Srinagar: Pakistan’s Test series in Australia has gone from bad to worse with its new opening pair setting an unwanted Test Cricket record in Sydney.
For the third Test, in Sydney Pakistan went with opening pair of Abdullah Shafique and debutant Saim Ayub.
After winning the toss, Pakistan captain Shan Masood chose to bat on a sunny day. However, Australia’s new-ball pair made a strong start, claiming two wickets in the opening two overs of the third and final Test of the series.
Mitchell Starc made an early breakthrough with his second ball, dismissing Abdullah Shafique who edged a full delivery outside his off stump to Steve Smith at second slip.
The debutant, Saim Ayub, faced a similar fate, surviving only two balls before nicking Hazlewood to Alex Carey for a diving catch.
This is for the first instance since the 1981-82 summer in Australia where both of Pakistan’s openers departed for a duck. Also, for the first time in Test history, a calendar year has started with both openers falling for a duck.