Pakistan vs Australia, 1st Test, Australia v Pakistan in UAE, 2018 - CommentaryPAK vs AUS, 1st Test, Australia v Pakistan in UAE, 2018 - Commentary

Harsha Bhogle: I guess this will raise the question of whether the follow-on should have been imposed. But when you bowl a side out in 80 overs in the 1st innings, you have to back yourself to win in 140 overs.

Venu: Great Match... surviving against spin on the 5th day is some unique feat.

Leo Anand: Wondering how captaincy can make a player matured and responsible. "Talking about Paine?"

Naren: Play stops by 5 pm local time or after completing 90 overs? "Play will finish either at 5:15 PM or after the 15 overs are bowled, whichever happens later

CJ: Finally Yasir is doing justice to his selection. Hopefully he will take the final two wickets as well and wrap up things for Pakistan.

Gowtham: "Alright, I am really shocked to see how no one is talking about how the decision by Pakistan not to enforce the follow-on is now costing them the match."

Chandru: "Usman Khawaja would a call from WI board for tomorrow's match against India! :P"

Mustafa Moudi: "Fun Fact: Khawaja got his debut game (5th Test, Ashes 2010-11) replacing Ricky Ponting , who injured his left little finger. Coincidentally, today Khawaja broke his record of 118 Runs, highest runs in Asia, on a day when one more player got injured on his left little finger - Imam-ul-Haq !!!" -- So get ready for a Sydney special seven years down the line. It's coming a full circle

Abhishek: "Why Riaz is not bowling bouncers?"

Raj: Even if Pakistan manage to win this Test, they will have questions to ask themselves. Won the toss, put up very good first innings score - but the match is about to go into it's final session. "Isn't it the beauty of Test cricket"?

Ashish Patil: Turning out to be a more interesting match than we thought on the first day. Good for Test cricket.

Toufiq Mirza: If MS Dhoni starts taking classes on making decisions on reviews, then Sarfaraz Ahmed and Kohli will be the first to attend the class.

Bansi: Khawaja is playing similar innings which Asad Shafiq played in the 4th innings at the Gabba in 2016.

Ritwik: Paine's last few performances are: 2, 9, 12, 15, 5, 3, 1, 7. Clearly he is out of confidence. He needs some runs in his bag, even if he cannot save this match!

Upendra K: This match is going in a similar way as the last Test between India vs England.

GKM: The highlights in Test cricket year has been - Virat conquering England and Uzzie doing the same in Asia

Rakesh C: If Australia are able to avoid a collapse and if they need 150 or so in 40 overs with 5/6 wickets, then i believe they would fancy their chances. "Risky thinking too far ahead"

Sufi Tai: Really impressed by the way Khawaja played spin in both innings. Ricky Ponting mentioned earlier in month that he would be the key against spin in Asia, did justice so far.

Nithin: I still believe Asif and Shah hold the key for Pakistan to win!!

Saddam KK: Hafeez once again proved himself as one of the best weapon in the arsenal

Selva: "Great going by Khwaja and Head. They have survived 23 overs already today and also the dangerous 187."

Raj: "Even if the 4th wicket falls with just 10 overs left in the day, that should be enough for Pak. They should back themselves and fight with spirit."

Ashvarya: "187 approaching!! Be careful Khawaja and Head"

Hazik Anis: "Just can't understand why Sarfraz is not utilizing Hafeez. If two left-handers are present, he should put pressure from both ends. One with Bilal and other with Hafeez. One can spin sharp and the other can drift the ball."

Nasim: "A very common comment, but seeing other keepers usage of DRS, Dhoni should start a coaching institute only for DRS reviews."

Yasir: "Australia at least must score 300+ runs in this innings to get a psychological edge for the remainder of the series even if they don't win this test"

Haseeb: "Sarfaraz has cost Yasir Shah another wicket by going against reviewing. Yasir only needs one wicket to wreck havoc. Honestly Sarfaraz needs to get better at judging the line behind the stumps!"

Aslam S: "@Ahmed The idea of starting with Riaz might be the matter of one wicket. If that happens, Abbas can do what he had done before. 'One brings Ten'"

Shrinik: "Batting out this whole day be must be the only way for Australians from here on, as in the quest of quick runs, wickets will duly fall sooner or later, which they don't have many. And one wicket will be enough for Pakistan to make short work of this fragile Aussie batting line up."

Ahmed Saeed: "Don't know why Wahab is given preference over Abbas to start the bowling. Abbas is the main destroyer"

Bhati: "Regarding the Pitch.. Most of the matches in England haven't gone to 5 days and I haven't seen a single criticism on England pitches!"

Bhavesh Garg: "If Australia really want to win this match or draw this match, they really need someone like ABD and Faf when they showed courage and almost won an impossible match against India."

Pratik: "Amidst all the criticism of a poor test match pitch, this match has gone to 5 day which doesn't happen generally in modern day cricket and more importantly the result can go either way! Though Australia's chances of winning are pretty less, but they can survive? May be! Still should the pitch be criticised?"

Vinay: "It is good to see that both batsmen are looking positive out there in the middle and are not getting into a shell."

Chetan Botre: "I am big fan of Test results. But today I want Aussies to battle it out for a draw, just for the survival of Tests."

Aftab: "@Ajay, but they ain't playing India :P"

Zuber: "Poor bowling change by Sarfraz by removing Wahab as we could see that he was reversing the ball in the LBW appeal review."

Ajay: "Australia needs to do what they have done in the Ranchi Test against India last year."

Vikash: "Australia are now losing wickets to quality fast bowling. Now don't blame this on pitch."

Arsalan Iqtidar: "Muhammad Abbas now needs a wicket more to become the fastest bowler for Pakistan to reach 50 wickets along with Yasir Shah (9 matches)."

Anish Mishra: "87/1 Australia. Jinx."

Sachin Yadav: "If Aus score 70+ runs at current run-rate without losing any wicket, then 300 runs on last day in 90 overs. Smelling some good contest on final day. Provided the middle-order would show some grit unlike the first innings."

Manish Jain: "All the good work done by the openers in the first innings was undone by some pretty ordinary batting by the middle order batsmen. Hope this time their effort does not go wasted."

Nasim: What's the highest 4th innings total ever chased down by a team in the sub-continent? -- 391/6. What's the next two in the list? --> 387/4 by India against England. 352/9 by Sri Lanka against South Africa.

Aldin: "What's the highest 4th innings total ever chased down by a team in the sub-continent?"------ 391/6 by Sri Lanka against Zimbabwe.

RM: "In case of Australia, you have to say 1 wicket brings 10!"

Bilal: "Australia need to bat out of their skin to win this match."

Muhammad Azam: "Both these batsmen are going with good pace, they must add another 70-odd run in the next hour after lunch to make it impossible for the Aussies."

Zahid: "Another quickfire 50 odd runs and then give the ball to Bilal Asif and Yasir Shah."

peter: "Why would Pakistan want to declare after our performance on a pitch that's deteriorating & the chances of Australia getting anywhere near the run chase."

Manish Jain: "What happens to Australia's batting when they come to sub continent despite all the preparations. Lack of application? Lack of confidence?"

Mark rufus: "It's high time Pakistan declare.. it's not going to be too easy and their bowlers (spinners) will need at least 5 sessions to get Australia out and moreover the Australians are in no shape to chase anything more than 400

Ankush Jain: "Interesting to see young debutant bowlers picking more wickets than senior pros."

RM: "@Kartik, I think he is doing okay. On a road like surface which has little for seamers, I think it's a good move, plus he is giving his fast bowlers a rest after lengthy first innings!"

Moryal: "I don't think Pakistan will declare before the last session today irrespective of what score they have got to. And that's a good idea to declare in last session."

Pratik Pathare: "Someone with good aggresive skills should have been promoted instead of Shafiq. Sarfraz would have been a better choice."

Kartik: "Lack of experience for Paine as a captain is coming into play. He hasn't used Siddle today and is changing the bowler after every 4-5 overs."

Rizwan Tahir: "I can tell you Pakistanis were always asking about Haris Sohail ever since he was injured after the 2015 World Cup. The solidity that he brings to this team is similar to that of Misbah and he is someone who is not troubled by pace or swing. Hoping that Imam, Babar and Haris carry Pakistan forward."

Atif: "I think Pakistan should play some aggressive shorts now, add 100 to 120 runs in 20 to 25 overs and that's it..."

Mayukh: "I want to see Ashton Agar in the next Test match. I won't mind 3-spin attack in these conditions."

Hitesh: "The art of playing spin, seam and swing is in severe danger all because of too much white ball cricket due to T20 leagues."

Jhonny: "Pakistan batsmen need to accelerate if they want to win this Test match. Australia are capable of surviving 4 sessions on this pitch."

Samad: "We've seen a number of times Pakistan losing quick wickets in excitement of first innings lead. Hopefully remaining batsmen won't repeat the same mistake."

Peerzada Nayeem: "@Muneeb, The current score is enough for declaration."

James: "Muneeb, my prediction is that Pakistan will want four and a half sessions to bowl Australia out, so 45 overs or so tomorrow, plus 16 tonight. Plenty of time to score 200-220 giving a 480-500 lead."

Ashish Patil: "Very impressed with Imam-ul-Haq. Great find for Pakistan."

Muneeb Rehman: "Can't see any prediction so far. How much target should Pakistan set and declare ?? For me anything around 480-500."

Raki: "Australia's first innings total score is less than Pakistan's first wicket stand."

Haris: "This match is eerily shaping up like the first test in the 2014 series. Big Pakistan total, Australia collapse by spin."

Breeje: "Australia need to bowl tight and not let Pakistan score quickly so that they will get lesser time to bat and have more chance to draw the game.."

Harsh: "First Pakistan Batted Like Australia, then Australia Batted Like Australia, then Pakistan Bowled Like Australia!"

Burhan Azam: "Hafeez was called to add bowling in Tests, but he is proving that he is still all-rounder."

Yasir Mushtaq: "Will Sarfraz force Australia to follow-on?" ----- It will be a surprise, if he will.

Suresh: "Yasir Shah is wicket-less. That is really strange."

Mustafa Moudi: "Head, Labuschagne and Paine together formed James Bond with their respective scores - 007 !!"

Arsalan Iqtidar: "I know its too early to say, but Pakistan should not opt to bat if they have a chance to inflict follow-on. I am not sure why there are less follow-ons in modern day cricket. Teams shouldn't be afraid of chasing a small total in 4th innings!"

Yogesh: "This Dubai track does not show much wear and tear, it suddenly explodes and become a bowling track. It changes its nature completely on day 4 and day 5."----- It has already started to change.

Ajmal Abbasi: My office colleague--a football fan is laughing at me knowing that after watching for five days--this could be a draw ! "Too early to say"

Asrani: Is losing wickets not allowed on this pitch?

Sudhindra: Good batting approach by Australia. Cautious batting to begin and end a session, aggressive in the middle of the session.

Mohan: How long is this Yasir Shah spell? "He's bowled from one end right through today's first session"

Vinay: On a flat Track, Pakistan went with only 4 front line bowlers. So no support for Yasir Shah. Could have added one more left-arm pacer/spinner and the results would have been different

Danish: Well , I would disagree with Siddharth. Sarfraz is just having a bad patch. He is a good captain in the limited formats of cricket. Pakistan do need to think about him being the captain of the Test team because he is too defensive and you don't win test matches by playing defensive cricket.

Raja: I think Pakistan are still on top. Visiting teams often tend to lose wickets in clusters. Pakistan just need to be patient and wait for that opening to pounce upon.

Sidd Dhimaan: Australia is not just saving the match here, they are dominating the scene with a run-rate of around 5 in the last 10 overs. Is the pitch surprisingly getting better to bat on, or are the Pakistani bowlers letting it loose here?

Vineel: The real problem Pakistan are facing is lack of a genuine wicket keeper. Sarfraz has missed a stumping chance and missed out on a review decision. These mistakes could potentially cost Pakistan

Pranav Kaushik: Looking at the present opening combinations and prospects that Australia have in Finch, Khawaja, Renshaw and Warner when he returns, it is disheartening to know that Bancroft's career is effectively ruined. Thanks to poor decision making by his leaders. Spare a thought for him.

Aishvarya: "That's a good start by Finchy. He is curbing his instincts and adapting according to the situation which is extremely important for a Test player."

Anshuman: @GKM- "Part of the reason for Australia's slow run-rate is because they were looking to safely negotiate the last few overs of yesterday's play without losing any wickets."

Rizwan Tahir: "Sarfraz desperately needs a rest. Rizwan may not be as good a batsman but he is lot better than Sarfraz behind the stumps as he showed in the ODI series in Australia."

GKM: "Well all were criticizing Pakistan for their run-rate but Australia doesn't seem to do any better here, still early days but this match seems to be heading towards a draw." ------ Lot of wickets fall on day 4 and day 5 in Dubai so still a long way to go in this match.

Aaqib: "One of these two batsmen need to make a big score."

Haris Khan: "Hafeez will be on moon tonight if he takes one or two wickets before stumps, nice to see PROFESSOR bowling after a long time."

Sitaram: "Happy to see Finch in Test cricket. Hopefully, he will make this opportunity count."

Ibrahim Raipurya: Harris's dismissal was a perfect numeric sequence with the scoreline reading at (456/7).

Kamlesh Adhikary: "Haris Sohail has adapted to the conditions very well. A well deserved century for him."

Basak: Is the third new ball mandatory available after 160 overs? Or is it only available after the second new ball is bowled for 80 overs? "Available only after 199 overs"

Hari: Pakistan's ultra-defensive method has worked for them in the UAE where scoreboard pressure helps because the pitch mostly stays good for 4 days. But it also means that the opposition just needs a good first innings to transfer the pressure right back on Pakistan.

Alexander Carpetos: Australia are feeling the absence of Pat Cummins. Someone who is prepared to get that breakthrough wicket, in trying conditions, against the run of play. No other Australian bowler has been able to do that consistently in the past 12 months.

Abhishek: Any signs of Australia going to bat today? "Only if Pakistan declare"

Junaid: This run rate reminds about the test cricket played in the 90's. Pakistan need to push now...

Nisar Ahmed: So what happens if the umpire says out, the batsman appeals and he's over 3 metres down the pitch? "Stays with the umpire's call"

Nisar: But how about this, Impact does not matter when batsman does not offer a shot? "Impact doesn't matter, distance does"

Ravi Teja: If it's three reds, why it isn't out? Where do the three meters rule came from? "The impact was in front of middle, but Haris was well down the track and Hawk-Eye can't judge it correctly when a batsman is that far forward from the crease, hence, the decision stays with the original call"

Kartik: Should Starc bowl these many overs? He'll be used during Pakistan's second innings as well.

Piyush: Has new ball been taken? "Yes, at the start of the session"

Jaswanth: "Might have got a message from dressing room to up the ante. Both these batsmen scoring runs quickly after the drinks break."

Faizan Fayaz: "Finally some intent here, last 10 overs scoring at 4 runs per over."

Abdul Azeem: "@Karthik: Fourth Innings is tough to play here. Even the target of 150 is very defendable. So delaying things is not in the favor."

Karthik: "I think Aus would be a happier side here. In extremely hot and humid conditions and good pitch to bat on, they have not allowed Pak to get away with things especially with wickets in hand."

Haris Mujib: "Pakistan is the only team in this era which reminds us of Sunil Gavaskar's time."

Balraj: "How many max overs can be bowled with a ball in Test cricket." -- Till it breaks

Ram: "Looks like I've made a mistake by bunking my college lecture to watch THIS match." -- Well you'd be sleeping either way

Arsalan Iqtidar: "I don't think not taking the ball is helping Aussies there. Its their bowlers who are getting tired without taking wickets in Dubai's heat."

Vicky: "The only thing which is going in Pak's favour is they are taking their time and giving pitch enough time to deteriorate."

Smit: "Intent from Pakistan batting is apt for a Monday morning."

Naveen: "Not taking new ball is Aussies playing mind games!!! Pak wont be able to score with old ball and the moment they take new ball, Pak would try to score and there will be a flurry of wickets."

Ravi: "Is Pak's scoreboard is not moving or has Cricbuzz got stuck?" -- Now, now, let's not create panic with the servers

Kumar: "Old ball record must be with MS Dhoni - did not take it for 104 overs in South Africa, and then umpires insisted on a ball change."

Alexander Carpetos: "Why on earth would you make the change of ball mandatory/a requisite after 100 overs? Because it gets hard for batters on a road-like pitch?"

Vijay bhatia: "Don't make the new ball compulsory after 100 overs, but make it a requisite if either one of the teams demands it."

Gaurav Sharma: "Australia have put brakes on Pakistan's run-rate since yesterday's 3rd session, lack of run scoring opportunities is bringing wickets for Australia."

Vinci: "Why not make it compulsory for the new ball to be taken after 100 overs?"

Faizal Raza: "Would like to ask why Babar Azam is not batting...is there an injury concern?" -- He has been demoted to number six

Rizwan Tahir: "I wonder what are the people finding problem with this track? The pitch for the India v WI was a similar highway if not better and India managed 650 in 5 sessions, so there should be no raised eyebrows on this one either." -- It's probably the pace at which things went that people seem to have a problem with

Mayukh: Babar Azam is a top order player and should have been there before Haris Sohail... No point making him bat low... Not a good strategy by the team management...

Gursimran Singh: Pakistan is loosing a trick here, 300-320 could have move the match towards them, completely have gone into the shell, quick wickets tomorrow morning, the match would be back in balance.

Ajmal Abbasi: Waiting for Haris Sohail to bring his Strike rate below 1.

Viral Shah: Where are Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood? 'Injured and undergoing rehabilitation with a view to feature in the India Tests'

Ajay: With the ball is reversing and two new batsmen at the crease, good chance for Australia to bounce back in the last hour's play.

Ajmal Abbasi: Hafeez is another Nelson prey. Wonder how many batsmen so far lost to this magical number?

TUFAIL: Test matches in UAE have always been like this . Quiet first few days and then all of a sudden game changes, like they are playing on some completely different wicket

Balaji charan: Aren't there penalties for fake fielding???? "According to new rules of ICC"?? Yes, if the umpires think so

Muhammad Ijaz Abbasi: It looks like Pakistan will finish today at 290 plus and will declare the innings at around 500 plus. If they attain this level, match will remain one-sided to Pakistan. 'Not unless Australia collapse twice'

Muzammil: What is the highest opening partnership for Pakistan? ' 298 - by Aamir Sohail and Ijaz Ahmed against West Indies'

Deepu: Much like the ball by ball description, we look forward to all the stats you guys put up here, but that seems to be as dry as the Dubai weather today! "It's just such a day when there aren't too many records or too many wickets either"

Pardhu: Why no stats are shown after Hafeez reaching century? Do you guys only do that for India match? I am sure that you won't post my comment. FYI, I am not Pakistan fan but cricket from India. "We do show stats for all matches, India or non-India"

Shivam Goel: With the experience of Azhar and Shafiq yet to come, Pakistan is surely going for a 400+ score.

Hardhik Kumar: "Really good over-rate by the Aussies, considering the heat out there!!!"

MR: "@Mayuk - Going by the same logic, the way Khawaja batted in India, he shouldn't have been there in squad here. My point is, current form matters, it's not only about past records"

Ganesh: "In all these years of watching Australian cricket, one thing I have noticed is that the second spinner never comes back for the next tour. They have to find a way of developing the second spinner and not leave it to Lyon to get it done every time."

Ahmad: "@akhil daya, but Pakistan is also without the services of Misbah and Younis. Both are balanced teams."

Mayukh: "Given the way he bowled in India, Steve O'Keefe should have been there in the squad.."

Mohit: What is a highway strip doing at the center of a cricket ground? I thought it is meant for some grass and mud."

Akhil daya: "Feeling the difference already without smith. The lack of experience is clearly seen with Aussies. Wait for their batting and the difference widens more.."

Safwan Kolsawala: "I really think Aussies have missed the trick by playing just one spinner. Agar would have been helpful on this dry wicket and don't forget he can bat too!" -- Labuschange can bowl, leg-spin that too

M Yasar: "Imam needs to understand that strike rotation in Tests is as important as it is in ODI and T20s."

ved: "Is it a cemented pitch?" -- Almost Reinforced Cement Concrete

Dr. Manishit Singh: "If Aussies have to compete, their fast bowlers need to step up and Starc needs to deliver defining spells of reverse swing."

Yash: "Pujara would be proud of Imam's innings so far."

RAVI RAJYAGURU: "The way Imam bats, Test format will suit him more, he takes time to settle down in ODIs but time is not a restriction as far as Test cricket is concerned."

Aldin: "Hafeez is constantly flirting with that outside edge, he's got to be careful there." -- Well, Hafeez without a flirt is no Hafeez

Vicky: "Disciplined start from both the Aussie bowlers, not trying too much and focusing on their line and length."

Hassan: "Is this Starc's first outing with the Test team in Dubai?" -- Yes, it's his first in Dubai. He's played in Abu Dhabi the last time around though

Mohamad Zain Lakdawala: "Would be interested to know the speeds at which Starc is bowling..." -- Well he's consistently around the 140kph mark

Sandesh: "Looking forward to see Finch in action. His brand of cricket would be exciting to watch. Should have got this chance much earlier."

Commentary not available for this match