In a dramatic turn of events at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Pakistan displayed a commendable effort in their quest for a Test victory against Australia—a feat that has eluded them on Australian soil since 1996. The closing day of the Boxing Day Test on Friday, December 29, witnessed Pakistan’s chase for a victory target of 317 runs, only to fall short by 79 runs and concede the series to a resilient Australian side.
Pakistan’s journey began with a disheartening 260-run loss in Perth; however, they showcased significant improvement in the second Test, maintaining a competitive edge throughout the match. The visitors found themselves in a promising position on Day 4, as Shan Masood, the acting captain, alongside Agha Salman racked up critical fifties, tilting the balance of the game in Pakistan’s favor.
The match reached a captivating moment when Pakistan, with the scoreboard reading 219 for 5, were within striking distance of the target, needing only 98 more runs and harboring hopes of a historic win. However, the Australian bowlers, led by Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, unleashed a spell of devastating pace, precipitating a collapse that saw Pakistan dismissed for 237, dashing their aspirations of a rare victory.
Although faced with defeat, Mohammad Hafeez, Pakistan’s team director, praised his team’s robust performance. In his post-match address, Hafeez expressed pride in the squad’s improved display and adamant approach to the competition. He cited that despite some costly errors, there were indeed numerous positives to take from the game, with the team playing, in his view, better cricket than Australia for most parts of the match.
In the aftermath of the game, a significant controversy emerged involving a decision made by third umpire Richard Illingworth. Pakistan’s wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan was at the center of the debate following a dismissal for caught behind off Cummins’ bowling. On-field umpire Michael Gough initially gave the not-out decision, but when the Decision Review System revealed contact, Illingworth overruled the call. Rizwan contested the decision, believing the ball had not touched the glove. Hafeez subsequently criticized the umpiring, implying that inconsistencies concerning decision-making and the application of technology had an unfavorable impact on the game’s outcome.
Hafeez openly questioned the technology’s role, particularly querying the logic behind certain umpire’s call decisions involving ball tracking and the stumps. He argued that such contentious decisions can be perplexing and emphasized the need for addressing these issues for the betterment of cricket.
The Boxing Day Test was not only highlighted by the fierce competition on the field but also by light moments such as the friendly banter between Pakistan’s Babar Azam and Australia’s Steve Smith, which made waves among fans and the cricketing community.
As the cricketing calendar nears its end, the Australian side can take pride in their series triumph, marked by the remarkable ten-wicket haul by Cummins in the second Test, securing the win over Pakistan at the MCG. Pakistan, on the other hand, will reflect on their performances across the series with an eye toward improvement and building on the positives obtained during their spirited campaign in Australia.
