Salman gets Warner to disrupt Australia's steady start

Lunch Australia 78 for 1 (Khawaja 35*, Warner 34, Salman 1-4) trail Pakistan 313 by 235 runs

The 20,000 crowd groaned as Warner ripped his gloves off and berated himself before trudging off to a standing ovation and loud applause.

It was the only wicket in the session as Australia batted watchfully with opener Usman Khawaja unbeaten on 35 from 98 balls.

All eyes had been on Warner, who is playing in his 112th and final Test. He survived a tense final over before stumps on day one after receiving a guard of honour from the Pakistan team. He started the innings with a first ball boundary off spinner Sajid Khan before almost playing the ball onto his stumps in a narrow escape.

Warner again came out to a standing ovation to start day two and shared a hug with his close friend Khawaja before walking to the crease.

After a hectic opening day’s play, it was a sedate start with Australia scoring just 12 runs in the first 30 minutes. There was intrigue over whether Warner would come out swinging, but he appeared to eye the long haul as he played carefully.

Warner did hit a beautiful cover drive off veteran seamer Hasan Ali, who was bowling at pedestrian speeds. Stepping down the crease, Warner was treating him with disdain but did have another nervous moment when he edged through a vacant third slip and to the boundary.

Left-arm quick Mir Hamza, who was dazzling at times in his return at the MCG, struggled to make Khawaja play initially before settling into a better line and he occasionally found menacing swing to beat the bat on several occasions.

It appeared luck was on Warner’s side after he poked at a good length delivery from Jamal – bowling around the wicket – with the edge travelling slowly and straight to Ayub. But the ball smashed into Ayub’s left wrist and fell onto the turf leaving Pakistan crestfallen.

Ayub had only temporarily been inserted into first slip after Salman, who normally is at second slip, went off the ground briefly forcing a rejig. After making a second ball duck in Pakistan’s first innings, Ayub has had a tough initiation into Test cricket.

It was more misfortunate for the tireless Jamal, who should have had the wicket of Mitchell Marsh on 20 on day three of the Boxing Day Test only for Abdullah Shafique to similarly drop a sitter at first slip in a pivotal moment.

Jamal was left further frustrated when he produced another edge from Warner after bowling over the wicket only for the ball to fly through a vacant fourth slip.

Pakistan captain Shan Masood turned to the offspin of Sajid, who was unable to threaten with Khawaja using his feet to bludgeon him down the ground.

Salman was held back until late in the session, but he struck on his third delivery to leave the contest well poised.

Tristan Lavalette is a journalist based in Perth