Pakistan vs. Australia: Winners and Losers from 2nd Test
Pakistan claimed an emphatic 356-run victory over Australia in the second Test in Abu Dhabi, clinching the series 2-0 with the biggest victory by runs in the nation's Test history.
In a remarkable match for the hosts, Pakistan smashed all sorts of records on their way to handing Australia the sort of humiliation that they've inflicted upon others in recent times.
From Younis Khan's glorious double-hundred, to Azhar Ali's twin centuries, to Misbah-ul-Haq's record-breaking milestone, to Zulfiqar Babar's stunning emergence, the home side enjoyed unprecedented levels of dominance over a country that has tormented them for two decades.
Across the following slides, we examine the winners and losers from the second Test.
Winner: Younis Khan
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After thumping twin hundreds in the first Test, Younis Khan did even better in the second match of the series in Abu Dhabi, cruising his way to a memorable 213 in Pakistan's first innings to continue the hosts' dominance from Dubai.
So commanding was the veteran's performance that the visitors' attack simply ran out of ideas when bowling to Younis, seeing him reach a truly staggering total of 468 runs in what was just a two-match series.
Recently dumped from Pakistan's one-day international side, the national selectors will now be forced into a rethink ahead of the approaching World Cup.
Loser: Glenn Maxwell
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At some point in his career, Glenn Maxwell will strike a balance with his batting in the Test arena. Unfortunately for the dashing Australian, that time doesn't appear to be now.
Brought in to replace the out-of-sorts Alex Doolan, Maxwell found himself at the centre of the criticism aimed at Australia during this Test in Abu Dhabi for playing a number of daring strokes at key moments that horrified the onlooking traditionalists.
Most notable, of course, was his attempted reverse sweep that almost saw him bowled by Mohammad Hafeez when on just three in Australia's second innings.
For Maxwell, this match was a chance to secure a place for the first Test against India in Brisbane that starts on December 4. Now, it's highly unlikely he'll take his place in the side when that date arrives.
Winner: Misbah-Ul-Haq
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If you had to select a candidate capable of equalling the fastest Test century of all time prior to this match, you certainly wouldn't have picked Misbah-ul-Haq.
The owner of a Test strike rate of little more than 40, the Pakistan captain defied every perception of his game in Abu Dhabi to club an unforgettable century in just 56 balls and equal Viv Richards' longstanding record.
That it came on the back of a first-innings hundred as well as a superb exhibition of captaincy in the field only served to make it all the more impressive.
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Loser: Michael Clarke
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This was a miserable series for Michael Clarke on all fronts: In the field, he was out-thought by his opposite number in Misbah-ul-Haq, while his poor form with the bat stripped Australia of their one player capable of thriving against high-quality spin bowling.
In fact, a closer inspection of Clarke's recent Test record will spread some concern throughout the Australian camp, given that the captain has now failed to pass 30 in 27 of his last 33 Test innings.
There have, of course, been some magnificent knocks in that time, but Clarke is beginning to become very hit-and-miss with the bat and lacking the consistency that made him one of the world's premier players after ascending to the captaincy in 2011.
Winner: Azhar Ali
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Prior to Australia's visit to the UAE, it had been a difficult two years for Azhar Ali in the Test arena.
After scoring a pair of hundreds against Sri Lanka in July 2012, the 29-year-old had endured a barren stretch from the beginning of 2013 onward, scoring just one century and averaging less than 25 in 10 Tests for his country.
But those fortunes all changed against Australia, with his 53 in the opening Test followed by twin hundreds in the second match in Abu Dhabi to drive Pakistan to an emphatic victory, securing his place in the side for the foreseeable future in the process.
Loser: Nathan Lyon
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For Nathan Lyon, his series statistics make for grim reading: 110 overs bowled, just three wickets claimed, 422 runs conceded and an average of 140.66.
It really couldn't have been worse for the Australian off-spinner.
Most troubling for Lyon will be the success Pakistan's spinning duo in Zulfiqar Babar and Yasir Shah enjoyed in claiming 26 wickets for the series between them and exposing the Australian's inability to shoulder the burden of driving his team to victory when there's nothing on offer for the faster men.
Winner: Zulfiqar Babar
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When this series began, Zulfiqar Babar's inexperience at Test level was supposed to represent a decisive advantage for Australia in the absence of Saeed Ajmal.
Instead, the left-armer made Ajmal's suspension practically forgotten, claiming a series-high 14 wickets to dismantle the visitors' batting lineup and deliver one of Pakistan's finest series victories in the nation's history.
Utilising a supreme blend of variations that included a quicker arm-ball, Babar became the latest spinner to expose Australia's deficiencies against the turning ball and was even successful in making the normally excellent Michael Clarke look a little foolish.
Loser: Chris Rogers
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Prior to flying to the UAE to face Pakistan, Chris Rogers expressed his elation at not having to face Saeed Ajmal and hoped that the off-spinner's absence might help the veteran "prolong my Test career a little bit longer."
After four innings that yielded less than 100 runs, however, the left-hander's international career may now be over.
Always uncomfortable against the turning ball, Rogers struggled mightily against Pakistan's spin-based attack, scoring his runs at a strike rate of just 29.72 in the series and allowing the hosts to seize the initiative at the start of every Australian innings.
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