Pakistan are set to kick start a 3-match Test series in Australia from the 15th at the Gabba. Although they have historically won a total of only four Tests on Australian soil from 32 attempts, their unpredictable brand of cricket usually attracts a sizeable crowd.
With the surfaces Down Under quite conducive to pace and bounce, it is no surprise that their strongest suit has been the one which helped generate most of their positive memories. However, the much-maligned batsmen have also lifted their game on quite a few occasions against some hostile fast bowlers.
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Here are five of the best individual Test performances of all-time by a Pakistani player in Australia.
#5 Wasim Akram (52 & 123, 5/100 & 1/29) in Adelaide, 1990
Pakistan had ended the 80s as probably the second best team of that era after the mighty West Indies. Led by the legendary Imran Khan, they could compete in almost every corner of the globe. They were up against an Australian outfit which was gradually forming into a resilient one under Allan Border’s hard-nosed captaincy. Following a fascinating series opener in Melbourne (Yup, that’s coming up later), the visitors decided to bat first in Adelaide.
Coming in to bat at 187/6, Akram smashed a 68-ball 52 to take the total to a respectable 257. Despite bowling a marathon spell of 43 overs for five wickets, the southpaw was not done yet. With half the team back in the dressing room and the lead at just five runs, he scored a 195-ball 123 to change the game alongside Imran.
The game eventually ended in a draw but had it not been for him, Australia could have cruised to a victory.
#4 Ijaz Ahmed (137) in Sydney, 1995
Possessing a stance which resembled a lumberjack more than a batsman, Ijaz Ahmed had a curious career for someone from the subcontinent. Unlike his Asian peers, he struggled on slow and low pitches but metamorphosed into a completely different beast on surfaces with good carry and bounce.
The second of his four centuries in the Trans-Tasman region came against a bowling attack featuring Craig McDermott, Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne. Having won the toss and opted to bat, Pakistan lost wickets at regular intervals.
But, Ijaz stood firm at the other end and scored a remarkable 332-ball 137 which would result in a consolation victory. Since this match, their record in Australia stands at 9 losses from 9 Tests.
#3 Imran Khan (6/102 & 6/63) in Sydney, 1977
Prior to this game, Pakistan had played six Tests in Australia with 4 defeats and 2 draws. Mushtaq Mohammad’s band of merry boys bucked the trend by putting in a comprehensive performance. The decisive blows came from unexpected quarters, well at least until then.
Upon entering the match as a fledgeling medium pacer, Imran Khan broke free and unleashed his full fury with Australia’s middle-order bearing the brunt.
When he picked up six wickets in each innings, Pakistan had not only obtained their maiden Test victory on Australian soil but also witnessed the watershed moment of a man who would go on to define their history.
#2 Wasim Akram (6/62 & 5/98) in Melbourne, 1990
The Test which preceded the one at #5 in this list was also Akram’s first in Australia. He could not have asked for better conditions as the Melbourne pitch appeared to be skewed in favour of fast bowlers. His ability to bend the ball at pace made him a fearsome prospect for the Aussie batsmen who were left hanging the bat in thin air.
Despite several dropped catches, Akram steamed in relentlessly to keep Pakistan in the contest. Once the surface began to settle in, he duly changed his line and targeted the stumps a lot more to finish with match figures of 71.4-21-160-11.
Even though Australia eked out a 92-run victory, his bowling had been nothing short of sensational.
#1 Sarfraz Nawaz (9/86) in Melbourne, 1979
There are certain performances which result in triumphs and some that define iconic careers. Then, there are those which go on to have an impact on the game itself. Sarfraz Nawaz’s unbelievable spell redefined the way fast bowling was looked at.
Yallop’s unsuspecting Australians were the specimens on which he tested his innovative theory – try to have one end of the ball scuffed up and see what happens.
Chasing 382 for victory, the hosts were comfortably placed at 305/3 with the second new ball seen off as well. But, Nawaz tore through their batting lineup in a manic spell to pull the rug under Australia’s feet. Intentionally operating from a shortened run-up at a sedate pace, he picked up seven quick wickets for just one run and thus was born the legend of reverse-swing.
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