AUS VS PAK TESTS

Right then, that is it from this 'West Test' where Australia takes a dominating win and leads 1-0 in the series while Pakistan will need to go back in the drawing board and come up with different tactics for the next Test. Next up is the 'Boxing Day Test' at the MCG. That will begin on 26th December, Tuesday, at 5 am IST (11.30 pm GMT, Previous Day), but as you know, you can always join us early for all the build-up to the match. Until then, cheers and goodbye!

Pat Cummins, the victorious skipper of Australia says it is a great start to the summer and he is happy with the result. He also says that the built-up of the team was very chill and relaxing, and for that these results are popping off. He also praised the way David Warner played his innings, continuing that it was important as he helped his team to build up the game and form a lead for his team. He also says that Marsh is everyone's favorite and everybody likes the way he played his part. About Lyon's 500 wickets, he is happy for him too, as he made a comeback from his calf injury. He also noted they are going home for the 'Boxing Day' spending time with their families and returning to their training just after that span of holidays.

Shan Masood, the captain of Pakistan, expresses that they could have scored more swiftly, and 60-70 runs could have made a difference in perhaps maintaining a more substantial lead. Drawing inspiration from the Australian attack, discipline is a key takeaway. Adds that they claimed 15 wickets but need to improve in that area to bowl their opposition out in both innings.. Managing two debutants in a four-seam attack is never easy. He applauds Aamer Jamal and Khurram Shahzad for their impressive debuts and concludes by acknowledging Australia with a promise to come back stronger in the next match.

Mitchell Marsh is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his brilliant all-round show. He says it was amazing as it was his first Test match in 6 years and at his home ground as well. He acknowledges the crowd for the extraordinary support. He also says that when he got into batting, the wicket was tricky and they wanted the lead of 400 which they got. Tells that he enjoys batting more but is happy to chip in with the ball whenever needed. Says it was a great feeling to take out Babar Azam.

Nathan Lyon, the Man of the Moment is up for a quick chat. He feels a great sense of accomplishment in reaching 500 Test wickets. He says that he is glad that it was three reds and getting 500 wickets is really special. Adds that they know how well the three quicks are for them but credits Mitchell Marsh and Usman Khawaja for their batting on challenging conditions. Mentions that he loves playing cricket and contributing for the team and he is proud of the national side and their achievements. He jokes about playing till 50 and says that he is only 36 and there is a long time still to go. Says that his family is here and he will celebrate this with them and it is even more special as David Warner also got his hundred as well.

Presentation Time...

An eventful 'Moving Day' concluded with Australia firmly in control, leading by 300 runs against Pakistan. Usman Khawaja and Steven Smith weathered a challenging period from Pakistani pacers, aiming to extend their lead to a substantial target. Australia's Pat Cummins s made an early breakthrough, removing the nightwatchman, but Pakistan built a partnership. Mitchell Marsh's entry proved crucial, dismissing Babar Azam and energizing Australia before Lunch. Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Marsh took five wickets, with Starc claiming three. Nathan Lyon approached his 500th Test wicket. Australia struggled, facing a different Pakistan attack in the second innings, scoring their lowest 10-over total in 30 years. Despite David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne's early setbacks, Steven Smith and Usman Khawaja steered Australia out of trouble, remaining unbeaten at stumps. Pakistan, solid in the first session, lost momentum as Marsh and Starc made key breakthroughs. While Agha Salman and Saud Shakeel contributed, they fell short of avoiding the follow-on total. Pakistan's bowlers, led by Shaheen Afridi and Khurram Shahzad, secured early wickets, keeping the pressure on Australia, who did not entirely run away with the game despite their commanding lead. However, things turned completely in favour of the Aussies on Day 4 as they registered a huge win over the Men in Green.

Pakistan delivered a solid performance on Day 2, highlighted by Aamer Jamal's impressive six-wicket haul on debut. While Australia aimed for more wickets, they still led by 355 runs and aimed to dominate on Day 3. Pakistan's pacers initially struggled, but debutant Jamal and others staged a fight back, bowling Australia out for just under 500. Openers Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique resisted well until Shafique's dismissal in the third session. Captain Shan Masood played aggressively but fell before Stumps. Imam ended unbeaten, and Khurram Shahzad, the 'nightwatchman,' survived. Australia, content with their total, lost momentum after Lunch. Despite the pacers' accuracy, they struggled to break partnerships until Nathan Lyon provided a breakthrough. Mitchell Starc removed the opposition skipper late in the day, and Australia looked to capitalize on Day 3.

A stellar Day 1 for the Australian cricket team concluded with a standout performance by David Warner, whose dynamic century propelled him into the top 5 leading run-scorers for Australia in Test cricket. The Aussies concluded the day with 346 runs on the board, with half their side yet to bat. Despite a strong start, Pakistan managed to regain control in the later sessions, with Shaheen Afridi making early breakthroughs. The Australian openers, Warner and Usman Khawaja, aggressively justified the decision to bat first, with Warner's quick fifty setting a commanding tone. Pakistan's pacers struggled initially, but Afridi and Faheem Ashraf found success, while Khurram Shahzad claimed his first Test wicket by dismissing Steven Smith. Warner's century, accompanied by contributions from Smith and Travis Head, marked the day, but he eventually fell to Aamer Jamal. Mitchell Marsh and Alex Carey held firm, and Australia aimed to build on their already substantial total on Day 2.

Australia came into Day 4 in a commanding position with a lead of 300 runs. They lost Steven Smith and Travis Head in the first session but Mitchell Marsh and Usman Khawaja negotiated the Pakistani pacers well and added quick runs towards the end of the session and took the lead over 400 runs before Lunch. They batted aggressively in the second session as Khawaja was looking for his century but missed out as he got dismissed on 90, forcing Pat Cummins to declare the innings with Marsh remaining unbeaten on 63. They knew that the conditions would suit them well and that is exactly what happened as they absolutely ran through the Pakistan batting order. Mitchell Starc set the tone with two early wickets and ended with three while Josh Hazlewood got three as well. Pat Cummins bowled a hostile spell to Babar Azam and got the reward while Nathan Lyon also got his 500th and 501st Test wickets. Nothing really to talk about the visitors as it was a sorry-looking scorecard as they were bowled out for just 89 losing this game by 360 runs.

A statement win for Australia in this West Test! They start their home season just like the way they would have wanted, with a resounding win. It may not have been the 'Gabba like usual, to start a home summer, but they were looking indomitable right from Day 1. It all started with a smashing hundred from the 'Bull', David Warner and ended with Nathan Lyon creating history by picking his 500th Test wicket. In between all this, the local boy, Mitchell Marsh was exceptional as well with both bat and ball which has helped them to take an early lead in the series. Pakistan showed good fight in patches but will need to do a lot more to challenge the hosts in this series.

OUT! EDGED AND GONE! That is it! Josh Hazlewood lands this back of a length and around middle, Khurram Shahzad backs away to play at it away from his body but gets a thick outside edge towards first slip where David Warner pouches it safely. AUSTRALIA WIN BY 360 RUNS!

Khurram Shahzad  is the last man in for the visitors.

OUT! LBW! Josh Hazlewood strikes now! Australia inches closer to the win now! This is fuller in length and around middle, angles in and keeps low again, Saud Shakeel looks to work it away but misses due to the lack of bounce and gets hit on the pads. There is an appeal for LBW, and up goes the finger. Shakeel takes the review but Snick and Ball Tracking goes in favour of the Aussies!

Flatter now, on off, Shaheen Afridi plants his front foot and dabs the ball towards the point region for no runs.

Over the wicket and bowls flatter and fuller on the leg stump line, Saud Shakeel lunges ahead works it towards mid-wicket for an easy single.

Short delivery, pitching on leg, drifting towards middle. Saud Shakeel camps back and rests the ball towards his off side.