Australia v Pakistan: Where the Test series will be won and lost

Australia v Pakistan: Where the Test series will be won and lost
DECEMBER 12, 20163:52PM


AAP

HAVING whitewashed New Zealand to reclaim the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy and ended a five-Test losing streak against South Africa, Australia heads into the Test series against Pakistan riding a wave of momentum.
Steve Smith’s men go into the series as firm favourites, with the Pakistanis arriving on Australian soil having lost their last Test series against New Zealand 2-0.

But it would be criminal for the hosts to underestimate Pakistan.
Boasting an attack that features the world’s best leg-spinner and some of the game’s most talented quicks, Pakistan has only suffered one series defeat in the last 24 months and less than three months ago, the tourists sat atop the Test rankings.
Ahead of the first Test on Thursday, we take a closer look at where the series could be won and lost.

DAVID WARNER VS MOHAMMAD AMIR
Warner is one of the most explosive batsmen in world cricket and Amir among the most lethal exponents of swing bowling. The reformed left-arm quick is in the same mould as Wasim Akram and will be relied upon to get rid of the Australian opener with his late-hooping outswingers to the left-hander.

YASIR SHAH VS HIS OWN FITNESS

Shah has been compared to Shane Warne in his ability to flight and turn the ball, however it won’t be of much good to Pakistan if he is watching from the sidelines. He missed the tour match against a Cricket Australia XI in Cairns after injuring his back in training, but coach Mickey Arthur is confident the spinner will be fit.
If Shah plays, how the likes of Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja handle him could be key.

THE BATSMEN VS THE PINK BALL

Neither side’s batsmen have endeared themselves to the pink ball under lights in Australia. The home side’s only sustained success was against South Africa in Adelaide when they bowled spinners for the first hour of the final session last month, only to lose three quick wickets once the new ball was taken. Meanwhile Pakistan lost a combined 10-153 in their two night sessions with the bat in their tour match against a Cricket Australia XI. Tactics could be everything at night at the series-opener in Brisbane.
Yasir Shah is battling a back injury.

WAHAB RIAZ VS THE AUSTRALIAN MIDDLE ORDER

Riaz gave a hint of what he can do to Australia at last year’s World Cup quarter-final in Adelaide, where he dismissed Warner and Steve Smith before roughing up Shane Watson. His raw speed could challenge Australia’s inexperienced batsmen, however he is known to get it wrong and offer plenty of chances for runs.

PAKISTAN’S VETERANS VS AUSTRALIAN PITCHES

The last time Pakistan played Australia Younis Khan hit three centuries in two Tests to average 156, and Misbah-ul-Haq went at 135.5. That was on the sub- continent though, and at 39 and 42 respectively, reproducing that form in Australia remains a whole different challenge. Neither batsman have reached triple figures in the five Tests between them in Australia, and will need to turn that around to win the series.

I am supporting Pakistan.

I want them to give OZ a good beating . ::LOL:: ::LOL::