Pakistan steal Australia's thunder Down Under

The turnaround is unbelievable. Pakistan fast bowlers proved too hot to handle as they scripted a come-from-behind ODI series victory over World Champions Australia on Sunday. Bowling in tandem, Pakistan seamers never allowed any respite to rival batsmen, handing Australia perhaps the most embarrassing defeat.

Mohammad Rizwan made a dream debut as the white-ball captain of Pakistan as the team secured their first ODI series win over Australia in Australia since 2002. "Special moment for me, the nation will be very happy, we didn't perform as per expectations in the last couple of years," said a jubilant Rizwan in the post-match presentation.

The reversal of fortunes of the Pakistan team started in the previous home series in which their spinners toyed with the formidable England batting line-up. Off-spinner Sajid Khan and left-arm spinner Noman Ali ran through the English batting line as Pakistan fans celebrated an unexpected 2-1 victory.

The result is sure to serve as a rude awakening for Australia, who looked, instead, more focused on the Test series against India beginning in Perth on November 22. With an eye on the India series, Australia chose to rest key red-ball players like captain Pat Cummins, Steven Smith, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc and were punished badly.

It was young pacer Naseem Shah who started the rout in the Perth match. He plotted a perfect fast bowler’s dismissal, firing a delivery that swung in, hit the deck and curled out after pitching to find the outside edge of opener Jack Fraser McGurk’ blade to be caught behind. Great Wasim Akram, sitting in the commentary box, went hysterical seeing a young and promising Shah find his rhythm. Not to be left behind, pace spearhead Shaheen Afridi struck next. The march of batsmen to the pavilion continued as the Australians were restricted to a modest target which was never going to challenge rival batsmen and Pakistan overhauled the target with plenty to spare.

The domination of Pakistan fast bowlers was so complete that none of the rival batsmen could notch up even a half century during the three-match series. Barring three overs bowled by part-time spinner Siam Ayub, Pakistan just let the fast bowlers do the demolition job.

If red-hot Shoaib Akhtar was the hero of the Australia series triumph in 2002, it was Haris Rauf, who emerged the wrecker-in-chief with 10 scalps in his kitty this time. He made Australian middle order batsman Glenn Maxwell his bunny, taking his wicket every time he came in to bat before he could settle down.

In fact, Australia provided Rauf a perfect opportunity to redeem himself. And Rauf did it in style. The fast bowler was the target of ridicule in Pakistan when he suffered humiliation at the hands of Virat Kohli, who hit him for two iconic sixes in a tough run chase in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 match in Melbourne.

Importantly, new skipper Mohammad Rizwan emerged the unexpected hero as he was able to engineer an astonishing turnaround of Pakistan fortunes with the same set of players who, under earlier captains, were unable to come good as the team slumped from one defeat to another.

The show during the series revived the memories of yore when two Ws (Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis) struck terror among the rival batsmen with their lethal pace and swing. Now, with two series victories in pocket, the Pakistan cricket is suddenly back not just on the track but rollicking. With their fast bowlers doing the job they are known for, it augurs well for Pakistan cricket.