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Mikey that was an interesting tactic playing on last night, but what I found more perplexing was the way Saker and the coaches threw Smith under the bus for trying that tactic in their press conference at the end of the day (See the articles today in the news)??????

It still seems mixed messages, sure they can be upset but keep it in house and learn from it, don't burn people in the media just because the guy made a mistake by trying to press home an advantage he thought he had.

The best way to learn at times is to make mistakes

2 dropped catches at second slip plus a couple of blunders behind the stumps by the backstop haven't helped the cause!

The unthinkable may happen, they only need 60 with 2 wickets still left. This will be a massive blow to Australian cricket if they lose this game after the South African series but how would Micky Arthur enjoy it do you think?

Pakistan now only need less than 50 to win with 2 wickets in hand.
They have scored over 440 in the 4th innings one of the highest in history.
Once again Nathan "Nice Garry" Lyon struggles to have any impact on the last day of a Test match when a spinner should be really coming into play.

Starc and Hazlewood back. My mind goes back to Edgbaston 2005. Its harder for the batting team as you get closer to the target. Hopefully that factor will work for the Aussies this time.

and Wade drops another catch, hopefully this will be his last test

Pakistan all out for 450 chasing 490.....was never in doubt!

As you say BH, Lyon would have to be under scrutiny for his inability to get wickets in the 2nd innings of tests. In his favour is that no other spinner is bashing the door down at the moment in Shield cricket and there wont be any more first class games in Australia till February!
The fact that Wade is test keeper is a bit of an indictment on the other keepers in Australia. Thank heavens for Starc and his ability to produce a ripper of a delivery that removed Shafiq which then got us over the line.

Steve Smith

That was either one lucky decision to declare early - or you are one astute cookie

Almost snatched defeat from the jowels of victory there geez

AM, good points you raise, the curator shaved the pitch because he didn't think it would last 5 days and the ball would hoop around under lights. Outside of the packies effort on day two what this test has shown us is that if your patient and have good technique then you can bat in any conditions

So the biggest question out of the first test is this.

"If our bowlers need to bowl 140+ overs in the 4th innings at the Gabba to get 10 wickets, and their frustrated because the ball became soft, and the wicket had nothing in it, are they likely to get any wickets in india where the pitches are flat, the balls are soft and the quicks don't get a lot of help."

We don't have a spinner of any sort in Australia that is suitable to play test cricket and get wickets, or at least build pressure. Lyon bowls to fast, to straight and around the wicket to often