Australia bowled out for 88

A dejected Michael Clarke leaves the field at Headingley after Australia were rolled out for 88.

AAP

PACEMAN Umar Gul said he was shocked by Australian captain Ricky Ponting's decision to bat first at Headingley after Pakistan mauled Australia on the opening day of the second Test at Headingley.

Australia suffered one of their worst days in Test cricket - being rolled for 88, the national side's worst Test total in a generation.

Ponting's shell-shocked bowling attack then failed to use the seamer-friendly conditions as Pakistan advanced to 3-148 at stumps, a lead of 60, in a stunningly lop-sided day in Yorkshire.

Medium-pacer Shane Watson (2-12) salvaged a small amount of pride by claiming two late scalps with new Pakistan captain Salman Butt enjoying a dream first day in charge.

Umar Akmal (8no) and Umar Amin (1no) remained unbeaten.

The brilliant Pakistan swing bowling trio of Mohammad Aamer (3-20), Mohammad Asif (3-30) and Umar Gul (2-16) earlier used the overcast conditions to perfection, producing wicked late swing to skittle Australia in 33.1 overs.

Gul said the pitch had looked dry on top but had moisture underneath it from the heavy recent rain in Leeds.

He said he was surprised by Ponting's decision to bat.

"I think the wicket looks light and looks like a batting wicket but it was a bit damp and there was a bit of moisture because from the last five days it was raining," he said.

"Moisture was under the wicket and it was a shocking decision (to bat), especially for Australia."

The last time Australia posted a lower score was back in 1984, the tally of 76 coming against a rampant West Indian attack consisting of Malcolm Marshall, Joel Garner and Michael Holding on a lightning-fast WACA pitch.

It was Australia's fifth batting collapse in six Tests on English soil and the performance provided further evidence of the side's inability to cope with the swinging ball in this country.

Australia had come into the match with a 1-0 lead in the two-match series and in pursuit of a record 14th straight Test win over Pakistan.

Since his fateful decision to send England in at Edgbaston in 2005, Ponting has batted first in the 27 times that he has won the toss.

But from the outset on Wednesday, this looked like a decision he will live to regret.

So bad was Australia's day, that they wheeled out Tim Nielsen for the press conference - the coach jokingly referred to as "Tough Day Tim".

He said Australia had considered bowling first but had been surprised by the dry appearance of the pitch considering the recent weather.

The Australian team has long preferred to bat first in any conditions but Nielsen said the numbers made the call not look so great.

"All the greatest plans count for not much when you are bowled out for 88," he said.

Working in Australia's favour is their miraculous win at the SCG in January this year.

Pakistan led by 206 runs on first innings in that match and still managed to lose that encounter by 36 runs.

Nielsen expected the pitch to be tough to bat on later on in the match.

However with 13 wickets falling on the opening day and heavy showers predicted for Thursday, only consistent rain looks likely to push this game into a fourth or fifth day.