Australia A made to struggle

Australia A 120 for 6 (Jaques 56*) v Pakistan A
Scorecard

Given the decline in fortunes that Australia's senior team has suffered in recent weeks, their A-team tour to Pakistan has suddenly taken on an added significance. But on the evidence of the first day's play at Rawalpindi, only Phil Jaques has anything to be proud of, as their top-order was torn apart by Shahid Nazir, Mohammad Sami and Umar Gul.

By the close of a truncated day, Jaques was unbeaten on 56 having opened the batting, but his team had slipped to 120 for 6. Nazir, with 3 for 28, was the pick of the pacemen, and it wasn't until Cameron White (23) helped add 45 for the sixth wicket, that they were able to reach triple figures.

Michael Hussey, who was tipped by many pundits to take Matthew Hayden's place for the current Oval Test, managed 2 before he was bowled by Nazir, while Brad Hodge, Dominic Thornley and Shane Watson managed only 12 runs between them. Brad Haddin, Australia's reserve wicketkeeper, made just 9 before falling to Sami.