SEAMER UMAR GUL described Australian captain Ricky Ponting’s decision to bat first in the second Test at Headingley as “shocking”

after the Antipodeans recorded their second lowest Test total against Pakistan yesterday.

Australia’s batsmen were humiliated as they scrambled to 88 all out in 33.1 overs – only eight runs more than the previous lowest mark, set in Karachi in 1956.

Teenage left-armer Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif claimed three wickets apiece, while Gul chipped in with two of his own as the Australians failed to deal with the swinging ball under cloudy skies.

Ponting’s decision to bat came as an added surprsie because his side were the beneficiaries of similar conditions 12 months ago, when they skittled England for 102 on the opening day of the fourth Ashes Test at the same venue.

Gul admitted he had expected to be batting when the Australians won the toss.

“The wicket looked a bit light – it looked a bit like a batting wicket, but there was a bit of moisture from last night when it was raining,” he said.

“There was moisture under the wicket, so I think it was a shocking decision, especially for Australia.

“I don’t know what the captain and coach’s decision was going to be, but if we won the toss we (the Pakistan bowlers) were ready to bowl first.

“When the clouds come it starts swinging and when the sun comes it is a bit flat and good for the batsmen. It all depends on the clouds when you can get some swing and seam.

“This morning it was swinging a lot and the ball was seaming. So there was pressure for everyone. It was good for us and I hope the batsmen will do well.”

Pakistan’s batsman set about the task of building a commanding first-innings lead as they reached stumps on 148 for three to open a lead of 60 runs.

Australia’s bowlers failed to find the same sort of movement in the air to match Pakistan’s threat, and Gul believes it was because his team-mates bowled better.

“So far in the first and second Test, we are bowling better than Australia because we are bowling a fuller length.

Our line and length is better than Australia,” the 26-year-old said.

Scoreboard

Pakistan v Australia At Headingley Carnegie

Australia First Innings

S R Watson lbw b M Asif ....................... 5

S M Katich lbw b Aamer ........................13

R T Ponting lbw b M Asif ....................... 6

M J Clarke b Umar Gul .......................... 3

M E Hussey lbw b Umar Gul ................. 5

M J North c Kamran Akmal b Amin .......16

T D Paine c Kamran Akmal b M Asif ......17

S P Smith b Aamer .........................10

M G Johnson b Aamer .......................... 0

B W Hilfenhaus run out ................. 3

D E Bollinger not out ....................... 2

Extras (lb6 nb2 pens 0) ............... 8

Total (33.1 overs) ......................88

Fall: 1-20 2-20 3-27 4-29 5-41 6-60 7-73 8- 73 9-86

Bowling: Aamer 11-4-20-3. Mohammad Asif 10.1-1-30-3. Umar Gul 9-3-16-2. Amin 2-0- 7-1. Danish Kaneria 1-0-9-0.

Pakistan First Innings Close

Imran Farhat lbw b Watson ....................43

Salman Butt b Hilfenhaus ......................45

Azhar Ali c Paine b Watson ....................30

Amin not out ................. 1

Akmal not out .................. 8

Extras (b11 lb6 nb4 pens 0) ........

Total 3 wkts (39 overs)........148

Fall: 1-80 2-133 3-140

To Bat: Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Aamer, Umar Gul, Danish Kaneria, Mohammad Asif.

Bowling: Bollinger 11-4-24-0. Hilfenhaus 13-1-56-1. Watson 6-2-12-2. Johnson 8-0- 32-0. Smith 1-0-7-0.