Pakistan skipper Shan Masood asserted that ‘positives’ need to be looked at after the side’s 79-run loss in the 2nd PAK vs AUS Test at the MCG. The hosts sealed the three-match series 2-0, thanks to a fifer from Pat Cummins and a four wicket haul from Mitchell Starc. Masood, along with Agha Salman and Babar Azam, were the only batsmen to display a fightback against the hosts.
PAK vs AUS: Masood asserts ‘bigger picture’ narrative
Speaking at the post-match presentation, Pakistan skipper Masood said that the bigger picture needs to be looked at while noting that there were many positives to take away from the game. Reflecting on how the game turned over the course of four days, Masood praised his side for fighting till the end. He, however, lamented the inability of the batters to convert good starts and fifties to hundreds, noting that it was the blueprint with which he wanted the team to play.
“We have to look at the bigger picture. There were a lot of positives. If you give a quality team like Australia a sniff, which we did, we might not have been chasing so many today. Fighting till the end, that’s something we have to take forward. It’s a reflection of four days, the game kept turning. We were fortunate to win the toss. Were leading with the bat when me and Abdullah were batting, Cummins came back with that spell, that’s why he’s one of the best bowlers. We have taken 20 wickets, that’s a box ticked. Everyone got starts, there were some nice fifties, but you want quality hundreds. But this is the blueprint with which we want to play Test cricket. They are ruthless, you want to convert fifties into hundreds. They have some world-class bowlers. WTC, every Test counts. It’s about the finishing touches. Groundsmen did a wonderful job, one of the better Test pitches, something for everyone,” Shan Masood said at the post-match presentation.
Cummins leads Australia’s assault in epic win
Pakistan began their run-chase in the 4th innings after bowling out Australia for 262 runs in their 2nd innings. Skipper Shan Masood was the only batsman who stood tall, scoring a 60-run knock before he was dismissed. Pat Cummins was the pick of the bowlers for the hosts as he secured a five-wicket haul, picking up his 250th Test wicket en route to the tremendous feat.
The visitors lost both openers – Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq – cheaply as their 2nd innings commenced. Babar Azam (41) tried his best to stay for long at the crease but was ultimately castled by Josh Hazlewood, leaving the former Pakistan skipper with no half-centuries in 2023.
Agha Salman tried to fight back the Aussies with a valiant 50 before he became the penultimate man to be dismissed. Two successive wickets off consecutive deliveries ensured Australia the emphatic win in the 2nd Test at the MCG. Australia skipper Pat Cummins finished with figures of 5/49 from his 18 over spell. Mitchell Starc, on the other hand, added four scalps to his name to finish with figures of 4/55. Mitchell Marsh added one wicket to his name, ensuring that the pacers shared all the spoils in the 2nd innings.
