The Australia vs Pakistan Test history began with their first-ever meeting in Karachi in October 1956.

Led by captain Abdul Kardar, Pakistan beat Australia by nine wickets in a low-scoring encounter.

Under the leadership of Richie Benaud, the Australia cricket team later toured East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in 1959. Australia won the three-match Test series 2-0.

In December 1972, the Intikhab Alam-led Pakistan played their first Test series in Australia. Under Ian Chappell, Australia whitewashed Pakistan 3-0 in the three-match Test series.

Since then, Australia and Pakistan have played 70 Tests against each other. 

The Aussies hold a superior head-to-head record against Pakistan in Test cricket, winning 34 of the 70 matches that they have contested so far. Pakistan have secured 15 victories while as many as 20 Tests have ended in draws.

Both sides have registered numerous records during their epic battles in cricket’s longest format and here we take a closer look at some of those Australia vs Pakistan Test records and stats.

Australia vs Pakistan Test records and stats

Highest team total

The Australia cricket team holds the record for the highest team total in Australia vs Pakistan Tests. During the second Test of Pakistan’s tour of Australia in Melbourne in 2016, the hosts posted a mammoth total of 624/8d in their first innings having restricted the visitors to 443/9d. Australia rode on David Warner’s 144, captain Steve Smith’s unbeaten 165, Usman Khawaja’s 97 and Mitchell Starc’s 84 to register a massive total on the board. The hosts later bowled out Pakistan for 163 in their second innings to win the Melbourne Test by an innings and 18 runs. Australia clinched the three-match Test series 3-0.

Lowest team total

The Pakistan national cricket team registered the lowest team total in Australia vs Pakistan Test history. The Steve Waugh-led Australia bundled out Pakistan for 53 in their second innings of the second Test during their tour of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2002. Opener Imran Nazir (16) and Misbah-ul-Haq (12) were the only two Pakistan batters to record double digits in the second innings. For Australia, leg-spinner Shane Warne was the wrecker-in-chief with four wickets. Earlier, Pakistan were bowled out for 59 in their first innings before Australia posted 310 in reply. Australia won the Sharjah Test by an innings and 198 runs.

Most runs

Legendary Javed Miandad holds the record for the most runs in Australia vs Pakistan Tests. Between 1976 and 1990, the former Pakistan batter accumulated 1,797 runs in 25 Tests at an average of 47.28. Miandad slammed six centuries and seven fifties against Australia in Test cricket. He registered his highest score of 211 against the Aussies in the first Test of Australia’s tour of Pakistan in Karachi in 1988. For Australia,  Allan Border scored the most runs against Pakistan in Tests. He amassed 1,666 runs in 22 Tests.

Most wickets

Former Australia cricketer Shane Warne bagged the most wickets in this Test fixture. The right-arm leg spin bowler scalped 90 wickets in just 15 Tests against Pakistan at an average of 20.17 and a strike rate of 45.01. For Pakistan, former captain Imran Khan took the most wickets against Australia in Test cricket. Imran Khan claimed 64 wickets in 18 Tests at an average of 24.96.

Highest individual score

Opening batter David Warner holds the record for the highest individual score in Australia vs Pakistan Tests. Electing to bat first, David Warner scored an unbeaten 335 during Pakistan’s tour of Australia in Adelaide in 2019. His magnificent triple ton included 39 fours and one six. Warner’s scintillating triple hundred powered Australia to 589/3d in their first innings. The hosts later bowled out Pakistan for 302 and 239, respectively, to win the Test by an innings and 48 runs as well as seal the two-match series 2-0. 

Best bowling figures in an innings

Former Pakistan bowler Sarfraz Nawaz has the best bowling figures in an innings in this Test fixture. During the first Test of Pakistan’s tour of Australia in Melbourne in 1979, Sarfraz Nawaz recorded match-winning figures of 9/86 to bowl out the hosts for 310 in the fourth innings while they chased a 382-run target. The right-arm medium-pacer bagged the wickets of Dav Whatmore, Andrew Hilditch, Allan Border, Kim Hughes, Graeme Wood, Peter Sleep, Wayne Clark, Rodney Hogg and Alan Hurst. Interestingly, the other wicket was a run-out. Nawaz’s sensational spell guided Pakistan to a 71-run victory and gave them a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

Best bowling figures in a match

Fazal Mahmood holds the record for the best bowling figures in a match in Australia vs Pakistan Tests. The right-arm fast-medium pacer took 13 wickets for 114 runs during the only Test of Australia’s tour of Pakistan in Karachi in 1956. While Fazal Mahmood bagged six wickets for 34 runs in the first innings, he claimed another seven wickets for 80 runs in the second innings. Pakistan won the Test by nine wickets.

Highest partnership

David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne hold the record for the highest partnership in Australia vs Pakistan Tests. During the second Test of Pakistan’s tour of Australia in Adelaide in 2019, David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne forged a 361-run partnership for the second wicket to help the hosts post 589/3d in their first innings. Warner remained unbeaten on 335, while Labuschagne scored a brilliant 162. The incredible partnership helped Australia win the Test by an innings and 48 runs.

Photo credit: Alamy

The Pakistan cricket team made its entry into international cricket in 1952, and since then, its erratic journey and unpredictable results has always kept it in the news.

The highs of the Pakistan national cricket team are mostly associated with their steady stream of talented players like Zaheer Abbas, Javed Miandad, Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Shahid Afridi and current sensation Babar Azam.

And with respect to their lows, Pakistan have been plagued with disciplinary issues, ball-tampering, match-fixings and the mismanagement of players by the Pakistan Cricket Board over their long stay.

Here we showcase the moments that proved to be key highlights of the Pakistan cricket team’s journey across all formats of cricket over the decades.

First Test win in only second match

The Pakistan cricket team registered their maiden Test victory in only their second Test match. Incidentally, it was against their arch-rivals India in Lucknow.

India, led by Lala Amarnath, opted to bat first but were bowled out for just 106 thanks to Fazal Mahmood who recorded Pakistan’s first five-wicket haul in Test cricket. Riding on Nazar Mohammad’s unbeaten 125, Pakistan posted 331 on the scoreboard and once again had Mahmood torment India with a spell of 7/42 to script a win by an innings and 43 runs. While Pakistan lost the first and third Tests, the early win showed that they were no pushovers in international cricket.

First Test win on English soil

In 1954, just two years into international cricket, Pakistan entered the record books by becoming the first team to win a Test match in its inaugural tour of England.

In the first three matches of the four-match rain-marred Test series, England had won one while two were drawn but in the finale played at the Oval, Pakistan was set to script history.

On this day 1954. Fazal Mahmood's figures of 12 for 99 help Pakistan beat England by 24 runs at the Oval #Cricket pic.twitter.com/KGdaYiYIdl

�?Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) August 17, 2015

Electing to bat first, the low-scoring encounter saw the Men in Green muster only 130 but his back by bowling out the hosts for 133. Pakistan, however, couldn’t capitalise as they were dismissed for just 164 in the second innings. It proved to be enough. Fazal Mahmood, eventually named Man of the Match, followed up on his six-wicket haul from the first innings with yet another six wickets to hand the Pakistan cricket team a 24-run win and one of their greatest Test victories.

Wasim Raja’s drunken acts

The 1970s and 1980s was a troubling phase for the Pakistan cricket team, as they were locked in a bitter relationship with the cricket board and the government. And one of the victims was their talented all-rounder Wasim Raja.

Wasim, the older brother of former cricketer and commentator Rameez Raja, infamously unzipped his pants in front of the audience in the 1975 Karachi Test against the West Indies, with the local press reporting that he played the game in a drunken state.

Wasim Raja’s love for alcohol continued as he went into a drunken rage, smashing the mirrors for failing to make the cut in the 1976-77 Sydney Test against Australia, and he went on to accuse the team manager, Shujauddin, of favouritism.

Imran Khan anchors Pakistan’s first Test win Down Under

After a three-year drought in Test cricket, the Pakistan cricket team pulled off one of their greatest international victories in years thanks to Imran Khan’s six-wicket hauls in each innings of the 1976-77 Sydney Test.

Pakistan were 0-1 down in the three-match series, and new captain Mushtaq Mohammad’s usage of Imran Khan, who had just played 10 Tests by then, proved to be a masterstroke for the visitors. His first innings spell of 6/102 restricted the Aussies to 211, astonishing the hosts and the audience alike as the Kangaroos were outright favourites to win the Test.

Imran returned with a second six-wicket haul to bowl out Australia for 180, paving the way for Pakistan to need just 32 runs to pull off the greatest upset at that point of time.

Javed Miandad’s six that won a final vs India

While MS Dhoni’s 2011 World Cup-winning six is undeniably the greatest moment in modern cricket history, a certain Javed Miandad’s six in the final of the 1986 Austral - Asia Cup against India not only redefined the rivalry between the countries, but it turned the then 29-year-old into a national icon.

Imran Khan, the Pakistan captain, oversaw his team march past the formidable Australia and a helpless New Zealand, against whom they registered a 10-wicket win in the team’s lowest-scoring ODI encounter ever, to book a date with India.

#OnThisDay 1986. Javed Miandad with the six that broke a billion hearts #Cricket pic.twitter.com/Pf24AqRSYp

�?Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) April 18, 2020

Pakistan�?chase of 246 faltered along the way, and when they needed 90 runs to win in the last ten overs, Javed Miandad got the target down to 11 runs required from the last over. After losing two wickets and needing four off the last delivery, it was now or never for Miandad to deny Kapil Dev’s men a one-wicket victory. Instead, he hit a six. The 20,000-odd fans at Sharjah went into a frenzy and the incident has gone down as one of the most memorable moments in cricket history.

Unpredictables win 1992 Cricket World Cup

Pakistan cricket team’s journey at the 1992 Cricket World Cup was far from perfect, as their one win from their opening five fixtures left them on the cusp of a premature exit. But Imran Khan’s ‘Cornered Tigers�?quickly regained their footing with wins in their final three fixtures. In the semi-final, Pakistan pulled off a difficult run chase -- they needed eight runs an over in the final 14 overs -- against New Zealand to book a place in the final.

#OnThisDay in 1992, the Imran Khan-led Pakistan were crowned ICC Men's Cricket World Cup champions for the first time after beating England in the final in Melbourne by 22 runs.pic.twitter.com/ugiWjeYhyK

�?Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) March 25, 2020

After Pakistan set England a target of 250 to chase in the final, Graham Gooch’s side was reduced to 69/4 and the English saw their chances of winning plummet after Wasim Akram’s twin strike in the 35th over. Eventually, Imran Khan, in the last moment of his ODI career, took the final wicket of Richard Illingworth to seal a fairytale victory. Pakistan’s world cup win is remembered as one of the landmark moments in the history of the sport.

Match-fixing stings Pakistan

The Pakistan cricket team of the 1990s was arguably one of the greatest in its history, but it also became synonymous for alleged involvement in match-fixing.

Rashid Latif, former captain and wicket-keeper, disclosed that Saleem Malik accepted bribes during Pakistan’s tour of South Africa and Zimbabwe in 1995. A judicial inquiry started probing the then Pakistan captain Ata-ur Rehman.

While the saga went on for 18 months, the players were finally banned for life and Wasim Akram, who failed to cooperate with the inquiry, was fined £3,300. Additionally, Waqar Younis, Inzamam-ul Haq, Akram Raza, and Saeed Anwar also received fines of £1200 each.

Ball-tamperings in 2006 and 2010

While they were still reeling from the match-fixing scandal, the Pakistan cricket team found itself amidst two ball-tampering scandals in 2006 and 2010, with the latter centred around Shahid Afridi.

In the 2006 Test at the Oval against England, umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove called out the Pakistanis for ball-tampering and awarded five penalty runs to the hosts. The fixture was later abandoned with captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, who was cleared of ball-tampering, being banned for four matches for bringing the game to disrepute.

In contrast to the 2006 incident, Shahid Afridi was caught on camera trying to bite the ball to alter its shape in their ODI game against Australia at Perth in 2010. The all-rounder pleaded guilty to the charge and the event significantly impacted his career that was constantly ridden with controversial decisions.

Bob Woolmer’s mysterious death

While the Pakistan cricket team’s 2007 Cricket World Cup defeat at the hands of debutants Ireland had already grabbed the biggest headlines, the death of then-head coach Bob Woolmer took the sporting world aback.

 

The Englishman, who was found unconscious in his hotel room, was rushed to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival. The mystery behind his death is still unresolved to this very day, with multiple theories based on the match-fixing and behind-the-scenes player tensions are woven.

T20 World Cup retribution

Pakistan, still healing from the violent attacks on the Sri Lankan team bus during the two nations�?Test series in 2009, entered that year’s T20 World Cup as underdogs but rode on the sheer brilliance of Shahid Afridi and Umar Gul to lift the title.

 

Incidentally, Pakistan locked horns against Sri Lanka in the 2009 T20 World Cup final that bore the burden of the Lahore tragedy earlier that year. But, the Men in Green showcased maturity and grit to capture the country’s second piece of ICC silverware since Imran Khan’s triumph in Australia.

Spot-fixing, a new scandal to hit Pakistan

Happy times didn’t last long for the Pakistan cricket team as three players, Mohammad Amir, Mohammed Asif and captain Salman Butt, were found guilty of spot-fixing in a Test match between Pakistan and England at Lord's in 2010. Consequently, they were given professional bans for a period of five, seven and 10 years respectively.

An undercover operation by News of the World brought forward the evidence that the three Pakistan cricket team players accepted money from bookmaker Mazhar Majeed to deliberately underperform at key moments in the Test match.

This event not only cast a shadow on the image of the Pakistan cricket team but also saw more than 80 of the nation’s previous matches coming under the scanner.

The unexpected 2017 Champions Trophy victory

Pakistan entered the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy as the lowest-ranked team in the competition but proved doubters wrong as they trounced arch-rivals India by 180 runs in the final.

After their opening loss to tournament favourites India, the Men in Green were completely written off from the competition. But they won their next two matches and once they stunned hosts England in the semi-final, Pakistan were expected to play out a thriller against India in the final at London.

Pakistan’s matches against India in ICC tournaments have been largely one-sided with the Men in Blue favourites.

 

But Virat Kohli’s decision to bowl first in the final backfired as Pakistan punished the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar to plot a mammoth score of 339.

Sloppy starts and failure to build upon strong batting partnerships cost India the Champions Trophy title and thus, Pakistan once again pulled off an odds-defying triumph to consolidate their status as cricket’s most unpredictable team.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / GLYN KIRK

Scoring a hundred in Tests is by no means an easy feat, with plenty of talented players who have thrived in other formats of the game failing to ever do so in red-ball cricket. If you thought scoring a ton is difficult enough in Tests, then making a double century is even more of a challenge, with the batsman’s natural ability and mental wherewithal being pushed to the limit in cricket’s oldest format. Double centuries are generally scored by experienced players who have been battle-hardened after years of Test cricket but here we look at some of the youngest players in the history of the game to have achieved that feat. 

Javed Miandad vs New Zealand (1976)

Aged 19 years and 140 days, Pakistan’s legendary batsman Javed Miandad became the youngest player to score a double ton in Tests during the opening innings of the third Test of their tour of New Zealand in 1976. Miandad was in imperious form, smashing the Kiwis for 29 fours and two maximums en route to 206. His knock helped Pakistan post 565 on the scoreboard in the first innings and he also scored 85 in the second as the match eventually ended in a draw and the tourists sealed a 2-0 series victory.

George Headley vs England (1930)

Prior to Miandad holding the record, the distinction of the being the youngest-ever double centurion in Tests belonged to West Indies�?George Headley for 46 years. He managed to do so in extremely challenging conditions at the tender age of 20 years and 308 days. After a below-par display by West Indies in their first innings of the fourth Test of England’s tour of the Caribbean islands in 1930, the tourists set a target of 836. However, Headley wasn’t prepared to throw in the towel and with the help of a few of his teammates managed to score 223 to save the Test. His brave and determined knock saw him hit 28 fours.

Vinod Kambli vs England (1993)

India’s youngest double centurion in Tests, Vinod Kambli’s knock came during the third Test of England’s 1993 tour of India. Kambli top-scored for India with 224 at 21 years and 32 days as the tourists lost the match by an innings and 15 runs. The loss meant that India had whitewashed England, winning the three-match series 3-0. Still relatively new to the international circuit at the time, Kambli’s knock was a joy to watch. The elegant left-hander hit 23 fours during his 224 as India posted 591 in their only innings in the Test.

Sir Garry Sobers vs Pakistan (1958)

If you thought scoring a double ton was difficult for youngsters, one can well imagine how challenging scoring a triple ton would be. But if your name was Sir Garry Sobers, that would comprise just another day at the office as it is exactly what the West Indian legend did aged 21 years and 213 days. Walking into bat at number three during the West Indies�?first innings of the third Test of Pakistan tour of the Caribbean islands in 1958, Sobers proceeded to deliver a masterclass in batting and was well-supported from the other end by the likes of Sir Conrad Hunte, Sir Everton Weekes and Sir Clyde Walcott. He smashed 38 fours en route to an unbeaten 365 and helped West Indies win by an innings and 174 runs.

Graeme Smith vs Bangladesh (2002)

The most recent knock on this list, former South African skipper Graeme Smith scored a double ton for the Proteas aged 21 years and 259 days. Opening the innings for his team during Bangladesh’s tour of South Africa in 2002, the stylish left-hander was at his brilliant best, scoring 200 with 25 fours in his innings. His knock helped South Africa post a mammoth first innings total of 529 and Bangladesh’s meek response saw them being bundled comfortably in both their innings as the Proteas won the match by an innings and 107 runs and Smith was declared the Player of the Match.

Feature image courtesy: Twitter.com / @ICC

The importance of partnerships in Test cricket cannot be overstated. A good partnership helps a team set up a solid foundation to build from and affords the rest of those who follow the freedom to express themselves against the bowlers. Lengthy partnerships are also fundamental when it comes to teams looking to save a Test match while the opposition goes in for the kill.

With that in mind, we have a look at the top five partnerships in the history of Test cricket.

Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene �?624

After bundling out South Africa for 169 in the first innings of the first Test of the Proteas�?2006 tour, Sri Lanka found themselves on the backfoot momentarily following the dismissal of Sanath Jayasuriya and Upul Tharanga early on. However, what followed was the coming together of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene at the crease to put on a record 624-run stand �?the highest in the history of Test cricket.

South Africa’s bowlers were made to toil for days by Sangakkara, who scored 287, and Man of the Match Jayawardene, who made 374. The Sri Lankans eventually declared after putting 756 runs on the scoreboard and went on to win the Test comfortably by an innings and 153 runs.  

Sanath Jayasuriya and Roshan Mahanama �?576

A pure run-fest if there ever was one, the first Test during India’s tour of Sri Lanka in 1997 won’t be remembered fondly by the bowlers of either side. One reason why this match is still spoken of in cricketing quarters is Sanath Jayasuriya’s 576-run stand with Roshan Mahanama. After Navjot Sidhu, Mohammad Azharuddin and Sachin Tendulkar had all scored centuries to help India declare with 537 runs on the board, it was Sri Lanka’s batsmen’s turn to pile the misery on India’s bowlers. And that’s exactly what Jayasuriya and Mahanama did as the hosts went on to post a record 952 runs in their first innings.

Man of the Match Jayasuriya scored 340 at the top of the order and Mahanama was dismissed after making 225. Needless to say, the match ended in a draw.

Andrew Jones and Martin Crowe �?467

The first Test during Sri Lanka’s tour of New Zealand in 1991 is one that most Kiwis will remember fondly. After a below-par effort in the first innings by the hosts saw them just manage to score 174, Sri Lanka looked like they were in the driver’s seat after they replied with 497 runs in their first innings. With the pressure now firmly on the Kiwis, Andrew Jones and the legendary Martin Crowe rose to the occasions to help dig their team out of a hole. While Crowe used his peerless stroke-making ability to keep the scoreboard ticking, Jones�?gritty technique complemented his partner at the other end perfectly. Together they put on 467 runs, which was a new record partnership in Tests at the time. Jones scored 186 and Crowe made 299 as he fell agonizingly short of a triple ton but helped New Zealand draw the match.

Bill Ponsford and Sir Donald Bradman �?451

The fifth and final Test of a five-match series between age-old rivals Australia and England in 1934, both teams had it all to play for with the series tied at 1-1 heading into the decider. Australia won the toss, deciding to bat first and there was no looking back after that. An early wicket brought Sir Donald Bradman to the middle to join opener Bill Ponsford and the duo soon took control by putting on a 451-run stand, which is still the highest partnership by two Australian batsmen.

Ponsford scored 266 before being dismissed, while Bradman scored 244 as Australia put 701 runs on the scoreboard in the first innings. Bradman scored 77 in the second innings as well to emphatically announce his return to form following a lull compared to his lofty standards. Australia eventually won the match by 562 runs.

Mudassar Nazar and Javed Miandad �?451

The fourth of a six-match series between arch-rivals in 1983, the tourists India had to beat hosts Pakistan to stay alive. However, Pakistan’s Mudassar Nazar and Javed Miandad had other ideas as the duo put India’s bowlers to the sword with exquisite stroke-play. They dominated the Indian bowlers, with Nazar scoring 231 and Miandad remaining unbeaten on 280. They put on 451 runs together for the team in each other’s company. Pakistan finally declared after making 581 and bowled out India for 189 in the first innings and 273 in the second to win the Test by 119 runs and seal the series. Unsurprisingly, Miandad picked up the Man of the Match award for his superb knock.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Sanka Vidanagama

Cricketers involved in match fixing should be hanged, former Pakistan batting great Javed Miandad said on Friday.

Match-fixing and spot-fixing -- determining the outcome of a specific part of a game rather than the overall result -- have stained the country's sport for several years.

"Players who are involved in spot-fixing should be severely punished," Miandad, who scored Pakistan's second-highest Test runs with 8832, said on his YouTube channel.

"Spot-fixers should be hanged because it is similar to killing someone, and so the punishment should also be on the same lines. An example should be set so that no player even thinks about doing something like this."

His remarks follow player Mohammad Hafeez's protests over former opener Sharjeel Khan's return despite receiving a five-year ban in 2017 over a spot-fixing case.

Meanwhile, Pakistan batsman Umar Akmal faces a ban of six months to life after being charged for not reporting a fixing offer last month, a crime under Pakistan Cricket Board's anti-corruption code.

Fixing was exposed in 1995 after Australians Shane Warne, Tim May and Mark Waugh alleged then-skipper Salim Malik offered them bribes to under-perform in matches.

That led to a judicial inquiry that banned Malik for life.

But in 2010, then Pakistan skipper Salman Butt and fast bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif were involved in a spot-fixing case that led to five-year bans.

Only Amir returned to international cricket -- a comeback that also raised opposition, most prominently by Hafeez.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Rizwan Tabassum

Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli broke Javed Miandad’s 26-year-old record of scoring most runs against West Indies in ODI cricket. Kohli achieved the milestone on reaching 19, when he took a single towards the deep backward point in the fifth over of the second ODI against West Indies.

Virat did not get to bat in the first ODI of the series as West Indies chose to bat first and only 13 overs could be bowled before the match was abandoned due to wet outfield.

Jawed Miandad took 64 innings to score 1930 runs against West Indies whereas Virat Kohli reached the landmark in just 34 innings.

Here’s a list of the most runs scored by an individual player in ODIs against West Indies:

Virat Kohli - 1931*

Jawed Miandad �?1930

Mark Waugh �?1708

Jacques Kallis �?1666

Rameez Raja �?1624

Sachin Tendulkar �?1573

Virat Kohli looks in great form as he was also the second-highest run-getter with 106 runs in the T20I series, Keiron Pollard being at the top with 115 runs. India won the series 3-0 and are looking solid in the ODIs as well.

Feature Image Courtesy: AFP/ Randy Brooks