Aussies have allowed Pakistan to hold the fort and three major reasons have contributed to their downfall -
(a) Excluding Maxwell and Hughes in their playing XI
(b) Lyon bowling the middle and leg stump attack.
(c) Failure of batsmen using their feet against spinners.
I was surprised to see Doolan in at number 3 and Mitchell Marsh in the capacity as an allrounder. To me, Marsh is still not matured enough to be playing in a Test match especially in the sub continent conditions. I guess Clarke wanted Marsh to fill in the shoes of Watson which at this level is very hard to accomplish. I expected Hughes to be in the playing XI and open the innings with Warner and have Rogers play at No.3. This way, there would have been more stability to the bating line up.Maxwell is a good player of spin and he would have been apt at No.5. Again playing Maxwell, will give more options for Clarke than choosing Marsh.
I was pained to see that none of the Aussies batsmen but for Smith used their feet against the spinners. They were all playing from the crease and expected the ball to turn, in most cases that was not to be.
The main reason for Lyon to be successful in the ODIs against Pakistan was because he was bowling on or outside the off stump. Here in both the innings, he was not only bowling flat but was also focusing on middle and leg stump attack.
I was very much pleased to see a wrist spinner in Yasir Shah. Playing in his first match for Pakistan, he did not hesitate to flight the ball and on many occasions pitch in line with the stumps. The same was the case with Babar.
To conclude, Aussies can fight back very strongly provided (a) they have their playing XI right, (b) Lyon bowling his usual off stump attack and (c) batsmen using their feet against spinners.
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