A Test summer in which Australia were deep in crisis heads into its final day with Steve Smith's team on the brink of a clean-sweep celebration.
At their lowest ebb in Hobart in November there were questions about whether the crestfallen Australian side thwarted by South Africa could beat Pakistan, let alone hand them a 3-0 drubbing.
More Sports HQ Videos
Monstrous innings has Aussies eyeing victory
Australia have set Pakistan a nearly impossible run chase on the final day of the third test at the SCG with the visitors needing 410 runs after David Warner smashed the second-fastest half-century in test history.
That is there for the taking, however, on Saturday barring another round of wet weather or a Gabba-like Herculean effort with the bat from the tourists on the last day of the third Test.
In Brisbane, they gave Australia the fright of their lives by getting within touching distance of a world-record fourth-innings pursuit of 490, and in Sydney they would need to mount another best-ever chase -Â of 465 -Â or alternatively bat all day for a draw.Â
![Turn around: Australia captain Steve Smith celebrates catching Yasir Shah of Pakistan off a delivery by Josh Hazlewood ...](/web/20170106234531im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/n/3/c/h/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gtn90x.png/1483691702568.jpg)
If they can't, Australia will have won four Tests in a row - and seven matches consecutively in all formats - which is a far cry from their unwanted record of five straight Test defeats when they were thrashed by an innings and 18 runs by the Proteas at Blundstone Arena.
"The team is in a much better position now," said fast bowler Josh Hazlewood, who forecast that he and Mitchell Starc would be rested for at least one of the upcoming one-day internationals against Pakistan to freshen up for the tour of India.
"It's been a good transition and good to be a part of it. It's a great feeling in the sheds at the moment. Everyone is really enjoying the cricket that we're all playing together and enjoying each other's company on the field and off it as well. It's a really good change room at the moment."Â
There has been a fair chunk of this Test lost to rain but Australia have driven the game to the point where there is still ample time on Saturday.
Starc and Hazlewood have enhanced their reputations further by leading the Australian attack this summer through good and bad but the last-day assignment will also fall upon spinners Nathan Lyon and Steve O'Keefe.
Lyon's confidence apparently restored, he will still want to complete the job here but on a turning day-five track the situation seems set up for him to strike.
"I think the second innings in Melbourne did him the world of good, to get a couple of wickets there," Hazlewood said of Lyon. "He's obviously brought that (form) to Sydney on a wicket he's bowled a fair bit at and is quite confident at playing here. I think there is a big day for him tomorrow, to pick up a few more."
Lyon broke through once late on Friday, ending a quickfire 40 from debutant opener Sharjeel Khan to leave Pakistan 1-55 and needing 410 more to win.
Not long earlier they had been on the receiving end as David Warner (55), Smith (59) and Handscomb (40 not out) put the foot on the pedal in Australia's second innings of 2-241 before declaring. Scoring at more than 7.5 runs an over it was the fastest Test innings of more than 12 overs in history.
Warner led the way and capped a remarkable Test personally by cruising effortlessly to the second quickest fifty of all time in 23 balls while Usman Khawaja, opening in place of the withdrawn Renshaw (concussion), was the anchor with a comparatively conservative 79 not out.
0 comments
New User? Sign up