P?LAYER RATINGS: His bowling kept Australia in the Test, taking crucial wickets right when the match was getting away from the Aussies.
The Boxing Day Test looked like it was headed for a thrilling conclusion – and the possibility of a shock upset – before three wickets in five balls ended Pakistan's hopes.
For the Aussies, there were some standouts, but one star was also a little flat.
Who starred in Australia's most iconic Test tradition?
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DAVID WARNER - 5
Having been dropped in the first over, Warner looked solid before a bit of a brain snap in the last over before lunch brought about his downfall. His second innings dismissal – chopping on when Australia was already two for not many – was unlucky. Took a great catch to remove Mohammad Rizwan though in Pakistan's first dig. Warner's last Boxing Day Test was so-so at best.
USMAN KHAWAJA - 5
Looked solid in the first innings before he gave Salman Ali catching practice at second slip, but his second innings was ended by a Shaheen Afridi peach for a second ball duck. The joys of being an opener. Again, just so-so.
MARNUS LABUSCHAGNE - 6
His first innings 63 was one of the most patient innings I'd ever seen him play, and it was ended by the only catch Abdullah Shafique has held all summer. Played right into a trap in the second innings though. Marnus is definitely battling a little this summer, but it still feels like he could rock up and go big at any time. Maybe Sydney will be his time.
STEVE SMITH - 7
His second innings 50 – the slowest he's ever made on Australian shores – was the epitome of the gritty Smudge we know and love. He was down the other end when Australia fell to 4-16, and then played the perfect anchor role in a stunning partnership with Mitch Marsh. Sure, he didn't look as free flowing and comfortable as he has at other times in his career, but the sheer determination he showed in soaking up 176 rocks was exactly what his side needed from him.
TRAVIS HEAD - 4
He was undone in the first innings by a good catch while fishing a little at a wide one. He's yet to really fire this summer, but I guess this is exactly what he's in the team for – to chase quick runs. His second innings golden was an absolute grenade from Mir Hamza that probably would've got most batters in world cricket.
MITCHELL MARSH - 9
What's the Big Bison gotta do to score a ton? Backed up his man of the match performance in Perth with another strong showing in Melbourne. Incredible to think his 41 in the first innings is his worst score of the summer to-date. His second innings partnership with Steve Smith undoubtedly won Australia the match. Yeah, he was dropped on 20, but he made the Pakistani's pay and was incredibly unlucky to not score his fourth Test century, but he was undone by a good ball.
ALEX CAREY - 7
Although his glovework has been fantastic, some questions were starting to be asked of Alex Carey's form with the bat. He went a long way to answering them with a classy 53 in the second innings – another innings that undoubtedly helped Australia win this Test. His was the last wicket to fall, chasing quick runs with Josh Hazlewood down the other end.
MITCHELL STARC - 7
Went wicketless in the first innings, but took another 4-fa in the second. He's probably not in his best form at the moment, but the fast-bowling cartel he's got around him are bowling well enough he has the freedom to steam in and bowl as quick as he can – even if it's a bit wayward. He's one of the best in the world at cleaning up tailenders, and did exactly that to end the Test with two balls at the start of a new spell.
PAT CUMMINS - 10
What a perfect end to a brilliant 2023 for the Australian skipper. He a couple more brilliant captaincy moves (like the move to bring David Warner into a short-cover against Mohammad Rizwan in the first innings) and was solid with the bat before he was dudded a bit by a phantom snick in the second innings. But it's with the ball he's continuing to shine. He took two (Michelle) 5-fas in Melbourne to finish with match figures of 10-97. His spell on day two wrestled momentum back in Australia's favour, and on three occasions on day four took crucial wickets to break threatening Pakistan partnerships. Has to be in the box seat for his second Allan Border Medal. It would be a just reward.
NATHAN LYON - 7
Took four wickets in the first innings, but he got smacked around a bit in the second dig and went wicketless. That's not to say he didn't bowl well though – he had a couple of DRS decisions go his way and he was in the game with every ball he bowled. It just wasn't his day.
JOSH HAZLEWOOD - 8
It was a welcome return to the Boxing Day Test arena for Hazlewood, and although the score book shows he only took two wickets, it doesn't at all reflect how well he bowled. He was on the money in both innings and his economy was on-par with that of Pat Cummins. He claimed the huge scalp of Babar Azam in the second innings with a jaffa, but deserved more wickets than what he got.