tall, arch his back a touch, and clobber the front-foot pull shot out of the ground. First ball of the over. Then taps a single. King cricket. Head gets a couple through the covers, then picks up another all-run four through deep midwicket. That will make the batsmen sweat, as well as the fieldsmen chasing it. 13 from the over, and that will be all from Hasan Ali for a while.
7th over: Australia 25-2 (Head 8, Lynn 8)
I’ll tell you what - early days here, but Chris Lynn looks tip-top. Hasn’t begun his big hitting yet, but he’s sharp, alert. Head gets an inside edge from Amir that lands near his feet, and Lynn is immediately belting down the pitch and yelling for his partner to come through for the run, even as Head was still looking confusedly around for the ball. Then Lynn rides the bounce from Amir, plays the ball on the up through cover, and by sprinting the first couple he creates a third run. There’s an aura about this player right now.
6th over: Australia 21-2 (Head 7, Lynn 5)
Hasan Ali to bowl his first over, right-arm brisk from the 22-year-old. I’m not sure about this, I would have kept spin on against Lynn, who is generally less destructive against it in the T20 format. Loves the ball coming on to the bat with pace. He slams a wide ball through cover, and it’s nearly a hot chance to Hafeez, but lands just short and gets through him. There’s a heroic chase to the boundary, but the Gabba’s wide expanses plus a fumble out on the rope mean that the batsmen can run four even as the boundary is saved. Three singles and a wide make this over a relief for Australia.
5th over: Australia 13-2 (Head 5, Lynn 0)
What a way to make your ODI debut: Chris Lyn comes in to face a hat-trick ball against a fired-up opening bowler. He gets the inswinger, full, and just keeps it out of his pads by jamming down. Leaves the final ball, and Amir’s brilliant stanza is done.
Amir on fire! One of the best one-day batsmen in the world and the Pakistan strike bowler gets him first ball. The Australian captain was expecting a ball swinging into his pads, instead Amir gave him the outswinger angled across the right-hander from left-arm over the wicket. Smith drove at it, and a thick edge was taken in front of first slip. He’s on a hat-trick, Amir!
There’s the Amir we were promised! You could sense this coming, this or a massive counterattack from Warner, as Amir has been all over him this morning, keeping him uncomfortably quiet. A couple of singles to start the over, but then Amir rips in another swinging delivery, Warner tries to take it off middle and leg through midwicket, but the swing beats his stroke comfortably and takes his off stump. Did I just say gorgeous?
4th over: Australia 11-0 (Warner 6, Head 4)
Pressure gets to Warner. Head is finding the singles more easily, driving down the ground against Hafeez, but Warner slaps riskily over mid-on and away for a streaky four, before another single.
3rd over: Australia 5-0 (Warner 1, Head 3)
Another top over from Amir. Head gets a thick edge for one, Warner hits straight to square leg. Finally jams a run out into the leg side, and gets off the mark from his 12th ball. Unusual, Kimmy. Head runs another single, then Warner is ripped through twice in a row, two gorgeous swinging deliveries that utterly beat the line of the bat, and it’s only by providence that Warner remains at the crease.
2nd over: Australia 2-0 (Warner 0, Head 1)
Interesting ploy from Azhar Ali, asking Mohammad Hafeez to open the bowling frmo the other end with his off-spin. Head drives a single second ball. Warner is again tied down - he defends a couple, then smacks a drive straight to point and can’t score. Ten balls and Warner hasn’t got off the mark, the same man who made 50 off 23 in a Test match last week. Don’t worry, he’ll catch up very soon (or perish trying).
1st over: Australia 1-0 (Warner 0, Head 0)
Right then. The pitch is the colour of a suburban driveway - almost white in this bright sun. So is Mohammad Amir’s face, slathered in thick zinc cream in the manner he used on his first tour here. It wasn’t used in the Tests this summer, but it’s back. He has a very slight build, Amir, for someone who fires down the ball at such pace. And he’s on the mark right away, finding swing with each delivery in this heavy Brisbane air. Settles on a perfect length, getting the ball to shape into and away from Warner, who plays every ball respectfully. There’s a wide when Amir goes for the pads and slips just down leg side, and that’s the only score from the over.
Bright hot day at the Gabba, and the Pakistanis will have to sweat it out in the field. I get to have first look at these new Aussie batsmen. Not averse to that.
What is of interest in this format is the make-up of the team, with selectors doing some experimenting ahead of the Champions Trophy in England mid-year. The experienced George Bailey and Aaron Finch are out, after 90 and 77 ODIs respectively, and some new faces are in. Travis Head will have a go at opening the batting after proving himself in the middle order. New inclusion Chris Lynn gets the primo No4 batting spot on debut, Mitch Marsh gets a top-order gig at 5, and Glenn Maxwell is back, importantly batting ahead of Matthew Wade. Josh Hazlewood is resting, so lanky paceman Billy Stanlake makes his debut.
Australia
Warner
Head
Smith
Lynn
Marsh
Maxwell
Wade
Faulkner
Cummins
Starc
Stanlake
Well, I’ve just read Russell’s article and you should too. The points he’s making are pretty well on the money - most importantly that in the middle of the momentum gained by the Big Bash this summer, these ODI games do come as something of a glitch. Cricket staring you in the eye and saying, “I’m sorry, did I break your concentration.” This format of the game still has a lot to offer, but after the 220 vs 220 incredifest between Hobart and the Renegades last night in Melbourne, people are more likely to be excited about the next game in the BBL cycle, and the subsequent effect on finals calculations, than they would be about this bilateral international game.
Which isn’t to say this game doesn’t have its place - really it’s a scheduling issue, and the ODIs should be happening at a different time of the season to the Big Bash stuff. Complicated, but shouldn’t be impossible. I’ll have a tinker over the next few days and send the results to Cricket Australia for next year.
Geoff will be here shortly. In the meantime, check out Russell Jackson’s take on the struggle of ODI cricket to maintain a strong attendance culture in the face of the Big Bash League’s rise:
Related: One-day cricket the victim of the mid-summer sporting pile-up
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