Michael Clarke says his bizarre field settings in the second Test against Pakistan were forced on him by the lifeless Abu Dhabi pitch.
Australia used eight bowlers on a flat batting track on day one as Pakistan reached an imposing tally of 2-304 on Thursday.
Former Test captain Allan Border said Clarke’s decision to employ Mitchell Johnson at straight hit, about two-thirds of the way to the boundary, could be regarded as not in the spirit of the game.
“I tried guys in extremely unorthodox positions to try and make something happen,” skipper Clarke said.
When Australia paceman Peter Siddle set off to bowl, he had Johnson standing right beside him.
Pakistan batsman Azhar Ali pulled away from his batting stance in the last over before lunch because he felt having Johnson in his line of vision was a distraction.
Johnson stood still as the bowler ran in to bowl the next delivery.
“Where he is there, I don’t think it is in the sprit of the game,” Border told Fox Sports.
“When he moves to the mid-on side of straight, I’m a bit more relaxed about that.
“When he’s right behind the bowler’s arm, I don’t know.”
Asked about the straight-hit fielder, Clarke said: “It seemed that was where the ball was going at the time so I tried a fielder there.”
Azhar said he’d never seen the straight-hit fielding position used.
“I didn’t have an idea that you could have one behind the bowler,” he said.
“So I was a little distracted but the umpire told me if he doesn’t move then there is no problem.
“He wasn’t moving so it was fine.”
Siddle also had three short mid-wickets and two short covers.
“He’s one of the best captains in the world so he plays around with the field,” Azhar said.
Azhar said Pakistan’s coaching staff had told him to focus on the next ball and nothing else.
“Don’t worry about the field change,” Azhar said.
“Our guys have done that really well in this and the last Test that they haven’t worried about this.”
The strange tactics had little impact on the Pakistan batsmen, with Azhar going to stumps unbeaten on 101 and Younis Khan also not out after scoring his third straight century against the Australians – this time a majestic 111.
FULL SCOREBOARD
Pakistan 1st Innings Mins Balls 4s 6s
A SHEHZAD lbw Lyon 35 86 64 3 0
M HAFEEZ c Haddin b Johnson 45 157 89 1 0
A ALI not out 101 295 223 6 0
Y KHAN not out 111 225 155 10 1
Sundries (3b 6lb 3nb) 12
Two wickets for 304
Fall: 57 (Shehzad), 96 (Hafeez).
Bowling: M Johnson 18-4-50-1 (2nb), M Starc 11-0-37-0, P Siddle 17-5-39-0 (1nb), N Lyon 23-1-86-1, M Marsh 6-0-23-0, G Maxwell 8-1-36-0, M Clarke 2-0-7-0, S Smith 3-0-17-0.
Batting time: 383 mins. Overs: 88.
Umpires: Nigel Llong (ENG), Richard Kettleborough (ENG).
Match Referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI).
Third Umpire: Marais Erasmus (RSA).
