3 Mistakes Pakistan Should Rectify Ahead Of 2nd ODI Vs Australia

Rizwan played a slow knock Vs AUS [Source: @TheRealPCB/X.Com] Rizwan played a slow knock Vs AUS [Source: @TheRealPCB/X.Com]

Well, the Australia Vs Pakistan first ODI at the MCG turned out to be a close-fought contest as both the teams gave it their all and in the end, the Aussies came out on top. At one stage victory looked an easy job for Australia, but kudos to the Pakistan bowlers who made a match out of a low-score.

The visitors posted a paltry 203 batting first. None of the batters made big as both the senior pros, Babar Azam (37), and newly appointed captain, Mohammad Rizwan (44) got starts, but couldn't convert it into a big score. If it wasn't for Naseem Shah's late assault, the total would have been way below the 200-run mark.

In reply, Australia were on their way to victory before Haris Rauf produced a breath-taking spell. However, captain Pat Cummins kept his cool and remained unbeaten at 32 to steer his side home.

Ahead of the 2nd ODI, we look at 3 mistakes the visitors should rectify to bounce back in the series.

3) Batters need to contribute more

After playing on a flat track of Multan and a spin friendly surface in Rawalpindi, Pakistan found it hard to get going on a bouncy surface at the MCG. None of the batters made it big as the Aussie bowlers always found a way to get wickets at regular intervals.

Pakistan boast a stellar ODI batting lineup, but no one stood tall and the rescue job had to be done by a bowler - Naseem Shah, who scored a quick-fire 40 off 39 balls. Captain Rizwan scored 44, but it took him 71 balls to reach the landmark.

Babar, looked compact, but even he couldn't breach the 50-run mark. Hence, with the second ODI coming up, Pakistan need to rectify the batting mistakes and the batters need to take responsibility.

2) Stop playing 90's style of ODI cricket

Rizwan's innings came at a strike-rate of 61.97. Abdullah Shafique scored 12 off 26, with a strike-rate of 46, and Agha Salman took 29 balls to score 12 runs. ODI cricket has evolved, but Pakistan batters are yet o figure out a way to play aggressive brand of cricket.

All the names mentioned here played a slow knock and it created pressure as Pakistan just couldn't move out of the first gear. On the contrary, Australia, despite losing 8 wickets, finished off the match inside 34 overs, thanks to their aggressive batting. Players need to be a bit more proactive if they are to challenge the Aussie side.

1) Bowlers need to nail the yorkers right

Pakistan bowlers brought their side back in the contest when they picked quick wickets in the middle-overs. At one stage, Australia had lost 155/7, and then they were 185/8. Pat Cummins kept his cool as he batted like a top-order player and steered his side home.

During this period, Pakistan did one big mistake and that was their failed execution of yorkers. The Men in Green have quality bowlers in Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah, and yet they all failed to bowl a single yorker as the pressure was lifted off Cummins and he easily took care of the business. Ahead of the 2nd ODI, Pakistan should rectify this mistake.