After whitewashing the Pakistanis, Australian skipper Ricky Ponting believes his side is ready for the Ashes.
Ponting said his side has put behind the last year’s Ashes disaster and are ready to make amends when they take on England next summer.
“It’s been a great series and a great summer for us,” said Ponting, said after Australia completed a 3-0 whitewash over Pakistan. (more…)
Pakistan are closing in on their first Test victory over Australia in 14 years after restricting the hosts to a slender 80-run lead in the second Test with just two wickets in hand.
The hosts went to stumps at 286 for eight on day three at the SCG, with Mike Hussey unbeaten on 73 alongside Peter Siddle on 10.
The pair have put on 29 for the ninth wicket to give Ricky Ponting’s men a glimmer of hope as they look to avoid their first loss to Pakistan since the 1994/95 series. (more…)
Mohammad Aamer breathed life into the Boxing Day Test with a spell of aggressive and precise pace bowling, but another half-century from the dependable Shane Watson restored Australia’s position of dominance. Having played a leading role in guiding Pakistan past the follow-on target earlier in the day, Aamer returned with the new ball to dismiss Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey in the final session before engaging in a fearsome, though ultimately unsuccessful, duel with Watson.
His bowling, in union with the miserly Mohammad Asif, at one stage, reduced Australia to 3 for 40 in their second innings, but the settling influences of Watson and Michael Clarke allowed the hosts to add a further 71 runs without loss by stumps. That took Australia’s overall lead to 307 with two days to play, almost certainly ensuring that Pakistan will face a ground record fourth-innings target when sent into bat sometime on Tuesday. (more…)
Pakistan lost Imran Farhat and Salman Butt with Pakistan still needing 320 runs to win the first Test at the MCG.
Chasing a mammoth target of over 400 runs, Pakistan has scored 101 for the loss of two wickets.
Imran Farhat was the first wicket to fall when he was out leg before to Doug Bollinger for just 12 runs.
Salman Butt was out leg before to Johnson for 33.
Faisal Iqbal is batting on 41 with captain Mohammed Yousuf batting on 17.
Earlier, Shane Watson scored an unbeaten 120 as Australia declared at 225 for eight in their second innings.
Watched by his parents, Watson – who already has scores of 96, 89 and 93 this summer – converted his seventh 50 into triple figures for the first time. (more…)