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Pakistan v Australia in the UAE: Test Series

PostPosted: Fri Sep 28, 2018 5:31 am
by bigfluffylemon
I see no-one's made a thread about this yet. Not much interest on these boards at the moment.

Sep 29 - Oct 2: Tour match v Pak A, Dubai

Oct 7-11: First Test, Dubai

Oct 16-20: Second Test, Abu Dhabi

Australia Test squad: Tim Paine (c), Ashton Agar, Brendan Doggett, Aaron Finch, Travis Head, Jon Holland, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc

Pakistan Test squad: Sarfraz Ahmed (c), Azhar Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Usman Salahuddin, Yasir Shah, Shadab Khan, Bilal Asif, Mohammad Abbas, Hasan Ali, Wahab Riaz, Faheem Ashraf, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan

Australia's test squad looks unbelievably raw. This has to be one of the least experienced squads Australia has fielded in a long, long time. Five have never played a test, and only six have played more than 13. Of those, the Marsh brothers are serial underperformers, and Khawaja's record outside Australia is hopeless. Only Lyon, Starc and Siddle are of proven test class, and Siddle's past it.

The big news for Pakistan is that Amir has been dropped after a less-than-stellar couple of years since his return from his ban. Shame, but it had to happen. He had the talent to be up there with the best, but never seems to have got his mojo back since that five years out.

Pakistan are inconsistent travellers, but very very hard to beat in the UAE. Add in Australia's inexperience, weakness against spin, and the absence of Smith, Warner, Hazlewood and Cummins, and anything other than a 2-0 Pakistan victory will feel like an achievement for the Aussies, IMO.

Re: Pakistan v Australia in the UAE: Test Series

PostPosted: Fri Sep 28, 2018 6:44 am
by yuppie
I can see nothing other than a 2-0 to Pakistan.

From what i have read Siddle has been bowling well for Essex though that could just be some CA propaganda at work.

Who will be Australia's second spinner? I'm guessing Agar as he seems to have been getting a lot of game time with Australia A. Travis Head might well get a game as well in part thanks to his part time spin.

Might Australia have done well to have taken Glen Maxwell?

But here i am writing about Australia's bowling, when in reality this batting line up will be lucky to score over 200 in any innings.

This could be Australia's weakest line up since world series cricket.

Re: Pakistan v Australia in the UAE: Test Series

PostPosted: Sat Sep 29, 2018 12:39 pm
by yuppie
Lyon picking up wickets in the warm up game. The only bowler getting break through's it seems.

Re: Pakistan v Australia in the UAE: Test Series

PostPosted: Sat Sep 29, 2018 12:51 pm
by mikesiva
Aslam out for 51. Abid Ali gets his half century!
:clap
Given this is the only warm up could this be the eleven for the first test?

Re: Pakistan v Australia in the UAE: Test Series

PostPosted: Sat Sep 29, 2018 12:59 pm
by Arthur Crabtree
Four for Lyon and one for Holland.

Glad to see it's eleven a side.

Looks like Iftikhar bowls a few offies, and has 50 fc wickets, so some spin should be purveyed.

Re: Pakistan v Australia in the UAE: Test Series

PostPosted: Sat Sep 29, 2018 1:00 pm
by Arthur Crabtree
He also looks nearer 40 than the 28 cricinfo claims.

Re: Pakistan v Australia in the UAE: Test Series

PostPosted: Sat Sep 29, 2018 1:05 pm
by yuppie
I wonder if Siddle will come into the team for Australia. Or will Australia go into the first test with 3 spinners? Marsh to bowl a few overs?

Or will it be Holland vs Agar to bowl with Lyon?

Re: Pakistan v Australia in the UAE: Test Series

PostPosted: Sat Sep 29, 2018 1:11 pm
by Arthur Crabtree
Two seamers, Mitch 3 and two spinners I would have thought. Another pace bowler won't get the overs to justify his place. Doubt Marsh will bowl much.

Re: Pakistan v Australia in the UAE: Test Series

PostPosted: Sat Sep 29, 2018 1:12 pm
by Arthur Crabtree
yuppie wrote:I wonder if Siddle will come into the team for Australia. Or will Australia go into the first test with 3 spinners? Marsh to bowl a few overs?

Or will it be Holland vs Agar to bowl with Lyon?


Or Brendan Doggett?

Re: Pakistan v Australia in the UAE: Test Series

PostPosted: Sat Sep 29, 2018 1:19 pm
by yuppie
Arthur Crabtree wrote:
yuppie wrote:I wonder if Siddle will come into the team for Australia. Or will Australia go into the first test with 3 spinners? Marsh to bowl a few overs?

Or will it be Holland vs Agar to bowl with Lyon?


Or Brendan Doggett?



If he was going to play, i would presume he would be playing today. I am surprised Neser is playing. I can not see him playing in the test.

Head playing suggest he might be getting in the test team.

Re: Pakistan v Australia in the UAE: Test Series

PostPosted: Sat Sep 29, 2018 1:21 pm
by yuppie
There is the real possibility that both Finch and Head will be making their test debuts next week

Re: Pakistan v Australia in the UAE: Test Series

PostPosted: Sat Sep 29, 2018 2:24 pm
by Arthur Crabtree
Sounds like Smith and Wee Davey will be back soon.

Re: Pakistan v Australia in the UAE: Test Series

PostPosted: Sat Sep 29, 2018 7:41 pm
by yuppie
Even with them back, the Australian batting looks really weak.

Australia will need S March to have a huge series. We know he can play in these conditions. But you know you're in trouble when you have to trust in S Marsh to make runs.

Lyon with 5 wickets. If he can have another series similar to the one he had in India, then just maybe Australia might make a test last 4 days..........

Re: Pakistan v Australia in the UAE: Test Series

PostPosted: Sat Sep 29, 2018 9:49 pm
by bigfluffylemon
Arthur Crabtree wrote:Sounds like Smith and Wee Davey will be back soon.


Thought they were banned for another six months?

Re: Pakistan v Australia in the UAE: Test Series

PostPosted: Sun Sep 30, 2018 12:07 am
by Arthur Crabtree
Bet Siddle didn't anticipate he'd be back. Obviously Australia have key bowlers out otherwise he wouldn't be there. But maybe he's there also because the back up ain't great.