Azhar Ali rewrote the record books as he smashed a double century to help Pakistan reach 443/9 declared on the third day of the Melbourne Test against Australia. Azhar’s feat made him the first Pakistan batsman to score a double-century in Tests in Australia. He also notched up the highest individual score by a Pakistan batsman in Australia, beating the previous mark of 158 set by Majid Khan in 1972 also in Melbourne. (SCORECARD)
In response, Australia smashed 131/1 at tea with David Warner notching up his 23rd fifty. However, the dashing Australian left-hander also achieved a milestone as he went past 5000 runs in Tests in 109 innings, quicker than former Australia captain Ricky Ponting.
Azhar Ali also became the fifth Pakistan batsman to score a double-century in Tests against Australia. He joined Saleem Malik, Younis Khan, Javed Miandad and Taslim Arif as the other players to have smashed a double tonne. Malik smashed 237 in Rawalpindi in the 1994 series and this remains the highest score by a Pakistan batsmen in Tests versus Australia. Younis Khan smashed 213 in the Dubai Test in 2014 while Javed Miandad’s 211 came in the 1988 Test in Karachi. Taslim Arif smashed an unbeaten 210 in the Faisalabad Test of 1980. In all instances, Pakistan has never lost a Test when a batsman has scored a double century.
Azhar Ali in legendary company
Azhar Ali’s double century in Australia has placed him in an exceedingly marvellous company. he's solely the fourteenth batsmen in history to hit a 200-plus score in Australia and solely the fourth Asian batsmen to attain this deed. Sachin Tendulkar of Asian country leads the list for Asian batsmen with AN unconquered 241 in Sydney 2004, followed by Rahul Dravid’s epic 233 in the state capital in 2003. Ravi Shastri is that the different player to attain a double tonne once he smashed 206 in 1992 in Sydney. The list is headed by New Zealand’s Ross Taylor, United Nations agency blasted 290 within the Perth check of2015.
However, Azhar Ali became the first visiting batsman in 32 years to smash a double century at the MCG. The previous instance of a batsman scoring a double century was Vivian Richards of West Indies when he smashed 208 in the 1984 Test. Richards’ score is the highest by a visiting batsman at the MCG. Azhar became only the fourth batsman to ever score a double tonne in Melbourne
Record partnership boosts Pakistan
Azhar Ali shared an impressive eighth wicket stand of 118 with Sohail Khan, World Health Organization blasted his maiden fifty as Pakistan reached their fourth highest total in Melbourne. The stand of 118 for the eighth wicket is that the highest for Pakistan in Tests in Australia and it's the fourth best overall. Nathan Astle and Adam Parore of latest island lead the list with a record stand of 253 that they achieved against the Aussies in Perth in 2001.
Harbhajan Singh and Sachin Tendulkar area unit an overseas second with a 129-run stand that they achieved within the 2008 Sydney take a look at. chump Hendren and Harold Larwood of European country shared a 124-run exchange 1928 take a look at in Brisbane, a match that European country won by a margin of 675 runs, still a record margin in terms of runs.
Azhar Ali’s effort has given Pakistan a true probability of ending their 21-year unsuccessful streak in Australia as they aim to remain alive following their 39-run defeat in Brisbane.