Australia Whitewash Pak, As Warner Retires At SCG

The unrelenting Aussies stamped their authority in International Crcket once again with a comprehensive anhilation of the visiting Pakistan Team. The visitors received a 3-0 whitewash after losing the third and final test at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground ( SCG ). The day, though belonged to David Warner, who in his last appearance at the SCG, scored a fine 50 and steered Australia to victory. 

These Kangaroos Are Different

The Kangaroos are said to be docile animals, but the Australian Cricket Team are anything but docile. Probably they have got the nickname wrong. The Aussies are  aggressive, relentless go getters with a penchant for grinding oppositions in their backyard. They are merciless in pursuit of victory and if at all, they have their backs to the wall, they have the ability to roar back with increased ferocity. This exactly was on display in the series gone by.

Pak – A Bunch of Friendly Travellers

There was a time, when Pakistan Teams had fearful pace attacks, blended with tenacity and belligerence. They used to be an enigma, having the potential to grind oppositions as the Aussies do, though being a bit inconsistent. However, the present lot not only lacks that fire power in the bowling department, but generally appears docile and extremely congenial, far removed from the teams of yesteryears. This warm and amiable approach on the field has seeped so deep that it is even affecting selection. 

I was surprised and found it difficult to understand why Mohd Wasim Jr did not play a single match of the tour. He has great pace and also the ability to reverse swing. He can hit the deck hard and extract bounce. He would have been a handful on the Australian pitches particularly in Perth. But it was not to be. Wasim just did not get a look in. With just 3 test matches, Saim Ayub ( he played well in Sydney ) should have been brought in at Melbourne as they had brought in Rizwan. These docile and insipid decisions made Pak pay. Barring Aamer Jamal, who was the find of the tour for Pak ( where was he till now ), a fighting Rizwan and a gritty Salman Ali Agha, no one impressed from the Pak Camp. Babar was a pale shadow of the reputation he carries and his weakness with the ball coming in to him was glaringly exposed. There were some glimmers of hope for Pak both at the MCG and SCG, mainly created by the bowlers, but the terrible inconsistencies in batting  let them down big time. The catching too was pathetic and those soft, buttery fingers also contributed immensely to the loss. The nickname Kangaroos actually suits the Pak players better.  An opportunity lost Down  Under. 

The Aussies Have The Winning Mantra

One trait of the Aussie team is that they play the game like a team game. They perform collectively. Every player in the playing XI contributed critically at some point in the series and ensured that Australia came out victorious. No one got big hundreds, but there were several crucial 50s. Pat Cummins was absolutely brilliant with the ball, bending his back and giving it his all. His aggressive bowling was well supported by Mitch  Starc and Hazelwood, who broke partnerships and got breakthroughs when it really mattered. And yes the Australians fielded brilliantly and caught everything that came their way. They were flawless and played like Champions giving a befitting farewell to David Warner who  retired in an emotional moment, infront of his home crowd. 

While the Australians would now be preparing for their next series and also pondering over the replacement of David Warner, Pakistan Cricket Team would need a lot of introspection and self assessments, as their next series beckons.

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