Australia vs Pakistan, 1st Test - 5 players to watch out for

The Australian team that is coming off a dubious 2-1 series loss at the hands of the Proteas must look to take positives from the consolation win against them in the Pink ball Test where they were able to blood plenty of youngsters. Nic Maddinson, Matt Renshaw and Peter Handscomb who made their debut in that Test against South Africa kept their places in the squad which gives them an opportunity to cement their places in the absence of many top notch players.

Mohammad Amir who will look to come out all guns blazing might make a deadly combination on a green gabba wicket with the humidity and the Pink ball. He was in superb form in the tour match against Cricket Australia XI which is enough to give the Australian batsmen a run for their money.

Pakistan hasn’t performed too well Down Under and will be touring Australia after their disastrous 2010 tour which the Ricky Ponting-led Aussie side won 3-0. In their last 5 meetings Pakistan have won 3 times and Australia have won twice. Now with less than 24 hours left for the first ball to be bowled at the Gabba, we give a look at 5 players from either side who might be the trump card for their team.

1. Mohammad Amir

The talented left-arm fast bowler was a sensation when he first came into international cricket and was rated highly by former legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram. As a 17-year-old, he was lethal with his pace and had the ability to swing the ball late. He was at the peak of his form when an unforeseen incident kept him out of cricket for as many as six years.

Amir made his international comeback in the Test series in England which was drawn 2-2. Though he was not at his usual best, but was impressive enough to make a case for himself in the Pakistan line-up amidst inexperienced fast bowlers. Amir who has the ability to swing the ball both ways might be a lethal option for Misbah-ul-Haq with the Pink ball and the Aussies must come well prepared to counter him. Amir has a total of 19 Test wickets against the Aussies in 4 Tests at an average of 29.89 with best figures of 7/106.

2. Misbah-ul-Haq

The veteran 42-year-old captain who recently became the oldest centurion in Test cricket has to play a major role if Pakistan has any chances of winning the series. He recently capitulated his team to the numero uno status in Test cricket for the very first time in their cricketing history.

Misbah has been a consistent performer with the bat too and has bailed his team out of precarious situations quite often. He instilled the belief in the team about their credentials and the result was there for everyone to see. Though they surrendered their No.1 ranking rather quickly, the achievement will always remain the highlight of Misbah’s career.

The right-hander scored the fastest century in Test cricket against the Aussies in 2014 off 56 balls equalling the record of Sir Vivian Richards, an innings constructed with 11 fours and 5 sixes.

3. David Warner

The hard-hitting left-hander from New South Wales has been in the form of his life. He has been scoring heaps of runs against every country irrespective of the format. Warner couldn’t capitalise on his good starts in the Test series against the Proteas and his highest score was 97 in the Perth Test. Warner who knows how to torment the bowlers will undoubtedly be a player to watch out for in the upcoming series.

He has got the ability to bat for long hours despite his attacking nature and scores runs at a brisk pace which doesn’t allow the opposition to settle into the game. Warner has accumulated nearly 5000 runs in Test cricket at an impressive average of 48.08 with 16 centuries and 22 half-centuries to his name. The swashbuckling southpaw has played 2 Tests against Pakistan with the highest score of 133.

4. Peter Handscomb

The stylish right-hander from Victoria made his Test debut in the Pink ball Test against the Proteas and made an immediate impact by scoring a free flowing half century in his very first Test innings. Handscomb has been a prolific run-scorer in the domestic circuit and was rewarded for his consistency when he was picked in the Australian squad for the 3rd Test against the Proteas. Australia had made wholesale changes following consecutive losses in the first two Tests which worked in favour of Handscomb.

In 63 first-class matches, Handscomb has scored nearly 4000 runs at an average of 40.39. He blasted a magnificent 215 against the New South Wales in a recent Sheffield Shield game which prompted the selectors to give him a chance at the highest level. He has been a solid middle order batsman for his first-class team and will hope to carry on his rich vein of form in the international circuit as well.

Handscomb looked pretty settled in his first Test and never looked to complicate things. He struck the balls well on the up and had completed his half-century before Kyle Abbott breached his defense.

5. Mitchell Starc

Words are not enough to describe the kind of bowler Mitchell Starc is. Despite Australia’s lackluster performance in Test cricket of late, Starc has been the only bright spot in an otherwise dull and gloomy summer for the Kangaroos. He was the leading wicket-taker in the 3 match Test series and finished with 24 wickets in Sri Lanka where Australia was hammered 3-0.

Starc who made his Test debut against New Zealand in 2011 has played a total of 31 Tests till date with an impressive record. He has bagged 129 Test wickets at an impressive average of 27.66 and will hope to better the record in the upcoming 3-match series against the Pakistanis.