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‘Phenomenal the way we turned things around’ – Smith
- Updated: December 30, 2016
Nobody turns up to day five of a Test anymore. Well, hardly anybody. At the Gabba: 2593 showed up, with free entry all day. At the MCG: 6189 – though more flooded in after tea when Cricket Australia threw open the gates. And yet day five was when both Tests sprung dramatically and unexpectedly to life. The end result was that in Brisbane, Australia nearly lost the unlosable Test, while in Melbourne they won the unwinnable.
Even Steven Smith turned up to the MCG on day five thinking a result was unlikely. Possible, yes, but improbable. After all, rain had washed out nearly half of days one, two and four, and Pakistan had piled on 443 in their first innings, across three days. “If we can get a lead of 150-ish then maybe we can have a crack and see how we go,” Smith said on ABC Radio on the fifth morning. “Funnier things have happened in the game of cricket.”
He might not have expected it, but Smith’s words could hardly have been more prophetic. In the first session, Smith and Mitchell Starc provided outstanding entertainment for the small crowd. Starc struck seven sixes, the most for any player in a Test innings at the MCG, and Australia amassed 624, the highest total ever in a Test at the venue. In the end, Smith gave himself a little extra room to manoeuvre, declaring 181 in front.
Australia’s golden run continued when Josh Hazlewood struck in the second over of Pakistan’s second innings, justifying Smith’s declaration timing – Pakistan had to bat for a nervy four-over period before lunch. Everything continued to fall into place from there: Nathan Lyon – whose consistency was questioned by Smith on the fourth evening – ran through the middle order, and the fast men finished the job after tea.
Australia had won by an innings, in a Test in which Pakistan had made 443 batting first, and in which Australia did not even begin to bat until after lunch on day three. In a Test in which rain wreaked havoc. After the match, Smith could …
