The Australia vs Pakistan Test history began with their first-ever meeting in Karachi in October 1956.
Led by captain Abdul Kardar, Pakistan beat Australia by nine wickets in a low-scoring encounter.
Under the leadership of Richie Benaud, the Australia cricket team later toured East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in 1959. Australia won the three-match Test series 2-0.
In December 1972, the Intikhab Alam-led Pakistan played their first Test series in Australia. Under Ian Chappell, Australia whitewashed Pakistan 3-0 in the three-match Test series.
Since then, Australia and Pakistan have played 70 Tests against each other.
The Aussies hold a superior head-to-head record against Pakistan in Test cricket, winning 34 of the 70 matches that they have contested so far. Pakistan have secured 15 victories while as many as 20 Tests have ended in draws.
Both sides have registered numerous records during their epic battles in cricket’s longest format and here we take a closer look at some of those Australia vs Pakistan Test records and stats.
Australia vs Pakistan Test records and stats
Highest team total
The Australia cricket team holds the record for the highest team total in Australia vs Pakistan Tests. During the second Test of Pakistan’s tour of Australia in Melbourne in 2016, the hosts posted a mammoth total of 624/8d in their first innings having restricted the visitors to 443/9d. Australia rode on David Warner’s 144, captain Steve Smith’s unbeaten 165, Usman Khawaja’s 97 and Mitchell Starc’s 84 to register a massive total on the board. The hosts later bowled out Pakistan for 163 in their second innings to win the Melbourne Test by an innings and 18 runs. Australia clinched the three-match Test series 3-0.
Lowest team total
The Pakistan national cricket team registered the lowest team total in Australia vs Pakistan Test history. The Steve Waugh-led Australia bundled out Pakistan for 53 in their second innings of the second Test during their tour of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2002. Opener Imran Nazir (16) and Misbah-ul-Haq (12) were the only two Pakistan batters to record double digits in the second innings. For Australia, leg-spinner Shane Warne was the wrecker-in-chief with four wickets. Earlier, Pakistan were bowled out for 59 in their first innings before Australia posted 310 in reply. Australia won the Sharjah Test by an innings and 198 runs.
Most runs
Legendary Javed Miandad holds the record for the most runs in Australia vs Pakistan Tests. Between 1976 and 1990, the former Pakistan batter accumulated 1,797 runs in 25 Tests at an average of 47.28. Miandad slammed six centuries and seven fifties against Australia in Test cricket. He registered his highest score of 211 against the Aussies in the first Test of Australia’s tour of Pakistan in Karachi in 1988. For Australia, Allan Border scored the most runs against Pakistan in Tests. He amassed 1,666 runs in 22 Tests.
Most wickets
Former Australia cricketer Shane Warne bagged the most wickets in this Test fixture. The right-arm leg spin bowler scalped 90 wickets in just 15 Tests against Pakistan at an average of 20.17 and a strike rate of 45.01. For Pakistan, former captain Imran Khan took the most wickets against Australia in Test cricket. Imran Khan claimed 64 wickets in 18 Tests at an average of 24.96.
Highest individual score
Opening batter David Warner holds the record for the highest individual score in Australia vs Pakistan Tests. Electing to bat first, David Warner scored an unbeaten 335 during Pakistan’s tour of Australia in Adelaide in 2019. His magnificent triple ton included 39 fours and one six. Warner’s scintillating triple hundred powered Australia to 589/3d in their first innings. The hosts later bowled out Pakistan for 302 and 239, respectively, to win the Test by an innings and 48 runs as well as seal the two-match series 2-0.
Best bowling figures in an innings
Former Pakistan bowler Sarfraz Nawaz has the best bowling figures in an innings in this Test fixture. During the first Test of Pakistan’s tour of Australia in Melbourne in 1979, Sarfraz Nawaz recorded match-winning figures of 9/86 to bowl out the hosts for 310 in the fourth innings while they chased a 382-run target. The right-arm medium-pacer bagged the wickets of Dav Whatmore, Andrew Hilditch, Allan Border, Kim Hughes, Graeme Wood, Peter Sleep, Wayne Clark, Rodney Hogg and Alan Hurst. Interestingly, the other wicket was a run-out. Nawaz’s sensational spell guided Pakistan to a 71-run victory and gave them a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
Best bowling figures in a match
Fazal Mahmood holds the record for the best bowling figures in a match in Australia vs Pakistan Tests. The right-arm fast-medium pacer took 13 wickets for 114 runs during the only Test of Australia’s tour of Pakistan in Karachi in 1956. While Fazal Mahmood bagged six wickets for 34 runs in the first innings, he claimed another seven wickets for 80 runs in the second innings. Pakistan won the Test by nine wickets.
Highest partnership
David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne hold the record for the highest partnership in Australia vs Pakistan Tests. During the second Test of Pakistan’s tour of Australia in Adelaide in 2019, David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne forged a 361-run partnership for the second wicket to help the hosts post 589/3d in their first innings. Warner remained unbeaten on 335, while Labuschagne scored a brilliant 162. The incredible partnership helped Australia win the Test by an innings and 48 runs.
Photo credit: Alamy
