WHEN Pakistan last played Australia in a Test series, way back in October 2002, Waqar Younis was in-charge of these no-hopers in what was supposed to be a ‘home’ series in the so-called neutral territories of Colombo and Sharjah.
It was a Pakistan outfit short on confidence and manpower since seasoned campaigners like Wasim Akram, Saeed Anwar and Inzamamul Haq were missing for one reason or the other. The end result: a 3-0 drubbing that inevitably ‘forced’ Tauqir Zia, the PCB chief, to call it quits.
Of course, it’s another story how Tauqir extended his term in the PCB office at the intervention of cricket board’s patron, the President of Pakistan. But what eventually caused the normally suave Tauqir to hide his face in ignominy was the deplorable capitulation in the first of the two back-to-back Tests in Sharjah.
Electing to make first use of the placid track in bright sunshine on a hot and humid day, Pakistan’s first innings lasted just 31.5 overs. After 148 dramatic minutes, the entire team was back in the hut, having accumulated a hard-to-explain 59 all out in conditions which were anything but bowler-friendly.
If that all-time low score in Pakistan Test history was not enough, even more sensational were the events the following day of the second Test. Not only Pakistan got themselves involved in a two-day Test for the first time, their second innings barely passed into the third hour as they were decimated by an innings and 198 runs.
This time they mustered 53 in 24.5 overs while resisting the Aussie quartet of Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, Andy Bichel and Shane Warne for a mere 121 minutes all told. To add insult to injuries, Abdul Razzaq, Pakistan’s top-scorer with 21 in the first innings, retired hurt in the second when a Lee thunderbolt struck him on the wrist.
It was a surrender that was not only mystifying but quite difficult to digest, especially after a gutsy performance in the first Test in Colombo when only 41 runs separated the teams.
Not surprisingly, Australia cantered to another comprehensive victory in the final Test by an innings and 20 runs in temperatures scaling the 40 Celsius. Fortunately, Pakistan topped the 200-run mark in both innings.
Australia have generally being tougher than their opponents, more so in the last 10 years. Their phenomenal achievements have seen them attain new heights in the world cricket order. Undisputed top rankings in both forms of the game on the ICC Test and One-Day championship tables is a testimony of sheer hard work and perseverance.
Even then, Australia’s dominance in Test cricket around the globe has been remarkable by any yardstick. They have mastered the previously unfamiliar conditions in places such as Sri Lanka and India, as illustrated by the away series wins this year.
The recent tour to India saw them conquer the final frontier, a mission Steve Waugh, the former Australia captain, failed to accomplish despite a burning desire after the 2001 heartbreak.
Pakistan will shortly embark upon another gruelling trip Down Under where they will meet Ricky Ponting’s world champions in a three-Test series, followed by the usual dose of triangular One-Day matches against Australia and the West Indies.
As always the topic of discussion would be as to how quickly the Pakistanis adapt to the Australian playing conditions. But, in my view, the question of mental preparation will ultimately test them in what are otherwise excellent cricketing environment. Pakistan are often found lacking in rational thinking.
Pakistan launch their 10th Test tour of Australia in Perth on December 16 on arguably the bounciest track in the world. The remaining Tests take place in Melbourne and Sydney, the two venues which have been kinder to Pakistan since all their Test wins have been in Australia’s largest cities, the last coming in November 1995 on a Sydney turner.
In contrast, Pakistan have finished second best in all four Tests they had played at the Western Australia Cricket Association (WACA) Ground. One of the best batting line-ups that Pakistan ever assembled crumbled for 62 in the first innings of the 1981-82 series when pacemen Dennis Lillee and Terry Alderman combined to throttle the Pakistani batsmen with late swing and lateral movement as well as steep bounce.
In the latest Perth Test, Pakistan were unable to last beyond three days of the one-sided encounter in November 1999 as pace trio of McGrath, Damien Fleming and Michael Kasprowicz took all but one wicket. Australia seldom let the initiative slip away after Pakistan folded up for 155 following Wasim Akram’s decided to bat first.
Ponting atoned for three successive ducks in the previous two Tests, including a pair in the second Test at Hobart, with a magnificent 197 in seven hours of application while helping Justin Langer (144) put on a record 327 after Australia lost four wickets for 54 runs.
Although Pakistan lost the rubber 3-0, cynics maintained that they were desperately unlucky in the Hobart Test. Australia pulled off one of the most stunning victories even by their lofty standards after being reduced to 126 for five, chasing 369. But Langer (127) and Adam Gilchrist, in his second Test, defied the odds and contentious umpiring from Peter Parker to share the series-deciding partnership worth 238 runs.
After a belligerent start to his Test career in Brisbane where he blasted 81 off 88 balls, Gilchrist further confirmed his emphatic arrival on the big stage with a match-winning 149 not-out off only 163 deliveries.
Pakistan cricket have gone through a mixed period since the post-2003 World Cup. Inzamam, definitely in the twilight of an impressive career, has been burdened with the captaincy for well over a year after Rashid Latif’s controversial exit following an unsporting claim to a catch during the Multan Test against Bangladesh in September 2003.
Inzamam, ironically, got a new lease of life as an international star, in the same match in which Rashid made his last appearance. Multan’s famous son played the innings of his carrer to salvage his Test future with a masterly unbeaten 138 as Pakistan won with just one wicket to spare.
Pakistan, still learning ways and means of working with their English coach Bob Woolmer, are better advised to rely on experienced hands rather than relying on the younger brigade through a searching make-or-break examination. Australia is one place where experiments seldom click because the Aussies never allow newcomers to settle down.
However, Woolmer would be the first one to admit that there is no harm in learning from the mistakes of the past. There is a noticeable change in the attitude of his charges. They appeared more focused as Pakistan battled to victory in the second Test against Sri Lanka without the firepower of Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami. Nevertheless, beating Australia is not everyone’s cup of tea. Not in recent times and certainly not in their own backyard. Pakistan have merely emerged victors four times in 26 Tests in Australia with 14 years separating the last two wins.
The mental toughness of the Australians is unmatched in world cricket. And it was this asset that held them in good stead in India apart as clinched their first series in that country since 1969.
Such is the strength of team under the able guidance of John Buchanan, known among his players as the ‘crazy coach’, that the world champions are facing serious selection dilemma. Even Clarke, who made a startling debut in India, is unsure of commanding a place in the playing eleven.
Pakistan are the obvious underdogs in the prevailing circumstances. Only Inzamam, Youhana, Razzaq and Shoaib Akhtar had previous experience of playing Test in Australia among the players who are certainties for the tour.
