Daily Times

Babar, Imam, Sarfaraz. Men in green quickly retreated from defying innings to stumble like rolling pins on Day 3 where Australia’s most successful bowling lineup is ready to paint over the writing on the wall one more time: there’s no beating Australia, especially when you are in Australia. As the team returns with the bat in their hand, it would be an extreme test of the abilities of the Pakistani bowlers. After a heartbreaking surrender of the final wickets, Shaheens have given the home team a glaring margin with a 300-run lead.

The pace and technique both took a bite against Australia’s formidable attack where the average run rate hovered around a measly 2.66. That the new captain Shan Masood’s debt remains far from satisfactory would be an understatement, especially in the light of his much-touted proactive style of batting line-up. Although Lyon’s desperation for scoring the only test cricket notch needed to reach the 500 mark was highly palpable and added to the thrill of the game, fans at home could not help but sigh at the perpetual sight of troubles of their stars. Wasn’t it just recently that we were promised a different class of the league after they embarrassingly retreated from the World Cup?

Why is it that a team that clinched the trophy is showing no signs of fatigue while our players have yet to turn over a new leaf even after the umpteenth round of shakedowns? Pacer Aamer Jamals’ thumping debut as he took the cricket world by storm with a six-wicket haul makes for an incredible inspiration but a lone soldier cannot win a drawn-out battle. There are many that would side with the Pakistani team this time. In the absence of precedence, it is difficult to shout out any tactic that would win over Australia. Hard pitch, menacing bowling attack and the comfort of home conditions, all play in the favour of The Invincible but none of this matters when you’ve decided to do the undoable! *