'Absolute joke': Cricket world rages over 'embarrassing' scenes

Cricket fans and commentators have been left up in arms after one of the most dour and lifeless Test matches in recent memory.

Australia's return to Pakistan after 24 years ended in farcical scenes on Tuesday night when the first Test ended in a draw with just 14 wickets being taken for the match.

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In one of the most dour batting-dominated matches in decades, Pakistan ended it on a high with opener Abdullah Shafique scoring his maiden Test century with 136, while opening partner Imam-ul-Haq made it twin tons for the game with his 111.

Abdullah and Imam combined for the highest unbeaten opening partnership against Australia in Test history, as Pakistan declared at 0-252 before the match was declared a draw.

Australia took just four wickets across the entire match after Pakistan declared at 4-476 in their first innings.

The match descended into a farce late on the final day as Australia captain Pat Cummins rested his fast bowlers in preparation for the second Test.

Part-time spinners Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head bowled 15 and 13 overs respectively, while Steve Smith and even Usman Khawaja got a bowl.

Nathan Lyon bowled 26 overs without taking a wicket, resorting to some extraordinary tactics in search of a breakthrough.

At one stage, wicketkeeper Alex Carey set up down the leg-side to Lyon's bowling, with Australia packing the on-side with fielders and bowling way outside the batter's pads.

The controversial tactic was also used by Pakistan's bowlers, who dismissed Steve Smith and Cameron Green with balls down the leg-side.

Cricket world up in arms over 'embarrassing' scenes

Australia, Pakistan and the ICC will all be hoping for a better wicket for the second Test in Karachi, with the Rawalpindi pitch offering next to nothing for the bowlers.

“The worst Test pitch this century. And that includes those Boxing Day pitches," AFL reporter Jon Ralph tweeted.

Cricket writer Melinda Farrell wrote: “It’s a real pity. Everything has been perfect for this Test except for the most important thing for making it a competitive, entertaining Test.”

Broadcaster Ian Higgins said: “This is a great advertisement for other sports.”

Australia's four wickets for the Test made for their least in history when sending down more than 200 overs.

Those wickets came at a cost of 182 runs per scalp, the most in any Test where they have bowled in two innings.

Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood each ended up going wicketless for the match, while Cummins and Lyon claimed one each.

“It wasn’t a super fair contest between bat and ball," Cummins said, before insisting there were no cause for concerns about Australia's bowling attack.

"It's not a (confidence) hit at all. Our three quick bowlers and Nathan are all quite experienced.

"They've played a lot of cricket on really good wickets, flat wickets, bouncing wickets and spinning wickets.

"Whoever's called on for the next Test will be ready to go."

Australia are likely to go with an extra spinner in the second Test, with Mitchell Swepson favoured to debut on a Karachi wicket expected to turn.

"We'll spend the next couple of days reviewing it, having a look at different plans ahead of Karachi," Cummins said.

"We all bowled around about 25 or 30 overs each, which in comparison to a lot of Australian Test matches is actually a pretty light workload.

"I was really happy with how everyone went and everyone's come through unscathed."

with AAP

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