Pakistan hope to end a 20-year drought against Australia when they meet in the first of two Tests in Dubai from tomorrow but they are hobbled by the absence of spin king Saeed Ajmal.
Ajmal, who has been suspended due to an illegal bowling action, has single-handedly ruled the dry and slow tracks of Pakistan’s neutral venues in the United Arab Emirates, especially at Dubai where he has 37 wickets in six Tests, three of which Pakistan won.
That includes 24 wickets in a 3-0 rout of England in 2012.
Pakistan have also lost frontline seamers Junaid Khan and Wahab Riaz—both through knee injuries—and have to rely on uncapped leg-spinner Yasir Shah and two-Test left-armer Zulfiqar Babar, both of whom are likely to play.
Captain Misbah-ul Haq, under pressure to score runs after managing nought and 15 in the preceding 3-0 one-day series defeat, admitted Ajmal’s absence is significant. “Ajmal has left a big hole,” said Misbah, who skippers a team whose last Test series win over Australia was back in 1994.
“But we have youngsters who should grab the chance and I am confident they can.”
The return of veteran batsman Younis Khan and Azhar Ali will boost Pakistan’s fragile batting as they seek to remain unbeaten in a Test series in the UAE since they were forced to decamp in 2009 due to security fears in their country.
Australia will also look to include both spinners in Nathan Lyon and Steve O’Keefe despite their unimpressive record of losing five of the last six Tests (one draw) in which they played with two spinners.
But they have dominated Pakistan, winning 13 out of the last 14 Tests against them. Australia will hope skipper Michael Clarke, top Test run getter in 2013 with 1,093, anchors the batting after recovering from a hamstring injury sustained two months ago.
Clarke failed to get much-needed practice in the 153-run defeat in the four-day tour game against Pakistan ‘A’ on Sunday, managing just ten and five.
Clarke admitted Ajmal will be missed by Pakistan. “I think there is no doubt that Ajmal is an amazing bowler. I think obviously Pakistan wish they had him available for selection,” said Clarke.
“I have always said that Pakistan have always had a lot of talent in any form of the game and I am sure the Test eleven that they put on the field is very talented and know these conditions.”
Australia will hope all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, who has recovered from a hamstring injury, will be able to fill in for the more experienced Shane Watson who is out of the tour due to a calf injury. Australia’s pace attack will be led by Mitchell Johnson who bowled with venom in the two one-dayers he played—taking six wickets—and supported by the hard-working Peter Siddle.
A 2-0 cleansweep would return Australia to the top of the Test rankings. The second Test will be played in Abu Dhabi from October 30.
Teams (from): Pakistan: Misbah-ul Haq (capt), Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Taufeeq Umar, Shan Masood, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Talha, Rahat Ali, Imran Khan, Ehsan Adil, Sarfraz Ahmed, Zulfiqar Babar, Yasir Shah.
Australia: Michael Clarke (capt), David Warner, Chris Rogers, Alex Doolan, Steven Smith, Ben Hilfenhaus, Phillip Hughes, Brad Haddin, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, Mitchell Johnson, Steve O’Keefe, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, James Faulkner, Nathan Lyon.
Australia loss a boost for Pakistan
Pakistan head coach Waqar Younis believes Australia’s 153-run defeat in a warm-up game has helped him find flaws in the opposition for the first Test starting tomorrow in Dubai.
“It’s quite nice to see them lose,” said Waqar of the Pakistan ‘A’ team’s win in Sharjah in a four-day match on Sunday.
“It was good to see youngsters doing well there and, yes, it definitely has given us an edge or a boost, because we have seen some weaknesses which can be good for us in the Tests.”
But Waqar warned his team should not take Australia for granted.
“They have just won a series here,” said Waqar of Australia’s 3-0 win in the preceding one-day series.
“They know how to bat here, have played here but we have our plans for the day after tomorrow and we will try to execute them.”
Waqar, appointed head coach in May this year, said Australian paceman Mitchell Johnson will be a key factor in the two-match Test series.
“There is no doubt that Johnson will be an X-factor,” said Waqar of the fiery left-arm paceman who took six wickets in the two one-day matches he played in the UAE.
“He (Johnson) is the most improved bowler in the last two-three years so he definitely is a threat but we will try our best to tackle him.”
Waqar admitted Australian skipper Michael Clarke was short on practice but still had the ability to come good in the Tests.
“I hope the Australians got what they wanted from that practice match but Clarke getting out and he hasn’t played for a while, I would say that’s an edge but we all know he is a classy player and he can come out and deliver for Australia,” said Waqar.
Clarke managed just ten and five in the side game after recovering from a hamstring injury sustained in August.
Waqar said Dubai pitches usually helped spinners. “We normally play two spinners here,” he said.
Pakistan, without their ace spinner Saeed Ajmal—suspended over an illegal bowling action last month—is likely to play uncapped leg-spinner Yasir Shah and left-armer Zulfiqar Babar.
The second and final Test will be played in Abu Dhabi from October 30.