Azhar hits epic 205 as Pakistan declare first innings at 443-9

Australian captain Steven Smith with Mitchell Starc on Tuesday.

The forecast is not good, with more showers and a possible thunderstorm set to frustrate hopes of either Australia or Pakistan pushing for a result. Smith has since said his post-match press conference when he had demanded only players with pride in the baggy green be picked had been a defining moment.

“So now it’s about summing it up in the morning and seeing where we can go – it’s obviously going to be hard to get a result”.

“He lacked a little bit of rhythm today, mainly because his front foot was slipping and if you bowl fast and your front foot is slipping, it’s one of the more scary things because you think you’re going to break down every ball you bowl”, Saker said.

Australia have had a strong focus on finding a world-class all-rounder since Englishman Andrew Flintoff’s heroics in the 2005 Ashes series.

Nic Maddinson’s Test future is in doubt after another poor innings.

“Today, not much was happening.they weren’t trying to get me out”, he said.

Azhar had three lives in his 12th test century and his first at the MCG. He anchored the side’s innings, playing the steady hand as wickets fell around him and taking a step back as Sohail Khan blasted 65 in a fiery run-a-ball stand.

It’s likely the test side will assemble on the subcontinent in early February, wanting a better chance to adjust to local conditions as they seek to gain revenge for a shambolic 4-0 series loss to India in 2013. Amid speculation that some of the bowlers could be rested for the third Test starting January 3, Smith admitted the workload of his pacemen had been “concerning”.

“At the end of this Test match is another opportunity for us to sum up where they’re at. We are heading in the right direction”.

In a frustrating morning in the field for Australia, Hazlewood was the pick of the bowlers with a tidy 3/50 at a measly 1.5 runs per over.

The Australia captain was unbeaten on 100 when rain led to an early close of play at the MCG on Thursday.

“I think the red ball out here is going to be a lot different to the pink ball”.

“We’d been out there in far worse for a period of time and I thought we were just getting some momentum”. We are in a good place.

The Pakistan lower order were particularly severe on him in the first innings of the second Melbourne Test carting him for one for 115 off 23 overs. He is excited to get out there and play.