Pakistan vs Australia, 5th ODI, Preview: Aussies eye an away clean sweep for the first time in more than 4 years

There is no clarity over Shoaib Malik's fitness yet.

Published - 30 Mar 2019, 14:13 IST | Updated - 30 Mar 2019, 14:13 IST

3 Min Read

After four ODIs in the five-match series against Pakistan, Australia find themselves in a comfortable position with a 4-0 lead. A clean sweep is on the cards for the hosts in their adopted home as they head into the final ODI on Sunday. Since the beginning of 2017, Australia hasn’t fared really well in the ODI format. Their troubles began after they clean swept New Zealand at home in the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy in 2016. Ever since then, the team has been highly inconsistent and was even marred by a few controversies.

The last them they clean swept an opposition away from home was in 2014. Incidentally, it is the same team they are facing now whom they defeated 3-0 back then. After a gap of over four years, Australia will look to repeat what they did in 2014 and accomplish a clean sweep. Pakistan is playing without their gun players and one would feel this is too late a stage to test their reserves as the team’s confidence would be affected a great deal with these performances.

Team Combinations

Pakistan

Abid Ali, who was highly impressive on his debut will get another opportunity in this game. There is no clarity over Shoaib Malik’s fitness yet and if he is fit, then the veteran might replace Saad Ali. Players like Umar Akmal are expected to take the onus of the middle-order and bring out better performances. The bowling department of the home team is more or less likely to be the same.

Predicted XI: Abid Ali, Shan Masood, Haris Sohail, Umar Akmal, Saad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Imad Wasim (C), Yasir Shah, Usman Shinwari, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Amir/Mohammad Hasnain.

Australia

Australia hasn’t tried out Ashton Turner as yet in this series. He played extremely well in the series against India and might get an opportunity in the last ODI. However, it is quite difficult to fit him into the eleven and the visitors might rest Shaun Marsh or Usman Khawaja. The rest of the eleven will be the same as it was in the last match.

Predicted XI: Usman Khawaja, Aaron Finch (C), Shaun Marsh/Ashton Turner, Glenn Maxwell, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey (WK), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Kane Richardson, Nathan Lyon, Adam Zampa.

Focus will be on

Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan)

Mohammad Rizwan possibly has been Pakistan’s best batsman in this series. He notched up two centuries in four games and is making the most of the opportunity that he has got. The wicket-keeper batsman will be critical in the 5th ODI as well if his team is to escape a whitewash.

Glenn Maxwell (Australia)

There is something with Glenn Maxwell and his love for the 90s. He puts in all the hard strides and builds his innings really well. But he ends up being extremely selfless in the nineties and always puts the team ahead of him. The all-rounder scored 98 runs in the last match and was run out in the final over of the innings. He will look to put up a good show yet again and try to reach the triple figures if possible.