'Cruel end': Pain for Babar Azam as Pakistan's nightmare continues
It’s been a Test match to forget for Pakistan so far, watching David Warner pummel a record innings before their own top order crumbled with little to no resistance.
When things are going this badly, it’s the little wins you have to savour.
Pakistan looked like they were on their way to such a moment, with batsman Babar Azam a rare bright spot after he notched his 50 before stumps on Saturday evening.
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He picked up from where he left off on Sunday afternoon, swiftly accelerating into the 90s thanks to a partnership with Yasir Shah.
Unfortunately, his luck wouldn’t last forever.
The Pakistani side was visibly dejected on the sidelines when Azam nicked a cover drive through to keeper Tim Paine, bringing his innings to an end on 97 runs.
Babar Azam falls just three short of a Test century!
It's ✋ for Mitchell Starc #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/LBJ1xhXyJx— #7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 1, 2019
It was a cruel blow for Pakistan, with Azam and Shah putting up what was essentially their only resistance to a relentless attack from Mitch Starc.
Social media felt similarly for the heartbroken Pakistan side.
Babar Azam might have missed a century but unlike a few others in recent times, Pakistan have the real deal. You never can tell the future but yes, he will become a special player.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 1, 2019
Cruel end to what would have been a superb century by Babar Azam. But he has only himself to blame for not showing restraint with lunch just minutes away
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) December 1, 2019
Oh Babar Azam! He would have only the 3rd Pakistani after Asif Iqbal (1976/77) and Mohsin Khan (1983/84) to score more than one hundred in a Test series in Australia. Hard Luck. #AUSvPAK
— Israr Ahmed Hashmi (@IamIsrarHashmi) December 1, 2019
Top class innings from Babar Azam. deserved a century. good to watch Asia's best all format batsman in full flow. batted @babarazam258 👏
— Daniel Alexander (@daniel86cricket) December 1, 2019
Forget the consistent runs Babar Azam scores & remember the situations he bats in all formats. walks in after early wickets & scores hard runs while wickets fall around him. Average above 50 in all 3 formats since the start of 2018. man for crisis at the age of 25. @babarazam258
— Daniel Alexander (@daniel86cricket) December 1, 2019
Ricky Ponting rips into Pakistan's bowling attack
Test great Ricky Ponting has savaged Pakistan's bowlers as one of the worst attacks he has seen on Australian shores.
Ponting describes Pakistan's bowling collective as "terrible", saying the visitors have been caught in a perfect Australian storm.
Australia amassed 580 in their sole innings in a first Test win in Brisbane, and things have gone from bad to worse for the tourists in the second match in Adelaide.
The hosts, with David Warner making Australia's second-highest Test score with unbeaten 335, compiled 3(dec)-589.
"They (Pakistan's bowlers) have been poor ... their bowling attack is terrible really for a Test attack," Ponting told cricket.com.au.
"I'm not sure I have seen a worse bowling attack on our shores in a long time."
The visitors gave 16-year-old Naseem Shah a Test debut in Brisbane - he returned figures of 1-68 from 20 overs.
They then dropped the teen for the Adelaide Test in favour of 19-year-old Muhammad Musa, who on debut took 0-114 from 20 overs.
"I still can't understand why the 16-year-old hasn't played this game, Naseem," Ponting said.
"And they go with another guy (Musa) who has played seven first-class games and just doesn't look to be a Test match bowler.
"They haven't got much cattle.”
WITH AAP