'How is that allowed': Controversy erupts over Pat Cummins act
Pat Cummins was forced to take matters into his own hands on day four of the second Test against Pakistan as the Aussies searched for a much-needed breakthrough.
Australia endured a frustrating day in the field on Tuesday, taking just two wickets as Babar Azam made a brilliant century to halt the tourists' charge towards victory.
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After declaring at 2-97 in their second innings and setting Pakistan 506 to win, Cummins' men missed a number of crucial chances to leave them needing eight wickets on the final day in Karachi.
Amidst the frustrating scenes on Tuesday, Cummins took matters into his own hands and did some repair work on the pitch.
Unhappy with how a groundsman was trying to flatten out the crease while Cameron Green was bowling, Cummins took the man's mallet and started hammering away himself.
"There's not much he can't do," Simon Katich said in commentary.
Pakistan’s official Twitter account wrote: “So Pat Cummins is Thor?”
However some fans were left questioning whether Cummins should have been allowed to work on the pitch or whether it should have been left to the groundsman.
How is it allowed? Rough patch for spinner...
— Murtaza Talib (@MurtazaTalib85) March 15, 2022
Umpires, is this allowed?
— Sajawal (@Sajawal1) March 15, 2022
Pitch tampering 😂
— God Rohit 🇮🇳🙏(GWS sky 💙) (@Sohith45264) March 15, 2022
Symbolic perhaps meant for the pitch curator aka groundsman 😅
— Six n Out (@krishnajaga) March 15, 2022
Would that be acceptable if some Asian players had done the same in Australia?
— Sohail (@sohailb19) March 15, 2022
What he is doing , y is that no curator for this pitch ? Is that correct way
— Rajesh KC *️⃣ (@itisrajeshkc) March 15, 2022
Babar Azam century frustrates Aussies in second Test
Azam's century has left the clock nervously ticking on Australia's bid for a breakthrough Test victory in Karachi.
The Pakistan captain's stoic unbeaten 102 steered Pakistan to 2-192 at stumps on day four, still requiring another 314 runs to win.
Australia need eight more wickets from a minimum 90 overs to claim their first Test win in Karachi in nine attempts.
Azam combined with opener Abdullah Shafique (71 not out from 226 balls) for an unbroken 171-run partnership after Pakistan plunged into early strife.
Australian spinner Nathan Lyon (1-50) and all-rounder Cameron Green (1-15) took early wickets to leave Pakistan wobbling at 2-21.
Lyon removed Imam-ul-Haq for one just before lunch when the Pakistani opener lunged forward defensively but missed the ball, which struck his front pad.
After the break, Green dismissed Azhar Ali for six in bizarre fashion.
The Pakistani opener ducked a short ball from Green which kept low and struck the batsman on the body as he ducked and was given out lbw.
But replays showed the ball brushed Azhar's glove, though the right-hander didn't seek a review of the lbw verdict.
Shafique and Babar then negotiated their way to stumps, soaking up 82 overs - a stark comparison to Pakistan's first innings which only lasted 53 overs.
The highest successful run chase in Test history is the West Indies' 7-418 to beat Australia in Antigua in 2003.
Pakistan's unlikely victory assignment comes after Australia amassed 9(dec)-556 in their first innings and then bowled out Pakistan for 148.
with AAP
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