December 28, 2023
Key posts
11.49am‘The runs will come’: Gilchrist defends Carey 11.20amWICKET: Rizwan is out10.35amToday’s sessions10.28amKids, this is cricket without fireworks and flashing bails, and it’s hard10.15amAustralia out to get wickets, play to start at 10.45am10.07am‘He doesn’t know which way it will seam’: Marsh in awe of Cummins9.52am“Wait and see at the moment’: No play yet9.41amCovers on, covers off, covers back on
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11.49am
‘The runs will come’: Gilchrist defends Carey
One of Australia’s great wicket-keepers, Adam Gilchrist, has defended current keeper Alex Carey saying there shouldn’t be any talk questioning his place in the side.
Carey made a Test century at the MCG last Boxing Day Test but has had more modest returns with the bat in recent series.
Alex Carey.Credit: AP
He was dismissed after a brilliant catch from Mohammad Rizwan in the first innings.
“I don’t feel any need to have pressure on Alex Carey, I don’t see any extra burden or expectation on him to do more – he’s reliable, his opinion is highly respected in the team set up,” Gilchrist said on Fox Cricket.
“The runs will come and as long as he is doing his job with the gloves, there doesn’t need to be any more burden on him.”
Pakistan are 7-231 after drinks.
11.41am
Cloud hanging around, so are Pakistan
Aamer has been excellent this morning for Pakistan and has now faced 59 balls for his 11 runs.
Starc has been called into the attack for Cummins while, cloud still hangs over the MCG despite a noticeable breeze making the flags move on top of the scoreboard.
Afridi has made a bright start too hitting two boundaries in his 12 runs.
Pakistan are 7-229, still 89 runs behind Australia’s total.
Shaheen Afridi watches play this morning.Credit: Getty Images
11.27am
Lyon into the attack
Cummins has been praised for the tactics used to lure Rizwan into driving on the up.
He clearly had a plan to get the Pakistan keeper to smash the ball in the air for a catch and it worked a treat.
Lyon is now on at the Shane Warne Stand end.
Pakistan are 7-216.
Nathan Lyon.Credit: Getty Images
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11.20am
WICKET: Rizwan is out
Cummins has his man with Rizwan cracking a half-volley to the fielder.
He is out caught for 42, Cummins has four wickets.
Pakistan are 7-215.
11.16am
Frustrating start to the morning
The Pakistan pair are frustrating the Australians this morning and now the physio has come out to look at Aamer’s back after he took a Cummins short ball in his back earlier on.
They are 25 minutes into play and time has been lost on days one and three, so this has frustrated those watching as well.
“They are frustrating the Australians at the moment,” Mark Waugh said on Fox Cricket.
Rizwan is on 41 and closing in on his century.
Pakistan are 6-209 with Rizwan on 41 and Aamer on four.
Steve Smith of Australia mimics a golf shot as he talks with Usman Khawaja of Australia.Credit: Getty Images
11.01am
Cummins threatening
Cummins is back on and has Aamer Jamal on strike, he has beaten the bat twice this over.
Rizwan is in very good touch and has been fearless in playing shots against Cummins, including a lovely drive in the second over.
Every over that Pakistan keeps batting will frustrate this Australian side.
Pakistan are 6-205 with Rizwan on 38 and Jamal on 3.
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10.50am
Cummins bowling from the start
Pat Cummins has thrown himself into the attack from the start this morning.
A five-wicket haul is there for the taking for Cummins who had 3-37 from 14 overs.
Pakistan are 6-199 after the first over.
10.44am
Play to begin
The umpires and players are walking out to start play.
A goodly crowd has built up too despite it being a little cool and cloudy.
The lights are on as well.
Josh Hazlewood will open the proceedings from the Southern Stand end.
10.35am
Today’s sessions
Day 3 session times
Session 1: 10.45am to 12.45pm
Lunch: 12.45pm to 1.25pm
Session 2: 1.25pm to 3.40pm
Tea: 3.40pm to 4pm
Session 3: 4pm to 6pm
95 overs to be bowled.
Mitchell Starc throws the ball on day two.Credit: Getty Images
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10.28am
Kids, this is cricket without fireworks and flashing bails, and it’s hard
By Greg Baum
For most of Wednesday, a flock of pigeons grazed on the straight drive at the MCG. Periodically, they changed ends, a very cricket sort of exercise. They were rarely disturbed.
Batting was difficult all day. Not impossible, not unplayable, not dangerous as such, but ever demanding in the way implied by Test cricket’s name. A hard pitch and two hard-nosed attacks made it so.
The ball taunted batsmen and sometimes snapped at them like David Warner when fielding in his old sledging days. It was never comfortable. A standard play in the balance of Australia’s first innings was play and miss. Another was play and get hit.
Marnus Labuschagne sets off for a run.Credit: Getty Images
For their last seven wickets, Australia could muster only 114. The Pakistanis took all their catches. Most were sharp, and wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan’s to dismiss opposite number Carey from a thick inside edge would have attracted the maximum degree of difficulty if performed as a gymnastic manoeuvre at the Olympics.
Marnus Labuschagne fought long and doggedly for his 63, but he needs to read up on cricket’s protocols. One of these days, he will stay at the crease so long upon dismissal that a pigeon will settle on him.
Pakistan recovered all those runs for the loss of only one wicket. Then they frittered away their gains, or rather, Australia wrenched them back. Pakistan are not the first touring side to find the going grindingly hard in Australia and they won’t be the last.
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