Boxing Day Test: Aus v Pakistan

[kingwilly]

Already 1/19 at drinks break.

Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat. Smith brought on Lyon early, and he struck on his 3rd ball.

[kingwilly]

Another wicket just before lunch. 2/60

[David48atTD]

Well done KW ...

Another wicket after lunch.

3/119

Seems overcast, but no rain.



Grounds look perfect.


Back to you KW ...

.

[cyrille]

getting younus out cheaply is always huge - never know what you're gonna get from him.
pakistan may be hoping the rain keeps up already.

[Little Chuchok]

What a magnificent stadium. The "G".

Wish I was there.

[kingwilly]

Yep. Rain delay, bit of s nuisance.

[Headworx]

What a magnificent stadium. The "G".

Wish I was there.

Couldn't count how many players (past and present) from all around the world who've said the greatest thrill in cricket is to walk out onto The G on Boxing day.

Shame about the bloody Melbourne weather today but they'll start an hour early tomorrow which will be 05:30 Thai time. Fuck that, I'll pick up coverage after lunch .

[kingwilly]

I'll pick up coverage after lunch .

hotstar.com

4/186

[kingwilly]

light Rain, covers on. Phaaark.

4/194 - Azhar Ali on 96

[kingwilly]

Play back on. 4/196. Azhar Ali looking impatient to get to his 100

[kingwilly]

Lunch. 2nd Day.

Steve Smith conned the umpires into an early lunch to protect the new ball. (drizzle rain)

232/4 (81 ov)


ETA

Comments from cric info.

Smith and Ian Gould have a chat during the over break. Then Gould has a chat with S Ravi. And we are taking early lunch. That's a little weird. They are coming off early predicting rain? Either way, it works for Australia who were in a spot. Should they take the new ball and risk its getting wet in this outfield? Should they wait for lunch and let Pakistan milk more runs over the next 10 minutes? Then a little chat - and I am not suggesting this early lunch is a direct consequence of Smith's word with Gould - and we walk off, saving Australia the dilemma. Mickey Arthur, the former Australia and current Pakistan coach, is not happy with all this. We have a mild drizzle on, but this is not strong enough to take players off. Suppose Australia have got away with this conundrum. They should have been asked to play through these 10 minutes, and should have been asked to make a decision if they want to take the new ball or not

Part of reason why Australia have been desperate is because there has been no wicket in this session. Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq have batted beautifully to add over a 100 for this partnership. Azhar has scored a hundred, and is on his way to notching 1100 for 2016. Shafiq has played another old-fashioned Test knock, starting off slowly and then cashing in on tired bowlers. We will be back at 1pm

[cyrille]

Well that all seems very cosy.

[kingwilly]

more rain, second session delayed.

[kingwilly]

Well that all seems very cosy.

Caused quite the kerfuffle. Comments from cricinfo.

1.47pm Three minutes before the scheduled inspection, it is drizzling again, and the covers are coming back on

1.40pm There is another inspection now at 1.50pm. The big cover is off. Only the pitch over remains on, which they have started to work on

1.30pm That 1.15pm inspection was stillborn because there is a drizzle on and the covers remain on. They are expecting more rain too, I think

1.10pm Brydon says they are now covering the whole square. Must be expecting more rain. Don't know what that does to the 1.15pm inspection

"I'm glad we lost 10 minutes of play so that we could sit here and watch the covers come back on after lunch. Just play when you can - it's quite simple.." Well said, Dean. Don't walk off until it gets heavy enough to leave. New ball, old ball, close to new ball, close to lunch... doesn't matter.

Although I must reiterate - as I said earlier - this is not definitely a consequence of Smith's chat with Gould. We don't know what was said and heard there, but ultimately we have lost 10 minutes. Ten minutes that Pakistan wouldn't have minded playing.

Jeff: "I rather imagine the umpires consulted Smith on the catering and if they would be risking underdone pork, seafood or poultry by taking an early lunch."

1pm The session timings, meanwhile, have gone bonkers, and I have no idea when it will be tea and when it will be stumps. I suppose with 15 minutes lost so far, we can go 45 minutes into overtime, which should mean we can play till 6.15pm, provided there are no more rain breaks. Speaking of which, the covers are still on and we are not resuming this second session on time. There will be an inspection at 1.15pm

Given how it is not raining - not enough to not inspect the conditions at any rate - it makes the early lunch look sillier. They could have easily played on for 10 minutes when they did go off

Brydon Coverdale confirms he can see a very light drizzle at the MCG

12.55pm Welcome back. A lot of reaction to the early lunch shenanigans.

Akib: "I suppose Pakistan would be well within their rights to stay in the pavilion until it's bright and sunny and all the clouds go away... in case it "might rain". .. same way umpire decided they should take an early lunch.. because it "might rain"... utterly preposterous and shambolic... are England, India and Australia just making the rules up as they go along now??"

Steve: "As an Australian supporter, I'm not at all impressed with odd decisions coming from the umpires in this series (this early lunch, playing extra time under lights in 1st test). They at least give the appearance of unfairly favouring the home side. It's not cricket as I'd wish it to be."

Aoun: "I find this early lunch really unfair and disappointing. Clearly Smith didnt want new ball to get wet so he spoke to umpires about early lunch. Weather conditions are part of test match and you just have to deal with it. He should have kept bowling with old ball till its official lunch time. If I was captain of Pakistan team, I would have a chat with umpire and tell them that if you are OK to take early lunch then I would take tea now as I dont want my batsmen to bat in overcast conditions? Why favor one team. Not fair..."

[kingwilly]

2.05pm They decided on a 2.15pm resumption before it began to drizzle again. Covers back on

2pm Covers coming off now. Not sure of an inspection time

bloody Melbourne weather.

[kingwilly]

2.50 pm Still playing the waiting game, although we are informed that the next inspection is at 3.10 pm.

2.40pm "The fourth umpire is out in the middle holding a brolly and gazing forlornly at the covers," says Mel Farrell. Still some time from resumption

2.30pm Covers are still on. No change is status. Will let you know if an early tea is called for

2.05pm They decided on a 2.15pm resumption before it began to drizzle again. Covers back on

[kingwilly]

Play back on, two additional wickets. Azhar Ali still in.

5/254

[kingwilly]

Pakistan on top right now.

Pakistan 433/7 (124 ov) at Lunch Day 3. Surely they'll declare now ?

[kingwilly]

brutal.

12.32pm What a session for Pakistan: 22.4 overs and they have plundered 123 runs. The last 10 overs have brought them 88 runs. Sohail Khan has been brutal, Azhar delightful. Sohail has brought up his maiden fifty,he has added the highest eighth-wicket partnership for Pakistan against Australia, and Azhar is just four short of just the fourth double-century by an away batsman at MCG

[kingwilly]

Surely they'll declare now ?

Nope. Gave Azhar Ali his double. One of only four away batsman ever to score 200+ at the MCG and the second highest. Also the highest ever score by a Pakistani batsman in Australia.

205 not out.

Pakistan have left Aus 443 to chase in first innings.

[Mickmac]

Aust 4-395 after 92 overs, amazing run rate. Warner 144 off just 143 balls. Khawaja unlucky to miss another one, out for 97.
Hope Smith gets another century, give the Poms yet another taste of what is in store for them next year. lol

[kingwilly]

I just cannot see this game ending in a result. Not with 5 sessions left and rain on the way.

[cyrille]

Which of course is not unconnected with the rapidity of the scoring rate.

Pakistan are just going through the motions.

[kingwilly]

Pakistan are just going through the motions.

Which is often a subcontinental trait, when they need to learn to play to win, rather than not to lose.

Anyway, rain now.

ho hom.

[kingwilly]

Aussies 6/600 - 5th day still the first innings.