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AUS win 3 - 0 AUS gains 14 points; PAK loses 14 points
Draw 1.5 - 1.5 PAK gains 8 points; AUS loses 8 points
PAK win 3 - 0 PAK gains 31 points; AUS loses 31 points
Perth
16 - 19 December 2004
Pakistan won the toss and elected to field first. The decision paid immediate dividends when Hayden (4) was out in the third over at 1 for 6. Australia then consolidated until Pakistan dismissed Ponting (25), Martyn (1) and Lehmann (12) in the space of 15 runs to have Australia 4 for 72 at lunch. Pakistan continued to dominate the home side when straight after lunch, Clarke (1) was out at 5 for 78. However, Gilchrist then managed to hang around with Langer and rebuild the innings. After Langer had posted his 21st Test century, Australia went to tea at 5 for 220. Australia's recovery efforts suffered a blow when Gilchrist (69) fell at 6 for 230. However, despite Warne (12) and Gillespie (24) also being dismissed, Australia considering they were 5 for 78, somewhat miraculously finished the day at 8 for 357, with Langer not out on 181 runs.
Pakistan dismissed Kasprowicz (4) on the tenth ball of the second morning and then Langer (191) was caught soon afterwards leaving McGrath once again stranded on 8 in an innings total of 381 runs.� Shoaib Akhtar was the best of the bowlers with 5 for 99 off 22 overs. Pakistan got off to a good start in reply, until openers Imran Farhat (18) and Salman Butt (17) fell in the space of 13 runs to see Pakistan in trouble at 2 for 45.� By lunch, Pakistan was 2 for 51.� Australia inflicted another double blow straight after lunch to leave Pakistan languishing.� After Inzamam-ul-Haq (1) and Yousuf Youhana (1) fell in consecutive Kasprowicz overs, Pakistan was firmly on the back foot at 4 for 60.� Pakistan finally managed a period of consolidation and took the total to 108 runs before disaster struck just before tea.� Australia dismissed Younis Khan (42), Abdul Razzaq (21), Kamran Akmal (2) and Mohammad Khalil (0) in the space of three runs.� At tea, Pakistan was 8 for 111, needing a further 71 runs to avoid the risk of being asked to follow on.� During the evening session, Shoaib Akhtar (27) and Mohammad Sami (29) combined for a 60 run partnership and took the innings total to 179 runs, three short of the follow on target, before Pakistan was all out.� Kasprowicz was the best of the bowlers with a remarkable 5 for 30 off 16.3 overs.� In a decision that reflected the post Kolkata 2001 Australian mentality, Australia elected not to enforce the follow on and after three overs, ending the day at 0 for 15, with an overall lead of 217 runs.
To have any chance of winning the match, Pakistan needed to quickly dismiss Australia on third morning and limit the final innings victory target.� Pakistan did dismiss Hayden (10) at 1 for 28 early on, however, Australia then batted through to be 1 for 110 at lunch, already with a lead of 312 runs.� Australia continued to wreak havoc on the bowlers during the afternoon session and added another 137 runs to their lead for the loss of Langer (97) to be 2 for 247 at tea.� During the evening session, Pakistan dismissed Ponting (99), Lehmann (5) and Clarke (27) before Australia declared upon Martyn (100*) posting his ninth Test century at 5 for 361.� Danish Kaneria was the more successful bowler with 2 for 130 off 32 overs.� Pakistan then faced the almost impossible task of making 564 runs in their final innings to achieve victory.� In the six overs before stumps, Pakistan lost Imran Farhat (1) before ending the day at 1 for 18.
Pakistan saw off the first four overs of the fourth morning and took their score to 34 before McGrath completely annihilated the tourists.� Single-handedly, McGrath dismissed Salman Butt (9), Younis Khan (17), Abdul Razzaq (1), Inzamam-ul-Haq (0), Kamran Akmal (0), and Yousuf Youhana (27) for the addition of only 30 runs to have Pakistan 7 for 64.� Kasprowicz then chipped in with the wicket of Mohammad Sami (2) before Shoaib Akhtar (1) became McGrath's eights victim of the innings.� Kasprowicz again spoiled McGrath's party when he dismissed Mohammad Khalil (5) to have Pakistan all out for 72 runs.� Australia claimed victory by 491 runs while McGrath finished with career best figures of 8 for 24 off 16 overs, which was second only to Arthur Mailey's 9 for 121 in Australian Test cricket bowling history.
Second Test
Melbourne
26 - 29 December 2004
Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first, making a positive start and showing they had put the Perth debacle behind them.� Australia conceded three dropped chances before Imran Farhat (20) was out at 1 for 85.� Pakistan then went to lunch at 1 for 90.� Australia hit back straight after lunch, trapping Yasir Hameed (2) and running out Salman Butt (70) to have Pakistan 3 for 94.� However, Pakistan then settled and resisted Australia for the rest of the session to go to tea at 3 for 198.� Once Yousuf Youhana posted his 12th Test century during the evening session, Australia started to gain momentum.� Australia dismissed Youhana (111), Younis Khan (87) and Shoaib Malik (6) to have Pakistan 6 for 301.� By Stumps, Pakistan was still well placed at 6 for 318, with the opportunity to make in excess of 400 and put the home side under some pressure.
After a short rain delay, Australia strangled the Pakistani batsmen on the second morning, restricting them to just 23 runs in 17.3 overs while Kamran Akmal (24), Mohammad Sami (12), Shoaib Akhtar (0) and Danish Kaneria (0) fell.� Pakistan was all out for 341 runs, having blown their opportunity to make a substantial first innings total, while Gillespie (3 for 77 off 26 overs) and Warne (3 for 103 off 28.3 overs) shared the bowling honours.� Lunch was then taken before Australia began their reply.� Pakistan made two early breakthroughs, dismissing Hayden (9) and Ponting (7) to have the home side 2 for 32.� However, Australia then consolidated and at a rain induced early tea break, the score was 2 for 92.� Pakistan struck again during the evening session and dismissed Langer (50) and Lehmann (11) and Clarke to have Australia 4 for 135 before rain delayed play. When play resumed, Clarke (20) fell and by stumps, Australia was 5 for 203, still 138 runs in arrears.
After a rain delay, Australia eventually resumed on the third morning firmly on the wrong side of the scoreboard. �While Pakistan had lost Abdul Razzaq to hospital with a blood pressure problem, they dismissed Gilchrist (48) early in the session at 6 for 230.� Warne (10) was out on the stroke of lunch, when the score was 7 for 254 and Australia still needed an unlikely 97 more runs to erase the deficit.� However, Martyn, who reached his eleventh Test century, and Gillespie batted through most of the afternoon and saw Australia into the lead.� Martyn (142) was eventually trapped in front at 8 for 347 and after Kasprowicz (4) and McGrath (1) were out, Australia was all out at tea for 379 runs while Gillespie remained stranded on 50.� Shoaib Akhtar posted his eleventh five-wicket haul with 5 for 109 off 27 overs while Danish Kaneria posted his seventh five-wicket haul with 5 for 125 off 39.3 overs.� Pakistan then self destructed in trying to erase the 38 runs deficit.� Australia caught Salman Butt (0) in the first over and then Imran Farhat (5) and Yasir Hameed (23) were out before Pakistan had erased the deficit.� Australia then caught Yousuf Youhana (12) and Younis Khan (23) in the space of eight runs to have Pakistan 5 for 68.� By stumps, Pakistan was 5 for 85, with an overall lead of only 47 runs, having begun the day in a very strong position with a chance of winning the match and then ending the day with negligible chance of even holding out for a draw.
Fortunately, Abdur Razzaq was able to bat for Pakistan on the fourth morning, although Shoaib Malik (15*) retired hurt with split webbing in his hand in the third over.� Soon afterwards, Mohammad Sami (11) and Kamran Akmal (0) were both trapped in front and Pakistan was 7 for 101.� Malik returned to the crease and took the score to 140 before he was caught for 41 and Abdul Razzaq (19) was out next over without adding to the total.� When Shoaib Akhtar (14) was bowled, Pakistan was all out for 163 runs with an overall lead of 125 runs.� McGrath was the best of the bowlers with 4 for 35 off 11.2 overs.� Australia then began their chase for 126 runs and a fifth successive series victory by losing Langer (5) at 1 for 11.� However, Ponting (62*) and Hayden (56*) then saw Australia home.
Third Test
Sydney
02 - 06 January 2005
Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first. Australia put down two regulation catches in the second over and Pakistan made them pay by batting chancelessly through the remainder of the opening session to be no wicket for 92 at lunch. Australia took their next opportunity shortly after lunch to catch Yasir Hameed (58) at 1 for 102. However, Pakistan then knuckled down again and it was not until very late in the afternoon session before Younis Khan (46) was also caught at 2 for 193. Shortly afterwards, Pakistan went to tea well placed at 2 for 205. After tea, Salman Butt went on to post his maiden Test century while Pakistan took to total to 209 before Yousuf Youhana (8) was caught. The dismissal of Salman Butt (108) at 4 for 241 opened the floodgates as Australia fought their way back into the match. Australia dismissed Asim Kamal (10), Shahid Afridi (12), Naved-ul-Hasan (0), Shoaib Akhtar (0) and Danish Kaneria (3) to have Pakistan in trouble at 9 for 280. When bad light stopped play, Pakistan was 9 for 292, having thrown away all their hard work in the first two sessions.
Australia took 28 balls on the second morning to dismiss Kamran Akmal (47) to have Pakistan all out for 304 runs. MacGill took his 10th five-wicket haul in only his 33rd Test with figures of 5 for 87 off 22 overs while McGrath took 4 for 50 off 16.4 overs. Australia began their reply and lost Langer (13) at 1 for 26 and then later Hayden (26) was out shortly before they went to lunch at 2 for 89. Pakistan could have seized control of the match had they managed to take two quick wickets after lunch. However, Pakistan actually went wicketless while Ponting posted his 21st Test century and, in combination with Martyn, added 139 runs during the session for Australia to be in complete control at 2 for 228 at tea. During the evening session, Pakistan eventually stumped Martyn (67) at 3 for 257. Australia then took the lead before Clarke (35) was also stumped at 4 for 318. Ponting went on to pass 150 and he and Gilchrist then batted though for Australia to be 4 for 340 at stumps, with a lead of 36 runs.
Rain prevented any play before lunch on the third day. When play eventually started, Australia continued punishing Pakistan, with Gilchrist firing off his 13th Test century before being stumped for 113 runs off only 120 balls at 5 for 471. By tea, Australia was 5 for 509, with a lead of 205 runs. After Ponting had passed his fourth double century, Pakistan eventually bowled Ponting (207), caught Watson (34) and trapped Gillespie (0) in front in the space of eight runs to have Australia 8 for 537. After McGrath (9) and Warne (16) were dismissed, Australia was all out for 568 runs, with a more than adequate first innings lead of 264 runs. Danish Kaneria was the best of the bowlers with 7 for 188 off 49.3 overs and in doing so, passed 100 Test wickets in only his 23rd Test, which was the same number as Warne took. Pakistan then began the task of erasing the deficit, but lost Salman Butt (21) at 1 for 46 before ending the day at 1 for 67.
Australia began their relentless path to victory on the fourth morning by dismissing Yasir Hameed (63) early on at 2 for 104. Pakistan then took the total to 164 runs before both Yousuf Youhana (30) and Younis Khan (44) were out. By lunch, Pakistan was 4 for 172. Pakistan resisted the inevitable through the afternoon session and took the total to 238 runs before a collapse occurred. Australia ran out Shahid Afridi (46) and then Kamran Akmal (4), Naved-ul-Hasan (9) Shoaib Akhtar (0) and Danish Kaneria (0) were all dismissed to see Pakistan 9 for 270. However, Australia was unable to remove the final batsman, even after tea was delayed by half an hour. When tea was finally taken, Pakistan was 9 for 323. When play resumed, Pakistan added only two more runs before Asim Kamal (87) was caught and Pakistan was all out for 325 runs, with an overall lead of 61 runs. Warne was the best of the bowlers with 4 for 111 off 26 overs. Australia then began their chase for the 62 runs required for victory. The openers raced toward the targe, scoring at over six runs per over, until Langer (34) was bowled with only four more runs needed. Ponting (4*) then hit the winning runs off the first ball he faced, to take the victory by nine wickets, while Hayden remained not out on 23.
