Daily Times

Former Australian fast bowler Brett Lee has praised the Pakistan cricket team for showing excellent determination and fight back in the first test against Australia at the Gabba.

Lee who played for Australia from 1999 to 2012 wrote for an online website that one should never write off the opposing team at any stage of the game.

Lee describe his experience of the first test that after Pakistan were bundled out for just 142 runs in the first innings, there were talks in the press box and the Australian camp that the match could be over within three days. He further said that considering the past performance of Pakistan team in Australia, this claim was fair enough.

Lee emphasised that even though on record books, Australia may have won the test match but Pakistan taught him the lesson that one should never underestimate any cricket team.

Lee said, “One should never take anything for granted about a cricket team, especially one that represents the hopes and dreams of their nation and one that won the last series against Australia quite convincingly”

Lee further highlighted the impact of Misbah ul Haq and assistant coach Steve Rixon who have ignited the spirit of fight back in the team which has a history of getting crumbled in pressure situations.

Lee also appreciated the gutsy innings of Asad Shafiq and called him a genuine fighter

“I’ll long remember Asad Shafiq’s century in the second innings as that of a genuine fighter,” he said.

It is pertinent to mention that Australia won the first test match by 39 runs after giving Pakistan a target of 490 to chase in the second innings. Pakistan ended up scoring 450 which is now the fourth highest fourth innings total in the history of test cricket.