Pak have a long tale in Australia

Like India this time last year Pakistan are eyeing an unprecedented series triumph in Australia India hadnt won a series for 71 years while their neighbours need to break a 55year jinx Head coach and chief selector MisbahulHaq is confident of his ambitious team putting on a good show in the forthcoming twoTest series but history tells us that Pakistan have been horrendous on Australian soil over the years theyve copped five whitewashesYes they notched up their first Test win in Australia a season before India did mdash a fine Imran Khantriggered triumph in the final Test at Sydney against a top Australian side in 197677 mdash but since then they could win only three more in 197879 198182 and 199596Pakistans four wins pale in comparison to Australias 24 in 35 Tests Down Under Its too poor a record for a team that had some seriously talented fast bowlers and adaptable batsmen Temperament has clearly been a factor in their poor record because far too often their batting has proved fragile in the face of some relentless Australian bowling In the 197273 Test against Ian Chappells team at Sydney Pakistan captained by Intikhab Alam had to score 159 for a solace victory in the series but ended up losing by 52 runs with Max Walker claiming 6 for 15 Panikstan roared a magazine headline and the subeditor was not off the markThe great Imran Khan was not part of that series but he was around for Pakistans next assignment in Australia mdash in 197677 Again Sydney afforded an opportunity for the visitors to win their first Test in Australia The series was still open considering the first Test was drawn and Australia mdashunder the younger Chappell this time Greg won in MelbourneImran was all keyed up after having claimed five wickets in a preTest game against Queensland in Brisbane where he bowled like the wind But a meeting with Geoff Boycott provided him extra motivation Boycott advised him to make full use of the new ball in Sydney since the opposition will thrive when the ball gets softer Above all he reminded Imran that he was capable of bowling with great speed His 6 for 102 helped bowl out Australia for 211 and a century by Asif Iqbal with vital contributions from Haroon Rashid and Javed Miandad guided Pakistan to 360When Pakistan bowled again skipper Mushtaq Mohammad threw the new ball to Imran for the first over of the innings Imran said in his first autobiography that it didnt go down well with Sarfraz Nawaz when he stole a look at his burly opening partner Imran claimed six wickets for the second time in the match and Australia were blown away for 180 leaving Pakistan to get just 32 for their first Test win on Australian soilAlan Davidson the allround stalwart of yesteryear called it one of the most outstanding feats he had seen on his home ground Imran admitted finding that statement an exaggeration Pakistan won their next Test on Australian soil as well mdash at Melbourne mdash in March of 1979 Australia were without their big stars who had been part of Kerry Packers World Series Cricket but Pakistan had their full array of stalwarts They fared poorly by being dismissed for 196 on Day One but bowled out Australia for 168 with Imran claiming 4 for 26 The classy Majid carved a second innings hundred to set Australia 382 to win and the hosts fell 72 short of the target This time Sarfraz emerged the bowling star with amazing figures of 9 for 86 During the last day Australia needed only 77 for victory with seven wickets in hand but Sarfraz choked them with a 7 for one spell in 33 ballsThe next Test at Perth a controversial one where Alan Hurst Mankaded Sikander Bakht and Andrew Hilditch was dismissed handled the ball was won by Australia for the series to end 11Australia won the series in 198182 but Pakistan notched up yet another Melbourne win in the third and final Test This time a massive innings and 82run win Mudassar Nazar and Zaheer Abbas were dismissed in the 90s but they didnt have to sulk too much as Pakistan put up 500 to which Australia responded by managing 293 and 125 after following on The old firm of Imran and Sarfraz came to the fore again helped by spinner Iqbal Qasim who claimed seven wickets in the match on a slow Melbourne surface which got slammed especially by the hosts yet again India claimed a victory there the previous year as wellTwo wins in Melbourne and it appeared Sydney where Pakistan had won their maiden Test in Australia during the 197677 series was feeling left out Like in 198182 Australia had already won the series before the final Test in 199596 This time there was Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis in the pace unit but it was their legspinner Mushtaq Ahmed who did most of the damage with nine wickets in the Test which Pakistan didnt attract much kudos forThey were coping with the match fixing controversy form and fitness An inordinate burden of responsibility fell on the shoulders of Aamir Sohail and InzamamulHaq to make runs and on the peerless Wasim Akram to take wickets at least until Mushtaq Ahmed emerged like a jackinthebox to relieve him wrote Greg Baum in Channel Nines Cricket Yearbook 1996Pakistan have not won a Test on Australian soil since then theyve not even held the hosts to a draw there ever since Twelve Test losses on the trot borders on the unbelievableMeanwhile spare a thought for Misbah None of his 75 Tests for his country ended in a Pakistan Test victory in Australia No wonder he calls his side an ambitious onemiddays group sports editor Clayton Murzello is a purist with an open stance He tweets ClaytonMurzello Send your feedback to mailbagmiddaycomCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news crime news current affairs and also a complete guide on Mumbai from food to things to do and events across the city here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates