1st Test, Australia vs Pakistan Day 4 preview: Batsmen face uphill task to keep Pakistan alive

Australia have lorded over Pakistan so far in the first Test in Brisbane. They posted a mammoth 580 before Australia had them bowled out, and by the time it was stumps, the visitors had been reduced to 64/3. They still trail by 276 runs, and the scary thing as far as they are concerned is that, provided they reach that mark, they would have only served to get Australia to bat again.

It’s not an enviable situation. On the first day, Pakistan were crying out for someone to do what Marnus Labuschagne did today, and what David Warner did yesterday. Warner couldn’t carry on from his overnight 151 – he was dismissed for 154 – but Labuschagne ensured despite wickets falling every now and then, the runs didn’t suffer.

He scored a dominant 185, a 279-ball knock comprising 20 fours, and combined with Matthew Wade’s half-century, Australia were on top of a mountain of runs. Admittedly, Pakistan’s bowlers did a lot better than they did yesterday, taking nine wickets.

The much-vaunted Steve Smith was kept to just four – Yasir Shah dismissing him – while Shaheen Afridi added two wickets to his economical returns. It was, on the whole, a much better day for Pakistan. However, their batsmen once again undermined all that.

Azhar Ali, their captain, was dismissed within nine balls, trapped in front by Mitchell Starc. Haris Sohail scored a run-a-ball 8 before falling to Starc again, while Asad Shafiq, the first-innings resister, was shot out for nought. Pakistan’s hopes now rest on Babar Azam scoring big. They desperately need him to.

Australia are realistically seven wickets away from victory. But if Pakistan are to stop that from happening, they’ll have to bat out of their skins. The onus is on Azam and Maqsood.

Key players

Mitchell Starc (Australia): The pacemen seems to have Pakistan’s batsmen in his pocket. He picked four wickets in the first innings, with the batsmen unable to deal with his supreme yorkers. He already has two in the second innings. You get the feeling he’ll be the one to trigger a collapse in Pakistan.

Babar Azam (Pakistan): Azam had an outing to forget in the first innings, and with Pakistan in a soup at the moment, it’s up to him to rescue them. He’s widely touted as their best batsman. He will need to show his fighting skills as much as batting abilities come Sunday.

Brief scores

Pakistan 240 and 64/3 (Shan Masood 27; Mitchell Starc 2/25) trail Australia 580 in 157.4 overs(David Warner 154, Marnus Labuschagne 185; Yasir Shah 4/205) by 276 runs.

Prediction

Seven wickets to fall within two sessions, and Australia to seal an innings win.