Paine, Khawaja the heroes in Australia's great escape
The visitors hung on by two wickets to draw the Dubai Test, as Pakistan applied immense pressure in the final hour
07/10Result
1st Test, Australia tour of United Arab Emirates at Dubai, Oct 7-11 2018
-
![Pakistan]( "Pakistan")
482 & 181/6d -
![Australia]( "Australia")
202 & 362/8 (139.5 ov)
Player of the Match
07/10Result
1st Test, Australia tour of United Arab Emirates at Dubai, Oct 7-11 2018
-
![Pakistan]( "Pakistan")
482 & 181/6d -
![Australia]( "Australia")
202 & 362/8 (139.5 ov)
Player of the Match
Day 5
Dangerous times for Sarfraz Ahmed
Sarfraz, and as a result his bowlers, couldn't stick to anything long enough to know whether it would work or not
Sweat, sweeps and salvation for Australia
In the year of ball-tampering and bans, a weakened team found a way to survive more overs than any Australian side before them to snatch a dramatic draw
Imam-ul-Haq out of Abu Dhabi Test with finger injury
The Pakistan opener sustained the injury while diving for the ball in the field on the final day of the first Test
Record fourth-innings effort from Australia in Asia
Usman Khawaja's 141 off 302 balls and Australia's score of 362 broke several fourth-innings records in the UAE and Asia
Usman Khawaja's masterpiece puts perceptions to rest
The Australia batsman declared his match-saving 141 proof that he was a hard worker as anyone, having fought perceptions of laziness and weakness in Asian conditions
Day 4
Abbas three-for puts Pakistan seven wickets away from victory
Having set Tim Paine's men 462 to win, Pakistan's Mohammad Abbas landed three body blows to the Australian aspiration of seeing out the 137 overs they need to survive
Evolving Usman Khawaja sets the example for Australia
In the space of just 13 months, Khawaja has firmly overcome his problems against spin, an issue that had earlier seen him lose his place in the Test side
Day 3
Bilal's six-for gives Pakistan the grip despite late blows
Australia lost 10 for 60 after a solid 142-run opening stand to concede the advantage on a platter to Pakistan
New team writes fresh chapter of old story
Australia's issue surrounds the production line of talent, and the way young players are schooled. They once led the world in this respect, and now lag behind many
Australia suffer one of the worst collapses in Test history
Australia made their second-highest opening stand in Asia but the numbers after that weren't flattering
Samiuddin: Don't tell Bilal Asif he's not a Test cricketer
Before the first Test there were a lot of questions around why Bilal Asif shouldn't be in the Pakistan side. In one spell he showed why he should be
Justin Langer tutorial highlights Australia shortcomings against Bilal Asif
Australia coach Justin Langer took his team's left-hand batsmen for a debrief and discussion on how to handle a spinning pitch after the touring team were flattened on day three
Day 2
Haris Sohail's maiden Test ton sets Australia uphill task
Asad Shafiq made 80 as Pakistan posted 482 in their first innings. Aaron Finch and Usman Khawaja then saw out the last 13 overs of the day
Haris Sohail breaks through with innings of unhurried intelligence
He learned plenty about batting at Test level during Pakistan's tour of the UK without quite making the big scores to show for it. Now, in Dubai, he made all that learning count
Marnus Labuschagne's leggies re-open an old question
Australia's fingerspinners have learned to adapt to Asian pitches that offer turn or inconsistent bounce. On flat tracks like Dubai's, however, they lack the cutting edge that a specialist wristspinner can bring
Day 1
Mohammad Hafeez, Imam-ul-Haq grind Australia in the Dubai heat
Pakistan's openers added a double-century stand before the visitors fought back with late wickets
Shoaib Akhtar talked Mohammad Hafeez out of retiring
After scoring a comeback century on the first day of the Dubai Test, Hafeez revealed that his wife and Akhtar convinced him against taking 'drastic steps'
Life, the universe, and Mohammad Hafeez
Here today, gone tomorrow, and back again, he's made enough comebacks for all of us to have a favourite. Which one is yours?
Against the ropes, Langer's Australia persevere
After going wicketless in the first two sessions on a flat pitch in inhospitable weather conditions, the bowlers hit back to make inroads into Pakistan's line-up
Mohammad Hafeez and Imam-ul-Haq achieve rare feat against Australia
This was only the 10th double-century opening stand ever made against Australia in Test cricket
Others
Day 5 thrillers: What's with Pakistan and nail-biting Tests these days?
Dubai 2018, Dominica 2017, Brisbane 2016: just three from a growing list of final-day thrillers involving Pakistan.
Dubai miracle can be this team's Hobart '99 - Justin Langer
Australia coach reckons that the performances of Usman Khawaja and Tim Paine have entered the same career-changing territory he shared with Adam Gilchrist against Pakistan in 1999
Five last-over thrillers in Tests from the 2010s
Starring Faf du Plessis, R Ashwin, Shaminda Eranga, Matt Prior and Tim Paine
I would have picked Maxwell for the UAE tour - Mark Waugh
The former selector has backed Maxwell as a good player of spin who could take the attack to the bowling side
Which are the most memorable match-saving Test performances?
Athers, Faf, McCabe, and even Mark Waugh? Which batsmen have hunkered down the best?
How many times have brothers made ducks in the same Test?
Also: what would South Africa's Duckworth-Lewis target have been in the 1992 World Cup semi-final?
Great escapes this decade
Australia's four-session battle to save the Dubai Test is part of a select group of such performances by teams batting last, since 2010
Which are the toughest Test innings ever played?
A look at the most difficult Test runs made in an innings, taking into account the pitch and the support (or lack of it) at the other end
Usman Khawaja's giant leap is good news for Australia
Fingerspin has often been the team's downfall, and nearly was in Dubai, but Australia can be proud of what they achieved in the second innings
Who is Bilal Asif?
A lowdown on Pakistan's newest Test debutant, who can bat and bowl sharp offbreaks as well as the doosra
Batsmen need to take greater responsibility - Sarfraz Ahmed
The Pakistan captain hoped that they could execute their plans against a vastly-improved Nathan Lyon
(Hand)shaken, not stirred?
One of the first things Tim Paine did after finding himself cleaning up the mess post-Newlands was to make it a point for his team to shake hands with the opposition
Paine's new Australia face first Test of their quality
After nearly giving up playing cricket in 2017, Paine will be at the forefront of Australia's rebuild operation, of performance and public trust, among other things
Hello again, Yasir Shah
Injury and Pakistan's sparsely-filled Test calendar may have caused him to slip off your radar, but he's back now, waiting to unleash a new and improved googly
Bowlers take ownership of reverse swing after Newlands
Taking care of the ball, this time by legal means, will no longer be the purview of Australia's batsmen
Shadab injury rules out twin legspinners attack for Pakistan
Bilal Asif set for debut, while Mohammad Hafeez is expected to be part of the XI for the first Test against Australia
Pakistan seek respite as Australia pick three debutants
The Tim Paine-led side is more decidedly second-favourite than Australia have ever been against Pakistan