Australia captain Steve Smith believes the unlikely victory over Pakistan in the second Test on Friday can galvanise his team as they brace for stiffer challenges against India at the end of the home summer.
With rain reducing the test to a final day shoot-out, Australia ran through Pakistan for 163 inside 54 overs to close out an innings and 18-run win in the final session at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The win gave Australia an unassailable 2-0 series lead, with the third Test in Sydney next week, and a valuable shot of confidence for a team in transition.
Australia were effectively rebooted after being thrashed by South Africa in Hobart, a loss which surrendered the Test series to the Proteas, but have now won their last three matches in a row.
“It can give you that belief, to know you’re never out of the game or you can pull a win out of your hat from nowhere,” Smith told reporters.
“It was quite remarkable the way we were able to do that today. Everything went to plan — it was one of those days.
“Hopefully the guys can take a lot of confidence out of the way they’ve played this week.”
Smith was named man of the match for smashing an unbeaten 163 before declaring Australia’s first innings at a mammoth 624-8 just before lunch.
However, paceman Mitchell Starc was unlucky not to receive the award, having blasted 84 with the bat in the morning, including a record seven sixes at the MCG, and returned figures of 4-36 to close out the win.
Smith paid tribute to the dominant left-armer but was also pleased for spinner Nathan Lyon, who returned to form with a three-wicket spell in the middle session that broke open Pakistan’s second innings.
From there, Smith withdrew the spinner after tea and had Starc and pacemen Josh Hazlewood and Jackson Bird rattle through the last five wickets as the ball reversed.
Smith received plenty of flak for his captaincy in the 39-run series-opening win in Brisbane.
He declined to make Pakistan follow on and was criticised roundly for his tentative field settings on the final day as the tourists put a fourth innings total of 450 on the board, a record in Australia, to give the home side a huge scare.
But there was little to fault in Melbourne, where Smith’s 17th test ton secured a 181-run first innings lead to pressure Pakistan’s batsmen, while allowed his bowlers to smash through for victory.
“We’re still a work in progress, we’re a young team and I’m proud of the boys,” the 27-year-old said.
“It was phenomenal the way we could turn things around.
“But we want a clean sweep in Sydney and we need to continue to improve in every aspect.”
* Reuters
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Yahya Al Ghassani's bio
Date of birth: April 18, 1998
Playing position: Winger
Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda
The biog
Date of birth: 27 May, 1995
Place of birth: Dubai, UAE
Status: Single
School: Al Ittihad private school in Al Mamzar
University: University of Sharjah
Degree: Renewable and Sustainable Energy
Hobby: I enjoy travelling a lot, not just for fun, but I like to cross things off my bucket list and the map and do something there like a 'green project'.
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Sector: Education Technology
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Bogleheads follow simple investing philosophies to build their wealth and live better lives. Just follow these steps.
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Install an air filter in your home.
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The Cairo Statement
1: Commit to countering all types of terrorism and extremism in all their manifestations
2: Denounce violence and the rhetoric of hatred
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4: Comply with all recommendations of the Summit between the US and Muslim countries held in May 2017 in Saudi Arabia.
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BMW M8 Competition Coupe
Engine 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8
Power 625hp at 6,000rpm
Torque 750Nm from 1,800-5,800rpm
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