Image Credit- Getty
Although there isn’t much cause for hope based on the
scorecard, Pakistani fast bowler Hasan Ali has always made an effort to see the
silver lining. And 187 for 3 isn’t exactly the scoreline Pakistan will have
wished for after winning the toss and putting Australia in under overcast skies
on a gloomy Boxing Day in Melbourne where the team struggled mightily for the
reward of just three wickets in 66 overs despite prodigious swing and several
moments of play where Australia’s batters looked shaky.
Hasan, though, felt Pakistan’s discipline and ability
to keep Australia shackled meant they retained the upper hand. “We are a
bit ahead of them right now,” he said at the post-match press conference.
“Honestly, it was a good day as a bowling unit. We are a bit unlucky we
haven’t got enough wickets, but the best thing is we have not given them enough
runs. We’re looking forward to tomorrow, and restricting them to the minimum
possible score.”
Shan Masood, the captain of Pakistan, had essentially
set a challenge for Hasan and the other fast bowlers. His Pakistan side had
decided to drop their only specialist spinner, Sajid Khan, from the starting XI
for the Test, making it an all-seam attack for the second straight game, after
reducing the roster for the match to XII a day earlier. His decision to bowl
and win the toss was an indication that he wanted them to work for him.
Hasan could claim that he did just that, given that he
was benched for the opening Test in favour of the untested duo of Khurram
Shahzad and Aamer Jamal. He was Pakistan’s first-choice bowler and, as
Australia’s openers were starting to become a little loose, he clamped down on
the scoring pace. Thanks to favourable overhead conditions, he was able to
create movement in the air and, when combined with impressive seam movement, he
posed a threat to both of David Warner’s edges.
“There are certain times when the bowlers are a
bit wayward as [we were before lunch], or the bowlers have different
plans,” Hasan said. “But there is always a chance to come back. After
lunch, we had a small discussion, and we were especially good in that period.
We just gave them about 20 runs in that session.”