Pacers roll Aussies over for paltry 88

Brilliant seam bowling from Pakistan saw Australia slump spectacularly to 73 for six at lunch on the first day of the second and final Test at Headingley here on Wednesday. Aamer took two more wickets just after lunch without any run being added to the lunch score leaving Australia 73 for eight. First change Umar Gul took two wickets for six runs in five overs after Mohammad Asif (two for 29 in nine) and left-armer Mohammad Aamer (one for 16 in eight) had done the initial damage. Salman Butt, in his first Test as Pakistan captain, could scarcely have wished for a better start after former skipper Shahid Afridi quit the five-day format following the team's 150-run loss at Lord's last week. And his hunch in bringing on Umar Amin, primarily a batsman, was rewarded when the medium-pacer took his first Test wicket to remove Marcus North, the last of Australia's specialist batsmen. The left-hander, who made a century in last year's Ashes Test at Headingley, had got to 16 - the top score of this innings so far - when he pushed at an Amin ball outside off stump and edged to wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal. That left Australia 60 for six, having lost six wickets for 40 runs in 101 balls. Tim Paine was eight not out and Steven Smith 10 not out, with Australia needing eight more runs to surpass their lowest Test innings total of 80 against Pakistan in Karachi in 1956. Although conditions were initially overcast, Ponting decided to bat first on a pitch that now has a reputation as one of the best surfaces in England. Aamer and Asif reduced Australia to 20 for two in the eighth over as Pakistan took two wickets for no runs in eight balls. Left-hander Simon Katich, who made 80 and 83 at Lord's, shuffled across his stumps in typical fashion but was struck in front of off by Aamer. Rudi Koertzen, in his last Test as an umpire, raised his finger with trademark deliberation and Katich was lbw for 13. Pakistan had a second wicket when Katich's opening partner Shane Watson, missed an intended drive and was plumb lbw for five to an Asif ball that cut back into the right-hander. Michael Clarke, repeatedly beaten outside off stump by Asif, got to three before he was clean bowled by Gul's ninth delivery. Ponting, who before this match averaged over 105 at Headingley, never looked at ease. The star batsman had struggled to six in 41 minutes when he thrust his front pad forward and was lbw, aiming across the line at an Asif delivery that nipped back, with English umpire Ian Gould sending the Australia captain on his way. Asif, at that stage, had taken two wickets for six runs in 22 balls. Gul then had left-hander Hussey lbw for five. Replays suggested the ball had done too much but Koertzen was convinced and Australia were 41 for five. Gul had taken two wickets for one run in 15 balls and Australia had lost five wickets for 21 runs in 65. This series is being played in England because of security concerns in Pakistan.