Former England captain Michael Vaughan feared the 'decline of bilateral series' after Australia's 1-2 loss to Pakistan in ODIs. Vaughan hailed Pakistan for their performance, but felt that hosts Australia lacked intensity. Pakistan registered their very first win in ODI series on Australian soil in the last 22 years. The Mohammad Rizwan-led side won the …
Michael Vaughan fears ‘decline of bilateral series’: Australia lacked intensity
Former England captain Michael Vaughan feared the ‘decline of bilateral series’ after Australia’s 1-2 loss to Pakistan in ODIs. Vaughan hailed Pakistan for their performance, but felt that hosts Australia lacked intensity. Pakistan registered their very first win in ODI series on Australian soil in the last 22 years. The Mohammad Rizwan-led side won the series decider by 8 wickets to clinch the series Down Under 2-1. After losing the 1st ODI at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Pakistan made a sensational comeback to win at Adelaide as well as Perth.
“Pakistan have been absolutely fantastic, but I don’t remember seeing a series where Australia have lacked so much intensity .. Bi – lateral series are on the decline I am afraid,” Vaughan wrote on X. Rizwan started off his white-ball captaincy stint on a great note with a historic win over Australia. Former India captain Virat Kohli was the last skipper to lead the team to an ODI series win in 2019 and Rizwan emulated that record 5 years later.
Pakistan’s historic win
Australia vs Pakistan, 3rd ODI: Highlights
An elated Pakistan camp did a victory lap at the Optus Stadium in Perth on November 10, Sunday. Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf was adjudged as the Player of the Match and Series as he picked up 10 wickets in 3 games for Pakistan. It was an underwhelming display of batting from Australia throughout the series. There will be plenty of question marks over the World Champions ahead of Champions Trophy 2025.
Australia made five changes to their playing XI for the 3rd ODI. Key players like captain Pat Cummins, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc and Marnus Labuschagne were absent from the playing XI. Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh also didn’t participate in the white ball series due to paternity leave.
After a struggling chase of 204 runs in the 1st ODI, Australia were bundled out for totals of 163 and 140 in the 2nd and 3rd ODIs. None of the Australian batters even managed fifty-plus runs throughout the 3-match ODI series.
