Australia roll through Pakistan to start SCG Test

Scott Bailey |

Australia have made a dream start to David Warner’s farewell Test, rolling through Pakistan’s top order to leave the tourists 4-75 at lunch at the SCG.

In a nightmare opening hour for Pakistan after they won the toss, openers Abdullah Shafique and Saim Ayub fell for ducks in the first two overs to leave them 2-4.

Babar Azam was trapped lbw for 26 on the hour mark, given out on review to a full Pat Cummins ball that tailed back into him.

Josh Hazlewood celebrates Saim Ayub wicket at the SCG.
Josh Hazlewood celebrates the early wicket of Pakistan’s debutant opener Saim Ayub. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)

Cummins (2-16) also bagged the wicket of Saud Shakeel (five) before the break when he took the left-hander’s outside edge to a ball wide enough to comfortably leave.

Without their leading bowler Shaheen Afridi after they decided to rest him from the final Test of the series while down 2-0, the match could not have begun any worse for Pakistan.

Only Mohammad Rizwan (12no) offered any real joy for the tourists’ fans, scoop-pulling Josh Hazlewood for six over fine leg shortly before lunch.

Captain Shan Masood (32no) has offered the sole resistance amid an array of sloppy batting.

Pakistan fans at the third Test in Sydney.
Pakistan’s fans have endured a torrid first morning in the third Test in Sydney. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)

Shafique’s dismissal continued a dismal tour for the 24-year-old.

With Mitchell Starc angling the ball across him, the right-hander wafted at the second delivery of the innings and was caught at second slip by Steve Smith.

Adding to Pakistan’s frustration, Shafique’s needless dismissal came in the exact same fashion as his exit in the second innings of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

Ayub then showed the inexperience of a 21-year-old with 14 first-class games to his name.

With Hazlewood angling his second delivery across the left-hander, Ayub felt for the ball and only succeeded in edging it through to a diving Alex Carey.

Babar looked in good touch for his 26, playing a number of flourishing cover drives and pulling Hazlewood for a boundary through the legside.

But when he was trapped by Cummins, Pakistan were threatening to fall apart on the first day as they stare down the barrel of a 3-0 series whitewash.

David Warner and his daughters at the SCG.
David Warner takes to the field at the SCG with his daughters ahead of his final Test. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)

Warner had earlier entered the SCG alongside his three children, who stood beside him for the national anthem, for his 112th and final Test.

The 37-year-old is wearing a team kit baggy green for the match, after his were lost during the team’s relocation from Melbourne to Sydney.

AAP