‘Don’t understand’: Aussie tactics puzzle after somehow getting slower, Carey reaches 50 — LIVE

Welcome to live coverage of day two of the second Test between Australia and Pakistan from Karachi.

Usman Khawaja’s epic knock is over. The Australian opener was bowled for 160, with the tourists struggling to get the game going against Pakistan.

Australia’s batters were urged to “take the game forward” and not fall into the same trap as Pakistan did in the first Test at lunch on day two.

Yet, they were unable to get any momentum in the session as they scored at just 2.59 runs per over.

At tea, Australia was 7-407 with fast bowler Mitchell Starc joining under-pressure wicket-keeper Alex Carey, who is well set.

MATCH CENTRE: Australia vs Pakistan, second Test, live scoreboard, stats

The Aussies got even slower after tea, adding 13 runs in the first seven overs of the third session.

“I don’t understand what the Australians are thinking here, because their run rate is still under three an over. If they want to win this game they’ll need to get a move on,” Pakistan great Waqar Younis said.

A big six in the prior over helped Alex Carey reach 50 in a very solid knock - his first half-century away from home in Tests and second overall - as the Aussies reached 7-439 with 160 overs gone.

Australia started the day 3-251 and scored 81 runs in the first session.

“A good session, a solid session, I suppose,” Andrew Symonds told Fox Cricket.

“Usman’s just feeling his way through it.”

But any efforts to “launch” in the second session took a hit when Travis Head fell early in the second session.

His departure saw Cameron Green join Khawaja, who started the second session on 155.

Yet even Khawaja struggled to rotate the strike and was eventually bowled by a “dream delivery” from Sajid Khan.

“Wow, the dream delivery for an off-spinner,’ former captain Waqar Younis said in commentary.

“It was the previous delivery that did the job, but this one just landed on that off-stump line and spun enough to hit the off-stump and Sajid khan delighted, happy, excited, all over the place and why not, he’s got a big wicket here.”

Green fell on the stroke of lunch when he was bowled from a stunner by Nauman Ali for 28 off 73.

Ultimately, Australia added just 75 runs in the second session.

Watch Australia’s Tour of Pakistan on Kayo. Every Test, ODI and T20 Live & On-Demand. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

Khawaja tons up in DREAM homecoming | 02:27

Nightwatchman Nathan Lyon was the first man to go on day two when he was bowled for 38.

But despite moving the game forward, two Australian pundits believe Head could have been more effective against the newer ball.

“Yeah I think it could have (backfired),” former Australian wicket-keeper Brad Haddin said on Fox Cricket.

“But Nathan Lyon played his role, at least he scored quick, but it would have been the easiest time to bat with that ball a little bit newer and Travis Head in the start of play there.

“The way he plays, he could have easily been 50 or 60 at the break, he’s got through that different period there.”

Head fell for 23, as he was trapped in front by Sajid Khan.

Watch Australia’s Tour of Pakistan on Kayo. Every Test, ODI and T20 Live & On-Demand. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

Symonds said he thought Australia would be targeting a score of 500, but they needed to drive the game forward so they leave themselves enough time to bowl the home side out.

“I think there will be a meeting here at the lunch break at what tempo Australia are going to come out in this second session,” Symonds said on Fox Cricket at lunch on day two.

“As 'Hads' said, I think they’re going to look to be the aggressor and move the game forward because Australia need enough time to bowl Pakistan out twice but they need to post a really big total, so they’ll be looking to go about 500 and they’ll be wanting to get there as quick as possible.

Haddin agreed, while adding the pressure was on Carey to play his role after an up-and-down start to his career.

“The one thing Pakistan didn’t do in the first Test is they got themselves in this position in the first Test and not at any stage did they try to drive the game and I think Australia will learn from that,” Haddin said.

“This is a perfect launching pad. They’ve only lost a couple of wickets, Travis Head’s naturally aggressive; Carey’s an interesting one, it’s set up for a wicket-keeper’s knock to come out and play what’s in front of you, move the game forward. The field should be spread, so I think he’s an important role this session too just to bat like a wicket-keeper and move the game.”

Aussies pile on the runs on opening day | 03:35

Pakistan hoped they would remove nightwatchman Lyon and pick up day one century-maker Khawaja early.

But the home side had to wait more than an hour before taking their first scalp, as Lyon made a quick-fire 38.

Lyon was eventually bowled by Faheem Ashraf, who had ruffled up the nightwatchman by getting a leg-cutter past him a ball earlier, before pitching it up again and rattling the castle.

It came after Lyon was earlier struck on the pads by Hasan Ali first ball of the third over after adding just three runs.

But Aleem Dar said not out, before Babar Azam called for a review.

Watch Australia’s Tour of Pakistan on Kayo. Every Test, ODI and T20 Live & On-Demand. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

Had it been given out, Lyon would have been on his way as the ball showed a fraction less than half the ball hitting the top of leg stump.

It led to former South African cricketer turned respected voice Mike Haysman calling for the ICC to dump the “umpire’s call” ruling, which saved Lyon.

“Pakistan were pretty much certain that was out actually, but just the umpire’s call saved (Lyon),” Haysman said. Of course had it been given out it would have been out.

“And a shake of the head from Hasan Ali. 

“I wonder if we’re going to get to the stage where we can get rid of the umpire’s call. 

“I wonder if that’s ever going to happen because that’s a perfect situation where if the umpire had given it out that would have been out.

“It doesn’t seem right to me that the same ball can be out or not out simply based on the original call at the speed of light at real time.”

Former Australian batsman Simon Katich agreed: “I think that needs to be looked at because the end result is always on the initial decision from the umpire, but when you see the replay it should have been given out.”

Watch Australia’s Tour of Pakistan on Kayo. Every Test, ODI and T20 Live & On-Demand. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

Frustrated, Pakistan resorted to a bumper barrage on Lyon.

Khawaja moved steadily.

Azam later called for another review after Khawaja attempted a reverse sweep. He missed it, but the ball was caught at first-slip leading to the captain calling for another review.

“Babar Azam getting a little desperate now,” former Pakistan captain Waqar Younis said.

“Yeah only one (review) remaining now,” ex-England batter Rob Key said.

Australia resumed with a warning from Khawaja that there’s “a long way to go still”.

Having won a crucial toss in Karachi, Australia dominated day one but saw its run rate tumble due to conservative Pakistan tactics, labelled as “ridiculous” by Younis.

It means Australia came back to the crease on Sunday at 3-251.

Smith falls to outrageous catch | 02:32

DAY ONE NEWS

WORLD VIEW: ‘Distinctly odd’: The baffling ‘fear’ driving cricket’s most ‘mysterious surrender’

TALKING POINTS: Pakistan’s ‘utter c**p’ ploy; why Khawaja has exposed unfair Aussie debate

‘ONE OF THE GREAT STORIES’: Khawaja inspiring a generation as Pakistan-born star hits century

Khawaja told reporters after play that Australia is only halfway there with a first innings total of 500 on the radar.

“If we bat well enough tomorrow morning we’ll have an opportunity to drive the game,” Khawaja said, adding that the Australians don’t want to repeat Pakistan’s approach in Rawalpindi.

“I felt like Pakistan were in a perfect position last game to do the same, but they just didn’t do it. They didn’t really take many opportunities to extend or increase the run rate.

“So if we bat well enough tomorrow and we earn the right (to attack) in that second session, I think if we can get anywhere near 400-500 that’s a really good task.

“That’s a long way to go still – we’re only 250 at the moment and need to double the score I reckon.”

DAY ONE NEWS

‘MORTIFIED’: Screamer stuns in late Smith nightmare; Khawaja soars as ‘ridiculous’ Pakistan tactics torched

‘SOMEONE GIVE HIM A HUG’: Image sums up ‘devastated’ Marnus’ duck disaster

TEAMS

Pakistan XI: Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan, Faheem Ashraf, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi

Australia XI: Usman Khawaja, David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Swepson

CLICK HERE IF YOU CANNOT SEE THE BLOG ABOVE