Australia vs Pakistan | Tri-Series: 2nd T20I | Harare | Jul 2, 2018 | Pre-Match Thread

[hadi123]

1) Mohammad Hafeez - as we all know Australia are not good at spin and for that reason only he can keep his place
2) Fakhar Zaman
3) Haris Sohail - Talat was not good today and as Haris Sohail can bowl spin he should play - Australia are clueless against spin.
4) Sarfaraz Ahmed (C) (WK)
5) Shoaib Malik
6) Asif Ali
7) Faheem Ashraf
8) Shadab Khan
9) Mohammad Nawaz
10) Hasan Ali
11) Usman Khan

So just one change is necessary imo.

 

[Justcrazy]

Pakistan are playing with too many bowling options, its not ideal.

 

[hadi123]

Pakistan are playing with too many bowling options, its not ideal.

I think for 20 overs, very useful to have lots of bowlers, as you don't need to fill your team with batsman as in 20 overs unlikely all will be used.

 

[Khan12]

Farhan should replace the cheater. Talat should be persisted with if we can give 100 of chances to cheater then why not him.

 

[MenInG]

Sahibzada Farhan ; get him in there!

 

[hadi123]

So tomorrow will be Pakistan's first T20I with Australia since the World T20 2016! More than 2 years, that's crazy, and in the same time span we have played WI so many times. Where is the consistency by ICC - they need to sort this out!

We haven't beaten Australia in a T20I since 2014!

 

[TeymurBlake]

I would like to keep Talat in the team. I think it will hurt his confidence some. Just give a couple of games and maybe move him in a different position in the line-up, maybe No.4 by moving Sarfaraz to No.3 or No.5 behind Malik and Sarfaraz who would lay the foundation to build on.

 

[Oligochaetes]

So tomorrow will be Pakistan's first T20I with Australia since the World T20 2016! More than 2 years, that's crazy, and in the same time span we have played WI so many times. Where is the consistency by ICC - they need to sort this out!

We haven't beaten Australia in a T20I since 2014!

This current Aussie t20 team shouldn't pose much of a challenge. Only Finch is a threat in my opinion.

 

[MenInG]

Discarded NSW batsman Nic Maddinson is set for a shock appearance in the Australian team for the Twenty20 tour of Zimbabwe.

Australian captain Aaron Finch confirmed the former Test player wouldn't just be making up the number for their tri-series with the hosts and Pakistan.

Maddinson was left off NSW's contract list for the 2018-19 season despite the 26-year-old wearing the baggy green as recently as Boxing Day 2016.

The last of his two Twenty20 appearances for Australia came against South Africa in November 2014.

Considering everything, a recall to international cricket in any format seemed a long way off.

Australia are yet to decide on their side for their opening game against Pakistan in Harare on Monday but Finch says Maddinson is in the mix.

"I think everyone who is here is a chance to play," Finch said.

"When you pick a squad you try to mix and match the guys that can fit anywhere in the side.

"In the hopefully five games coming up there's every chance Nic could feature at some point.

"It might be tomorrow, it might be down the track."

Finch says Australia goes into the series confident despite the loss to England in Birmingham on Wednesday.

The dashing opener starred with 84 but it wasn't enough to chase down England's total of 5-221.

Pakistan is the top-ranked T20 side in the world, with Australia in third after India's recent jump to second.

Australia has been struck hard by injuries to first-choice players Mitchell Marsh, Chris Lynn, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins and will field an inexperienced team.

Banned players Steve Smith and David Warner are plying their trade in the Canada T20 series following their roles in the ball-tampering scandal.

Teams will play each other twice before the final takes place on July 8.

Pakistan started off the tournament with a 74-run victory over Zimbabwe on Sunday thanks to 61 from opening batsman Fakhar Zaman.

The match will get underway at 6pm (AEST).

https://www.sbs.com.au/news/maddinson-will-play-role-for-aust-finch

 

[Justcrazy]

Because of Hafeez one spot is wasted.

 

[mmkextreme_1]

I for one hope that Hussian Talat is not dropped, we need to keep giving confidence. He will come good.

 

[giri26]

Nic Maddinson in frame for T20 return

Less than two months after being axed by New South Wales, Nic Maddinson could feature in Australia’s T20 side in the upcoming tri-series in Zimbabwe.

According to Australia captain Aaron Finch, Maddinson’s versatility in the shortest format is a valuable commodity and could come in handy when the Aussies face world No.1 ranked side Pakistan tonight.

"When you pick a squad, you try and mix and match the guys that can fit in anywhere and Nic definitely does that," Finch said.

"In terms of the hopefully five games coming up, there's every chance he'll feature at some point."

Maddinson will be jostling for a starting position in the middle order with the likes of Travis Head, Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell, but after a solid KFC Big Bash League the left-hander could feature in his first T20 international since November 2014.

The left-hander worked exclusively with head coach Justin Langer on his batting in Australia’s final training session before Monday's first match.

On match eve, captain Finch was reluctant to put any pressure on his side, erring on the side of caution, especially when it came to the topic of a depleted Zimbabwe squad.

"Never take anything for granted, particularly in T20," he said.

"We know it’s a game that anyone can win by themselves on a given day so it’s really important that we come here and make sure we’re 100 per cent focused each and every game.

"All teams are missing a few players but that’s the nature of sport, you have injuries, you have some other issues that might pop up every now and then. We’re really confident coming into this series.

"We’re ranked (No.3) in the world behind Pakistan so it’s a really good opportunity to test ourselves again and make sure we’re measuring up and we’re still improving in this format."

Australia will name their XI at the toss, after T20 selector Mark Waugh’s arrival in Zimbabwe was delayed due to travel problems, which in turn delayed the selection of Australia’s opening side.

"Mark Waugh’s flight got delayed a couple of times, so we’ll sit down this afternoon and nut out a side," Finch said.

Australia face an in-form Pakistan side who completed their eighth consecutive T20 international victory after thumping Zimbabwe in the series opener.

Sarfaraz Ahmed’s side is now looking to hunt down the record of 11-straight wins held by Afghanistan.

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/aus...aaron-finch-harare-pakistan-langer/2018-07-02