The first Test of the 1981-82 series at Perth was also the venue of
the infamous Miandad-Lillee incident, that sadly overshadowed
Pakistan's shabby performance. The Australian Cricket Board (ACB)
suspended Lillee for two One-day games and fined him A$200. Pakistan
were dismissed in 108 minutes for their lowest total (62) against all
countries (previously 87 against England in 1954).
In the second Test at Brisbane, captain Greg Chappell treated the home
crowd to a majestic 201 (417 minutes, 296 balls, 22 4s) that earned
his side an easy 10 wicket victory. In the final Test of the series on
a much debated Melbourne wicket, Pakistan achieved an innings win to
avoid a whitewash. Pakistan gained their first victory against
Australia after compiling the second-highest Test total without a
century. Imran Khan became Pakistan's leading wicket-taker when he
dismissed Rodney Marsh. Allan Border became the 13th Australian to be
run out in both innings of a Test and the sixth to suffer this
misfortune at Melbourne. Majid Khan, partnered by Mudassar Nazar,
scored an all-run 7 when he drove Lillee almost to the long off
boundary and completed four runs before Yardley, having fielded
Wellham's return, overthrew the wicket.
At the eagerly awaited five Test series against Australia in 1983-84,
Pakistan seemed to be without a definite leader. Zaheer led the side
in the first two Test matches while Imran, the original captain who
failed to appear in the initial Test matches due to shin injury,
returned to lead the team in the last three Tests. Due to this
uncertainty about the leadership, Pakistan team failed to perform to
its potential and lost the series 2-0. The Sydney Test also marked the
farewell appearance of Australia's three greatest cricket players who
all contributed significantly in their farewell match, Greg Chappell
(182 runs), Dennis Lillee (eight wickets) and Rodney Marsh (six
catches).
In 1989-90 the BCCP (now PCB) had rejected an original offer of a five
Test series in Australia and instead made themselves available for
three Tests following Christmas. The tour proved to be a major
disappointment with very little success achieved in any form of
cricket. The only player who did justice to his talent was Wasim
Akram. In a marvellous exhibition of Test cricket, Pakistan lost to
Australia in the first Test by 92 runs. There were only 22 minutes
remaining in the match when Australia clinched victory. It might have
finished much earlier, but for an heroic second innings stand by Ijaz
Ahmed, who held firm against the Aussies pace attack for 450
minutes. Ijaz scored 121, including 11 fours, before losing his wicket
to an extraordinary left-handed catch from Geoff Marsh. Ijaz had just
hit a beautiful square cut to point, when Marsh dived to take the ball
fully stretched.
Wasim Akram ended with match figures of 11-160. Wasim's dismissal of
Terry Alderman (O) was his 100th wicket in Test cricket. The match was
full of tension. Six batsmen were given out leg-before wicket and both
Wasim and Imran each took two Australian wickets with successive
deliveries. Dean Jones scored centuries in both innings of the second
Test, but he did not earn the man-of-the-match award. He scored 116
and 121. He showed great style with his full-blooded drives,
confidence and athleticism highlighted by some superb running between
the wickets. Jones is the tenth Australian to achieve centuries in
both innings of a Test. The honour went to Wasim Akram, who not only
had figures of 5-100 in the first innings, but also scored 52 and 123
in two brilliant innings. Akram's second innings stand of 191 with
skipper Imran salvaged a draw for Pakistan. The third Test at Sydney
was washed out due to heavy rain.
The Australian cricket team stamped itself as Test Champions of the
world after dispatching Pakistan in the 1995-96 three Test series with
a comfortable 2-1 victory. Australia won the first Test at Brisbane by
an innings and 126 runs. Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne captured
seven wickets for just 23 runs. Pakistan's Aamer Sohail hit fifteen
fours in his second innings 99, but without a doubt Shane Warne's
match aggregate of 11/77 was the highlight of the first Test. Defeat
at Hobart was Pakistan's fourth loss in row following two home defeats
st the hands of Sri Lanka. After convincing wins in Test at Brisbane
and Hobart, everyone was expecting the Sydney Test to be walkover for
Australia, but the Pakistan leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed put an end to
that. Pakistan emerged victorious by 74 runs, a face saving
win. Mushtaq captured nine wickets for the match, 5/95 in Australia's
first innings and 4/91 in the second. The ball he called his 'wrong
one' generally proved to be the right one, but it was unsuccessful
against Australia's Mark Waugh, who notched up a fine century. Ijaz
Ahmed, who was flown out to Australia as a replacement, scored a
magnificent 137 which set his team up for a win. Wasim Akram returned
his best bowling of the series (4-50)