Five lessons from Pakistan’s defeat against Australia

Misbhaul Haq's men nearly pulled off world-record chase of 490 and eventually lost by just 39 runs

1- Starc is one hell of a bowler

Australian pacer Mitchell Starc helped his team by picking up the crucial wicket of Asad Shafiq on the last morning of the match. PHOTO: REUTERS

Cometh the man, cometh the hour. Just when Australia were starting to nervously glance at the ever-decreasing required runs, Mitchell Starc bowled perhaps the ball of the match to dismiss the superb Asad Shafiq. Without that scorcher, Pakistan may well have won the game.

2- Catches define matches

Both teams dropped catches at crucial times, which proved costly. PHOTO: REUTERS

First Sarfraz Ahmed dropped Steven Smith and the Australian talisman went on to make a century. Then Smith himself dropped Asad Shafiq and he too went on to make a century. You do the math.

3- Shafiq needs to stay at number six

Asad Shafiq became first player in history of the game to score nine centuries while batting at six in the batting order. PHOTO COURTESY: CRICKET AUSTRALIA

Pakistan don’t need to fix what ain’t broke. The number six played the innings of his life and along the way became the player with the most centuries as a number six in Test cricket, ever, of any team. Would be folly to promote him up the order when he provides such a superb foil to Pakistan’s collapses.

4- Never count out Pakistan

Pakistan added 230 runs for the last four wickets and nearly chased down the world-record target of 490. PHOTO: AFP

What a comeback, what a superb comeback. Australia were clearly rattled by the resilience Pakistan showed in the second innings. They were expecting lambs to the slaughter; instead they got men who refused to lie down. For some superb glorious moments, they made even Australia doubt themselves. That takes some doing.

5- Bowlers need to deliver

Pacer Rahat Ali picked just two wickets in the match and gave away 114 runs in 32 overs. PHOTO COURTESY: CRICKET AUSTRALIA

Pakistan have a long and proud history of bowlers, and the likes of Wahab Riaz, Yasir Shah and Mohammad Amir are often considered some of the finest around. It’s time they deliver on that tag, as a unit. There are often flashes of brilliance from one or two of them, but seldom have all of them clicked together for a sustained period of time. Do that in Melbourne and the series may well be 1-1 going into the final game.