(BD TOP NEWS BLOG)_ The cricketing rivalry between Australia and Pakistan is one of the most intriguing the game has ever seen. Everything that makes a rivalry between two teams great is here: the fierce on-field battles, the mesmerizing contests in every format of the game, and an endearing quality to the fans of the sport. It is one rivalry that has grown over the decades with incredible performances, heart-wrenching moments, and slices of fortune adding to the cricketing lore. Each team has developed its own style and characteristics, which eventually define the relations in their match with each other. The Australian cricket team is unmistakably famous for their forceful and uncompromising attitude toward the game. As for the quality of being a cricketer, Australians stand renowned for their physical fitness, their disciplined way of working, and the fierce way in which they try to outcompete their opponents from the very start. While Australia's team has traditionally been known for its disciplined structure and consistency, that of Pakistan has conventionally been acknowledged for its talent, flair, and unpredictability-the greatest performances are within their grasp, yet the finest inconsistencies have also occurred with them. The difference between the two teams makes the games between them unpredictable, as some thrilling matches are often seen that keep enthusiasts on their toes.
The history of cricket between Australia and Pakistan dates back to 1956 when the teams faced off against each other in a Test series. Ever since then, they have faced each other in Tests, ODIs, and T20s-each format having its share of moments of extraordinary skill, perseverance, and sometimes controversy. Whenever they come together, it does not often become a contest but an event binding the cricketing fans of the world together. The early matches of Australia versus Pakistan were often one-sided at a time when Pakistan was finding their feet on the international cricket arena. The Australian team, replete with the likes of Richie Benaud and Neil Harvey, more often than not came out on top against the Pakistanis. Still, Pakistan progressively worked its way up, gaining a reputation for churning out world-class bowlers and, later, batsmen capable of testing Australia's supremacy.
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One of the defining characteristics of the Pakistan cricket team has been its illustrious tradition of fast bowling, which became a main factor in their rivalry with Australia. The Subcontinent has given cricket a few of the quickest bowlers in history such as Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and Shoaib Akhtar from Pakistan; while recently, Shaheen Afridi too. The Pakistani pacers were an excruciating lot for the Australian batsmen; they would use pace and swing to dent even the best in the business on occasions with reverse swing too. The 1990s saw some legendary battles, especially between Pakistan's Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis against Australia's strong batting line-up, boasting names such as Steve Waugh, Mark Waugh, and Ricky Ponting. This was a sight to watch as the raw pace of Pakistan was matched by Australia's batting technique and their gutting spirit.
Australia has generally produced some of the greatest batsmen in history. From Sir Donald Bradman, who defined an era in Test cricket, to the likes of Allan Border, Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting, and more recently Steve Smith and David Warner, Australian batsmen just kept on raising the level. This batting depth often meant that Pakistani bowlers, as skilled as they might be, found themselves tested by batters who could easily bat out long spells and dictate game pace. It was this "never-say-die" Australian mentality that often turned events around, especially in matches involving Pakistan.
The decade of the 1980s saw Pakistan in a far stronger position in international cricket. Under the charisma and leadership of Imran Khan, they became increasingly confident and competitive. Imran Khan's inspiring leadership urged Pakistan to take on the best teams without fear, and their rivalry with Australia easily became one of their most important. The series between them this era out projected some of the finest cricket, as the two teams demonstrated high calibers and aggressive tactics. The 1989 series was one in which a 16-year-old prodigy of Pakistan had been pitted against the most intense bowling, that of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, though he proved his mettle much later in the game.
The rivalry between Australia and Pakistan reached an incredibly exciting level towards the late 1990s and the early part of the 2000s. They were definitely the world's best cricket team in that period, and under the reins of Steve Waugh and later under Ricky Ponting, they dominated the world in Tests and ODIs alike. Their batting lineup was studded with legends such as Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Adam Gilchrist, and Ponting himself. Pakistan , see more: