OPINION
Follow UsThere is nothing more disappointing than a highly-anticipated event massively under-delivering. The historic occasion of Australia touring Pakistan for the first time this century created quite the buzz in the cricket world, but a ‘dead’ and ‘benign’ pitch in Rawalpindi has resulted in the tour kicking off in the most underwhelming manner imaginable.
An exciting Day 5 could have slightly salvaged things, but the spectators were treated to more bland action as Pakistan batted out 77 overs in the day at a moderate rate, being content with a draw. In all, a staggering 1,187 runs were scored in the match, with the bowlers picking up a mere 14 wickets in 379 overs. One of the more forgettable games of cricket in the past half-a-decade, but it is what it is.
With the caravan set to move to Karachi, we look at what we’ve learned from the five days that were, to put it lightly, dreary.
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Australia need a second specialist spinner - it is no longer a debate
Mid way into the very first day of the game, it became evident that Australia badly missed the presence of a second specialist spinner that could tag-team with Lyon and ask more questions. Interim head coach Andrew McDonald, at the end of the first day, defended the decision to pick a sole specialist spinner, but by the end of Day 5, it was obvious that the Aussies had erred: their seamers, across five days, sent down 114 overs but were able to pick up just one wicket. That Labuschagne, Head, and Smith, between them, bowled 47 overs in the game was also pretty much a giveaway that Australia had got their combination wrong.
It is, therefore, no longer a debate - the visitors *need* a second specialist spinner in Karachi to add more balance, variety, and potency to the attack.
The question, then, is who gets in and who goes out.
As things stand, Queensland leggie Mitch Swepson is the favorite to get in (ahead of Ashton Agar), particularly if the wickets lean towards favoring the batters. Swepson, due to his attacking nature, will provide the Aussies with the x-factor, the ability to make something out of nothing on dead wickets. It was something they missed in Rawalpindi. Swepson, also, has been 'next in line' for quite some time now; it would be a surprise if Agar leapfrogs him.
The more complex decision is who makes way.
Josh Hazlewood was the least threatening bowler in the entire Test, but he provided excellent control nevertheless, maintaining an ER of 2.00 in the game. Hazlewood’s control might be necessary if Australia do indeed opt for Swepson, who generally is on the expensive side due to his tendency to attack.
But at the same time, leaving Mitch Starc out will not be easy for two reasons - one, the damage he could do if there’s reverse-swing on offer and two, the fact that he helps in creating footmarks for Lyon.
The good news for Australia, regardless of which bowler they leave out, is that they will still have three genuine pacers at their disposal due to the presence of Cameron Green, who in the first innings in Pindi showed that he is capable of reversing the ball - at pace - both ways.
Naseem Shah is not quite ready to function as a second seamer
It is never easy walking straight into the Test side on the back of a T20 competition, let alone doing so at short notice. Initially not part of the main squad, Naseem was drafted into the XI by Pakistan following Hasan Ali and Haris Rauf missing out due to injury and Covid respectively.
Undoubtedly Naseem bowled better than what his figures suggest - 1/89 off 21 overs - but what was apparent was that he is not quite ready, yet, to function in this Pakistan XI as a second seamer.
While the youngster did bowl the odd jaffa that troubled the batters, he dished out hit-me boundary balls far too frequently, often erring on his line and length. The 19-year-old bowled the fewest number of balls amongst all seamers in the match, yet conceded 14 fours, the joint-highest. The Aussies took a boundary off Naseem every 9 balls and scored at a rate of 4.20 against him - an alarming figure for even a part-timer, let alone a second seamer.
On the basis of Naseem’s showing in Rawalpindi, it is perhaps only logical to conclude that his place in the side in Karachi will be taken by Hasan Ali, who is fit again. Not only is Hasan Ali vastly experienced and an ideal fit for home conditions, he will also add more firepower to an already-strong Pakistan batting line up.
Pakistan, for the second Test, will also likely have a third seaming option at their disposal, with Faheem Ashraf expected to take the place of Iftikhar Ahmed.
The jury is out on Alex Carey - both the batter and keeper
After a near-perfect debut at the Gabba behind the stumps, Alex Carey has not had the smoothest of rides in Test cricket, as a gloveman. He’s put down multiple catches, has made a fair few questionable decisions and has not been of great help for Cummins with respect to DRS. In the first Test in Rawalpindi he did not enjoy the greatest of matches, putting down one catch while getting as many as 4 DRS decisions wrong (Two wasted reviews, two edges not reviewed).
Australia knew beforehand that Carey was far from the best gloveman in the country, but they saw his inclusion in the side as a major boost to the batting line-up.
Six Tests in, however, the South Australian is yet to live up to his reputation and be a reliable force for the side down the order. The southpaw’s struggles with the bat continued in Rawalpindi as he could only manage 19 on a dead wicket, granted he got one of the better balls in the match (a ripper from the hand of Naseem Shah).
It is, of course, too early and a bit ludicrous to suggest that Carey’s spot in the side is not secure, but lying in front of him is a crucial couple of Tests. He’s been used as a sacrificial lamb by the management at times - being asked to open the batting, do declaration slogging etc - but Carey has so far just not found his footing in the Test arena with the bat, as is evident through his batting average of 20.20 after 10 innings.
The wickets will only get tougher from here, but the need of the hour for the 30-year-old is a defining breakthrough innings that will restore faith in both the fans and the management. With Josh Inglis, a far better gloveman, now lurking in the Test set-up, Carey’s rope might just not be as long as he thinks it is.
