Anyone worried about the Australia Test series?

[AliMurtaza]

I am not talking about the batsmen, mainly the bowlers. Only Abbas seems to be in form going into the test series. Yasir struggled to pick any wickets during the Quaid trophy matches he played. Amir, Hassan and Shadab, 3 potential selections, are badly out of form. Wahab hasn't played any Quaid trophy matches. I am seriously worried that we will now struggle against Australia.

Hope Inzi picks an inform domestic spinner to partner Yasir rather than Shadab/Nawaz. Otherwise, we may be in for a surprise against a weak Australian test side.

 

[Usman Chadda]

Mickey is struggling with his tactics in the UAE. I don't see Pakistan even competing. Australia has three genuine spinners while we have just one

 

[YousafTheBeast]

Going by our selections for Asia Cup, Yasir shah should count himself lucky if he gets selected for the test squad. Who knows, maybe on such fast and bouncing tracks in the UAE you’d need an all pace attack in your xi!

 

[Junaids]

Mickey is struggling with his tactics in the UAE. I don't see Pakistan even competing. Australia has three genuine spinners while we have just one

This.

 

[Junaids]

Mickey is struggling with his tactics in the UAE. I don't see Pakistan even competing. Australia has three genuine spinners while we have just one

Fortunately Australia has no Smith or Warner.

 

[Usman Chadda]

Fortunately Australia has no Smith or Warner.

Unless Yasir takes 10 wicket-hauls, this is going to end in another heart break.

I wonder how bad NZ will man-handle this team though. Mickey doesn't have much time aswell to fix any issues. The first test starts in less than two weeks time.

 

[aloo paratha]

We have to pick Gohar or Asghar to play alongside Yasir, there is literally no doubt about that. Don't know why the team management can't see that.

 

[TeymurBlake]

We must adapt to the enviromnent. In the UAE, you don't get green, fresh pitches. You get dusty, hard, crack filled pitches, the best exponents of those pitches are spinners. Bangladesh bowlers troubled us today, the way the spinners squeezed us was exactly what we should have done.

 

[Plumb]

Micky is obsessed with pace bowling and know little about subcontinent and the spin tactics used here. I am very much afraid that Australia can beat us hands down with bunch of nobody players in Australian side.

 

[Majid Khan]

Is Mitchell Starc in the Australian squad, anyone know? the only modern day fast bowler that I rate and has shades of the quicks I grew up watching and admiring.

Starc v Hafeez --I'm keenly looking forward to that duel.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

We simply have to pick Zafar. Shadab is a mediocre spinner.

 

[mak36]

We simply have to pick Zafar. Shadab is a mediocre spinner.

Interestingly Zafar is not playing in his side's FC match that is currently ongoing, despite being their best bowler this season. Optimistically that could mean he is on stand-by.

 

[babajee]

We'll be thrashed if we play Amir and Hasan and Shadab as second spinner.

 

[DRsohail]

Interestingly Zafar is not playing in his side's FC match that is currently ongoing, despite being their best bowler this season. Optimistically that could mean he is on stand-by.

Will be great if that happens as he can go on and play ODI as well.

 

[aloo paratha]

Has the test squad been released?

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

I am worried about a specialist spinner. Ideally we need 2 along with Yasir.

 

[Convict]

Very worried about a complete utter humiliation.

 

[Buffet]

Aus batting will fold no matter who is bowling in UAE. They are missing their best batsmen.

 

[The Viper]

Hopefully Azhar and Shafiq score big this time around.

 

[PakLFC]

I am not worried coz I expect Australia to win!

 

[Barragan]

Pak management may not even select specialist spinners, which is absolute madness!!

Both Gohar and Asghar need to be picked, then one from those two need to partner Yasir (Gohar atm).

Picking shadab again will be a huge blunder because he is nowhere near Test class and he should learn to bowl in FC, plus he flopped against the Windies on turning tracks and that should be enough evidence to suggest he is not the right partner for Yasir.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

They are without Smith/Warner/Hazlewood. Even their replacement s haven't impressed even in Shield Cricket apparently. No Tremain, Maxwell etc. Pakistan should destroy this Australian team 2 zip.

 

[giri26]

If Pakistan continue to play just one spinner, there is a very good chance that the Aussie batsman will feel very comfortable playing in the UAE, in spite of being inexperienced. I hope some sense prevails in the Pakistan camp and I am not talking about Shadab and Yasir. Shadab is not a Test spinner yet.

 

[FastBowlingAllrounder]

We'll have lost before the series starts if we go with one spinner. It's difficult to not select Yasir though, he'll probably play, but what we need is a second spinner who is suited to the longer format. No darters who spin every fifth delivery; we need someone who isn't afraid to flight the ball and really give it a rip.

Would be interesting if we get see the surprise selection of a young spinner for this series.

 

[wrongun]

Is Mitchell Starc in the Australian squad, anyone know? the only modern day fast bowler that I rate and has shades of the quicks I grew up watching and admiring.

Starc v Hafeez --I'm keenly looking forward to that duel.

All discussion and reports suggest Starc is fit and ready to play and the bowling plans are being made accordingly.

His reverse at pace will be a key weapon for Oz. The selection of workhorse Siddle suggests the plan might be to bowl Starc in very short attacking spells, 3-4 overs at full throttle, while Siddle does the long, energy sapping "bowling dry" stuff. Mitch Marsh will chip in 10-18 overs a day too.

 

[wrongun]

Very worried about a complete utter humiliation.

Weird that both teams go in fearing the same thing.

Our batting could fold completely vs any halfway decent spin. Yasir should bowl well if history is any guide and if he's accompanied by an halfway decent finger spinner (even a Hafeez on these decks) I think we'll be in all sorts. But Pakistan, being Pakistan, haven't given any finger spinners a run in the A team and I'm not sure if they even had any in their recent camp...

Our main hope is for Mickey to stuff up the selections... I think Lyon, Starc & Holland can take 20 wickets, I just hope there's enough batting there to post up a total.

Wonder if we'll get flat decks or real dry turners? I think they'll fear Starc on a dry pitch so dish up something flat.

 

[blackanhyellow]

I wouldnt be worried if Yasir had another spinner to back him up.

But if we go in with Shadab as the second spinner it may backfire badly.

He isnt ready.

 

[Hasan123]

Yes. They have picked specialist spinners and we have picked 5 pacers for a series in the UAE. If we can't neat this Australian team, Mickey and Sarfraz will have a lot to answer for.

 

[Plumb]

Mickey didn't learn anything from SL. Its becoming clear that he is pace obsessed and doesn't understand subcontinent game. I wouldn't be surprised if Aussies see this depleted pak team and grab the opportunity with both hands.

Assies also looking to gain some momentum without their stars.

 

[Usman Chadda]

Can anyone please enlighten me on the hype around Zafar Gohar? Is he in tremendous form right now or something? Why is everyone here hell bent on having this guy in the team?

The little I have seen of Zafar, hasn't really impressed me. Bowled a decent spell against England, but had that one bad ball every over. Don't remember exactly, but I believe Jos Buttler took him apart. Nawaz and Shadab have outbowled him in the PSL, but maybe he is not a T20 bowler.

I don't quite get the hype. Is this guy another saviour like Hammad Azam or the real deal?

 

[IMMY69]

Yes. I’m worried.

Something doesn’t seem right in the camp.

 

[castortroy]

Expect Oz to draw or even win the series. Our batsman will make Nathan Lyon look like a world beater