Written by: Waseem Abbas
Posted on: December 14, 2023 | 
| 中文
Australian opener David Warner playing a shot against Pakistan
David Warner and Usman Khawaja have just started what is expected to happen with Pakistan’s test team in the days to come, as the veteran Australian openers have amassed 117-0 in the 25 overs of the first session of the first match. Pakistan has opted for a conservative XI against Australia, as it has only three specialist bowlers in the eleven, two of them debutants. Taking 20 wickets is the key to winning test matches, and for that you need bowlers who can take wickets. Pakistan’s decision to start without a specialist spinner is also intriguing, as the main spinner, Abrar Ahmed, has been ruled out of the first game due to an injury, and the management decided not to go with either Sajid Khan or Noman Ali. There are no surprises in the Australian team, with Nathan Lyon back in the team after recovering from an injury. Both Australian openers have been in the limelight recently for non-cricketing reasons: Usman Khawaja for opting to wear shoes with slogans such as, ‘All Lives are Equal’ and ‘Freedom is a Human Right’, while David Warner has been in the news for his online scuffle with former pacer Mitchel Johnson.
Slogans on Usman Khawaja’s shoes created an uproar in the media
Pakistan begins the series against the World Champions, Australia, under its newly-appointed skipper, Shan Masood. Masood has kickstarted his captaincy career with a First-Class match against the Australian Prime Minister XI, starting on December 6th, and has made a mark with a scintillating 201 not-out, off 298 balls. Shan's inning on his captaincy debut, hinted at the way he envisions the Pakistan team going forward: a positive and aggressive attitude. Shan is considered an astute cricketing mind, having toiled at the domestic level for over fifteen years and ten years at the international level, and it is expected that he will succeed in the leadership role. The problem, however, has been his performance, as the batting average of 28.5 after 30 tests does not look promising, and as a cricketer in his mid-30s, time is running out for him. The positive aspect about Shan is, however, that he has scored heavily in the last few years at a healthy strike rate, after being dropped from the national team. In the recently concluded Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Shan scored 356 runs in 3 matches at an average of 56 and a strike rate of 103, and accumulated 720 runs in 7 matches in the County Championship 2023, at an average of 60 and a strike rate of 77.50, which is mind-boggling consistency.
Shan Masood playing a shot against Australian Prime Minister XI
Pakistan's test record in Australia is abysmal to say the least. It last won a Test in Australia against the hosts in November-December 1995 under Wasim Akram, 28 years ago when most of the current Pakistan team players were not even born, and it has lost 14 tests on the trot since then. Pakistan has played 37 Test matches in Australia against the hosts, winning only four and losing 26, drawing seven. This is by far Pakistan's worst record away from home against any opposition. Pinning lofty expectations on the Shan Masood-led side against the mighty Aussies, who are the reigning champions in both Tests and ODIs, would be unreasonable. Any success in the three-match series should be considered a bonus.
Shan Masood-led Pakistan has batters that can stand the Australian pace onslaught, as Abdullah, Imam, Babar, Shan and Saud, amongst others, have the acumen and capability to post decent totals on the board. Shaheen, Khurram Shahzad, Hasan Ali, Abrar Ahmed and company, will have to take 20 wickets, which is a big challenge for them. Pakistan, playing without Shaheen and Hasan Ali, could only take four wickets in 141 overs against Australian Prime Minister XI, exposing our young bowling prospects.
David Warner and Usman Khawaja made 126 runs for the first wicket
Playing the first game with all-rounders like Salman Agha, Faheem Ashraf and Aamir Jamal will have disastrous outcomes, as their effectiveness with the ball is not yet established. Pakistan will depend heavily on Shaheen Afridi for early breakthroughs, and if the left-armer fails to deliver early blows, Pakistan is very much in trouble. Pakistan will depend on Shan Masood and Babar Azam, who are both in form and have experience of playing in Australia. To counter the new ball in the green pitches of Australia requires focus, grit, technique and composure, which will be a big challenge for Pakistan’s openers.
Shaheen after getting Usman Khawaja out
Off-spinner Sajid Khan has been recalled as an injury backup for injured Abrar Ahmed, while experienced Noman Ali is also in the squad. Pakistan has erroneously opted to play 36-year-old Sarfraz Ahmed as the specialist wicket-keeper batsman, benching in-form Muhammad Rizwan, whose batting style is suited to the Australian conditions and is a better keeper currently. Pakistan could select young Saim Ayub, who is known for his aggressive style of play, if the openers, especially Imam, fail to deliver in the first test.
Abrar Ahmed after getting a wicket against Australian Prime Minister XI
Australia has one of the strongest test teams in the world at the moment, with in-form Usman Khawaja and flamboyant David Warner, followed by consistent Marnus Labuschagne, the all-time great Steve Smith, and the swashbuckling Travis Head. Australia has a decent keeper and batter in Alex Carey and a fast-bowling all-rounder, Mitch Marsh. Australia's top seven have 32,000 Test runs combined, as compared to Pakistan's top seven's just over 12,000 Test runs. Australia's bowling comprises seasoned campaigners like Mitchel Starc, Josh Hazelwood, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon, who have a total of 1306 Test wickets between them, way more than Pakistan's main four bowlers, who just have 223 wickets. The experienced Australian side will be roaring to challenge the emerging Pakistani team with their experience, grit, skill and perseverance.
Pat Cummins leads Australian team to the ground
The first game of the series will be played from 14-18 December in Perth, the second match will start on the 24th of December in Melbourne, and the final game of the series will be played from 4-8 January 2024 in Sydney.
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