Follow UsAustralia’s first away outing since 2019 got off to a forgettable start as the Pat Cummins-led side, after losing the toss, were put to the sword on a flat wicket by a spirited Pakistan side. Taking Abid Ali’s place in the XI, Imam-ul-Haq marked his return to the Test side in style as the southpaw struck a sensational ton - the first of his career - to put the hosts in full command in the first Test. A 105-run opening stand set the tone for Pakistan, but the Aussies endured non-stop punishment as Azhar Ali and Imam also ended up putting an unbeaten 140-run stand for the second wicket.
Australia endure arduous first session as Pakistan openers shine
On what looked like the perfect pitch for batting, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam had no hesitation in opting to bat first after winning the toss. Pat Cummins admitted that he, too, wanted to bat, but was optimistic of Australia's three-man pace attack and Nathan Lyon, being able to make some early inroads.
There was decent carry early on for the quicks, and the visitors were on the money in the first 30 minutes, making life difficult for the Pakistan batters. However, the first 10 overs turned out to be a red-herring for Australia, who soon encountered the grim reality that is bowling first on a flat wicket in the subcontinent.
The spin of Nathan Lyon was introduced into the attack as early as the 7th over, but while the off-spinner did trouble the two openers - Imam and Shafique - early on, the batters soon settled, post which they started taking the attack to the 34-year-old. After the first 5 Lyon overs cost just 13 runs, Shafique and Imam consciously went after the off-spinner, taking 30 off the following 5. And this onslaught on Lyon pretty much set the tone for the session, as with the pacers struggling to extract anything from the wicket, bat started dominating proceedings.
Hazlewood, Starc and Cummins all had decent bursts where the batters were threatened occasionally, but neither bowler was able to trouble the openers consistently. In fact, the negligible purchase the seamers were getting forced Cummins to go to the part-time off-spin of Travis Head as early as the 17th over.
Imam-ul-Haq, playing his first Test since 2019, raced to 50 after a slow start, and together with the impressive Shafique, he put up a 100-run stand in the first session to kick-start the series in style.
With two overs left for lunch, Pakistan looked all set to finish the first session wicketless, but six shy of a third Test fifty, young Abdullah Shafique perished for 44, miscuing one off Lyon whilst attempting to get to his fifty in style.
But despite the late blow, it was the hosts that ended the first session on a high, piling on 105 runs for the loss of just one wicket.
Imam, Azhar Ali pile misery on Australia deliver Pakistan the perfect first day
For the visitors, the timing of the wicket of Shafique was perfect, for it meant that they had a new batsman to bowl to, at the start of the second session. But after entering the post-lunch session with optimism, the Australian bowlers were completely demoralized and deflated by the end of the second session, in which Azhar Ali and Imam ground them mercilessly.
66 runs were all that were scored in the session, but it turned out to be a deflating period for the visitors, for the hosts had complete control. Azhar Ali and Imam were untroubled for the entirety of the 90 minutes, and the pair nearly batted with 100% control. The Australian seamers tried everything, including employing the short-ball plan, but they simply weren’t able to get through the two batters.
Pakistan went to tea at 171/1, and while the visitors hoped that reverse-swing would aid them in the final session, it just never came about. All of Cummins, Hazlewood and Starc toiled hard, but neither bowler got any help. Lyon started the game off well but he too fizzled as the day progressed, not getting the grip, bite and bounce he desired.
They were put to the sword by Azhar and Imam, both of whom were irresistible. Imam, in particular, played a near-perfect knock to bring up his maiden Test century, marking his comeback to the Test side with a special ton.
Pakistan went to stumps losing just one wicket, having accumulated 245 runs.