Australia vs Pakistan 2023-24

Saud Shakeel’s batting woes against short ball continue as he takes a stinky body blow off Pat Cummins bouncer on slow Sydney pitch

Saud Shakeel misjudged the bounce of a short ball by Cummins and got hit on his chest

Jan 3, 2024 5:25 pm

Australia and Pakistan are fighting it out in the third and final test of the series at the magnificent Sydney Cricket Ground. Australia has already taken an unassailable lead of 2-0 in the series and will be entering this match win the aim of maintaining their 29-year old winning streak against Pakistan on their home soil.

Also, Australia would be desperate to win this match and give David Warner a winning farewell who is playing his last Test match in International cricket. At the same time, winning this match will place them in a stronger position in the WTC points table. On the other hand, Pakistan will fancy reversing their dreadful test record in Australia, especially in Sydney which has the most favourable conditions for subcontinent teams.

Saud Shakeel’s short ball woes continue

Pakistan encountered a disastrous beginning after winning the toss, losing four wickets in the initial session, with skipper Shan Masood departing shortly after lunch having scored 35. Both Abdullah Shafique and debutant Saim Ayub were dismissed in the first two overs and Babar Azam again failed to have an impact as he got out early after getting a good start.

But despite the favourable subcontinent conditions of Sydney on good batting conditions of the first day, Pakistan’s Saud Shakeel copped a blow on his chest off, Pat Cummins. It all happened in the 13th over of the match when Pakistan were faltering at 43-3.

Saud was battling to take Pakistan to safer shores but then he misjudged the bounce of a short ball by Cummins and by the time he realized the actual height of the ball it thudded onto his chest resulting in the arrival of the physio onto the scene.

While the physio was looking at the extent of the blow by rubbing the area on the chest where the ball was hit but then Saud Shakeel stopped the physio as he was feeling the sting of the blow.

Sydney is one such ground in Australia that traditionally doesn’t have much bounce as compared to other Australian pitches and therefore Shakeel misjudged the bounce which resulted in the body blow. But the body blow played its part and shook Shakeel’s concentration as he soon got out leaving Pakistan in deeper waters at 47-4.