Shafiq had to play under so much pressure too.

Well explained, Grazor.

It must be so difficult to change and adapt quickly between most Subcontinental wickets and most Aussie wickets.

That was a close shave!

I thought we were going to witness the biggest chase in Test history with us losing.

Run out by Smith to win it. Needed to do it as his dropped catches could have cost us the match.

1 to go!

Getting closer...

Starting to get nervous. If we had just enforced the follow-on we wouldn't have been in this situation.

Why would you have a single slip against a number nine...suicide

Yup. Was an impressive display of character yesterday - something we sadly have really struggled to do when we've been down like that.

Fair play to Pakistan, they showed they have a bit of mongrel in them to take it to a 5th day. Pakistan teams of the past would have already been on the plane to Melbourne.

Asad Shafiq played an absolute ripper of an innings, what a century. (Although Smith should have caught him at slip on 71.)

Younis Khan is the key wicket, he is the class player in the team.

I think people don't appreciate the difficulty of batting in Australia
there is a bit of movement of the seem and a lot of bounce.
The bounce and pace of oz wickets means you have to make decisions early because you have to make a large step forward or back and commit to your shot/leave/defence. If you play the ball late with minimal footwork - which is appropriate for swinging conditions - sometimes you end up looking indecisive. Its harder to deaden the hands to a nick in australia as the carry is very good but if you slash at the ball its likely to go over the slips. If you slash on a lower wicket you just make catching easier whereas the deadbat will never carry.

For some reason of late there has been a bit of snobbery about the skill set needed to survive in australia - seeing it as less pure. 

Amazed to see Australia accrue 400 plus, whilst Pakistan is 8 for less than 100.

Then again , we  are in Australia on one of Australia's bouncy wickets - Brisbane. To play well against India, in India, is the big task ahead. 

Good to see Hanscomb make a century at circa 44 strike rate. In the recent Shield game at Bellerive he failed in both innings for Victoria.

Looking forward to seeing both teams bat on this wicket
It looks a green top....

Looks to be a clear effort from the Aussies to spend more time at the crease even if they're not scoring quickly. Good to see.

It wasn't today!

Oz is 3-288 at stumps.

Renshaw 71 with a  57 strike rate, Hanscomb 61 NO with a 42 strike rate and Smith 110 NO isn't too bad.

The only problem will be when we face India shortly on spinning pitches. 

Heard it will be a bowlers paradise

Thoughts?