Australia vs Pakistan 2016: 1st Test - 5 Talking Points

A nail-biter at Gabba saw Australia edge out a determined Pakistani line-up, which seemed overawed at the fag end after having done the bulk of the hard work to get close to a huge target. Resuming on Day 5 with 108 needed, Asad Shafiq had another tailender with grit in Yasir Shah. The duo made runs at will putting immense pressure on Australia to find a breakthrough.

But with 41 needed for victory, Starc found the bouncer that makes him such a threat in world cricket. Even a settled Asad Shafiq could not find any answer to the short ball directed right at his head and gloved to Warner at gully to leave Pakistani fans heartbroken.

While Australia would be chuffed to bits for winning the match, Pakistan will be happy for coming back into the Test in spectacular fashion. None could have fathomed the proceedings of the most exciting Test match played so far with the pink ball.

Here are the talking points from the 1st Test.

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#5 Peter Handscomb answers Australia's call

Handscomb scored a brilliant century in the first-innings

With Adam Voges and Mitchell Marsh woefully out of touch, Australia needed their no. 5 batsman to be able to make vital runs. In came Peter Handscomb, who provided the much-needed stability down the order.

If he showed his hunger for runs at Adelaide against the Proteas, at the Gabba against three left-arm seamers and a world class leggie, Handscomb showed shrewd judgement outside his off-stump and played some real classy shots. His handling of Yasir Shah will make him an important person in the line-up when Aussies tour the spin-friendly tracks in India next year.

His hundred was the biggest plus point for Australia in the Test. He showed that he could accelerate when required with a rapid fire 30 in the second innings to quicken the declaration.

#4 Starc shows his class yet again

The Aussie bowler bowled with venom and pace

Mitchell Starc is one of the most feared pace bowlers in world cricket today; a bowler who can push the speed gun past 150 kmph and bowl searing yorkers. He has been regularly picking up wickets in the first over of an innings, making him a huge threat with the new ball.

Starc has shown a tendency to bounce out batsmen with fields in place specifically for the hook and pull. But in the second innings with Shafiq on fire, the Aussie bowler needed to get his bouncer right on target or risk conceding a boundary. The left-arm seamer was up to the task and bounced out Pakistan's hero of the match.

He picked up 3 quick wickets, including that of their resolute opener, Azhar Ali, in the first innings, to bowl out Pakistan for 142. Starc returned to take four more in the second innings, although he seemed less effective against a determined set of tail enders.

#3 Younis ends his wretched run

Younis Khan scored a useful 65 in the second innings

Younis Khan had been the subject of frequent discussion in the recent past for his poor form in Tests. He had scores of 2, 1, 2, 11 and 0 before this Test and added another duck in the first innings.

His miserable form showed for only 16 runs in his last 6 innings – his lowest in six consecutive innings in Tests. As he walked out to bat for the second time in the Test, this time to save the Test, he had Azhar Ali for company, and his determination and grit seemed to rub on to the senior player, who started tackling the Australian bowlers better.

He had scored a hundred for South Australia in 2008 at the Gabba and seemed set to add one more at the venue before a reckless reverse sweep off Lyon ended his innings at 65.

#2 Mohammad Amir shows his batting skills

Amir was 2 runs short of an impressive 50 in the second innings

Mohammad Amir is known for his ability to generate late swing at good pace, but little was known about his talents with the willow. The Pakistani bowler does not even have a half-century in Test cricket and it seemed like Australia would bowl out Pakistan for less than 100 when he walked in at 67/8 in the first innings.

But he showed good defensive technique and played with the full face of the bat, putting the top order batsmen to shame. His 21 came from 69 balls and helped Pakistan to a respectable total.

In the second innings, he was promoted to no. 8 and with Pakistan at 220/6, forged a 92-run stand with Asad Shafiq, frustrating the Aussies so much so that Starc was on his face every ball. He made a vital 48 before losing his wicket to Jackson Bird.

#1 Asad Shafiq steals headlines

Asad Shafiq almost took Pakistan across the line

For a batsman with 8 hundreds in Test cricket to bat at no. 6 would possibly make one assume that the top 5 are doing a terrific job. However, that has rarely been the case for Pakistan. Shafiq was pushed up to no. 4 in England and justified the move with a brilliant hundred.

But the emergence of Babar Azam and his own loss of form prompted Pakistan to move him back to no. 6, where he was doing a great job batting with the tail-enders. Shafiq was once again at it, inspiring the tail enders to bat long and almost made Australia's Christmas a terrible one.

A searing bouncer from Starc may have ended his and Pakistan's Test, but Shafiq won numerous hearts for his sensational hundred, his ninth batting at no. 6, a record in Test match cricket.