Dubai horror leaves hard calls
AUSTRALIA’S dogfight in Dubai will turn quickly to the first management nightmare of the summer, with a decision looming on how far to push spearhead Mitchell Starc.
New opening pair Aaron Finch and Usman Khawaja continued the fighting start to their tenure at the top of the order last night in the first Test against Pakistan, set the seemingly impossible task of chasing down a world-record 462, or battle it out for five sessions at the crease for a draw.
Finch (39 not out) and Khawaja (32no) passed the first test by getting to tea unscathed at 0-72 but Australia’s debilitating firstinnings collapse was proof of their tenuous existence, still 389 runs behind.
The moment Finch and Khawaja’s 142-run opening stand in the first dig ended, utter capitulation followed and batting was only getting tougher on a deteriorating fourth-day pitch after Pakistan declared at 6-181.
Starc is only just back from six months on the sidelines and is absolutely paramount to Australia’s hopes during the home summer and then the marquee World Cup and Ashes assignments to come over the next year.
Australia has a four-day break before the second and final Test in Abu Dhabi but selectors must weigh up the benefits of playing a long game with its most prized asset.
Starc sent down 31 overs in the tour match against Pakistan A, and 42 in the first Test where he bowled on four consecutive days on a back-breaking pitch.
This is not a fast bowler’s surface.
Last night debutant Marnus Labuschagne continued to impress with his part-time leg-spin as he took his second Test wicket, bowling well in partnership with Jon Holland who claimed his third scalp of the innings.
Selectors were close to blooding Queenslander Michael Neser in the first Test and was deliberately bowled in the tour match so he would be ready for a potential call-up.
Fellow fast-bowling leader and newly-named vice-captain Josh Hazlewood admits Australia’s quicks will have to be told to rest at choice moments over the next 12 months.
“It’s about how we manage the quicks through that period. We obviously want to play every game, but that’s not possible over the next 18 months,” he said.