I am shocked, actually. This was one I was not expecting. Iconic to the game of Cricket. Such a young age. Thoughts are with his family on their loss.
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I couldnāt believe this when I woke up to this this morning.
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Last night, while I was on the YouTube app, I couldnāt believe this shocking news that have happened. Shane Warne has passed away aged 52.
I remembered watching the 2006-07 Ashes Series where Shane Warne took his 700th Test wicket when he dismissed Alastair Cook at the MCG. This was an iconic moment. Shane Warne finished his International career with 708 Test Wickets. Shane Warne has a great larrikin sense of humour and had a good pride in the Game. The Cricketing community will never be the same. Goodbye Shane Warne, and May he Rest in Peace.
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The 1st Test between Pakistan and Australia in Rawalpindi has ended in a predictable draw.
In a high scoring affair, Australia struggled with the ball, taking only 4 for 728 across the 2 innings,
Pakistanās batters posted 4 centuries to Australiaās 0.
I wonder if the Shane Warne event had an notable impact on Australiaās performance?
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Pakistan were a bit silly to not at least try and bowl australia out in the last innings.
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I find it funny that Sevenās cricket Twitter account used a generic photo of a four-lane highway to describe the pitch at Rawalpindi
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I did wonder if Pakistan would declare at tea and try to bowl Australia out in the last session, but given how flat the pitch was, they knew that was never going to happen.
They were probably hoping to wear out the Australian bowlers a bit more and try to use that advantage for the next Test.
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I think we are so use to having results in test cricket people forget there were a lot more draws in the old days (besides test matches that multiple days washed out). I think the Warne event may have impacted things a bit, but i think Pakistan didnāt want to lose so they didnāt want to take risks. I enjoyed watching Marcus Labuschagne having a go bowling his leggies.
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One of the most boring test matches of all time
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Iāve got no issue with there being a draw after 5 days but when you can tell on day 1 that itās likely going to be a draw and a boring draw at that, then itās not good for anyone. The players, the viewers, the Test Championship all lost with this game. Sure a couple of high scores but are they worth as much as a century batted out in a tough and strategic fashion?
Thereās a draw like the recent Sydney test where it was down to the final overs and all results were possible or thereās a draw like this where itās completely pointless.
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There is already a stand at the WACA named in Rod Marshās honour
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Not surprisingly, the match referee deemed the Rawalpindi pitch that was used in the test match as ābelow averageā and gave it one demerit point.
According to the laws, "when a venue accumulates five demerit points (or crosses that threshold), it will be suspended from hosting any international cricket for a period of 12 months, while a venue will be suspended from staging any international cricket for 24 months when it reaches the threshold of 10 demerit points. Demerit points will remain active for a rolling five-year period.
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Usman Khawaja - take a bow. Khawaja scored a century in Karachi!
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The Karachi test ended in a draw on the final day, after centuries from Pakistani duo Babar Azam (196) and Mohammad Rizwan (104 not out), plus opener Abdullah Shafiqueās 96, thwarted any chances of Australian victory. Australia bowled Pakistan for 148 on day 3, and after declaring early on day 4 yesterday, had more than five sessions to get ten more wickets to win the test (they only managed to take seven). Instead, the home side put up a huge resistance, led by Shafique and Azamās 228-run third wicket partnership. Mitchell Swepson took two wickets in his test debut but also conceded 156 runs in the second innings.
Pakistanās 7/443 is now the 6th highest fourth innings score in test cricket history, and Azamās 196 the seventh highest fourth innings total of all time in test cricket.
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Silly decision from Pat Cummins not to enforce the follow on.
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Who would have thought that Babar Azam put up a huge innings? If Cummins did enforce the follow-on, Azam could have scored a double hundred, and I reckon his side would have narrowly won the test.
He didnāt.
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Australia declared with only 2 down in the 2nd innings, if they had enforced the follow on, they would have had the entire 2nd innings to bat and chase any total needed.
Cummins just doesnāt have the attack to win on slower lower pitches overseas.
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Cummins did not enforce the follow on to give his bowlers a break.