Australia head to Melbourne wary of Pakistan’s chasing prowess

The Australia team will enter the second Test against Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground completely wary of their opposition given the massive and exciting turn of events at the Gabba in Brisbane. A tremendous show of character from the impressive Asad Shafiq saw the Pakistanis come within touching distance of what would seem as an unlikely win for the visitors.

Malcolm Knox, a pundit associated with the Fairfax media went on to state that the Pakistanis completed a moral victory over the Australians courtesy of the character they showed at the Gabba. “Australia will take a one-nil series lead to Melbourne, but it was Pakistan who skipped off the Gabba like winners,” cricket writer Malcolm Knox penned for Fairfax media.

He also had a few impressive things to say about the visitors following their futile yet commendable attempt to scale the 490-run target at Brisbane, something they almost accomplished. Knox also hit out at the Aussies following a few blunders, to say the least. “For Australia to skim home with a 39-run margin, after leading by nearly 300 on the first innings, suggests a litany of blunders.”

“It showed we’re still not the finished product,” he told reporters. “We’ve got to continue to work hard and keep the foot on the throat when we’ve got (opponents) in that position and be ruthless.

David Saker, the Australian bowling coach also went on to state that the pace bowling is something that needs more work given the fact that Mitchell Marsh is not fit at the moment. “We have to work with what we’ve got,” Saker told state radio.

“There have been successful teams around the world that have worked with four bowlers, but again you would like one of your top-six batters to be one of your bowlers, but that’s what we have to work with.”