Kemar Roach woke West Indies from their morning of slumber by sending Ricky Ponting for x-rays and removing the dangerous Shane Watson, but the Australian innings was still in good health at 1 for 217 at tea. In the second session Ponting was struck on the left elbow second ball, staying until he was 23 before retiring hurt, while Watson missed a century again when caught behind for 89.
Ponting headed for a Perth hospital shortly before the tea break for a precautionary x-ray that showed no bone damage and he will be available to bat again later in the day if required. (more…)
Australia completed a nerve-shredding 36-run victory over a willing Pakistani side, thus becoming only the sixth team in Test history to triumph after trailing by 200-plus on the first innings. An obstinate 123-run ninth-wicket partnership between Michael Hussey and Peter Siddle drew Australia back into a contest they appeared to have conceded after a calamitous opening day, and a penetrative final-day bowling display completed one of the great comebacks witnessed on these shores. 
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.
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.
Pakistan lost Imran Farhat and Salman Butt with Pakistan still needing 320 runs to win the first Test at the MCG.
Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s reign at the top of ICC’s ODI batting charts may come under threat from Mike Hussey if the Australian manages to carry his good Test form into the one-day series against Pakistan starting in Brisbane tomorrow.