Cricket Australia confirms Pakistan tour; PCB announces revised schedule
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airmarshal
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I m happy to see such a historic tour played in such a happy environment.
Maula Jatt
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ghazi52
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March 10, 2022
This file photo shows Australia's batsman David Warner celebrating after reaching his century on day two of the first Test match between Pakistan and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane on November 22, 2019. — AFP
Australia opener David Warner said he hopes for an improved pitch for the second Test in Karachi after the visitors could claim only four Pakistan wickets in the series-opening draw on Rawalpindi’s docile wicket.
“I just want a game where you can actually create 20 chances,” Warner said Thursday. “It’s something that’s going to be exciting and entertaining for the crowd.”
Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ramiz Raja has acknowledged that drawn games are not a good advertisement for Test cricket and Pindi Cricket Stadium’s wicket was described by Australia batter and vice-captain Steve Smith as a “dead wicket”.
Pakistan scored 476-4 declared and 252-0 in its two innings against Australia’s three frontline fast bowlers and even veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon couldn’t achieve any success on a lifeless track.
Australia also responded solidly with 449 all out, but the majority of left-arm spinner Nauman Ali’s six wickets resulted from bad strokes by the Australian batters.
“When he (Lyon) was hitting that rough, it wasn’t doing anything, was just pretty much going straight on slow off the wicket,” Warner said.
“There wasn’t any variable bounce, which you generally do see on worn wickets.”
Raja said Pakistan has planned low-bouncy tracks for Australia’s first tour to Pakistan since 1998, keeping in mind Pakistan’s strength against a tough opponent.
Pakistan’s two Test fast bowlers Hasan Ali and all-rounder Faheem Ashraf were ruled out due to injuries they had picked up during the Pakistan Super League.
Fast bowler Haris Rauf tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of the first Test and Pakistan had to go in with only two fast bowlers — Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah.
Ashraf has recovered from a hamstring injury but was ruled out of the second test starting Saturday after testing positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday soon after the teams arrived in Karachi from Rawalpindi and underwent testing.
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David Warner wants a better pitch for 2nd Test against Pakistan
APMarch 10, 2022
This file photo shows Australia's batsman David Warner celebrating after reaching his century on day two of the first Test match between Pakistan and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane on November 22, 2019. — AFP
Australia opener David Warner said he hopes for an improved pitch for the second Test in Karachi after the visitors could claim only four Pakistan wickets in the series-opening draw on Rawalpindi’s docile wicket.
“I just want a game where you can actually create 20 chances,” Warner said Thursday. “It’s something that’s going to be exciting and entertaining for the crowd.”
Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ramiz Raja has acknowledged that drawn games are not a good advertisement for Test cricket and Pindi Cricket Stadium’s wicket was described by Australia batter and vice-captain Steve Smith as a “dead wicket”.
Pakistan scored 476-4 declared and 252-0 in its two innings against Australia’s three frontline fast bowlers and even veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon couldn’t achieve any success on a lifeless track.
Australia also responded solidly with 449 all out, but the majority of left-arm spinner Nauman Ali’s six wickets resulted from bad strokes by the Australian batters.
“When he (Lyon) was hitting that rough, it wasn’t doing anything, was just pretty much going straight on slow off the wicket,” Warner said.
“There wasn’t any variable bounce, which you generally do see on worn wickets.”
Raja said Pakistan has planned low-bouncy tracks for Australia’s first tour to Pakistan since 1998, keeping in mind Pakistan’s strength against a tough opponent.
Pakistan’s two Test fast bowlers Hasan Ali and all-rounder Faheem Ashraf were ruled out due to injuries they had picked up during the Pakistan Super League.
Fast bowler Haris Rauf tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of the first Test and Pakistan had to go in with only two fast bowlers — Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah.
Ashraf has recovered from a hamstring injury but was ruled out of the second test starting Saturday after testing positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday soon after the teams arrived in Karachi from Rawalpindi and underwent testing.
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ghazi52
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Andrew McGlashan
Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan inspect the Karachi surface
However, if the draw in Rawalpindi was being scored, Pakistan would have taken the points. Three of their batters hit centuries - Imam-ul-Haq twice - while the bowling attack found a way to take 10 wickets in the first innings. Nauman Ali preyed on Australia's patience while Shaheen Shah Afridi was the standout quick of the match and deserved more than two wickets.
Still, with the post-match admission from the PCB chairman Ramiz Raja that the stultifying surface was largely a tactic so as not to play into the hands of Australia's quicks, Pakistan do need to show that they are brave enough to take the game to them in Karachi unless they want a single-match decider in Lahore.
From Australia's point of view, they may see the opening Test as a warm-up they did not get on this tour with all the bowlers having got miles in the legs and most of the batters spending reasonable time at the crease. However, they need to be cautious that not converting starts into three figures does not become a habit.
No two ways about it, Australia's bowlers toiled even if much of the last day was going through the motions. A single wicket for a fast bowler and just three overall (the other being a run out) is slim pickings regardless of the pitch. But this next game has been given another element of intrigue with Mitchell Swepson finally handed a Test debut.
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All eyes on Karachi pitch for series to come alive after sedate start
Legspinner Mitchell Swepson will debut for Australia while Pakistan are expected to welcome back Faheem Ashraf and Hasan AliAndrew McGlashan
Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan inspect the Karachi surface
Big Picture
Shall we try that again? To be blunt, there were not too many redeeming qualities from the opening Test of this much-anticipated series with a docile surface - which has since been deemed 'below average' by the ICC - rendering it something of a non-event. Now, all eyes are on the 22 yards that will be produced at the National Stadium in Karachi, with the hope that it will be a more balanced and enticing contest.However, if the draw in Rawalpindi was being scored, Pakistan would have taken the points. Three of their batters hit centuries - Imam-ul-Haq twice - while the bowling attack found a way to take 10 wickets in the first innings. Nauman Ali preyed on Australia's patience while Shaheen Shah Afridi was the standout quick of the match and deserved more than two wickets.
Still, with the post-match admission from the PCB chairman Ramiz Raja that the stultifying surface was largely a tactic so as not to play into the hands of Australia's quicks, Pakistan do need to show that they are brave enough to take the game to them in Karachi unless they want a single-match decider in Lahore.
From Australia's point of view, they may see the opening Test as a warm-up they did not get on this tour with all the bowlers having got miles in the legs and most of the batters spending reasonable time at the crease. However, they need to be cautious that not converting starts into three figures does not become a habit.
No two ways about it, Australia's bowlers toiled even if much of the last day was going through the motions. A single wicket for a fast bowler and just three overall (the other being a run out) is slim pickings regardless of the pitch. But this next game has been given another element of intrigue with Mitchell Swepson finally handed a Test debut.
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ghazi52
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Pakistan DWWWL
Australia DWDWW
After a long wait, Mitchell Swepson will make his Test debut. "I think it's quite special that someone like Mitchell Swepson is going to debut tomorrow as a legspinner who grew up trying to replicate Warnie," Pat Cummins said at the end of what has been an emotional week for the game. The last specialist legspinner to debut for Australia was Bryce McGain 2009, or Steven Smith in 2010 if you consider his response on social media. Swepson will hope for a longer stay than McGain's lone outing; Smith will likely be stood at slip; his career having gone in another direction.
Pakistan (probable)
1 Abdullah Shafique, 2 Imam-ul-Haq, 3 Azhar Ali, 4 Babar Azam (capt), 5 Fawad Alam, 6 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 7 Faheem Ashraf, 8 Nauman Ali, 9 Sajid Khan, 10 Hasan Ali, 11 Shaheen Shah Afridi
Cummins confirmed Australia's XI with Swepson handed a debut and that he is replacing Josh Hazlewood. This means Mitchell Starc's left-arm angle is retained.
Australia
1 David Warner, 2 Usman Khawaja, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Steven Smith, 5 Travis Head, 6 Cameron Green, 7 Alex Carey (wk), 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Pat Cummins (capt), 10 Mitchell Swepson, 11 Nathan Lyon
Pat Cummins
"We're not frightened of Australia. The conditions are the same for both teams. The WTC points are very crucial. As a captain, I wanted us to win. The way our side dominated, and our batters scored 150+ and got wickets... So there's nothing to panic about. We dominated."
Babar Azam
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Recent form
(last five matches, most recent first)Pakistan DWWWL
Australia DWDWW
In the spotlight
Hasan Ali is expected to come back into Pakistan's line-up after missing the opening match with an abductor strain. It would mean the reunion of the pairing with Shaheen; the duo has claimed 88 Test wickets during 2021, of which Hasan took 41 at 16.07 in just eight outings. Hasan is a skiddy quick bowler who has not faced Australia before in Tests, so it will be a new challenge for the top order.After a long wait, Mitchell Swepson will make his Test debut. "I think it's quite special that someone like Mitchell Swepson is going to debut tomorrow as a legspinner who grew up trying to replicate Warnie," Pat Cummins said at the end of what has been an emotional week for the game. The last specialist legspinner to debut for Australia was Bryce McGain 2009, or Steven Smith in 2010 if you consider his response on social media. Swepson will hope for a longer stay than McGain's lone outing; Smith will likely be stood at slip; his career having gone in another direction.
Team news
Faheem Ashraf's negative Covid test the day after he was positive is a huge boost for Pakistan, and it also means they will be able to balance their side with a seam-bowling allrounder at No. 7. The other change that is likely to happen is Hasan replacing Naseem Shah.Pakistan (probable)
1 Abdullah Shafique, 2 Imam-ul-Haq, 3 Azhar Ali, 4 Babar Azam (capt), 5 Fawad Alam, 6 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 7 Faheem Ashraf, 8 Nauman Ali, 9 Sajid Khan, 10 Hasan Ali, 11 Shaheen Shah Afridi
Cummins confirmed Australia's XI with Swepson handed a debut and that he is replacing Josh Hazlewood. This means Mitchell Starc's left-arm angle is retained.
Australia
1 David Warner, 2 Usman Khawaja, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Steven Smith, 5 Travis Head, 6 Cameron Green, 7 Alex Carey (wk), 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Pat Cummins (capt), 10 Mitchell Swepson, 11 Nathan Lyon
Pitch and conditions
Surely, this one won't be as flat? Both captains expected the wicket to be of more help for the spinners as the match developed, while Cummins thought reverse swing could be a factor, perhaps, from quite early in the contest given the well-worn square. There won't be any problems with the weather this time, it's forecast to be warm and sunny throughout.Stats and trivia
- Fawad Alam, who did not bat or bowl in Rawalpindi, and dropped a catch, needs 47 runs to reach 1000 in Tests
- Australia have lost five of their eight Tests in Karachi
- Nathan Lyon now averages 65.18 against Pakistan away from home (four games in UAE, one in Pakistan). His next highest overseas average is 39.75 in South Africa.
Quotes
"We didn't get as many wickets as we would have liked but never let the run rate slip, on past tours of the subcontinent we have. We never lost control of the game. As a Test match, it's an absolute outlier, so put it behind us and come here where we'll probably get closer to the conditions, we would expect in a subcontinent Test."Pat Cummins
"We're not frightened of Australia. The conditions are the same for both teams. The WTC points are very crucial. As a captain, I wanted us to win. The way our side dominated, and our batters scored 150+ and got wickets... So there's nothing to panic about. We dominated."
Babar Azam
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WinterFangs
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Sigh. What kind of cricket is this, no wickets…
another draw incoming
another draw incoming
