AUS vs PAK: Watch- Pakistan's Misery Continues As Saim Ayub Drops Absolute Sitter In Slip To Give David Warner Huge Reprieve

Pakistan‘s fielding has emerged as a significant talking point during the ongoing Test series against Australia, with their players encountering challenges in maintaining a high standard. On Thursday (January 4), debutant Saim Ayub also added his name to the list of Pakistani players who have dropped catches in the ongoing series.

Saim Ayub has had a forgettable debut so far. The highly-rated batsman warmed the bench during the first two Tests before replacing opener Imam-ul-Haq in the playing eleven for the ongoing third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground. However, his debut Test innings lasted just two balls as he was dismissed for a duck by Josh Hazlewood.

Things went from bad to worse for Saim Ayub on the second day of the Test when he dropped a sitter in the slips and gave David Warner a huge reprieve. The veteran batsman was batting on 20 when he ended up edging Aamer Jamal’s delivery to Saim Ayub at first slip. It was a regulation catch and the Pakistan debutant ended up dropping it.

It's happened again! ?

David Warner gets a life courtesy of the debutant Saim Ayub #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/VAr7bBis6L

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 4, 2024

Fortunately for Saim Ayub and Pakistan, the drop did not prove costly as Warner could score only 14 runs after the reprieve before being dismissed by Agha Salman. He, however, managed to give Australia another good start by adding 70 runs with Usman Khawaja for the first wicket.

Also Read: ICC Introduces New Rule For Caught-Behind Check During Stumping Referrals: Report

Saim Ayub not the first:

Saim Ayub is not the first Pakistani player to drop an easy catch in the slips during the ongoing series. The Pakistani players have consistently struggled in the slip cordon throughout the series. In the first Test in Perth, Usman Khawaja was dropped by Abdullah Shafique. In the second Test, Shafique dropped Warner and Mitchell Marsh in the slip before Ayub joined the list in the ongoing third Test.

Talking about the ongoing game, Pakistan scored 313 runs in their first innings. They were reeling at 96 for 5 at one stage before half-centuries from Mohammad Rizwan (88), Agha Salman (53) and Jamal (82) helped them post a 300-plus total. In reply, Australia were on 116 for 2 when bad light and rain stopped play on day two.

Australia have already sealed the three-match series by winning the first two games. The Pat Cummins-led side thrashed Pakistan by 360 runs in the first game in Perth before winning the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground by 79 runs.

Also Read: PAK vs AUS: Michael Vaughan And Wasim Akram Brutally Thrash Umpires For Delay In Play On Day 2 Of Sydney Test