Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) authorities must be aware of the fact that Pakistan team is an "unpredictable" and "inconsistent", as if they want to win, they can win. It has been noted on various occasions that on one day Pakistani batsmen tear apart the world's strongest bowling attack and shatter the world's finest batting line-up, but the very next day they surrender to the weakest team.
Is it not "unpredictability" and "inconsistency". Yes it is which is disturbing the Cricket Board officials since long. The recently concluded second Test was a testimony to what the game experts say about Pakistan team. No doubt, Pakistan have one of the best bowling attacks in the world, but they are the worst fielders and batsmen. Coming to the match, Pakistan were well on the path to victory, but poor fielding and irresponsible batting have thrown the second Test in the lap of Aussies, who won the three-Test series by 2-0.
It was pathetic to see that Pakistan were unable to reach 176-run victory target, and were all out for 139 runs. Once the top order batsmen returned to dressing room after contributing only 77 runs, the entire middle order batting, including skipper Mohammad Yousuf and Misbah-ul-Haq, tumbled in quick succession. However young Umar Akmal was only middle order batsman, who batted well.
The Australian, chasing a 204-run lead in reply to Pakistan's total, were all out for 381, thanks to dropped catches of Michael Hussey, who hammered a match-winning score of 134 runs. Hussey took full advantage of Yousuf's defensive captaincy and a placid SCG pitch to restore Australia's victory prospects.
Hussey and Siddle carried their bats through the first session and at one stage looked set to break the 116-year-old ninth-innings Australian partnership record set by Syd Gregory and Jack Blackham also at the SCG. Pakistan might have dismissed the Aussies within 200 had wicket keeper Kamran Akmal not given chances to Hussey, who batted with confidence and commitment to steer his team to snatch the victory from Pakistan.
However, Australia completed a nerve-shredding 36-run victory over an exasperating Pakistani side to become just the sixth team in the Test history to triumph after trailing by 200-plus on the first innings. Imran Farhat and Salman Butt began the second session in an aggressive mood, taking the attack to the Australians - and Siddle in particular, as they sought a quick kill.
However, in the first innings, a disciplined Pakistani bowling by pacer Mohammad Asif, who completed a career-best six-wicket haul, and fellow fast bowler Mohammad Sami, coupled with much improved ground fielding demolished the hosts batting line-up.
In the second innings again, spinner Danish Kaneria (5-151), medium pacer Umar Gul (3 for 62) and Mohammad Asif (two) shattered Aussies batting line-up. But the batsmen and fielders failed to capitalise the situation. Pakistan might have dismissed the Aussies within 200 had wicket keeper Kamran Akmal not dropped Michael Hussey three times off the bowling of Kaneria.
Australia have achieved this feat twice - against Sri Lanka in 1992, when they overcame a deficit of 291, and South Africa in 1950. England have done it twice as well, including the famous Headingley Test in 1981, while India overcame a 274-run deficit against Australia in Kolkata in 2001. The five instances exclude England's wins against South Africa in 2000, when both teams forfeited an innings each, and Pakistan in 2006.
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