The New Year’s Test on the SCG is underway with Australia having fun with a dream begin as they intention to finish a sequence sweep of Pakistan to ship David Warner into purple ball retirement.

Pakistan captain Shan Masood gained the toss and elected to bat first, however his staff have been quickly in serious trouble after each openers fell for geese within the first two overs.

Pakistan misplaced 4 wickets earlier than lunch, reaching the interval at 4-75 with Masood 32* and Mohammad Rizwan 12*.

But shortly after lunch, the guests acquired a significant slice of luck as Mitchell Marsh had Masood caught by Steve Smith within the slips – solely to be recalled after Marsh had bowled a no-ball.

“This is the cardinal sin,” Ian Smith mentioned in commentary on Fox Sports.

Michael Hussey added: “What a let off for Shan Masood! He’s gotten away with it.”

But Marsh quickly made amends, getting Masood for 35 in virtually similar style, edging a easy catch to Steve Smith at second slip.

Hussey mentioned: “Mitch Marsh does it again, unbelievable! He’s just got the knack.”

Pakistan are presently 5-98 with Salman Ali Agha 2* and Rizwan 29*.

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MATCH CENTRE: Live stats, scorecard, and more

Earlier, Mitchell Starc struck on simply the second ball of the Test, with Abdullah Shafique (0) swinging at a large full ball and edging to Steve Smith at second slip.

The very subsequent over Josh Hazlewood dismissed promising debutant Saim Ayub for a duck. It was an excellent supply from Hazlewood that nipped somewhat and caught an outdoor edge that was taken by Alex Carey low to his left.

Australian captain Pat Cummins joined the get together moments earlier than the primary drinks break, hooping a full supply into Babar Azam’s entrance pad. Umpire Michael Gough shook his head, however the Australian efficiently overturned the choice following a evaluation, with the Pakistan famous person departing for 26.

“That was elite skill,” former Australian spinner Kerry O’Keeffe mentioned on Fox Cricket commentary.

“Babar was shocked by it, was looking for the ball to move off the deck, suddenly he’s got one to move in the air.”

Cummins then knocked over Saud Shakeel after the drinks break, with the left-hander feathering a size supply by way of to wicketkeeper Alex Carey for five.

The earlier supply, Cummins had positioned two catching fielders at sq. leg – a sign that brief balls have been coming. Cummins’ plan paid off completely with Shakeel clearly deceived.

“At this level, that’s really soft,” Ashes icon Michael Vaughan mentioned.

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WARNER STILL HOPING FOR BAGGY GREEN RETURN

David Warner will, nevertheless, be with out his treasured Baggy Green which went lacking in transit from Melbourne.

The retiring opener issued a desperate public plea for its return on the eve of the Test, saying: “That’s sentimental to me, it’s something I would love to have back in my hands.”

Kerry O’Keeffe mentioned on Fox Cricket that the drama will function an undesirable distraction.

“Look, this is a distraction. Because your Baggy Green, it’s membership to an exclusive club,” O’Keeffe mentioned.

“He’s had the capacity throughout his career to dismiss the outside noise but this is a distraction.

“He values that cap above any other and to be missing that cap on the eve of the Test match will hurt him.”

Nonetheless, O’Keeffe backed Warner to “rise above it” and carry out in Sydney.

Speaking to SEN on Wednesday morning, Warner’s father Howard mentioned: “I haven’t heard anything this morning. His video went viral I know that much – everyone in Australia knows about the baggy green.

“Whatever scumbag has taken it is going to have to lay it off very shortly. They’ll find it dumped somewhere.”

‘He’s emotional’: Warner’s dad calls out ‘scumbag’ over missing baggy green

VAUGHAN URGES PAKISTAN TO ATTACK

Former English captain Michael Vaughan mentioned it’s crucial that Pakistan takes the combat to Australia with a purpose to have an opportunity of salvaging a hit from this tour in Sydney.

Vaughan was impressed with the pluck proven by Pakistan throughout the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, highlighting the influence of skipper Shan Masood and keeper Mohammad Rizwan.

He mentioned that Pakistan, which have been crushed by 360 runs in Perth after which 79 runs on the MCG, should proceed to point out aggression towards the Australians within the last Test of the sequence.

“Captaincy is about talking, but sometimes you talk so much that you forget that you have to walk the walk as well. Masood’s certainly done that,” Vaughan instructed foxsports.com.au

“I think he and Rizwan, who has been a bundle of energy for them. He is someone that I couldn’t believe didn’t play in Perth.

“But to play against this Australian side you need the character and mentality that really has to go. You need players in the dressing room that are willing to puff their chest out and have a pop at Australia.

“If you don’t have that, if you don’t have people who are naturally that way inclined to do that, you’re going to get eaten here.

“I always look at India and they seem to have a fire in the belly when they play here. That’s the way you have to play.

“Somehow when my team comes here in two years time, they have to get that fire, because that is the only way that you can compete with Australia and that means picking players who will have that fire naturally.”

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STAR QUICK RESTED AS LEGENDS TEE OFF

Pakistan pulled a significant choice shock by resting star fast Shaheen Shah Afridi for the conflict, regardless of necessary World Test Championship factors being up for grabs.

“That upsets me,” Pakistan legend Wasim Akram mentioned on Fox Cricket.

“The physio said he’s fit, he himself said he’s fit.

“Cricketers should know that Test cricket is the ultimate.”

Former Australian batter Mark Waugh continued: “I know he’s bowled some overs, but it’s Test match cricket. It’s tough. It’s meant to be tough.

“I just don’t get it. He’s your best bowler. He should be playing.”

Pakistan have made two modifications. There is a Test debut for Saim Ayub, who will open the innings changing Imam-ul-Haq whereas senior quick bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has been neglected for off-spinner Sajid Khan.

Full story: Legends torch shock selection cal

AUSSIES MAKE NO CHANGES

Australia opted towards enjoying a second spinner within the last Test towards Pakistan on the Sydney Cricket Ground, naming an unchanged line-up for David Warner’s farewell match.

Skipper Pat Cummins confirmed Australia’s fast-bowling trio had all recovered nicely from the second Test in Melbourne 4 days in the past after clinching the three-match sequence with a tense 79-run win.

The SCG has a repute for taking flip, however the hosts didn’t think about bringing a second spinner into the staff to accomplice Nathan Lyon, Cummins mentioned.

The pitch regarded well-grassed on the eve of Pakistan’s last match of their Australia tour, which can even be opener Warner’s 112th and last Test.

“The weather looks pretty good this week and that’s not always the case in Sydney,” Cummins mentioned Tuesday.

“The groundsman seems happy with where it’s at. It looks like decent coverage of grass, so it should be a good week ahead.”

The Sydney Test has a historical past of being rain-affected with 26 washed out days, the a lot of the Australian Test venues. But there’s solely a medium likelihood of showers this week.

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After months of hypothesis about his place within the staff, Warner will get the send-off he desired in his residence metropolis after scores of 164, 0, 38 and 6 within the Pakistan sequence up to now.

“Best-case scenario is a (Warner) hundred and maybe a leg-spinner to take the last wicket of the game out of the rough,” Cummins mentioned.

“If he could score some runs and go off in style with a few fours and sixes, I think that’d be a pretty fitting end. ‘Warner Week’ has started.”

Warner, 37, goes into his last Test having plundered 8,695 runs at a median of 44.58, with 26 centuries and 36 half-centuries.