Australia vs Pakistan, 2nd Test Match Summary

For all the stats lovers out there, this one's for you - Before November, there were 2 occasions when a team lost by an innings score after scoring 400 in the first innings. But, it has happened thrice in the last month itself (Mumbai, Chennai, Melbourne). Highly intriguing stuff, isn't it?

It's been a sensational day of all-round play from the Australians as they started off fiercely with the bat and continued with their same rich form when they came in to bowl. They will be really glad with their performance and hoping to do the same in the final Test. Pakistan will have to pull up their socks as they will try to save face and end the series on a high.

VICTORIOUS AUSSIE SKIPPER AND MAN OF THE MATCH, STEVEN SMITH reckons that it has been a pretty good day and they had thought of batting the first session through. He added that they did not lose any wicket for the first 40 minutes which gave them the added advantage to go berserk. Further adds that Starc played really well with the bat and feels that he might have created a record at the MCG by hitting 7-8 sixes in an innings. He lets us know that they thought of declaring when they saw the ball reversing after the first hour of play. Mentioned it's a really good feeling seeing all the guys in the huddle celebrating the victory. Says that this unit is a very young unit and they give it all out in the field. Also says that this bunch practices really hard and they have a strong desire to win every match they play. When asked about his personal batting, he says that he is really happy with his batting performance as he is racking up some runs and good scores. He states that it's always good to score back-to-back hundreds. Expresses that the MCG is one of his favourite places to bat. Ends saying that they will go all out to win the Sydney Test and might have to look in their squad as the conditions in Sydney might support spinners a bit more.

PAKISTAN SKIPPER, MISBAH-UL-HAQ starts by saying even after scoring over 400 in the first innings, they weren't disciplined with the ball. Feels conceding about 270 runs in 58 overs is where his team lost the momentum. Credits Australia and Starc in particular for pulling off a great win for the hosts. Continues saying that the fact that you can only draw and lose the game puts immense pressure on the side. Is proud of the character shown by Azhar Ali and lauds his batting efforts under tough condition. Informs us that Test cricket is all about winning the sessions and agrees they didn't play well and as a result are at the receiving end. Ends by saying moving into the next Test, first they need to forget and leave behind this performance and then see what's there in store for them in Sydney.

Remember, we got a result in spite of the rain gods having their say for the first two days and then came back again on day 4 and one would have thought the famous Boxing Day Test could be ruined. But, much to everyone's delight, they showed some mercy. Stayed away and helped us witness a cracker of a Test match. Stay tuned as the presentation is coming up in a bit...

Earlier in the match, Pakistan won a good toss and they did manage to post a mammoth first innings total, courtesy a double hundred from Azhar Ali. Who would have thought Australia could surpass it and then also gain a lead of 181 runs? David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Steven Smith and Mitchell Starc were the tormentors-in-chief for doing so. The first two set the platform while the next two exploded and helped their side post such a humongous total on the board.

Pakistan then somehow were defending it out nicely but then it was time for Nathan Lyon to get the crowd going. He scalped 2 big wickets of the Pakistan veterans, Younis and Misbah, in the same over and turned the match on its head. Azhar Ali hung around till the start of the final session but eventually succumbed to pressure. After that, Sarfraz Ahmed kept on fighting but the man who was breathing fire today, Mitchell Starc, not only had a brilliant day with the willow but came back roaring to knock the remaining wickets and helped his side register a victory, a victory that will give them a huge boost and will be treasured for a very long time.

The famous Boxing Day Test belongs to the Aussies and mind you, they deserved every bit of it, didn't they? Smith and Co. have pulled a rabbit out of the hat today at the MCG! They have sealed the series 2-0 and boy, weren't they absolutely marvelous? We entered day 5 with Smith and Starc on strike. They needed quick runs on the board, they got it through Mitchell Starc. A few eyebrows were raised when Smith declared just minutes before lunch today and in that brief period Josh Hazlewood drew first blood. We had 2 full sessions left but Starc started the spell after lunch with a wicket on the first ball.

OUT! It's all over for Pakistan! Starc has struck gold and pulled it off for the Aussies. He has been ruthless today, hasn't he? Fires this one down the leg side and Yasir Shah tries to flick it towards mid-wicket but closes the face of the bat early and gets a leading edge which airs towards mid on. Jackson Bird runs some steps backwards to take a simple catch. The Australians are really blooming and are all over the place celebrating their emphatic victory. They WIN BY AN INNINGS AND 18 RUNS!

Dug in short down the leg side, Yasir ducks under it.

So, Pakistan need 18 more to ask the home side to bat again. 15 overs still in the day's play. Starc is breathing fire at the moment and will be a force to be reckoned with. Let's see what's coming up next...

Drinks are on the field!

Good length ball on middle, defended off the back foot.

Bangs in a short ball on middle, SK ducks to evade it.

FOUR! Shot! Hazlewood hurls in a full length ball on off, Khan drives it beautifully down the ground past mid off. Warner gives it a chase but couldn't stop it from crossing the ropes.

Angles in a full length ball on the pads, SK looks to go for the wild slog across the line but gets it off the inner part of the bat past short leg.

Fuller and angling in, Khan jams it out towards mid on.

On a length and just outside off, Sohail stays behind the line and defends it down.

Angling into the stumps, Yasir has comfortably defended it.

Yasir Shah is the last man in!

OUT! CLEAN UP TIME! Starc has set up Riaz completely as he follows a zipping in length ball after three yorkers. Riaz expected a yorker but the length ball outside off caught him off guard. Riaz has no idea what the ball was doing there and he could not get his bat in line of the ball to defend it. Starc is steam rolling over the Pakistani tailenders. The slip cordon is really ecstatic as they all celebrate in harmony. Pakistan trail by 22 runs and Australia just need a wicket to seal off the series.

Again a steaming yorker, Riaz has somehow managed to keep that ball at bay.

Riaz prods forward to defend that one.

PRETTY CLOSE! Full and just outside off, it was too quick for Riaz who could not get his back down in time and he is lucky that the ball did not hit the timber. Seems like it is just a matter of time.

Starc is steaming in. That ball was pitched on a length outside off, Riaz tried to defend it but the ball flies past the outside edge.

Josh ends the over with another short one which is well evaded by Sohail who ducks under it.

Sohail has lunged forward to defend that one which was pitched outside off.

Length ball outside off, Khan has defended that well from within his crease.

Dug in short, Sohail ducks under that one.

Angles into the stumps, Khan flicks it through mid-wicket for a couple.