The first Test match of the three-match series in Australia is underway at the Gabba as you read this. While this piece was written before the first day’s play, like Pakistan’s performances in the recent past the first few sessions at Brisbane would be critical for Pakistan breaking the half-a-century-old voodoo and finally beating Australia in their own backyard.
As the few successful touring sides in Australia would tell you, the key to beating the home side Down Under is to outdo them as much on the field as in the head. That basically means approaching the game like Australia would, only with that much more aggression. Of course, hoping that Australia wouldn’t play at their best is an integral feature of planning coups down there.
Asad Shafiq
With Pakistan chasing history in Australia, a bad result in Brisbane would set the tone for the remainder of the series
Pakistan would need to get off the blocks quickly. The ‘defence first’ approach might not work as effectively as it has in the UAE, and elsewhere. If Pakistan were to go and full out attack Australia - especially with the bat - a gung ho Pakistan would have a better shot at winning in Australia than an ultraconservative one.
In many ways the two-nil series loss in New Zealand might actually work in Pakistan’s favour. The pitches in Australia won’t be any way near as daunting and batsmen would be rewarded for their perseverance. The pitches also allow the spinners to get into the game, with Yasir Shah being Pakistan’s trump card.
Sarfraz Ahmed
The ongoing match in Brisbane is Pakistan’s second Day-and-Night Test after playing with the pink ball against the West Indies in Dubai this October. While the track and playing conditions would be completely different to those in the desert of the Emirates for Pakistan, playing Day-and-Night Test cricket is something both sides would be gradually getting accustomed to.
Playing under lights can add to Pakistani batsmen’s unease, considering they don’t quite enjoy the ball seaming around in the evening. It was the Pakistani batting collapse in Dubai that transformed the 1st Test against West Indies into a tight contest.
Babar Azam
Even so, as showcased by the impressive 201-run win over Cricket Australia XI, the Pakistani seamers would equally enjoy bowling at night. Mohammed Amir and Rahat Ali swung the ball around emphatically. Wahab Riaz says he is ‘going to bowl aggressively’.
As far as the batting is concerned, Sami Aslam and Babar Azam form a youthful two-thirds of Pakistan’s top order. Babar’s dogged display in New Zealand might give him - and the team management - cause for buoyancy as they go on to better pitches and face an arguably less menacing pace attack.
Veterans Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan in the middle order, and Azhar Ali up top, would have a pivotal role in ensuring that Pakistan remain competitive. However, the lower middle order spearheaded by Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed hasn’t been amongst the runs of late, and would need to fire as well.
Yasir Shah
But, as discussed last week, the onus would be on the pacers to lead Pakistan to glory in Australia. Seaming conditions under floodlights at the Gabba would be a good place to unleash their attacking instincts.
With Pakistan chasing history in Australia, a bad result in Brisbane would set the tone for the remainder of the series. The first match is always the most important one in any series, especially if it’s a three-match contest. Pakistan should go all-out to get on the board at the Gabba.
Pakistan squad: Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Azhar Ali, Sami Aslam, Sharjeel Khan, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Mohammad Rizwan, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, Rahat Ali, Sohail Khan, Imran Khan.
