In a New Year’s cricketing spectacle at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Pakistan showcased resilience as tailender Aamir Jamal’s explosive innings salvaged their innings, amassing 313 runs on the first day of the ongoing third Test against Australia.
Despite the absence of stalwarts like Babar Azam, Aamir Jamal, batting at number 9, delivered an extraordinary performance, dismantling both the formidable Australian fast trio and offspinner Nathan Lyon. The day concluded with Australia at 6 runs for no loss, with David Warner at 6 and Usman Khawaja at 0.
Australia’s Pat Cummins initially posed a threat, securing his third consecutive five-wicket haul and dismissing half of Pakistan for a mere 96 runs. However, Mohammad Rizwan, Agha Salman, and the sensational Aamir Jamal rallied, ensuring Pakistan’s highest total in the ongoing 3-match Test series in Australia.
The absence of key players like Babar Azam raises questions about the team’s resilience, and individual performances should not compensate for team-wide consistency.