Australia’s first tour in 24 years set to be litmus test for Babar Azam’s Pakistan side

[MenInG]

Many thanks to [MENTION=53290]Markhor[/MENTION] for this very enjoyable and informative preview of the upcoming 3-match Test series between Pakistan and Australia.

Arsenal were the Premier League champions; Saving Private Ryan was released in cinemas and Aamir Sohail was Pakistan’s Test captain. The year was 1998 – the last time Australia toured Pakistan. A generation of cricket fans haven’t seen an Australian team step foot in Pakistan – until now.

The buzz amongst the Pakistani public since the arrival of cricket’s most historically successful nation is palpable – the first three days of the opening Test in Rawalpindi are already sold out as fans await to see their team lock horns with an Australian team packed with superstar names from Pat Cummins, Steve Smith, David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and others.

However, despite Australia’s recent Ashes demolition of England, Pat Cummins’ side know that wins in Asia are as frequent as blue moons with Australia losing 13 of 17 Tests since their last series victory in Sri Lanka in 2011. And with only five Tests in Pakistan since Sri Lanka’s ice-breaking tour in 2019, there’s an element of the unknown.

It would be wrong to assume Pakistan – like many subcontinental venues – are a land of dustbowls where spinners make merry on turning wickets. Since 2019, seamers average 29 while spinners average 39 runs per wicket. The highest fourth innings average for spinners is in Pakistan where if anything wickets get better for batting – Pakistan famously overcame a target of 314 vs Australia in Karachi in 1994.

From the three venues, the figures suggest Rawalpindi is most conducive to seam while Karachi is the most supportive to spin, with Lahore somewhere in between. However, given Australia’s fearsome pace depth – seam friendly wickets would be unwise especially with Pakistan’s vulnerable top order and it appears the Rawalpindi curator has taken note with early pictures showing a dry, bare pitch.

Injuries have wrecked Pakistan’s pace bowling with Hassan Ali, Faheem Ashraf and Haris Rauf (Covid positive) unavailable for the First Test. Hassan and Faheem are especially big losses – Hassan enjoyed a phenomenal return to the Test team in 2021 taking 41 wickets in just 8 matches while Faheem balances the team as a fifth bowling option. Iftikhar Ahmed and Mohammad Wasim Jnr are potential replacements in Faheem’s place – the former more likely to get the nod while Naseem Shah is set to return anxious to improve on an ordinary start to his Test career.

Nevertheless Pakistan can boast along with Babar Azam, genuinely world-class cricketers in wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Afridi, fresh off leading Lahore to the PSL title. Shaheen has an excellent home record with 20 wickets in 5 Tests and has developed an almost unplayable inswinging yorker.

Australia meanwhile are at full strength and while their experienced guns will command most attention – note the name of young Cameron Green. He may finally be the pace bowling allrounder Australia have yearned for. At 6ft 6 he can extract good bounce from a length and can hit the ball a mile.

Babar Azam has enjoyed a generally pleasant 12 months as Pakistan’s Test captain but make no mistake, this series will be his sternest test and a true gauge of Pakistan’s strength as a Test outfit.

 

[Savak]

Australians have failed in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and in the UAE against Pakistan. I find it incredible that they have been made favorites in this series. Do not confuse their performances in Australia with what they have shown in Subcontinent conditions of late.

This should be easy work by Pakistan.

 

[Cric1234]

Australians have failed in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and in the UAE against Pakistan. I find it incredible that they have been made favorites in this series. Do not confuse their performances in Australia with what they have shown in Subcontinent conditions of late.

This should be easy work by Pakistan.

It won’t be easy work expect Australia to be very competitive throughout South Africa had their moments in the last series Australia have a better batting line up and some decent bowlers.

 

[TeamPak95]

Australians have failed in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and in the UAE against Pakistan. I find it incredible that they have been made favorites in this series. Do not confuse their performances in Australia with what they have shown in Subcontinent conditions of late.

This should be easy work by Pakistan.

I wouldn't go that far, particularly with the injuries of Hasan and Faheem. I wouldn't be too surprised if Australia manage to win at least 1 test here.

 

[shah_1]

Babar has to do something special in this series to set his legacy for future. 50s and 60s is not acceptable

 

[Markhor]

Babar has to do something special in this series to set his legacy for future. 50s and 60s is not acceptable

Yep, didn't get chance to mention this but Babar has gone 18 innings without a hundred. Been a few decent fifties here and there but not the big knocks you'd expect of somebody of his ability.

 

[CricketingMinds]

Australians have failed in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and in the UAE against Pakistan. I find it incredible that they have been made favorites in this series. Do not confuse their performances in Australia with what they have shown in Subcontinent conditions of late.

This should be easy work by Pakistan.

Pak is known to make 'easy work' turn into 'difficult'

 

[ChTab]

Pakistan battling with injuries for the 1st test & which is at a venue that is most suited to the Australians. I expect the Pindi crowd to play a decisive role in the outcome of this test.

Babar needs to step up big time. He needs at least 2 hundred in this series. He last score a test hundred vs Bangladesh at the Pindi Stadium back in Feb 2020.

He has been very mediocre in the last couple of years only scoring vs some average bowling lineups. IMO he has played only 1 real good innings in the last couple of years against IND at WT20.

 

[MenInG]

Ashes-winning Australia will face unfamiliar conditions, heavy security and unpredictable, but talented, opponents when they begin their first Test in Pakistan for 24 years on Friday.

Having landed in Islamabad just three days ago to be immediately engulfed in "head of state-level security", the Australians have had little time to acclimatise to conditions in Rawalpindi, where the first Test will be played.

But they may like what they see as they practise, with a pitch often more condusive to seam bowling than the more typical spinners' wickets more usually found across Pakistan.

In three Tests played in Rawalpindi since Pakistan were allowed to host matches again in 2019, 10 years on from the fatal terror attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore, fast bowlers have snapped up 52 wickets with spinners only bagging 21.

Australia captain Pat Cummins, fresh from leading his side to a 4-0 Ashes drubbing of England in his first series in charge, admitted it would be all new to his players.

"You know most international players -- and conditions -- but this series comes with a few more unknowns than perhaps normally, so it's going to be interesting and challenging," said Cummins.

"I have a big belief in making sure our own game is in order. We must think that we are in great form since the Ashes and look at that, rather than on the opposition."


The Australian will not have encountered some of Pakistan's players before.

Spinners Nauman Ali and Sajid Khan have come in to replace leg-spinner Yasir Shah and fast bowler Mohammad Abbas, who both starred in Pakistan's 1-0 win over Australia in the United Arab Emirates in 2018.

"I think the one thing with the Pakistan team is that they have some young guys who come and shine straightaway so it's a new challenge," said Cummins.

- Teen sensation -

Australia have not won an away Test series since their tour of New Zealand in 2016, but have an experienced line-up capable of adapting to conditions.

Opener David Warner and the prolific Steve Smith have scored 15,368 runs between them in 173 Tests, more than the Pakistan top seven batsmen's combined 13,120.

They also have the top-ranked Test batsman Marnus Labuschagne plus the in-form duo of Pakistan-born Usman Khawaja and Travis Head, who both plundered two centuries in the Ashes.

Cummins leads a world-class pace attack alongside left-armer Mitchell Starc and the fit-again Josh Hazlewood.

They are complemented by Australia's greatest off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who passed 400 Test wickets in the Ashes and has taken 95 of those in Asia.

Pakistan's batting will heavily rely on the talented trio of veteran Azhar Ali, skipper Babar Azam and in-form Mohammad Rizwan.

But their opening pair of Abdullah Shafique, who has played two Tests, with either Shan Masood or Imam-ul-Haq, looks vulnerable.

Pakistan will miss the injured duo of pace bowler Hasan Ali and fast-bowling all-rounder Faheem Ashraf, while another quick Haris Rauf has tested positive for Covid.

It means teen sensation Naseem Shah -- who became the youngest bowler to take a hat-trick at 16 years and 359 days at the same venue against Bangladesh two years ago -- will share new ball duties with Shaheen Shah Afridi.

With Covid cases on the wane, the ground will be full to capacity with fervent home support -- the first three days are sold out.

"It's the first Test between the two countries in 20-odd years, so its a special moment and we as players feel privileged to be part and I hope that fans come and make noise," said Cummins.

https://www.france24.com/en/live-ne...unknown-for-first-test-in-pakistan-since-1998

 

[Rana]

Pakistan should play Saud Shakeel and Kamran Ghulam

 

[Rana]

Dream line up for the first Test

1. Babar Azam
2. Abdullah Shafique
3. Kamran Ghulam
4. Saud Shaqeel
5. Fawad Alam
6. Mohammad Rizwan
7. Zafar Gohar/Shadab Khan
8. Yasir Shah/ Sajid Khan
9. Shaheen Afridi
10. Naseem Shah
11. Mohammad Abbas

 

[Firebat]

Huge litmus test for Babar Azam the Test batsman as well.

 

[shamaan]

Should be a good series I am going for 1-1

 

[shamaan]

Dream line up for the first Test

1. Babar Azam
2. Abdullah Shafique
3. Kamran Ghulam
4. Saud Shaqeel
5. Fawad Alam
6. Mohammad Rizwan
7. Zafar Gohar/Shadab Khan
8. Yasir Shah/ Sajid Khan
9. Shaheen Afridi
10. Naseem Shah
11. Mohammad Abbas

Is Abbas part of the squad or is he part of thr reserves ?

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

1. Shan Masood
2. Abdullah Shafique
3. Azhar Ali
4. Babar Azam
5. Fawad Alam
6. Mohammad Rizwan
7. Mohammad Wasim
8. Nauman Ali
9. Shaheen Afridi
10. Naseem Shah
11. Sajid Khan

Besides the No.7 position which should be decided based on the outlook of the pitch, this is the best team Pakistan can hope to play in the 1st Test.

 

[PakEngFan]

1. Shan Masood
2. Abdullah Shafique
3. Azhar Ali
4. Babar Azam
5. Fawad Alam
6. Mohammad Rizwan
7. Mohammad Wasim
8. Nauman Ali
9. Shaheen Afridi
10. Naseem Shah
11. Sajid Khan

Besides the No.7 position which should be decided based on the outlook of the pitch, this is the best team Pakistan can hope to play in the 1st Test.

Wasim at 7 is a joke. He’s a no 10 they should go with Saud Shakeel at 6 and rizwan at 7. We are missing Faheem and Nawaz big time.

 

[sweep_shot]

This is one of the biggest tests for Captain Babar. A home Test series against Aussies.

 

[Savak]

Like Floyd Mayweather Jr says for opponents "Easy Work"

 

[Saj]

Aussies favourites for me.

A wealth of experience in their side despite struggles in Asian conditions.

Pakistan need their spinners to come to the party.

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pakistan versus Australia overall record in Test matches at neutral venues or in Pakistan:<br><br>Played 29<br>Pakistan Won 11<br>Australia Won 7<br>Draws 11<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PAKvAUS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PAKvAUS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) <a href="https://twitter.com/SajSadiqCricket/status/1499446261484855296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Sarwar89]

First test might be a draw due to flat deck and possibility of rain on day 4/5.

Pakistan will get Hasan Ali and Faheem klusener back for 2nd Test.

I anticipate 2-0 tough series win for Pakistan. This series could be similar to the one back in 2015 when Misbah’s team beat Eng 2-0 in UAE with Yasir shah missing 1st test.

 

[Savak]

Aussies favourites for me.

A wealth of experience in their side despite struggles in Asian conditions.

Pakistan need their spinners to come to the party.

Don't underestimate Pakistani pacers. If they play Shaheen, Nasim and Wasim Jr, you have 3 pacers who are capable of touching 90 mph. This is not going to be easy for Australia. This is not an Australian side with Langer, Hayden, Ponting, Waugh brothers, Martyn, Gilchrist, Warne, Gillespie, McGrath, Lee e.t.c.

 

[shamaan]

Am not sure Australia will be worried about Pakistani bowler who can bowl 90mph.

 

[MenInG]

Australia’s tour of Pakistan 2022 commenced on Friday with the first Test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium as both teams assembled for their respective national anthems just before the game.

The Pat Cummins-led Australian side’s visit to Pakistan ended their absence of 24 years of not playing in the Asian country, the five-time World Cup winners last toured Pakistan in 1998. Just an hour before the first Test, prominent members of ICC, Cricket Australia (CA), Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) conducted a joint press conference to reassert their support of Australia’s tour.

PCB CEO Faisal Hasnain thanked Australian cricketers for their decision to travel to Pakistan and acknowledged the efforts of members of both boards to make the tour happen.

“I, and the people of Pakistan also welcome Pat Cummins and the entire Australian squad to Pakistan. And I thank them for their individual decisions to tour Pakistan. There are many, many people on both sides that have worked tirelessly, over many, many months to make this tour a reality,” Faisal said.

“This tour also sends out a strong and positive message to the entire world. And I’m confident that when the Australian team returns home, they will leave with fond memories,” he further said.

Shane Watson provided great context, clarity and confidence to players for Pakistan tour: ACA CEO
Ahead of the tour many players were reportedly said to have reservations about their participation in the Pakistan tour. Australia pacer Josh Hazlewood had said that he won’t be surprised if many of his teammates didn’t make it to the tour as concerns were looming around their minds in the early stage.

ACA CEO Todd Greenberg revealed that former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson advocated with a lot of national players to assure them regarding their safety for the Pakistan tour. Greenberg also mentioned that the ACA not just spoke to the players but also convinced their families.

“Watson provided great context, clarity and confidence for that tour and spoke to a number of the players. And we’ve had individual conversations with not just players, but their families, and we’ve taken them on a long journey with lots of information,” Greenberg said.

“The more information you can share the better informed they are, the better decisions they can make. Which is why that anxiety has turned to excitement because they are genuinely excited to be here. There’s a generation of Australian cricketers that have missed the opportunity to play Test cricket in Pakistan,” he added.

ICC chairman Geoff Allardice credited both the boards for resuming Australia’s tour of Pakistan and said he will be looking forward to watching both teams in the action.

“I’m looking forward to the contest between the two teams. I have seen over the last four or five years the efforts that the PCB and the various authorities in Pakistan have gone to bring cricket back to the fans in Pakistan. And this is yet another step in that journey,” Allardice stated.

“And well done to both PCB and to Cricket Australia for making this happen. I think when you think about the almost the generation of Australian players who haven’t had the opportunity to experience Test cricket in Pakistan, you know, I think the excitement among the players today is very, very telling,” he added.

Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat first, the hosts were 184/1 at the end of 63 overs with Imam-ul-Haq (96) and Azhar Ali (39) batting at the crease.

https://cricketaddictor.com/austral...nvinced-australian-players-for-pakistan-tour/

 

[MenInG]

The Australian team’s historic tour of Pakistan has the local cricket lovers excited for obvious reasons but even their enthusiasm fades in comparison to a group of diehards that has travelled all the way from from Australia to see their beloved team battle it out with Babar Azam's men on Pakistan soil after more than 23 years.

Edward Hill, a part of a group of five Australian fans currently in Rawalpindi, was asked how he was liking his time in Pakistan.

“I love it. I have been thinking about coming to Pakistan since 1998. I have heard this for many, many years that the Pakistani people are the most friendly in the world and I have witnessed that now."

"I just love being in Pakistan ... it's just a dream to come here. Everyone's so friendly," he added in a separate video. He also thanked series sponsors TikTok for arranging tickets for the entire touring party for the whole of the series after they found out upon landing in Pakistan that the tickets for the first two days of the opening Test were already sold out.

"I'm here for the first time in a long time to see the boys play [against] Pakistan," said Ben Lancaster, who is from Tamworth in Australia, while Brisbane native Timothy Smith said that he had "been waiting 24 years to come to Pakistan".

Of the decision to come and support Australia in Pakistan, Hill said that there were a lot of unknowns before the group unanimously decided to make the trip to see where things go from there. “When the visas came through, we said to ourselves ‘Yup, it’s on!’”

Hill said that the group was planning to travel to Karachi and Lahore as well for the other two Tests of the series, adding that most of the members of their group would fly back home before the One-Day International series.

When asked if he would like to visit the northern areas of the country, Hill said that he knew that Gilgit was one of the most beautiful places in the world, but the weather was too cold for him to be visiting the mountainous areas.

Pakistan is hosting Australia for the first time in 24 years. The National Command and Operation Centre had okayed the Pakistan Cricket Board to allow 100 per cent crowds in attendance for the game, resulting in fans purchasing the tickets for the first game in large numbers.

DAWN