Boxing Day Test: Pat Cummins stars in final-session pace barrage to regain control on second day

Australia woke from a post-Christmas haze and launched a fast-bowling barrage that regained them control of the Boxing Day Test.

Captain Pat Cummins removed Babar Azam cheaply in a stunning final-session spell and Australia left Pakistan reeling at 6-194.

They finished the day with a 124-run lead, but just hours earlier, the visitors were in command for the first time in the series.

Australia lost 7-131 in the elongated morning session to be bowled out for 318.

Cummins was imperious after tea on the second day. He took 3-37 from 14 overs in tandem with Josh Hazlewood, with the pair’s pace, bounce and skill too much for a Pakistani middle-order still adjusting to Australian pitches.

“I thought we bowled decently before tea without too much reward, they obviously batted quite well,” Cummins told Fox Cricket.

“But it was good at the end there to get a few big wickets and feel like we are well into their order now.

“Rhythm felt a bit better today. It’s one of those things, sometimes if you slow everything down, concentrate on rhythm, you actually find a few extra kilometres.”

The day started with Australia on shaky ground. Their theme of throwing away starts rolled on from day one and Travis Head did just that in the opening minutes.

Adding just seven to his overnight total, Head was out for 17, chasing a ball from Shaheen Shah Afridi that got wider and wider on him. Salman Ali Agha took a sharp chance diving away at second slip.

Marnus Labuschagne soon passed 50 after arriving on 44 and did it by leaning on a ball that rocketed away through mid-on for four.

The increasingly impressive Aamir Jamal drew his outside edge on 63. It was a ball that found a perfect length and moved off the seam — not much less would have troubled the settled Labuschagne. It was also the first of Australia’s batting downfall.

Camera IconAustralia’s Marnus Labuschagne walks off. Credit: Asanka Brendon Ratnayake/AP

Alex Carey’s poor form with the bat continued and he now looms as the Australian player in the most jeopardy. Carey lasted just nine balls and was dismissed for four. Shaheen had the new ball curve back in towards the left-hander and newly-reappointed Mohammed Rizwan took a stunning catch diving leg-side off his wrong foot.

Mitch Marsh counter-punched with the bat and made 41 — his lowest score of the series so far. He was given out and successfully reviewed twice in as many balls before he was caught at an innovative deep-ish point position designed for his extravagant drives.

Pakistan finished with 52 extras.

Cummins went for 13 and Nathan Lyon soon after for eight but the captain said he was pleased with the total in difficult conditions and after the visitors’ best bowling performance of the tour.

He was also confident the pitch would get better for batting.

“I was actually really happy, our batters did a great job to get us to 300,” Cummins said.

Camera IconMitchell Marsh counter attacked. Credit: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

“It was hard work, yesterday in particular, but today it was nibbling around a fair bit and they were bowling beautifully.

“I was happy to get above 300. I think the pitch is probably just going to get better and better.

“It quickened up a little bit, it just feels as if there’s enough there. It was quite dramatic seam yesterday and this morning, probably not as much tonight. It’s a really good swing.”

Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq’s opening stand lasted almost 16 overs and it took the craft of Lyon to end it. His 502nd Test wicket had Imam caught by Labuschagne low at second slip.

Shafique made his third half century against Australia and steered his side to 1-124 — where they appeared on top — before he shovelled a ball back to Cummins for his first scalp.

Azam made just one before Cummins’ best ball of the series angled in towards him, darted off the wicket and kissed his off bail.

He has not made a half century in any of his past nine efforts in Tests.

“Babar Azam is not really looking that great. Not himself … his body language wasn’t that great walking on the field,” Pakistan legend Waqar Younis told ABC radio.

“He looked really worried and that’s not a great sign. Even in the morning when I saw him he was not himself.”

Shan Masood was locked in a battle with his opposition skipper and underwent an examination into his outside edge from Hazlewood, Cummins and a wicket with plenty of bite.

He also made 50, before he played one aggressive stroke too many and skied a Lyon delivery to Marsh.

Saud Shakeel went just overs later for his lowest Test score of nine, bowled by a seed from Hazlewood that rivalled Cummins’.

Salman was the final wicket to fall on the second day, playing away from his body and caught comfortably by Carey off the Australian captain’s bowling.