PAINE AND GAIN:
DARREN BERRY COLUMN
ANYONE who says Test cricket is dead wasn’t watching on Thursday night when the first Test between Australia and Pakistan came to a nailbiting conclusion in Dubai.
Our new-look team, so desperate to rebuild trust and faith, showed a steely resolve to hold on for a draw when all hope seemed lost.
It was breathtaking cricket for the purists as Pakistan crowded the bat with two quality spinners operating.
Our captain Tim Paine held firm alongside tailender Nathan Lyon, navigating us to safety from 12.2 overs out.
The Test will be long remembered for the amazing deeds of Usman Khawaja, who finally silenced his critics playing away from home.
Up until now, his record was justifiably criticised. But his 141 runs off 302 balls in the second innings was the backbone of our great escape.
That energy-sapping knock, combined with 85 in the first innings, saw him awarded a much-deserved man of the match.
It was our captain, however, who I believe should be showered in equal adulation.
He was superb from go to whoa. To keep wickets for such long periods in oppressive heat requires an amazing amount of concentration and mental application.
He did the job with aplomb. He was clean, tidy and efficient throughout the Test in very difficult conditions.
On top of this, he was moving the chess pieces as our captain, which requires a whole new level of concentration.
It’s fair to say Tim Paine would be a very tired man right now — physically spent and mentally exhausted.
The eyes of the cricket world were on Paine and his reconstructed looking outfit.
Many critics had them in the bin after the first innings of the match.
We trailed by 280 runs and a certain Pakistan victory was a foregone conclusion.
Sadly for Pakistan, they allowed the game to float along for extended periods and I believe a lack of killer instinct in them cost them dearly.
Conservative field placements at the start of day five allowed both Khawaja and debutant Travis Head to settle in, giving us hope that perhaps a miracle could happen. Happen it certainly did.
The fight that was shown throughout the Test by our team had the Justin Langer stamp all over it.
Rarely was he seen out on the balcony in the line of the cameras, but instead weaved his magic behind closed doors.
I have no doubt he would have driven his charges and ordered them to fight, to scrap and to somehow salvage something after the first innings humiliation.
A team often reflects the coach’s personal traits and be- cause of this we have reason to be optimistic moving forward.
Langer would have been as proud as punch of the batting craft that Head showed on debut, especially after a firstinnings duck. The young man from the rough northern suburbs of Adelaide counterpunched beautifully.
He was prepared to use his feet, both forward and back, to negate the dangers of spin and found ways to score when the bowlers missed their length fractionally.
He is made of the right stuff and will be a regular under the Langer regime.
The return of Peter Siddle showed us we should never write off a champion with a big heart.
The previous hierarchy had cast Siddle aside, as his once-venomous pace had eased, and he was considered too gentle to do a job at the highest level. His skill to continually attack the stumps and relentlessly hit the wicket proved valuable on a very flat pitch in the UAE.
He provides stability and leadership to this outfit and it was a masterstroke by Langer to demand his return.
Until Josh Hazlewood returns from injury, Siddle is as solid as a rock.
The two-Test series now moves to Abu Dhabi where another enthralling battle is promised.
The microscope will be on our boys once again as it will be all summer back home.
The Marsh brothers will be heavily scrutinised in the lead up and Matthew Renshaw’s name will be thrown back on the selection table as a possible inclusion.
Marnus Labuschagne didn’t deliver on debut but must be given at least another chance before any judgments can be made on his future.
Langer respects him enormously, so he will get support.
Our future status as a Test team is still uncertain in many people’s eyes, but I am more optimistic than most manly due to the two leaders we have at the helm.
Langer will drive the standards off the field and in Paine we have a man with steel in his veins and a glint in his eye.
He was a long time ago considered a future leader of our country and in unimaginable circumstances has had it now thrust upon him.
His outstanding performance as our leader here has proven his ascension to the top job was an astute appointment.
Our future status as a Test team is still uncertain in many people’s eyes, but I am more optimistic than most, manly due to the two leaders we have at the helm.