Australia had a rough year indeed in 2016.  The winning streak started for Australia through South Africa and they were able to defeat Pakistan and whitewash the series who was a number one team in the Test cricket not long ago.

Australia skipper Steven Smith

At Brisbane Australia survived the scare and won with a meagre of 39 runs. They recovered and registered their biggest wins at Melbourne (by an innings and 18 runs) and at Sydney by (220 runs).  Conditions matter in Test cricket and it was proven once again over the last three contests and it’s a shame that Pakistan team embarked on sulking more and more downwards.

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Australia played the first innings amazing. With three players on century i.e. Renshaw (184), Warner (113) and Hands comb (110). The total score came up to 538 with a loss of 8 wickets in 135 overs. Pakistan did not play well expect Younis Khan (175) and Azhar Ali (71). Younis Khan’s ton kept Pakistan alive.  Younis Khan claimed his 34th Test Century and equaled Sunil Gavaskar’s record and his first ton in Australia. Hazelwood and Lyon were the star bowlers who claimed the maximum wickets respectively and ended up Pakistan’s journey with a score of 315 with loss of 10 wickets.

In the second innings Warner (55), Khawaja (79) and Smith (59) made half centuries and bought the score to 241 with a loss of two wickets. Australia declared their score and Pakistan had to score 465 runs against Australia and they were bowled out with a score of 244 with a loss of 10 wickets and the top scorer in the second innings was Sarfraz Ahmed (72).

Steven Smith has led by example with the bat, clinching Player of the Series honours after scoring 441 runs at an average of 110.25 with two centuries.

“The turnaround since Hobart – the way we have played – is how we want to play our cricket. It’s been outstanding. Guys have scored runs and bowled good areas. The quicks have done a good job. Nathan and SOK (Steve O’Keefe) have been good too, particularly Nathan in Melbourne. A satisfying 3-0. It’s a great place to play (my 50th Test). Pakistan have played some very good cricket, particularly in Brisbane and Melbourne. We are playing some good cricket and hopefully we can carry that form into the limited-overs cricket and close the summer on a good note,” skipper Steven Smith said.

“I think it was a tough series. Full credit to Australia, they played well. Outplayed us in every department, utilizing the conditions very well. We have a few youngsters performing – Azhar, Shafiq and Sarfraz. They will travel to other parts of the world, to Australia and perform well in the future. In Gabba, the way we played in the second innings gave us a lot of self-belief, but the last day at MCG was difficult to take. We were demoralized. Otherwise, overall, if you see the number of positives for Pakistan (there were many). Australia is a great place to learn as an Asian side. Thanks to the crowd. Thanks for your hospitality,” Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq said after the game.

Australia tour India next month for a four-Test series, while Pakistan do not have any Tests scheduled until April, when they will tour the West Indies for a four-match series.

Australia 8 for 538 dec (Renshaw 184, Warner 113, Handscomb 110, Wahab 3-89) and 2 for 241 dec (Khawaja 79*, Smith 59, Warner 55) beat Pakistan 315 (Younis 175*, Azhar 71, Hazlewood 4-55) and 244 (Sarfraz 72*, Hazlewood 3-29, O’Keefe 3-53) by 220 runs

Tags: 3rd Test, Australia, Cricket, Misbah-ul- Haq, Pakistan, SCG, Steven Smith, Sydney