Australia v Pakistan First Test Report Card, Day Four

Featuring Steve Smith grace and Levi 501s

Steve Smith Grace
Grade: C-

On a rapidly deteriorating pitch, Australia had lost the wicket of Marnus Labuschagne (injured finger that tricked him into being caught) late on the fourth day. Early on the fifth, they added to that, Steve Smith (dismissed by a very tight LBW that wasn’t quite overturned on review and accepted with typical Smith grace, walking off and nodding in acceptance: ‘Yes, a great decision. Well adjudicated, my fine man. I admire your keen judgement and savvy application of the Laws of the game. I acknowledge your finger and accept its ruling.’) and Travis Head (still drunk from the World Cup).

But that merely meant that Mitchell Marsh showed up for some declaration batting. That declaration being: ‘I’m going to fucken well smash you for six.’ Sure, he got sconed a few times by variable bouncing deliveries. But, just as it looked as if they were going to run out of Size MMarsh helmets, and force the all-rounder into the embarrassing position of being ‘retired, no fitting helmets’, Khawaja was out and Cummins declared, setting Pakistan 450 to win.

(Cummins’ declaration? ‘If you think I’m letting any of the bowlers bat on this pitch, you’re crazy!)