Image Credit- CA
Mitchell Starc has experienced setbacks. Well, Pat
Cummins is Pat Cummins. 500th wicket was claimed by Nathan Lyon. In his Test
career, Mitchell Marsh is having his best run yet. David Warner is taking a
last lap.
In this series, several Australians have received
their chance to shine. Josh Hazlewood was next in line. Fair enough, there was
more to be said about his delivery to Babar Azam in the second innings at the
MCG, but it was somewhat overshadowed by Australia’s overwhelming win.
Australia crumbled to give up a 14-run advantage in
the first innings, but Hazlewood had already opened his account when Shan
Masood poked at his second delivery of the game. Now, with ten minutes
remaining on the third night, Cummins threw the ball to him once more. Even
though the spell lasted only one over, it was an exceptionally effective one as
he claimed three wickets to shatter an already faltering Pakistani innings.
Warner received a nick, the off and middle stump was
severely damaged, and there was an edge to slip. The sound of the wicket
increased in volume. A sizable SCG group had lingered long into the day of
pink. Though not exactly the scenes in Cape Town that inspired one of Ravi
Shastri’s already-iconic quotes, this was Test cricket on fast forward.
Australia was six down in the first innings of the
final session, while Pakistan was seven down in the second, needing a miracle
to win. Aamer Jamal continued to speak optimistically about Pakistan’s future;
but, even with a pitch capable of some trickery, a spectacular display is
required.
Australia was behind in the first innings at home for
the first time since the MCG Test match against India in 2020. Pakistan’s lower
order had also been eclipsed: on the opening day, the visitors’ final wicket
had added 85, and their final four had added 123.
But in the second innings, Australia showed off their
prowess with the ball. To reduce Abdullah Shafique to a couple, Starc unleashed
a first-over masterpiece that slithered back between his bat and pad. The SCG
had regained its voice, and you had to worry if the home team would go on an
unstoppable rampage.
Like Shafique, Saim Ayub had been playing in pairs
when he suddenly decided to show off his T20 abilities. He took Starc for six
in the same way after scything him through backward point. He took Cummins over
mid-on to welcome his first ball of the innings.
Australia were getting a bit agitated when Lyon
trapped Ayub leg before wicket after burning a review for being caught behind
Babar Azam. Babar’s poor series came to an end three overs later when he edged
a drive against Head. The possibility of establishing a target of about 200 was
fading. It was a speck on the horizon a few minutes later, as Hazlewood wheeled
away in celebration after celebration.
Thus, the score will likely be 3-0. When the scoreline
is all that is discussed in years to come, it would appear to be just another
typical Australian summer’s work. In actuality, it’s been far from that.