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Australia returned to Pakistan after fifteen seasons. During that period Pakistan had visited Australia four times. Greg Chappell led the Australian side in the 1979-80 season. They were spun out in the Karachi Test while the second and third Test were high- scoring draws. Off-spinner Tauseef Ahmed made a sensational debut at Karachi and in collaboration with Iqbal Qasim, baffled the Australians on a pitch tailor-made for spinners. Australia were bundled out for 225. Pakistan were able to gain a lead of 67 runs on the first innings (Majid 89). Not surprisingly Ray Bright did the bulk of the bowling and had the lion's share in the wickets (7-87 in 46.5 overs). Australia could only manage 140 in the second innings. Iqbal Qasim and Tauseef Ahmed shared all but 18 of the Australian wickets. They had match analysis of 11-118 and 7-126, respectively. Pakistan reached the target of 73 for the loss of three wickets. All second innings wickets fell to Bright, who finished with match figures of 10-111. Dennis Lillee went wicketless in the first two Tests, which was a startling feature and at the same time it highlighted the slow pitches prepared for the series. Greg Chappell and Taslim Arif posted double centuries in the Faisalabad Test while Allan Border distinguished himself by scoring two fighting 150-plus hundreds in the drawn Lahore Test.

1994-95 in Pakistan

The first Test in the series at Karachi turned out to be the most absorbing and exciting match ever played in Pakistan. On the final day, the home team achieved a remarkable win, with Inzamam- ul-Haq (58*) and Mushtaq Ahmed (20*), adding 57 runs off 49 balls for the last wicket amid unbeatable tension. It was only the third time that Pakistan had achieved a fourth innings target of over 200. The win also preserved Pakistan's unique record of never having been defeated at National Stadium, Karachi in a Test match. The second Test at Rawalpindi, was again a scene of missed opportunities for Mark Taylor's side after being in the driving seat for the best part of the four days. Michael Slater (110) and Steve Waugh (98) launched Australia to a first innings score of 9/521 dec. and a winning position. But Pakistan captain Saleem Malik ended Australia's hopes with a career best 237 in a marathon innings of 443 minutes, after his team had a follow-on. The draw was repeated in Lahore, with Pakistan making 373 (Warne distinguishing himself with 6/136) and Australia 455 (Bevan 91, Mark Waugh 71). Pakistan captain Saleem Malik (143) and Aamer Sohail (105) added 196 for the sixth wicket to save their team from another certain defeat for the second time in a row.

98-99 in Pakistan

The three Test series and the three match one-day series Australia played in Pakistan were notable for the tourists' first series victory on Pakistan soil after 39 years. The Australians wrapped up the Test series 1-0, winning the first Test by an innings and 99 runs drawing the next two. They claimed the one- day series with a clean 3-0 sweep.

Before Mark Taylor's 1-0 Test series victory in Pakistan, only Richie Benaud had succeeded in beating Pakistan in Pakistan in the 1959-60 season with the Australians recording a 2-0 win in a three-match series.

This Test series was notable for some big knocks by the tourists. They amassed 513 in the only innings in the first Test at Rawalpindi, 599 for four declared and 289 for five in the second Test at Peshawar; and 280 and 390 in the final Test at Karachi. But more than these high totals, it was the batting of skipper Mark Taylor in the second Test that left a lasting impression on those who had the good fortune to watch his marathon innings. The left-handed Australian opener did not make the highest individual score in the cricket history, which still stands in the name of another-left-hander, West Indian skipper Brian Lara. Yet, history was still made. Taylor will get a particular mention when the history book is scripted for the coming generations. Such was the effulgence of Taylor's 426 runs in the second Test that three other centuries (Justin Langer'116, Saeed Anwar's 126 and Ijaz Ahmed's 155) went almost unnoticed.

One needs more than courage and guts to declare one's own innings at 334 runs, just a few runs away from erasing Brian Lara's world record. But Taylor chose to declare the Australian innings at the overnight score of 599 for four with his individual score at 334*. Taylor stole international spotlight for this notable act of his. For Taylor, winning the match was more important than personal records. The second Test ended in a draw but Taylor's gesture made a mark. He was happy to be bracketed with Sir Donald Bradman-334 runs being Don's highest score. The Test was also notable for Australian 'keeper Ian Healy overtaking Rodney Marsh's world record of 355 victims behind the stumps.

That the Australians dominated the Test series, to say the least, is an understatement. But for two defiant centuries from Ijaz Ahmed in the final two Tests and Saeed Anwar's hundred in the second, the Australians might have won the series with a bigger margin. The Pakistanis were troubled by the betting controversy on the eve and during the series.

82-83 in Pakistan

Australia shared the 1982-83 Pakistan season with India. Greg Chappell and Denis Lillee, after their bitter experiences of 1979-80, decided to make themselves unavailable for the tour. Imran Khan's team mercilessly whipped Kim Hughes' team 3-0. The poor Australian had no answer to the combination of Imran's blinding speed and Qadir's bewildering spin magic. Their bowlers also succumbed to Pakistan's batting powerhouse of Mohsin, Mudassar, Miandad, Zaheer and Mansoor. Qadir took 22 wickets in the series, which cost him 25.54 runs apiece. This wicket haul is still a record in Pakistan-Australia series. Australia collapsed to 284 in the first Test allowing Pakistan a first innings lead of 135 runs. They dropped innumerable catches, probably the heat contributing to the extremely poor fielding. Pakistan won the Karachi Test by nine wickets. Australia were outplayed in all departments of the game at Faisalabad where Pakistan emerged victorious by a margin of an innings and three runs.

The third Test at Lahore ended in another comfortable victory for Pakistan. The Test saw Imran in his true elements for the first time in the rubber. He carried his form of that Test to the subsequent series against India as well. His match figures of 8- 80 off 44.2 overs clearly reflects his dominance and how cleverly he utilised his skill in the Test. Australia succeeded in compiling a good first innings total at Lahore in the third Test. But their bowlers failed to take advantage of a lively strip and Pakistan got a handsome first innings lead. Imran and his men completed the destruction on the final day with Australia losing by nine wickets. Not once were the Aussies bowlers able to dismiss the entire Pakistan batting line-up.

© Dawn