Watch: At the New Year’s Test in Sydney, Pakistan debutant Saim Ayub dropped an easy catch at first slip to let David Warner go in the latter’s final match.

Batting first in the dead-rubber final Test match of the series, Pakistan posted 313 at the Sydney Cricket Ground after being reduced to 227-9 as Mohammad Rizwan made 88, Salman Ali Agha 53, and No.9 Aamer Jamal 82.

For Australia, Pat Cummins claimed 5-61, becoming the first Australian to take three consecutive five-wicket hauls in Test cricket on home soil in 35 years.

Australia played out the only over of the first day without losing any wickets. On the second morning, David Warner, playing in his last Test match, pushed the score to 31-0 in 13 overs along with Usman Khawaja.

At this point, Shan Masood summoned Jamal. Bowling from around the wicket, Jamal pitched the second ball outside off stump and moved away a bit. Warner poked at it, and the ball took the outside edge and flew towards Saim Ayub at first slip, an unconventional fielding position for a debutant. It was an easy catch, and all Ayub had was to hold the ball below his waist level, between his legs, without having to move an inch.

Ayub, who replaced Imam-ul-Haq, had made a two-ball duck in the first innings. His horrors compounded as the ball landed in his hands before popping out. He slumped in despair, as did Babar Azam at second slip.

This was not the first occasion where Pakistan have dropped easy slip catches. 

Thankfully, the lapse did not cost Pakistan much. Warner, then 20, added 14 before Salman had him caught at slip, by Babar. Khawaja made 47, and Australia were 116-2 when rain called a halt to the second day’s play.

Watch Saim Ayub drop an easy slip catch of David Warner:

It's happened again! 😲

David Warner gets a life courtesy of the debutant Saim Ayub #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/VAr7bBis6L

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 4, 2024

Subscribe to the Wisden Cricket YouTube channel for post-match analysis, player interviews, and much more.