AUS v PAK, 1st Test Preview: Tourists face pink ball challenge in series opener

Prelude:

Pakistan’s tough tour of Australia will begin with perhaps the most challenging match of the entire three-match series – the Day – Night Test. Team Pakistani team isn’t a rookie as far as pink ball game is concerned having played their first match just a couple of months ago in UAE against West Indies. However, they will have a very different atmosphere to deal with when they walk out at the Gabba, Brisbane.

Australia will surely be the favourites. They have a battered opponent who not long ago suffered a loss at the hand of New Zealand. Also, their own success against New Zealand in the limited overs series must have helped their confidence. Australia’s Test form has been horrible as per their standards and they would perhaps be looking forward to resurrecting it with clean and hefty wins over the Asian giants.

Also, it’s not on many occasions that a coach is individually involved with the opponents. Well, a coach is a huge part of whichever team he is associated with – win or lose, he definitely has a role to play. But, seldom there is personal reputation on the line. And, it’s interesting whenever it happens.

The Arthur factor

Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur will be looking forward to the series in the same manner. For him, it will be about proving his worth. Back in 2011, Arthur became the first foreigner to be appointed Australian coach before getting sacked for a controversy. And, incidentally it was at the Gabba, Australia played its first Test under him.

The Australian setup hasn’t changed much since then. The likes of David Warner, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon and Usman Khawaja, all of them were a part of the XI during his short tenure and will again play tomorrow. But, the difference this time will be that Arthur will be in the opponent’s camp.

Although the hosts have brushed off any problem due to Arthur’s knowledge, his inputs will be valuable for Pakistan. He knows the Australians in and out regardless of the fact their playing style have changed.

Australia

Australia has shown belief in the new names – Matt Renshaw, Nic Maddinson, Peter Handscomb- all these three experienced domestic names recently passed the Test cricket trail with satisfying performances against South Africa and are set to play in the opening Test.

Matt Renshaw will partner David Warner as the opener. Being a Queensland skipper obviously will help him bat better at Brisbane. Both will have the huge task of thwarting Pakistan’s potent new ball threat. Peter Handscomb and Nic Maddinson will take charge in the middle order.

It is being reported that Australia may play with four quicks. Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, both of whom have been successful at this venue in the past, along with Jackson Bird they might go ahead with rookie swing bowler Chad Sayers in the team. In this case, Nathan Lyon, who struggled in the past, will have to sacrifice his place.

Pakistan:

Pakistan has the bowling attack capable of exploiting these conditions. The curator says, “We’ve got a reasonable amount of grass cover on the wicket.” This should have excited them a lot, especially after their successful performance in the practice game. Wahab Riaz, Rahat Ali, Mohammad Amir and Sohail Khan all have the speed and skills to do better.

However, as it is with most of the touring nations, the real test awaits for the batsmen. Batting on hard and bouncy track against quality fast bowling isn’t the most attractive thing for Asian batsmen. Given the challenge which awaits the batters, seniors Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq will carry a huge responsibility and will be the men to watch out for despite the presence of other promising names. The duo had a silent time in New Zealand and should make sure they don’t repeat the failure.

Opener Sami Aslam and No.3 Babar Azam, two highly regarded batsmen in the line-up will be the other duo that should take up the challenge and prove their mettle. Yasir Shah will be the another name who will be tested for his abilities and will have everyone’s attention when he comes out to bowl.

Probable XI:

Australia:

David Warner, Matt Renshaw, Usman Khawaja, Steven Smith, Peter Handscomb, Nic Maddinson, Mathew Wade, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon/Chad Sayers, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird

Pakistan:

Sami Aslam, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul- Haq, Sarfraz Khan, Asad Shafiq, Mohammad Nawaz/Yasir Shah, Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Khan/Rahat Ali

Stats:

• Misbah-ul-Haq has scored 4,875 runs and needs 125 more to become the seventh Pakistan player to reach the 5,000 runs milestone

• David Warner has scored 4,905 runs and needs 95 more to become the nineteenth Australian player to reach the 5,000 runs milestone

• Josh Hazlewood has taken 94 wickets and needs 6 more to reach the 100 wickets milestone

• Sarfraz Ahmed has taken 94 dismissals and needs 6 more to reach the 100 dismissals milestone

• Nine successive Tests that Pakistan has lost in Australia. They lost 3-0 in each of the series in 1999-2000, 2004-05 and 2009-10. In these three series, they lost two Tests each in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Hobart, and one in Brisbane. Australia is the only country where Pakistan haven’t won an away Test since November 1999

• 27 Successive Tests without a defeat for Australia at the Gabba – their last loss was in November 1988, when West Indies beat them by nine wickets. Since then, Australia has won 20 out of 27 Tests here, with seven draws. The most recent draw was against South Africa in 2012