Azhar Ali has been one of the best batsmen in Test cricket in recent times and he was en route to another century at the MCG on Tuesday.
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Captain Misbah ul-Haq said spirits are high because of what they’ve achieved over the last couple of years, and the fact they nearly pulled off a miracle come-from-behind victory in Brisbane.
Rookie batsman Nic Maddinson will be given another chance to prove himself after Australia on Sunday named an unchanged team for the second Test against Pakistan.
Azhar was 139 not out with Mohammad Amir on 28 as rain cut short the action at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
“I know that temperatures are quite high in Melbourne.as it goes on and on day three, four, five, definitely he might be more effective”, Misbah said.
Azhar reached 100 in the first session as he and Asad Shafiq (50) continued to rebuild the innings.
In this year, Azhar has made 3 centuries, which also includes a triple century against West Indies in UAE. But surprisingly the third umpire flashed an “OUT” decision on the big screen. “Azhar knows where he is good at, how he needs to score runs”. He mixed caution with aggression and studded his 12th test century with eight exquisitely driven boundaries.
Resuming on an overcast day that was likely to feature showers, Azhar and Shafiq showed good composure to work through the early spells of the Australian pacemen then rotating the strike when Nathan Lyon’s spin was introduced. “Hopefully he can have a good Boxing Day Test match”, ESPN Cricinfo quoted Smith as saying. Even though Steve Smith’s men left Gabba breathing a sigh of relief, the young Pakistan squad is determined to level the three-match series in Melbourne. Australia’s pace trio of Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Jackson Bird conceded just 38 runs between them in a combined 21 overs.
Australia dominated the first day-night Brisbane Test up until late on the fourth day, when signs of anxiety crept in as Pakistan edged closer to a miraculous victory before Shafiq was dismissed.
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“We are still into our first innings and there aren’t much runs on the board yet”, said Wahab.
