A flat drop-in pitch. Possible rain. Brazen Indian batsmen. A brittle touring tail. Reverse swing. An extended day’s play. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy not quite secured. A new captain and an older coach. A commitment to entertain. These were just a few of the variables for Australia after four days of the Boxing Day Test at
Pak v NZ, 3rd Test, Sharjah, 4th day Series tied as New Zealand take emotional win
Trent Boult ran through the Pakistan top order in a menacing new-ball spell that extinguished early any chance the home side had of batting five-and-a-half sessions to save the Test. The spinners then chipped away at the rest – Mark Craig becoming only the third New Zealand spinner to register a ten-wicket haul – to