The highly anticipated Boxing Day Test match between Australia and Pakistan commenced with the men in green winning the crucial toss and opting to invite the hosts to bat first amidst overcast conditions.
Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi created early opportunities, but the fielders failed to support him adequately. A bizarre display of fielding from Pakistan saw David Warner being dropped at slip in the third over. Despite this, the visitors managed to take two quick wickets.
The situation intensified for the Aussies as dark clouds loomed over the MCG stadium, prompting the use of floodlights. Shaheen Afridi and Hasan Ali continued their formidable bowling from both ends.
Tensions rose when Australian batter Marnus Labuschagne complained to the umpires about substandard playing conditions, demanding an immediate halt due to insufficient light. The combination of bad light and challenging questions from the Pakistani bowlers left Labuchagne frustrated.
The heated battle between Afridi and Labuschagne unfolded during the 40th over, with Afridi attempting to get under the skin of the Australian batter, who struggled against the pacer’s inswingers.
Brief delays disrupted Afridi’s rhythm, and rain eventually halted the proceedings during the second session. Fortunately for Australia, Smith and Labuschagne managed to survive the challenges under the lights.
It’s a mystery, how did Marnus Labuchagne survived this spell of Shaheen Shah Afridi 👀🔥#PAKvsAUS
pic.twitter.com/4pwzfCcI0d— 𝗛𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗻 𝗭𝗮𝗵𝗶𝗱¹⁰ | 🇦🇪 (@Iam_hassan10) December 26, 2023
As play resumed after a brief delay due to drizzle, Australia still faced the task of batting through 25 overs, and a couple of wickets in the final session could bring Pakistan back into the game.
The Boxing Day Test began on a fiery note, and fans can anticipate the rivalry intensifying in the coming days. This match is crucial for Pakistan, representing a do-or-die situation as they aim to stay alive in the three-game series.
