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The first Test of the 1981-82 series at Perth was also the venue of the infamous Miandad-Lillee incident, that sadly overshadowed Pakistan's shabby performance. The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) suspended Lillee for two One-day games and fined him A$200. Pakistan were dismissed in 108 minutes for their lowest total (62) against all countries (previously 87 against England in 1954).

In the second Test at Brisbane, captain Greg Chappell treated the home crowd to a majestic 201 (417 minutes, 296 balls, 22 4s) that earned his side an easy 10 wicket victory. In the final Test of the series on a much debated Melbourne wicket, Pakistan achieved an innings win to avoid a whitewash. Pakistan gained their first victory against Australia after compiling the second-highest Test total without a century. Imran Khan became Pakistan's leading wicket-taker when he dismissed Rodney Marsh. Allan Border became the 13th Australian to be run out in both innings of a Test and the sixth to suffer this misfortune at Melbourne. Majid Khan, partnered by Mudassar Nazar, scored an all-run 7 when he drove Lillee almost to the long off boundary and completed four runs before Yardley, having fielded Wellham's return, overthrew the wicket.

At the eagerly awaited five Test series against Australia in 1983-84, Pakistan seemed to be without a definite leader. Zaheer led the side in the first two Test matches while Imran, the original captain who failed to appear in the initial Test matches due to shin injury, returned to lead the team in the last three Tests. Due to this uncertainty about the leadership, Pakistan team failed to perform to its potential and lost the series 2-0. The Sydney Test also marked the farewell appearance of Australia's three greatest cricket players who all contributed significantly in their farewell match, Greg Chappell (182 runs), Dennis Lillee (eight wickets) and Rodney Marsh (six catches).

In 1989-90 the BCCP (now PCB) had rejected an original offer of a five Test series in Australia and instead made themselves available for three Tests following Christmas. The tour proved to be a major disappointment with very little success achieved in any form of cricket. The only player who did justice to his talent was Wasim Akram. In a marvellous exhibition of Test cricket, Pakistan lost to Australia in the first Test by 92 runs. There were only 22 minutes remaining in the match when Australia clinched victory. It might have finished much earlier, but for an heroic second innings stand by Ijaz Ahmed, who held firm against the Aussies pace attack for 450 minutes. Ijaz scored 121, including 11 fours, before losing his wicket to an extraordinary left-handed catch from Geoff Marsh. Ijaz had just hit a beautiful square cut to point, when Marsh dived to take the ball fully stretched.

Wasim Akram ended with match figures of 11-160. Wasim's dismissal of Terry Alderman (O) was his 100th wicket in Test cricket. The match was full of tension. Six batsmen were given out leg-before wicket and both Wasim and Imran each took two Australian wickets with successive deliveries. Dean Jones scored centuries in both innings of the second Test, but he did not earn the man-of-the-match award. He scored 116 and 121. He showed great style with his full-blooded drives, confidence and athleticism highlighted by some superb running between the wickets. Jones is the tenth Australian to achieve centuries in both innings of a Test. The honour went to Wasim Akram, who not only had figures of 5-100 in the first innings, but also scored 52 and 123 in two brilliant innings. Akram's second innings stand of 191 with skipper Imran salvaged a draw for Pakistan. The third Test at Sydney was washed out due to heavy rain.

The Australian cricket team stamped itself as Test Champions of the world after dispatching Pakistan in the 1995-96 three Test series with a comfortable 2-1 victory. Australia won the first Test at Brisbane by an innings and 126 runs. Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne captured seven wickets for just 23 runs. Pakistan's Aamer Sohail hit fifteen fours in his second innings 99, but without a doubt Shane Warne's match aggregate of 11/77 was the highlight of the first Test. Defeat at Hobart was Pakistan's fourth loss in row following two home defeats st the hands of Sri Lanka. After convincing wins in Test at Brisbane and Hobart, everyone was expecting the Sydney Test to be walkover for Australia, but the Pakistan leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed put an end to that. Pakistan emerged victorious by 74 runs, a face saving win. Mushtaq captured nine wickets for the match, 5/95 in Australia's first innings and 4/91 in the second. The ball he called his 'wrong one' generally proved to be the right one, but it was unsuccessful against Australia's Mark Waugh, who notched up a fine century. Ijaz Ahmed, who was flown out to Australia as a replacement, scored a magnificent 137 which set his team up for a win. Wasim Akram returned his best bowling of the series (4-50)

© Dawn