Pakistan were bundled out for 89 on Day 4 of the Perth Test as they suffered a crushing 360-run defeat at the hands of Pat Cummins-led Australia but Saud Shakeel entered record books with a unique record in the format. Shakeel became the first batter in the 146-year-old history of Test cricket to register a 20-plus score in 15 consecutive innings since his debut.
This is not the first time Shakeel has rewritten record books. He became the first batter in Test cricket history to score more than 50 runs in each of his first seven Tests. The left-handed batter achieved the feat during Pakistan's tour of Sri Lanka earlier this year.
Shakeel scored 28 runs in the first innings of the Perth Test. On Day 4 when Pakistan suffered a collapse of epic proportions, Shakeel tried to hold on to one end. He scored 24 runs from 51 balls. His was the ninth wicket to fall. Shakeel was dismissed lbw by Josh Hazlewood.
Shakeel has played eight Tests so far. From 15 innings, he has scored 927 runs at an average of 77.25 including two centuries and six half-centuries. The 28-year-old is yet to make his mark out of subcontinent conditions. In the warm-up game, he was unimpressive as well with just 13 runs against Prime Ministers XI.
“Look when you come to these shores, you look for progress. If you had told us that Australia will play 110 overs and we'll play 100, I'd have taken that. We could have scored quicker and 60-70 runs would have proved the difference in maybe keeping that lead to a sizeable level,” Shan Masood said in the post-match presentation after suffering defeat on his captaincy debut.
Shakeel will have a chance to prove himself again in the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground on December 26.
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