Hauritz puts Australia in charge

(BBC)  Nathan Hauritz starred as Australia dominated on day two of the first Test in Melbourne to leave Pakistan struggling to avoid the follow-on.

Michael Hussey (82) and Hauritz (75) built on Australia’s strong opening day before the home side declared on 454-5 yesterday.

And Pakistan struggled in response, with Hauritz among the wickets as the visitors were restricted to 109-4.

Skipper Mohammad Yousuf was dismissed with the penultimate ball after a referral from Ricky Ponting.

Yousuf was out for 22 when he was caught by Brad Haddin down the leg side off Peter Siddle, although umpire Billy Doctrove originally deemed it to be not out.

Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam had no complaints about the decision and said: “It was very unfortunate actually but he was out, there was no doubt about that.

“The ball just caught his gloves, you could see very clearly on slow motion he was out. Very sad actually, the last over, a very important batsman but, anyway, we have made things difficult for ourselves.

“Test cricket is all about partnerships and Australia did it, everybody went there and stayed at the wicket and got a partnership going but unfortunately we didn’t have that time to do that.”

Looking ahead to the remainder of the match, Alam added: “Funny things have happened in this game and what we have to do, we’ve got to make sure they stay at the wicket and try to fight it out. That’s what we need.”

Hauritz had earlier made a swashbuckling 75 alongside Hussey that included seven boundaries and a six, the pair adding 77 runs to Australia’s overnight total of 305, though neither man was able to become the first Australian centurion for the summer.

Ponting chose to declare at 454, and his bowlers then put the tourists under huge pressure in the final 50 overs of the day.

Shane Watson, Mitchell Johnson, Hauritz, Doug Bollinger and Siddle bowled a combined total of 17 maidens as Pakistan scored at a rate of 2.22 per over.

Johnson made the first breakthrough when he trapped Imran Farhat lbw, before Hauritz had Faisal Iqbal caught by Michael Clarke.

Salman Butt put up some dogged resistance but he needed nearly three hours to make 45 before falling lbw to Watson, and Siddle wrapped up a fine day for the home side with the wicket of Yousuf.

“I was happy just to get through the night,” Hauritz said of his nightwatchman role.

“I did my job and early on this morning I was pretty happy to just last that first half an hour I think but it was good, I really enjoyed it, it was good batting with Huss.

“The wicket’s still very good, it’s only day two obviously. I think it’s just a matter of being extremely disciplined in our areas and probably getting that last wicket (as very crucial.