Pakistan v Australia in the UAE: Test Series

[yuppie]

Hopefully its nothing to serious, but Australia will be thinking about the summer.

[mikesiva]

Shafiq out for 80 as Pakistan pass 400. What's the goal? 600?

[Arthur Crabtree]

First Test wicket for Labuschagne

[mikesiva]

Sohail gets his century!

Pakistan 482 all out

Siddle 3-58

[yuppie]

Siddle selection seems the right one.

[yuppie]

I not to sure how long Finch will last here.

[yuppie]

If Siddle can get 3 more wickets in this series, he will be 12th on Australia's all time wicket taking list in tests, surpassing Grimmet. Grimmet 216 wickets in 37 matches. This is Siddles 63rd test.

[sussexpob]

Siddle selection seems the right one.

Siddle seems to be generally under appreciated in Australia, especially when to an outsider he seems like one of those kind of guys that would volunteer to strap bombs to himself and throw himself in front of an enemy tank, if the needs of the team required it. Very early in his career he bowled himself into the ground, bowling very long spells and trying to keep it tight, while strike bowlers rotated in short bursts at the other end. That loyalty only seemed to devlalue his individual contributions, and certainly held him back as a bowler.

Id like to have seen him start again as a youngster, and seen in a different role what he could have become. Early on, he looked a handy strike bowler, in fact I watched in all those years back against South Africa and thought how the hell are England going to keep this guy out. Hit the seam hard, very good pace, could swing it, great action, tight lines, bit of bounce.... he had all the tools really, but was boxed into such a limited scope by his captains.

I not to sure how long Finch will last here.

Time will tell, but someone like AP I think said of Finch at Yorkshire that he looked a very handy FC player, and could make it in tests.

[andy]

Looks a flat flat pitch, if OZ can get some sort of big first innings score here, then draw is on the cards

[Arthur Crabtree]

Sid has the pick of the figures. The key day tomorrow, I'd guess either side could win the match if they really boss day three.

[bigfluffylemon]

Not as bad as it could have been for Australia, actually. The pitch may be flat, but it's also slow.

Australia do have to bat last, however, and there's plenty of time. They need at least 400 in the first dig I would think.

[andy]

Moved on to 70-0, nothing in the wicket, too flat, it really is

[yuppie]

I guess the concern here is if the pitch suddenly starts to deteriorate exposing either team to an awkward second innings. Presently i can not see that happening, but we are not half way through this test.

If this pitch continues to stay this flat then this has to rank as a huge own goal for Pakistan. Khawaja making runs against spinners, unheard of.

[sussexpob]

Not sure Id write off the wicket at the moment, just turned the game on, and Yasir Shah is certainly getting the ball to spit a bit. Certainly looks like some spin is there.

[yuppie]

The game im watching on a exceptionally poor link seems to be that its slow spin though. Batsman are able to play back comfortably. Though it is a very poor link that keeps cutting out and gets interupted by adverts. Oh and there is no replay. It is very frustrating to watch actually.

100 up for an Australian opening partnership that even one year ago looked about as probable as an Australian ball tampering. How times have changed.

Well batted Finch on your debut test 50 Might he still have a test career.......

And a very rare 50 away from home for Khawaja