August 28, 2012

Match Preview: Australia vs Pakistan, 1st ODI, Sharjah

One plate of Australia against Afghanistan is over, it's time for the main course in the United Arab Emirates: a three-match ODI series followed by three Twenty20s against Pakistan. That the series, even going ahead is a credit to both countries, to find a suitable place and time proved more difficult than anyone imagined. Initially, Sri Lanka hosted the games, but the schedule of SLPL while foiled that plan. Malaysia is considered, with heat in the UAE at this time of year so it is fit to play by day, but in the end agreed to play together in the UAE with a start for 18:00 ODIs to avoid the hottest hours of the afternoon.

The conditions and the possibility of touring Pakistan turn will give a good chance to break his ten-year drought without winning a series against Australia day. Not that Pakistan has been especially good in one-day form: lost a series in Sri Lanka in June and England in the United Arab Emirates in February. Australia is struggling similarly in the 50-over format, having been deeply hit by England fell to fourth in the ICC one-day rankings, and could fall further if they lose to Pakistan, which is sixth.

Both sides have some senior players: Umar Gul Pakistan have fallen and Khan Younis, and Clint McKay Australia are missing due to injury and Shane Watson, who is resting to allow more time for strength and conditioning before a busy schedule. Pakistan is expected to use a spin-heavy attack in the first match, while Australia has decided to rely on the pace, after having seen the ball swing in the win against Afghanistan

Team News

Pakistan has taken a 16-man squad for the ODIs but no place for Younis Khan and Umar Gul, Kamran Akmal as he was brought back to the side. The exact composition of the attack remains unclear, but coach Dav Whatmore indicated that depend heavily on the slow bowlers. "We will turn over to the quicks bowl," Whatmore said, "and it is important that we do well."

Pakistan(squad): Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Nasir Jamshed, Mohammad Hafeez, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Kamran Akmal (wk), Shahid Afridi, Sohail Tanvir, Aizaz Cheema, Saeed Ajmal, Imran Farhat, Shoaib Malik, Abdur Rehman, Junaid Khan, Anwar Ali

Australia has made ​​a change to the team that beat Afghanistan, leaving his frontline spinner Xavier Doherty. The allrounder Daniel Christian will take his place, which means a lot of seam bowling options to Michael Clarke, while drawing rights will be shared by Glenn Maxwell, David Hussey and Clarke himself. Remains to be seen if Matthew Wade opens or moves down to give her a respite from the heat.
 
Australia Squad: 1 Matthew Wade (wk), 2 David Warner, 3 Michael Clarke (capt), 4 Michael Hussey, 5 David Hussey, 6 George Bailey, 7 Glenn Maxwell, 8 Daniel Christian, 9 Mitchell Johnson, 10 Mitchell Starc, 11 James Pattinson 

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