Playing at Sharjah these days has become akin to jumping into a furnace, well maybe not jumping into a furnace but it is certainly similar to standing right next to one.
Exaggerations aside, the 1st ODI between Australia and Pakistan displayed how bowlers didn't have to break a sweat, despite the heat, in order to earn their wickets. Why? Because wickets didn't have to be earned, they were merely gifted away.
After opting to bat first on what looked like a track made of cement, a regular feature at this particular venue, Pakistan showed little desire to spend time in the middle. Perhaps the heat meant that players didn't want to bat for too long, maybe it was just some poor decision making or a combination of the heat affecting the decision making.
Whatever it was, it was far from being commendable. Pakistan lost their top three batsmen with the score at just 40. Nasir Jamshed (23) was the only one who fell to a really good delivery as he was caught behind, fending a rising ball. Mohammad Hafeez (4) and Azhar Ali (5) on the other hand were guilty of playing their shots too early, as the ball stopped on them a little.
That obviously wasn't the best time to be a middle order batsman wearing green then, however, it was the middle order or at least a part of it that actually stood up to the challenge. Asad Shafiq and Umar Akmal batted with a lot of determination to steady the ship and certainly played with some positive intent. Both batsmen scored half centuries and either one of them looked like they might be able to double it up. The duo added on a partnership of 61 before Shafiq (56) fell prey to the curse of the batting powerplay.
The curse started after the 35th over and so violent was its nature, that it left Pakistan reeling by the end of over number 40 as the score went from 159/4 to 175/7. A mere 16 runs were scored in what is supposed to be a period of advantage for the batsmen, and to top it all three of those batsmen were sent back to the pavilion.
What followed was three quick wickets as Pakistan ended up with a total of just 198. In conditions where the ball would probably be nipping around a lot, or turning square off the surface, such a total would be acceptable. The problem in this case was the fact that the wicket had nothing more than a little bounce on it for the bowlers. In fact, more often than not the ball would just stop a little on the batsmen, no real pace off the surface. Needless to say then, that this total was way below average.
Australia, having already played a practice game on this surface, were expected to run away with it quite easily. What followed though, could have been used as a testament to why practice matches are over-rated. The Australians had a worse start than their counterparts as their footwork against spin resembled how a cow would walk on ice. David Warner's frustration with his inability to play spin resulted in him missing a straight delivery as he tried to execute a ridiculous slog sweep, only to be castled for five.
Mathew Wade was the next to go, and no prizes for guessing that he attempted a slog sweep as well only to get a leading edge and be caught for 10. Brothers Michael (5) and David Hussey (3) didn't hang around for too long either, both getting undone by some good bowling from Saeed Ajmal. Michael Hussey incidentally was Ajmal's 100th ODI wicket.
What Australia needed with the score at 67/4 was some inspiration, and who better to lead the way than the captain. Michael Clarke showed that if a player was willing to be patient enough, then the runs would come by on this surface. He put on a steady partnership with another leader, albeit in a different format, George Bailey, that played a big part in taking Australia towards victory. Both batsmen put on a partnership of 54 runs with Clarke getting to his 54th ODI half century.
"Pup" eventually perished to the trickery of Mohammad Hafeez for a score of 66. Bailey then took over the responsibility of taking his team home and was partnered well by Glenn Maxwell. A partnership of 63 between them, meant that Australia were within touching distance of victory. Maxwell was dismissed by Ajmal for 38, however, by then it was clear that Australia would come out of this battle on top and Bailey did just that as he scored 57 off 88 to take his side through to a four wicket win.
The result of this game poses some questions for either side. Despite winning, Australia will surely be worried about the way their top order performed, if Pakistan put on a bigger total will they be able to chase it down? Pakistan on the other hand have always managed to pull themselves out of trouble owing to their bowling prowess.
In this ODI their spinners took all the six wickets, could they have won this game if the pace bowlers would have been able to contribute a little more? Maybe it is time for Pakistan to ask Umar Gul to take off that Uva Next jersey and don the green once again, for without him the pace attack lacks that necessary commodity called threat.
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