Australian captain Pat Cummins is no stranger to delivering for his country and he did so in fine fashion again at the MCG on Monday night when guiding the Aussies to victory in a one day international against Pakistan that turned into a thriller.

After Australia restricted Pakistan to a tally of 203, with eight bowlers used across the innings as Cummins sought to reduce the load on key bowlers, the hosts looked to be cruising to victory with Steve Smith and Josh Inglis in fine rhythm.

But Pakistan paceman Haris Rauf, who has produced some magic on the MCG in the past, sparked a mini-collapse that turned the momentum of the match and gave the Aussies a serious scare.

It took the steady hand of Cummins, who finished unbeaten on 32 from 31 balls after earlier taking two wickets, to get Australia over the line in the first of three one day internationals over the next week.

The next match is in Adelaide on Friday, with Perth to follow on Sunday.

Mitchell Starc, who was alongside Cummins at the end, earned man of the match honours when finishing with 3 for 33 from his 10 overs.

Watch every ball of Australia v Pakistan ODI Series LIVE & exclusive to FOX CRICKET, available on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.

RAUF BREATHES LIFE INTO THE SUMMER OF CRICKET

It was the moment the international summer of cricket came alive, with Pakistan’s paceman Haris Rauf tearing in to bowl to Sean Abbott when on a hat-trick.

Australia had appeared set for a comfortable victory with Steve Smith and Josh Inglis playing with distinction until Rauf entered the attack and caused havoc in a spell that had the MCG crowd of 25,831 out of their seats and chanting his name.

After drawing a loose shot from Smith, who fell for 44 runs from 46 balls when slashing at a delivery that was caught by Saim Ayub, Australia was 3-113 in the 17th over. But when Inglis fell to Shaheen Shah Afridi for 49 three overs later, it sparked a mini-collapse.

Rauf, who featured in the BBL series last summer instead of stepping out for Pakistan in the Test series in a move that lessened the visiting side’s chances, then claimed the scalps of Marnus Labuschagne (16 of 13 balls) and Glenn Maxwell in consecutive balls.

With Rauf in his delivery stride on the hat-trick ball, his teammates in the inner-circle turned towards the crowd and waved their arms to raise the noise, with the vibrant crowd responding in a fashion that made it seem like the match was being played in Lahore.

It is not a stretch to suggest Pakistan supporters outnumbered those wearing the green and gold and their passionate support certainly lifted the atmosphere in the Melbourne Cup eve match. But back to the action.

Rauf has taken a hat-trick on the MCG before for the Melbourne Stars against the Adelaide Strikers in January, 2020.

But on this occasion he fell to the ground in disappointment after pitching the ball onto Abbott’s legs, thumping the turf in frustration at a chance gone begging.

Speaking of frustration, Abbott and Pat Cummins have been Australian and New South Wales teammates for years, but they showed some confusion at the crease which eventually resulted in a costly run out with Pakistan still 18 runs in the ascendancy.

Given Australia still had more than 20 overs remaining, the risk was scarcely worth the prize, though the effort from Afridi to throw down the stumps was superb.

TEST VACANCY NOT THE SOLE HOLE AUSSIE SELECTORS HAVE TO FILL

Jake Fraser-McGurk was walking away in disgust before Irfan Khan caught a shot chipped to him at mid-off, which is a habit he might be wise to shake in the future just in case an opposing fielder ever drops a chance. But that is a topic for another day.

On a day recently-retired opening batter David Warner debuted in commentary for Fox Cricket, it is clear that it is not only in the Test arena where his departure from international cricket has left a void Australian selectors are still looking to fill.

With the series against Pakistan the last chance for Australian players to impress in ODI cricket before the ICC Champions Trophy next February — the squad will be known before the one-off game in Sri Lanka on February 13 — the auditions for spots are on.

Adding to the opportunity is the fact regular captain Mitch Marsh and star batter Travis Head are currently enjoying paternity leave.

Victorians Matt Short and Fraser-McGurk, who now plies his trade in Adelaide, were tasked with leading Australia’s pursuit of Pakistan’s target of 204 but neither succeeded in making the most of the conditions.

While both approached the task with an aggressive intent, which is in contrast to their counterparts earlier in the day, neither lasted long enough to enhance their prospects on this occasion.

Short was the first to depart for one when catching an edge while flailing at a delivery from Afridi, with Ayub taking an excellent catch.

As disappointed as the Ballarat boy will be to have departed early, it was an improvement on his only other match at his home ground against the West Indies at the tail-end of the summer of 2023/24 when he did not get the chance to bat.

He is averaging 22 in nine ODI matches for Australia so far, though his previous innings was an enterprising 58 against England in Bristol at the end of September, and he has moved around the order to fill different roles.

Fraser-McGurk, meanwhile, wielded the willow with his familiar intent but his innings lasted only four overs, with the 22-year-old falling for 16 from 14 balls. He is averaging 22.33 in three matches to date against the West Indies and Pakistan.

Warner noted that while Fraser-McGurk is very much in the infancy of his career, he has some technique issues to work on.

“His front foot doesn’t move at all. You look at his stride, there’s very minimal stride,” the former Australian opener said.

“To me, it looked like he was a little bit giddy. It looked like he wanted to go out there and try and hit the ball very hard, which he normally does, but his timing just wasn’t there.

“You can get overawed by the occasion, but he’ll be very disappointed with himself there that he missed out on a lot of opportunities to hit fours and sixes.

“It’s a timing thing. It doesn’t necessarily mean he has to move his feet or his weight has to go more into the ball. If you don’t move your feet, you’ve got to wait a fraction longer for the ball to come to you. You’ve got respect those good balls sometimes.”

During a press conference at the MCG prior to the series, Short said he was not certain whether he would open in all three matches against Pakistan. But with a view to the future, it seems likely both will given further opportunities to impress.

WORST OPENING PARTNERSHIP IN HISTORY

Speaking of openers, Pakistan’s pair at the top of the order also had a day to forget at the MCG on Monday, with each dismissed during the Powerplay after getting the tourists off to a slow start – and they only had themselves to blame.

In the third over, Ayub pressed at a wide delivery from Australian quick Mitchell Starc without any footwork and chopped back onto his stumps for one.

A few minutes later, Abdullah Shafique also fell victim to Starc after failing to get his bat out of the way while leaving outside off stump, feathering the Kookaburra through to wicketkeeper Inglis for 12.

Astute followers of the Pakistan pairing would scarcely have been surprised by their struggle at the top of the order, particularly against an attack headed by champion bowlers Starc and Pat Cummins.

While Shafique lasted longer, the passive manner with which he batted scarcely set the tone for Pakistan to post a competitive total on a day that appealed as ideal for cricket according to Warner.

“I’m not too convinced there. The way he came out, he showed no presence (and) no energy. He faced 26 balls and got out like that. It was very tentative,” the former Australian opener said.

Ayub and Shafique have now opened the batting 13 times together for Pakistan across formats, with a best partnership for 35. The duo average 7.61 when facing the new ball together at international level, making them statistically the worst opening partnership in history.

Lowest average among opening partnerships in men’s internationals

7.61 – Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub (PAK)

8.71 – Grant Flower, Trevor Gripper (ZIM)

9.50 – Kyle Coetzer, Calum MacLeod (SCO)

10.10 – George Ngegba, Alusine Turay (SLE

11.50 – Stephan Baard, Zane Green (NAM)

MARNUS, THE ALL-ROUNDER?

Marnus Labuschagne has been pumping up his bowling for years, but his contributions with the ball during the early stages of his career were middling at best.

The Queenslander, who dabbles in leg-spin and seamers, did not take a wicket in 59 consecutive matches for Australia between June, 2022, and August, 2024.

But the 30-year-old has turned over a new leaf in the past six months, prompting speculation as to whether he should be considered a genuine all-rounder.

Labuschagne wrapped up his county season at Glamorgan with a record-breaking performance in the T20 Blast, taking 5-11 from 2.3 overs against Somerset in Cardiff.

A couple of months later, he claimed three wickets during Australia’s first ODI against England in Nottingham, which is his best bowling performance at international level to date.

And at the MCG on Monday, Labuschagne only needed four deliveries to produce a breakthrough, and a valuable one at that.

Pakistan captain Muhammad Rizwan, the team’s last recognised batter, departed in the 32nd over for 44 after top-edging a sweep shot into his own helmet, which was caught by Inglis.

Labuschagne has also been taking wickets at Sheffield Shield level this summer, albeit with his medium pace. Warner said Labuschagne had the ability to change up the momentum of an innings with his bowling.

“He just has a knack of taking wickets,” he said.

With all-rounder Cameron Green unavailable this summer due to injury, Labuschagne’s bowling might be required at stages throughout the Border Gavaskar Trophy, while his leg spin could be a handy weapon on the turning wickets in Sri Lanka.

“Marnus is always in my ear,” Cummins laughed during the post-match presentation.

“So he’s got to have at least one over.

“He got an important wicket.”