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'Superstar' Naseem endures hard Test intro

3 minute read

Pakistan teenager Naseem Shah pushed bowling speeds of 150 km/h in his Test debut at the Gabba, but had little joy against a rampant David Warner.

David Warner tips big things for Naseem Shah after the 16-year-old kept coming back for more during one of the tougher Test cricket assignments at the Gabba on Friday.

Naseem started the day pushing the 150 km/h barrier and - five spells and 16 fruitless overs later - was still registering around 140 km/h as Australia reached 1-312 at stumps.

The teenager thought he had Warner's wicket when the opener edged him to the wicketkeeper on 56, only to see replays of his sizeable no-ball allow the left-hander to return and pile on the pain through an unbeaten 151.

He also pinned Joe Burns (97) on the arm before lunch and had both players on their toes as the expectant crowd kept a close eye on the speed gun.

The debutant left the field in the shadows of stumps, team management insisting there was no injury to report as he braced for another tough day in the field.

"He's quite skiddy, got a nice fluent action but he won't get a harder Test debut than to go out there and bowl at the Gabba," Warner said.

"To keep coming back in, having to back up the overs, in that heat.

"You ask any Test fast bowler who's played here, it's very challenging out there."

Australia had warned Pakistan they would test their youthful attack's endurance and Warner said so far Naseem had responded well.

"I think he kept his speed up quite a lot throughout the whole day," he said.

"Obviously the back-end there, he cramped up a little bit but that's obviously going to happen.

"But he charged in and there's a superstar there."

Pakistan controversially omitted proven performer Mohammad Abbas despite his 17 wickets at 10.58 when the two teams met in the UAE last year.

Instead the tourists have backed Naseem, 19-year-old Shaheen Afridi and in-form Imran Khan, alongside leg-spinner Yasir Shah.

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram said Abbas, who averages 18.8 in Test cricket, would have been right at home at the Gabba.

"They say his (pace has) declined, but at least he would've given you 25 overs wicket-to-wicket," Akram said on Fox Cricket commentary.

"They picked Imran on present form, but those five wickets (in the Perth tour game) were (in a) day-night with pink ball."

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