AUS vs PAK LIVE Score: 14-0 — it’s not a FIFA game score-line against your noob friend. Rather, it’s how the Pakistan Cricket Team has fared in Australia in Tests since 1999. Pakistan are on a 14-match losing streak on Australian soil. But as they do it, it’s once again a restart with a new coach, new captain, new coaching staff and new selectors among others. And that new-look Pakistan under captain Shan Masood are eying a neo-era of Test cricket. But they are up against World Test Champion Australia with nine recent World Cup winners in the playing XI for the AUS vs PAK 1st Test in Perth.
For a change, Pakistan’s superstar Babar Azam won’t be under the spotlight anymore and that will be a blessing in disguise. Pakistan need someone like Babar Azam to pull off a Rishabh Pant to breach the new Perth stadium, where Australia have won all three Tests.
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Can new Pakistan do it?
But with Pakistan intending to take a Bazball approach that they extensively practised over the last few months in Test, they will be gunning to end the losing streak. While their new approach works on a green deck is a million-dollar question but with Mohammad Hafeez steering the backroom, Pakistan would aim for a win.
However, there is a problem. And it’s their bowling. With Haris Rauf opting out of the Test, Shaheen Afridi is the only experienced pacer with Naseem Shah still recovering from his surgery. Mohd Wasim Jr is inconsistent while Aamer Jamal are Khurram Shahzad are Test debutants. Hasan Ali has been benched for the AUS vs PAK 1st Test.
In the batting, Pakistan have opted for Sarfaraz Ahmed over Mohammad Rizwan. His recent First Class form will be a huge boost for Pakistan while new captain Shan Masood will also be in a good frame of mind in AUS vs PAK 1st Test having slammed a double century in the practice game.
Summer of change?
For Australia though, it will be about change! Opener David Warner has already announced he will quit Test cricket after the Sydney game. And with Usman Khawaja fighting a battle against the ICC for “all lives matter”, there is a change in Australian guards. Whether ICC changes its stance is for everyone to see.
But there could be a change in Australian team. With the Pakistan series, Australia begin a new Test cycle and could induct a few new faces following that. They have already rung in the changes, appointing Travis Head the new vice-captain along with Steve Smith. However, they have brought back Nathan Lyon who returns from a hamstring injury in AUS vs PAK 1st Test. And that spin attack remains constant.
AUS vs PAK Playing XIs:
Pakistan Playing XI: Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood (capt), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Aamer Jamal, Khurram Shahzad
Australia Playing XI: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (capt), Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
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