The New Year’s Test at the SCG is underway with Australia enjoying a dream start as they aim to complete a series sweep of Pakistan to send David Warner into red ball retirement.
Pakistan captain Shan Masood won the toss and elected to bat first, but both openers fell for ducks in the first two overs, with Pakistan currently 4-47 with Masood 16* and Mohammad Rizwan 0*.
Mitchell Starc struck on just the second ball of the Test, with Abdullah Shafique (0) swinging at a wide full ball and edging to Steve Smith at second slip.
The very next over Josh Hazlewood dismissed promising debutant Saim Ayub for a duck. It was a superb delivery from Hazlewood that nipped a little and caught an outside edge that was taken by Alex Carey low to his left.
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Australian captain Pat Cummins joined the party moments before the first drinks break, hooping a full delivery into Babar Azam’s front pad. Umpire Michael Gough shook his head, but the Australian successfully overturned the decision following a review, with the Pakistan superstar departing for 26.
“That was elite skill,” former Australian spinner Kerry O’Keeffe said on Fox Cricket commentary.
“Babar was shocked by it, was looking for the ball to move off the deck, suddenly he’s got one to move in the air.”
Cummins then knocked over Saud Shakeel after the drinks break, with the left-hander feathering a length delivery through to wicketkeeper Alex Carey for 5.
“At this level, that’s really soft,” Ashes icon Michael Vaughan said.
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WARNER STILL HOPING FOR BAGGY GREEN RETURN
David Warner will, however, be without his treasured Baggy Green which went missing in transit from Melbourne.
The retiring opener issued a desperate public plea for its return on the eve of the Test, saying: “That’s sentimental to me, it’s something I would love to have back in my hands.”
Kerry O’Keeffe said on Fox Cricket that the drama will serve as an unwanted distraction.
“Look, this is a distraction. Because your Baggy Green, it’s membership to an exclusive club,” O’Keeffe said.
“He’s had the capacity throughout his career to dismiss the outside noise but this is a distraction.
“He values that cap above any other and to be missing that cap on the eve of the Test match will hurt him.”
Nonetheless, O’Keeffe backed Warner to “rise above it” and perform in Sydney.
Speaking to SEN on Wednesday morning, Warner’s father Howard said: “I haven’t heard anything this morning. His video went viral I know that much – everyone in Australia knows about the baggy green.
“Whatever scumbag has taken it is going to have to lay it off very shortly. They’ll find it dumped somewhere.”
‘He’s emotional’: Warner’s dad calls out ‘scumbag’ over missing baggy green
VAUGHAN URGES PAKISTAN TO ATTACK
Former English captain Michael Vaughan said it is imperative that Pakistan takes the fight to Australia in order to have a chance of salvaging a success from this tour in Sydney.
Vaughan was impressed with the pluck shown by Pakistan during the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, highlighting the impact of skipper Shan Masood and keeper Mohammad Rizwan.
He said that Pakistan, which were beaten by 360 runs in Perth and then 79 runs at the MCG, must continue to show aggression against the Australians in the final Test of the series.
“Captaincy is about talking, but sometimes you talk so much that you forget that you have to walk the walk as well. Masood’s certainly done that,” Vaughan told foxsports.com.au
“I think he and Rizwan, who has been a bundle of energy for them. He is someone that I couldn’t believe didn’t play in Perth.
“But to play against this Australian side you need the character and mentality that really has to go. You need players in the dressing room that are willing to puff their chest out and have a pop at Australia.
“If you don’t have that, if you don’t have people who are naturally that way inclined to do that, you’re going to get eaten here.
“I always look at India and they seem to have a fire in the belly when they play here. That’s the way you have to play.
“Somehow when my team comes here in two years time, they have to get that fire, because that is the only way that you can compete with Australia and that means picking players who will have that fire naturally.”
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Akram unloads on ‘rested’ Afridi | 01:24
STAR QUICK RESTED AS LEGENDS TEE OFF
Pakistan pulled a major selection shock by resting star quick Shaheen Shah Afridi for the clash, despite important World Test Championship points being up for grabs.
“That upsets me,” Pakistan legend Wasim Akram said on Fox Cricket.
“The physio said he’s fit, he himself said he’s fit.
“Cricketers should know that Test cricket is the ultimate.”
Former Australian batter Mark Waugh continued: “I know he’s bowled some overs, but it’s Test match cricket. It’s tough. It’s meant to be tough.
“I just don’t get it. He’s your best bowler. He should be playing.”
Australia opted against playing a second spinner in the final Test against Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground, naming an unchanged line-up for David Warner’s farewell match.
Skipper Pat Cummins confirmed Australia’s fast-bowling trio had all recovered well from the second Test in Melbourne four days ago after clinching the three-match series with a tense 79-run win.
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Pakistan have made two changes. There is a Test debut for Saim Ayub, who will open the innings replacing Imam-Ul-Haq while senior fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has been left out for off-spinner Sajid Khan.
“You always have to look at the bigger picture after a game like the MCG. We’ve learned the lessons, at least we’ve put ourselves in those positions from where we could compete in or dominate games,” Pakistan captain Shan Masood said Tuesday.
“It’s now about not repeating mistakes, and if we can put in similar efforts to the one in Melbourne, we’ll be winning a lot of Tests.”
The SCG has a reputation for taking turn, but the hosts did not consider bringing a second spinner into the team to partner Nathan Lyon, Cummins said.
The pitch looked well-grassed on the eve of Pakistan’s final match of their Australia tour, which will also be opener Warner’s 112th and final Test.
“The weather looks pretty good this week and that’s not always the case in Sydney,” Cummins said ahead of the Test, starting Wednesday.
“The groundsman seems happy with where it’s at. It looks like decent coverage of grass, so it should be a good week ahead.”
The Sydney Test has a history of being rain-affected with 26 washed out days, the most of the Australian Test venues. But there is only a medium chance of showers this week.
Meanwhile, Warner made a public plea for the return of his baggy green caps after they went missing from his bag while being transported from Melbourne.
In a post on Instagram, the veteran said some of his possessions got lost in transit.
“Someone has taken my backpack out of my luggage from Melbourne to Sydney … inside this backpack was my Baggy Green cap,” Warner said.
“It’s something that I would love to have back in my hands walking out there this week.”
Warner’s plea for missing baggy green | 02:41
After months of speculation about his place in the team, Warner will get the send-off he desired in his home city after scores of 164, 0, 38 and six in the Pakistan series so far.
“Best-case scenario is a (Warner) hundred and maybe a leg-spinner to take the last wicket of the game out of the rough,” Cummins said.
“If he could score some runs and go off in style with a few fours and sixes, I think that’d be a pretty fitting end. ‘Warner Week’ has started.”
Warner, 37, goes into his final Test having plundered 8,695 runs at an average of 44.58, with 26 centuries and 36 half-centuries.