Published: Oct 29, 2014, 02:19 PM (IST)
Edited: Oct 29, 2014, 03:35 PM (IST)
By Sameer Jha
Oct 29, 2014
Pakistan will face Australia in the second Test at Abu Dhabi on Thursday. Visitors Australia were handed a comprehensive 221-run defeat in the first Test against an inexperienced Pakistan bowling attack. The second Test promises to be an exciting affair as Michael Clarke’s men will look to bounce back after the defeat and put up a more determined performance especially against spin.
Yasir Shah and Zulfiqar Babar were the key bowlers for Pakistan in the first Test – picking up 14 of the 20 Australian wickets that fell. Shah, who made his debut in the match, bowled with confidence and skill, and picked up key wickets in both innings. Steven Smith, who is considered a good player of spin, was dismissed by Shah both times. It is important for Pakistan that Shah doesn’t drop his intensity, and maintains his wicket-taking form in the second Test too.
In the batting department, Younis Khan scored consecutive centuries and became the Pakistani with most Test hundreds. His experience and calmness, helped guide Pakistan to an imposing first innings total of 454 after being seven for two at one point. Azhar Ali, Misbah ul-Haq and Asad Shafiq chipped in with impressive half-centuries in the first innings, while Sarfraz Ahmed reached his century in just 80 balls. Ahmed Shehzad, who failed in the first innings, bounced back in the second innings and his century ensured that Pakistan faced no hiccups in posting Australia a mammoth fourth innings target. Barring Mohammad Hafeez, all of their batsman fired, and for once their batting looks in great touch ahead of the second Test.
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For Australia, there are plenty of reasons to worry, but there are some reasons why they can feel hopeful too. The partnership between Mitchell Johnson and Steven Smith on Day 5 of the first Test was proof that if they bat with concentration and focus, they can certainly post a big total. The way in which Smith batted against spin, there’s no reason to rule out him not coming in at No. 3. David Warner, is in great touch for them, and him coming good at the top of the order will be crucial for the visitors.
On the negative side, their bowling has been below par. Johnson’s three for 29 in the first innings was the only bowling performance of note, and they will need to do much better as a unit in order to succeed in the second Test. The spinners who were supposed to dominated picked only six wickets in the Test conceding 439 runs.
Their batting too has looked at sea against the spin duo of Babar and Shah. However, coach Darren Lehmann seems to have identified the problem which means that we can expet a better showing in the second Test.
“When you are talking about learning how to play in these conditions we got beaten on the other side — with less spin. You would think it would spin more. We got beaten with straight balls, I think five or six dismissals throughout the game. We have to get better at hitting the straight ball, watching the ball for a start, but they are things the guys will work on.”, Lehmann was quoted as saying by AFP.
Squads:
Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq (c), Ahmed Shehzad, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Ehsan Adil, Haris Sohail, Imran Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Talha, Rahat Ali, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Shan Masood, Taufeeq Umar, Yasir Shah, Younis Khan, Zulfiqar Babar.
Australia: David Warner, Chris Rogers, Alex Doolan, Michael Clarke (c), Steven Smith, Shane Watson, Phillip Hughes, Brad Haddin (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, Mitchell Johnson, Steve O’Keefe, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon.
Time: 10:00 local | 11:30 IST
Complete coverage of Pakistan vs Australia 2014 in UAE
