Top 3 Pakistan-Australia encounters

#1 Dubai, 2018: Langer's "New" Australia tough it out in desert

Pakistan v Australia: 1st Test - Day Five

In the aftermath of the Newlands scandal, Australia hit an all-time low. A record loss in the final match of that series, followed by the nightmares of white ball in England, coupled with sandpaper jibes rattled their build up to their redemption series against Pakistan in the UAE.

Before the series, newly installed coach Justin Langer in his first Test assignment, asked only one thing of Australians, to play tough, determined cricket. And that is exactly what they did, but not without their initial lack of belonging in the contest at all.

Pakistan, batting first in the heat of Dubai, sentenced the Australian bowlers to seemingly endless toil. The first wicket took 318 balls to fall, the longest Australia have waited in their history. Centuries from comeback man Mohammad Hafeez and Haris Sohail helped Pakistan get to 482. But given the opening partnership of 205, it certainly could have been more, had it not been for Australia's immensely disciplined bowling in unfriendly climes.

In reply, debutant Aaron Finch and Usman Khawaja (opening for the first time in Asia), hit their strides with a 142 run opening stand. Retaliating was another debutant, Pakistan's Bilal Asif, who puzzled the Aussies with his doosras to take 6/36. Ten wickets fell for 60 runs. Not enforcing the follow-on, Pakistan did the customary extension of their first innings lead to set Australia 462 in four sessions.

After Mohammad Abbas ruined Australia's good start by taking three wickets to send the score from 0/87 to 3/87, including ducks for the Marsh brothers, Usman Khawaja came into a groove of his own. Supported by Travis Head and Tim Paine, he batted through 127 overs of the innings to score an incredible 141. His wicket to Yasir Shah in the last session of play opened the gates for two more and suddenly an easy draw turned into negotiating 12 tricky overs with only two wickets left.

Tim Paine, in an effort no less heroic than any of the first innings centuries or Khawaja's ton, faced 197 balls to bat Australia to safety. Langer had prophesied, his new Australia delivered, not just a relieving draw, but a promise of reincarnation.