Psycho
MPA (400+ posts)
Aus 88 All out..Ist Innings.....
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Ricky Ponting will be questioning his decision to bat first at Headingley after Australia's top order was blown away by inspired swing and seam bowling from Pakistan. Mohammad Asif and Umar Gul claimed two wickets apiece after Mohammad Aamer made the opening incision and there was even a maiden Test scalp for Umar Amin as Australia stumbled to lunch on a disastrous 73 for 6.
It was brave call from Ponting at the toss after torrential overnight rain and a distinctly overcast start to the morning. Headingley is another venue where overhead conditions are as important as the surface and Pakistan's frontline pace trio were often unplayable as they made the ball move late off the seam. There were unnerving similarities to last year's Ashes Test at Leeds when England collapsed to 72 for 6 on the opening morning.
In scenes reminiscent of the days of Wasim and Waqar, the bowlers didn't need any help for the first five wickets, which included four lbws, but five minutes before the interval Kamran Akmal gloved an excellent catch to remove Marcus North as Amin's introduction proved a masterstroke from new captain Salman Butt. Amin had only six first-class wickets to his name, but his gentle medium-pace drew a loose push from North and the dismissal summed up the early fortunes of both teams.
The initial overs hadn't hinted at the drama to follow as Pakistan's new ball pair eased into their work and struggled to locate the ideal lines. But Simon Katich's departure changed the picture as he shuffled across the crease against Aamer and for once missed the ball to collect a rare failure. Ponting then survived a huge lbw appeal first ball when Rudi Koertzen, standing in his final Test before retirement, correctly adjudged the delivery would have passed just over middle stump.
However, Shane Watson followed in the next over when he was plumb in front to Asif. He was reluctant to leave the crease but replays showed his bat was nowhere the ball. Ponting and Clarke were often playing at fresh air as they tried to rebuild with both batsmen regularly squared up by late movement.
Aamer was rested after a five-over opening burst but his replacement, Gul, maintained the pressure and, unlike at Lord's, quickly located a full length. He ended Clarke's struggle when the vice-captain played all round a straight delivery after beginning the over with two flat-footed wafts.
Asif was given an extended spell and the move paid huge dividends when he nailed Ponting lbw for the second time in a row. He found late movement into Ponting, who lunged onto the front foot, and the ball was heading for middle and leg as Pakistan's bowlers continued to leave the fielders redundant.
Hussey has rescued Australia from many a hole - often against Pakistan - but this time he was powerless to arrest the slide as Gul brought one back into his front pad, although subsequent replays showed Koertzen had erred on this occasion and leg stump would have been missed.
Butt could quite easily have stuck with his three main quicks through to the lunch break, but Pakistan captains are known for their curious decisions. When North fell to Amin, Butt had a little look skywards during the team celebration and he could never have imagined his first morning in charge would bring such success.
Pakistan 1 Salman Butt (capt), 2 Imran Farhat, 3 Azhar Ali, 4 Umar Amin, 5 Umar Akmal, 6 Shoaib Malik, 7 Kamran Akmal (wk), 8 Mohammad Aamer, 9 Umar Gul, 10 Danish Kaneria, 11 Mohammad Asif
Australia 1 Shane Watson, 2 Simon Katich, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Clarke, 5 Mike Hussey, 6 Marcus North, 7 Tim Paine (wk), 8 Steven Smith, 9 Mitchell Johnson, 10 Ben Hilfenhaus, 11 Doug Bollinger
(clap)(clap)(clap)(clap)(clap)(clap)
Ricky Ponting will be questioning his decision to bat first at Headingley after Australia's top order was blown away by inspired swing and seam bowling from Pakistan. Mohammad Asif and Umar Gul claimed two wickets apiece after Mohammad Aamer made the opening incision and there was even a maiden Test scalp for Umar Amin as Australia stumbled to lunch on a disastrous 73 for 6.
It was brave call from Ponting at the toss after torrential overnight rain and a distinctly overcast start to the morning. Headingley is another venue where overhead conditions are as important as the surface and Pakistan's frontline pace trio were often unplayable as they made the ball move late off the seam. There were unnerving similarities to last year's Ashes Test at Leeds when England collapsed to 72 for 6 on the opening morning.
In scenes reminiscent of the days of Wasim and Waqar, the bowlers didn't need any help for the first five wickets, which included four lbws, but five minutes before the interval Kamran Akmal gloved an excellent catch to remove Marcus North as Amin's introduction proved a masterstroke from new captain Salman Butt. Amin had only six first-class wickets to his name, but his gentle medium-pace drew a loose push from North and the dismissal summed up the early fortunes of both teams.
The initial overs hadn't hinted at the drama to follow as Pakistan's new ball pair eased into their work and struggled to locate the ideal lines. But Simon Katich's departure changed the picture as he shuffled across the crease against Aamer and for once missed the ball to collect a rare failure. Ponting then survived a huge lbw appeal first ball when Rudi Koertzen, standing in his final Test before retirement, correctly adjudged the delivery would have passed just over middle stump.
However, Shane Watson followed in the next over when he was plumb in front to Asif. He was reluctant to leave the crease but replays showed his bat was nowhere the ball. Ponting and Clarke were often playing at fresh air as they tried to rebuild with both batsmen regularly squared up by late movement.
Aamer was rested after a five-over opening burst but his replacement, Gul, maintained the pressure and, unlike at Lord's, quickly located a full length. He ended Clarke's struggle when the vice-captain played all round a straight delivery after beginning the over with two flat-footed wafts.
Asif was given an extended spell and the move paid huge dividends when he nailed Ponting lbw for the second time in a row. He found late movement into Ponting, who lunged onto the front foot, and the ball was heading for middle and leg as Pakistan's bowlers continued to leave the fielders redundant.
Hussey has rescued Australia from many a hole - often against Pakistan - but this time he was powerless to arrest the slide as Gul brought one back into his front pad, although subsequent replays showed Koertzen had erred on this occasion and leg stump would have been missed.
Butt could quite easily have stuck with his three main quicks through to the lunch break, but Pakistan captains are known for their curious decisions. When North fell to Amin, Butt had a little look skywards during the team celebration and he could never have imagined his first morning in charge would bring such success.
Pakistan 1 Salman Butt (capt), 2 Imran Farhat, 3 Azhar Ali, 4 Umar Amin, 5 Umar Akmal, 6 Shoaib Malik, 7 Kamran Akmal (wk), 8 Mohammad Aamer, 9 Umar Gul, 10 Danish Kaneria, 11 Mohammad Asif
Australia 1 Shane Watson, 2 Simon Katich, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Clarke, 5 Mike Hussey, 6 Marcus North, 7 Tim Paine (wk), 8 Steven Smith, 9 Mitchell Johnson, 10 Ben Hilfenhaus, 11 Doug Bollinger
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