Story Dubai to the Ashes - Australia play through

[Mrakh]

I have used tour designer to make Australia’s full schedule through to the 2019 Ashes and I will be playing through it. I will also be running Sheffield Shield simulations between Tests (on correct dates) to help inform lineup changes as the game goes on.

More to follow

 

[Mrakh]

October 7th 2018:
A sweltering day at Dubai International Stadium set the scene for Day 1 of the 1st test between Pakistan and Australia. Tim Paine won the toss and promptly decided to bat first.

Session 1 was all Pakistan. A blistering spell from Mohammad Amir taking 2-17 in 5 overs quickly reduced Australia to 2-48. Shaun Marsh 19(34) put up some brief resistance before a doosra from Shadab Khan sent the bails flying. Lunch on Day 1 Australia 3-81.

Session 2 was all about Debutant Travis Head and Usman Khawaja as the two battled through heat and an unwavering spin trio of Shah, Khan and Sohail to put up a partnership of 102(176) before Travis Head was eventually dismissed by Khan for 51(88), a strong debut knock. Tea on Day 1, Australia 4-205

Session 3 saw Mitch Marsh dismissed almost instantly by Hasan Ali for a disappointing 14(24), failing to back up his recent good form. Usman Khawaja still at the crease continued on a magnificent day long knock, bringing up a magnificent sub-continent century, before being dismissed by a new ball Jaffa from Amir in the 80th over. Tim Paine so far holding strong, at the end of Day 1 Pakistan would be happy with their days bowling, a par score of 350 within reach but difficult from here for Australia.

 

[Mrakh]

October 8th 2018:
Last session blitz from Holland and Lyon overshadows Maiden Test Ton from Imam

Pakistans bowlers made quick work of the Australian tail on the morning of Day 2 in Dubai. Paine battled to a handy 66(122) but once dismissed Australia were rolled quickly.

The afternoon session was all Pakistan as Australia’s seamers struggled in the hot conditions.There was little assistance from swing or seam as both Azhar Ali and young opener Imam Ul-Haq seemed to find the rope with ease for the first 90 minutes. Holland and Lyon then came into the attack with immediate impact as Holland ripped through a wrongen just kissing the edge of Ali’s bat, a frustrating end to what had been a beautiful knock of 45(58). Sohail in at 3 was able to navigate through to tea without much incident. At tea on Day 2 Pakistan in strong position at 1/148.

 

[Mrakh]

The final session on Day 2 was an action packed thriller worthy of its own post.

Starc opened the session and seemed to come out breathing fire. His first over caught Ul-Haqs edge twice resulting in two boundaries, exceeding 155kph for all 6 deliveries, encouraged by captain Paine after every ferocious delivery, he would continue this attack for 5 overs, managing to snag the wicket of Haris Sohail.

Ul Haq continued to battle on, playing a beautiful array of creative shots on both front and backfoot, highlighted by an ingenious glance for 4 off a Peter Siddle delivery to bring up his maiden test century.

As the final part of the day began Lyon and Holland both started to find cracks and scuffs from Starc and Siddles work and an up to that point fairly flat deck suddenly started helping the bowlers.

A stunning spell of tandem bowling saw Holland take 3 and Lyon take 2 as the insatiable duo reduced the hosts to 7/246 at close of play, as this see-saw test match continues in Dubai.

 

[Mrakh]

October 9th 2018:
Pakistan set tough chase of 294 as Australia battle through Dubai minefield

Session 1 on Day 3 saw Pakistan come out 7 down. Starc and Siddle would need just 8 overs to knock over Pakistan for 272, giving Australia a very handy first innings lead.

Openers Renshaw and Finch started strongly with both finding boundaries on a fast, dry outfield, however a wonderful spell of bowling from Hasan Ali (2-25) and a stunning diving catch by Haris Sohail at Leg Gully would help leave Australia 3/59 at Lunch.

In the afternoon sessions S.Marsh and T.Head would put up a potentially match winning partnership of 61, both grinding through a relentless spin attack from Yasir Shah but eventually the veteran spinner would win the battle, catching Head LBW just before the tea break. At tea Australia in a strong position at 4/147.

In the final session Mitch Marsh would once again be dismissed cheaply shortly after tea. Shaun Marsh 57(136) continued to battle on and would bring up a steely half century before Abbas managed to catch an outside edge which looped up for an easy caught and bowled. Tim Paine once again battled well with the tailenders, making 38(56) before edging a Yasir Shah delivery to 2nd slip. Mohammad Amir who bowled well with little reward then would end the innings with 2 wickets in 3 balls. Close of play Australia 221 all out. Pakistan need 295 to win, achievable, but on a quickly degrading pitch Australia should feel like this is now theirs to lose on Day 4.

 

[Mrakh]

October 10th 2018:
Captains knock from Sarfraz not enough as tourists seal surprise win

There was a tense atmosphere on the ground this morning as Tim Paine huddled his players together, the new captain clearly holding his teammates attention while the Pakistan openers took to the field for Day 4. Australia found themselves just 10 wickets away from a coveted sub-continent victory after a demoralising tour of South Africa just a few months ago.

Both Ali and Ul-Haq held their own for the first half an hour, glancing and weaving out of the way of some ferocious bowling from Starc and Siddle until finally Starc found the edge of Azhar Ali’s bat and Paine swallowed the catch with ease. 3 more would follow as an equally relentless Lyon and Holland reduced the hosts to 4/99 at lunch.

 

[Mrakh]

The afternoon session on Day 4 began with the quick wicket of Babar Azam, but the hosts were not going to lay down just yet. Captain Sarfraz Ahmed and Shadab Khan were able to put on an inspirational 60 partnership to allow just a glimmer of hope. Neither batsman looked like giving up there wicket as Sarfraz brought up a very impressive half century under enormous pressure.

Tim Paine then brought on a surprising duo of Head and Mitch Marsh to bowl in a desperate attempt to break the growing 6th wicket stand, and was rewarded quickly with Marsh taking the wicket of Shadab Khan, followed quickly by tailender Mohammad Amir, both bowlers getting a wicket respectively. Pakistan now 7 down would get some brief resistance from Yasir Shah, but once a magnificent knock of 71(126) by Sarfraz Ahmed came to an end there was no fight left and a romping Nathan Lyon put the icing on a memorable Australian victory.

 

[Mrakh]

October 12th 2018:
Paine points to Khawaja ton as catalyst for Dubai win

Australian captain Tim Paine fronted the press in Abu Dhabi today following his teams inspirational victory in Dubai. Journalists asked Paine which moments he saw as important in the win and he was quick to point to Usman Khawaja’s Day 1 century in tough conditions as key, and in a game decided by just 77 runs it’s easy to understand why. He also noted Travis Head’s debut as a big plus for the team whose middle order has been a consistent issue of late. No word yet on if any changes are expected, with yet another dusty, spin-friendly surface expected in 4 days time.

 

[Mrakh]

October 16th 2018:
Shah and Amir run rampant as Australia slump to 244 all out in Abu Dhabi

Both teams made one change for the 2nd test match in Abu Dhabi, Pakistan dropping Babar Azam for Usman Salahuddin in an effort to bolster their middle order. Australia dropping Peter Siddle for a debutante in Michael Neser. The pitch looked quite flat and dusty and perfect for batting as Australia won the toss and chose to bat.

Renshaw and Finch would both navigate the first 45 minutes comfortably, Finch particularly hitting some beautiful square drives. A change in bowling then had immediate impact with Amir catching Renshaw plumb from a beautiful in-swinger. Khawaja would quickly follow as a Amir and Shah blitzed through Australia’s batting order, the shell-shocked tourists finding themselves 5/99 at lunch

The afternoon session would see some much needed resistance from Paine 41(86) and M.Marsh 71* who were both impressive, but Pakistan would take two wickets late to keep the pressure piled on Australia at tea 7/201

Mitch Marsh would continue on batting with the tail before a heartbreaking dismissal on 98(155), caught at short leg. Pakistan then quickly ending the innings at 244 all out, a massive bowling performance leaving Australia well short of a respectable 1st innings total

Pakistan would get 16 overs of batting to close out the day and piled on the pressure even further, with Neser and Starc struggling on the slow, dusty pitch, at close of play Pakistan 0/63

 

[Mrakh]

October 17th 2018:
Neser takes first test wickets as Australia try to keep series win hopes alive

It took just 1 over to see a jubilant Michael Neser take his maiden test wicket, catching the outside edge of Imam-ul-Haq, a vital wicket as the opening partnership had looked unstoppable the previous evening.
Azhar Ali would bring up another 50 in what has been a strong series for him, before Holland would sneak one passed his outside edge, followed quickly by another wicket of Sohail by Nathan Lyon. Pakistan would then close out the session strongly with Asad Shafiq and youngster Salahuddin increasing the pressure on the Australians, lunch on Day 2 Pakistan 3/157.

Shortly after tea Australia would get the wicket of Salahuddin via Mitch Marsh who bowled well, but Pakistan would see another good partnership from Sarfraz Ahmed and Asad Shafiq, further closing in on Australia’s dismal 1st innings total, but a determined Lyon, Neser and Holland would all take a wicket each to just drag themselves back into it late, Pakistan 7/249 at tea.

The evening session was highlighted by Asad Shafiq bringing up his ton after a magnificent knock, able to mix aggression and concentration to deadly effect, no bowler looked like touching him all day as he brought up the century with a beautiful cover drive.

Shadab Khan would once again find himself out for a poultry 12 runs, a horror series with the bat for the number 7.

The tail would hold their own well with Shafiq, helping Pakistan build what felt like a massive lead of 84 runs, in the end 328 all out as Day 2 concluded.

 

[Mrakh]

October 18th 2018:
Renshaw and Paine shine as Australia set Pakistan 224 to win

A strong opening partnership was vital for Australia as they found themselves in a tough position 84 runs behind, and that is exactly what they got with Finch and Renshaw putting on a strong 56 run stand, before Finch would once again be dismissed in the 30s. Another wicket would fall before lunch leaving Australia 2/113 at the break, Renshaw bringing up a strong 50.

The afternoon session would be fairly even with Renshaw dismissed on 60, a good dig of 36 from Shaun Marsh was ended with a thick outside edge caught behind, followed quickly by Travis Head once again leaving Paine and Mitch Marsh with a lot of work to do, the pair helping Australia to 5/216 at the tea break on Day 3.

The final session would see Mitch Marsh dismissed quickly for 48, leaving Paine to battle with the tailenders, and he would do an excellent job working his way to 55* at close of play Australia working their way to 8/304, Mohammad Amir once again the pick of the bowlers.

 

[Mrakh]

October 19th 2018:
Pakistan win thriller by 2 wickets as Sarfraz shines

Day 4 would begin with Pakistan quickly wiping through Australia’s tail, leaving the captain Paine stranded on 58*, a magnificent innings and series with the bat for Paine. Mohammad Amir again with 4 wickets closed out an incredible series with the ball for him.

Pakistan would have to battle through to lunch, Neser and Starc appearing dangerous without luck, until a change of bowlers would see both Holland and Lyon find an edge and a wicket. At lunch Pakistan still favourites at 2/82.

The next session was another close battle, Holland, Lyon and Neser would all take wickets as Pakistan closed in on the win, Sarfraz magnificent again looking untouchable at the crease, at tea a nail biter set up, Pakistan 7/175

The last session would last 15 overs and go down to the wire, Australia taking the 8th wicket, followed Sarfraz bringing up an excellent half century and dragging his team over the line for a memorable 2 wicket win.

 

[Mrakh]

October 19th 2018:
Amir named player of the series, test series ends in 1-1 tie

It was no surprise to see Mohammad Amir named player of the series after the 2nd test in Abu Dhabi, the controversial left arm quick was devastating across both tests in hostile conditions for pace, but found consistent swing, taking 14 wickets across the two test matches, Tim Paine who averaged 67 with the bat and kept magnificently was also close in the running for the honours.

 

[Mrakh]

October 20th 2018:
Handscomb sends message to selectors with huge 157* in Sheffield Shield Round 1

While their teammates sweated it out in UAE snubbed batsmen Peter Handscomb and Glenn Maxwell were padded up at the MCG to form a huge partnership in the day/night Shield match, Maxwell made an impressive 70 but it was Victoria captain Handscomb who brought up a superb 157* on the way to a romping innings win against an undermanned Queensland.

Elsewhere D’arcy Short would make a big score of his own, falling just short of a double hundred 196(239) in Hobart, a useful knock as he heads to UAE to join the squad for the T20 series against Pakistan.

Injured pacemen Hazlewood and Cummins also played for NSW and appeared well on track to be available in time for the upcoming ODI’s against South Africa in November.