• Australia finished Day 1 of the MCG test on 187/3.

  • Pakistan captain Shan Masood won the toss and elected to ball first.

AUS vs PAK [Twitter reactions]: Marnus Labuschagne’s brilliance rescues Australia on Day 1 of the MCG Test
Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head and Shaheen Afridi (Image Source: Twitter)

Table of Contents

In the second Test against Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Australia seized control on Day 1 with a commanding batting performance, finishing on 187/3.

Strong start by Australian openers

Winning the toss, captain Shan Masood’s decision to put Australia in to bat proved to be a challenging one for the visitors. Openers David Warner and Usman Khawaja laid a solid foundation with a patient 90-run partnership. Despite a few hiccups, including dropped catches and close calls, Australia’s batters stood firm, dictating terms and frustrating the Pakistani bowling attack.

Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith steady the ship

Following the dismissals of Warner and Khawaja in short span of time, Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith took charge, steadying the Australian innings. They both added 46 for the third wicket before Smith have to depart eventually after scoring 26.  Rain interruptions limited the day’s play to 66 overs, and at stumps, Labuschagne (44*) and Travis Head (9*) remained unbeaten.

Also READ: Michael Hussey gives his honest verdict on Mitchell Marsh’s suitability as David Warner’s replacement

Pakistan’s missed opportunities: Dropped catches and frustration

For Pakistan, Day 1 turned out to be a tale of missed opportunities and mounting frustration. Abdullah Shafique had a chance to dismiss Warner early in the innings but put down a straightforward catch at slips. This proved costly as Warner went on to contribute significantly to Australia’s total. The frustration continued with a contentious LBW decision against Smith, which was initially overturned after a DRS review. However, Pakistan found some relief when Smith was eventually dismissed, providing a breakthrough.

Labuschagne comes strong after failure in Perth

Labuschagne, who failed to make a significant impact with the bat in the Test series opener against Pakistan at Perth and registered scores of 16 and 2 in the clash, looked determined right from the start in this game. He firstly absorbed the pressure of breathtaking spell of bowling from Shaheen Shah and Hasan Ali and then played his natural game after getting set. All hopes will be on the right-handed handed tomorrow to take the host to the safe score alongside other players.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

Also READ: Sanjay Bangar reveals the reason behind India’s Test series victory drought in South Africa

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