(Info4now, March 3, 2022)- Australia land on the soil of Pakistan after more than two decades and it’s a historic tour for both the teams. As they are to lock horns in PAK vs AUS 1st Test at Rawalpindi tomorrow, Australia have to contest hard to keep their Ashes success alive. Pakistan, on the other hand, will leave no stone unturned to trap them in their home condition.
For Australia, the Ashes 2021-22 is the past. They play at home ground and, of course, against an unsettled England. In every department England fail to show their level that a huge contest always needs. Still it is something Australia will take or consider. They lose to India under Tim Paine and it’s a horrible memory for them. They recover well, win maiden T20 World Cup title and register a comprehensive victory over England in the Ashes.
So Pakistan are just well aware of Australia’s weakness and a quick recovery. They know their wickets well and must try to strengthen their recent experience of PSL. With some top class players in the middle and an excellent combination of pace and spin, they must be hoping to win the series.
Preview: PAK vs AUS 1st Test, Australia tour of Pakistan 2022
Pakistan’s top order is not up to the mark and it’s something Australia will try to exploit. Still, they, with the experience of recent franchise games, would look to find solidarity at the top. Babar Azam is the ninth ranked Test player and it’s his time to come out as the white ball performer as well. Md. Rizwan is the champion wicket keeper batsman. In the middle order, how he bats will decide the condition of the scorecard of Pakistan. They are champion with the usage of the seam. So Shaheen Shah Afridi and Nasim Shah will be crucial against the Australian top order. In the spin department, they are more dangerous whenever an overseas team visits the country.
Australia are very compact with their playing XI. They have great openers like David Warner and Usman Khawaja who lights up the Ashes as a replacement for Travis Head. At No. 3 comes Marnus Labuschagne who currently holds the top position in ICC ranking. A great player of red ball cricket, Labuschagne is technically sound, but must be cautious of spin. Steve Smith, Travis Head and Alex Carey to follow. At Rawalpindi, Cameron Green may be preferred to Ashton Agar. Three premier pace bowlers are completely fit to feature in PAK vs AUS 1st Test at Rawalpindi.
To Conclude
It’s a pace-friendly wicket and both the teams will give importance to their quicks. An extra pacer will be in their mind. While Australia have perfect combination to start in the PAK vs AUS 1st Test at Rawalpindi, Pakistan’s edge benefit is the familiarity with their home soil.
Australia Probable Playing XI: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green/Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc/Scott Boland, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins.
Pakistan Test Squad: Babar Azam (C), Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Fawad Alam, Imam-ul-Haq, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood, Faheem Ashraf, Nauman Ali, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Hasan Ali, Sajid Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Zahid Mahmood and Md Wasim Jr.