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Pakistan vs Australia 2014: Australia’s best opportunity to bury ghosts of playing on spinning track

It's befitting that they'll be crowned as the No 1 team if they beat Pakistan in UAE.

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Michael Clarke (left) and Steven Smith are the only two good players of spin in the current Australian team © Getty Images
Michael Clarke (left) and Steven Smith are the only two good players of spin in the current Australian team © Getty Images

Despite achieving Ashes glory and beating South Africa in their own den, Australia have yet another task of succeeding on turning wickets and reaffirm themselves as a champion team. Abhijit Banare previews what the two Tests mean for the World No 2.

Overseas performances are often considered one of the sound parameters to measure the quality of a player and a team. Australia have conquered almost all of the challenges posed to them since their Ashes loss in England. They’ve regrouped the team, found the mojo in their pace attack despite several injuries to their bowlers, Mitchell Marsh has emerged as a quality replacement for Shane Watson. They have a coach who is respected and enjoys a good camaraderie with his team. Australia are on the cusp of a complete turnaround and emerge as a champion side. The only claim left to boast of remains in the form of a solid display on turning tracks in sub-continent.

Not many Australians would appreciate to be reminded of the days when Australia last played Tests against an Asian team. India had returned the favour by bullying them 4-0 on rank turners. Not much has changed since then when it comes to Australia against spin. Batsmen from Australia are still being criticised for messing things up against spin. This was observed as late as till the Champions League T20 2014 when Hobart Hurricanes and Perth Scorchers were troubled by spin even in the shortest format. As their national team plays on similar pitches in UAE against a dilapidated and demoralised Pakistan side, this is the best chance for Australia to bury the ghosts of failing against spin.

In India, they looked completely clueless. But here, despite knowing that there’s yet another rank turner on offer, Australia feel assured because they are facing a weak Pakistan bowling. In the last three series, apart from Saeed Ajmal, Pakistan’s second spin option has been Abdur Rehman. However, this time around, they are up against a young leg-spinner and a left-arm veteran off-spinner. For a team which actually looks at facing spin like rocket science, this might be a good tutorial where they have got some chance.

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A victory here would infuse a sense of belief that they can play well in these conditions. In the present team, Michael Clarke and Steven Smith are the only two batsmen who have been tested and emerged as impressive batsman on these kind of pitches. But a major part of their batting is still in search of a confidence-boosting performance on turning wickets. Opener Chris Rogers in particular had a torrid time against Graeme Swann last year.

However, it’s all in the mind for the Aussies to conquer. Here’s what Justin Langer had said just over a month back about Aussies against spin: “It’s almost like Indians have chillies from a very early age, therefore if you eat chilly it doesn’t really bother you. But if we eat chilly, it burns our mouth, which is the same while playing spin.” If the Aussies are aiming at being a quality Test No 1, the they really need to chew the chilly well and digest it and move on.

It’s befitting that they’ll be crowned as the No 1 team if they beat Pakistan in UAE. They would’ve certainly proved a point. Even if they happen to lose this series, it won’t be an embarrassing moment to be alarmed for Australian cricket. But then it would sound similar to India’s record at home and away Tests!

Complete coverage of Pakistan vs Australia 2014 in UAE

(Abhijit Banare is a reporter at CricketCountry. He is an avid quizzer and loves to analyse and dig out interesting facts which allows him to learn something new every day. Apart from cricket he also likes to keep a sharp eye on Indian politics, and can be followed on @AbhijitVirgo)

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