Australia v Pakistan: first Test, day five

Azhar, who made 71 on a punishing day for the Australia bowlers, said Shafiq deserves great credit for the way he has gone about his business in the middle order.

However, former Australian captain Graham Yallop averaged 69.16 in four Tests at the MCG, including thumping 268 against Pakistan in 1983.

“I’m happy because, after the first innings, the way we got all out, it was looking hard for us to come back”.

“Of course with a total like this, you have to bat every session well”. See what happens when we get out there and get settled and you never know. Australia won, but Maddinson failed for the second time in two Tests, although his second innings in particular wasn’t helped by the game situation.

“They showed character and it changed the whole scenario”.

“We all did, which is a very good sign going forward”. Starc and Hazlewood took three wickets each and Bird chimed in with two for seven to leave skipper Steve Smith pondering whether to enforce the follow-on after a seven-wicket final session.

Key moment: Pakistan talisman Younis Khan is caught behind for 65 trying to reverse sweep off-spinner Nathan Lyon. “It was a bit frustrating from where we were sitting”, said Saker.

“They are capable of playing in any conditions because they are mentally tough, they understand Test cricket”. He said the defeat does not discredit Misbah-ul-Haq’s men in anyway as they almost achieved what surely would have gone down in history as something miraculous.

“He’s a brilliant player who can bat at any number”. The extra half-hour was taken to complete the overs in the day, but the tourists’ batting became more solid as the evening wore on.

Jubilant Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq claimed yesterday that their stirring Gabba effort had set them up for the three-match series.

Wahab (30) and Shafiq (100 not out) almost took Pakistan to the close surviving all the way to the final over of the day until the former pushed at one from Jackson Bird only to be caught at second slip.

“I know it got a lot closer than what Steve Smith would’ve hoped and certainly the Australian public would’ve hoped, but at the end of the day it’s a Test victory and all of those players will learn”. They were handed a target of 490 to chase by Australia at the Gabba – where the hosts have an outstanding record – and the floodlights were turned on with the pink ball moving fairly well.