Australia will be looking to bounce back in the Test arena after a disappointing 2-1 loss to the South Arican’s last month. The first Test against the #4 ranked Pakistan will be a day-night Test played with a pink ball starting at 2.30pm Thursday (AEDT) at the GABBA.
While we won’t know the exact make-up of the Aussie side until Thursday morning, the selectors have decided to go ahead with the same 12-man squad that claimed our only victory against South Africa in the 3rd Test. This announcement means the batting order is well and truly solidified. 3rd Test star Usman Khawaja will reprise his role as opener with mainstay David Warner, while captain Steve Smith, Nic Maddinson, Matt Renshaw and Peter Handscomb will make up the rest of the top six. Matthew Wade keeps his spot as the Aussie’s gloveman while the Nathan Lyon will be the frontline spinner.
The only question in Australia’s XI will be their three-prong pace attack, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are walk up starters, while the third and final spot will be fought out between Jackson Bird, who held the spot in the 3rd Test, and South Australian Chadd Sayers.
Pakistan have also named an unchanged squad to the one that played against New Zealand last month. The Pakistanis elected to play two spinners for both matches of the 2-0 series win against Australia in the sub-continent in 2014. However, with the Aussie pitches less conducive to spin, much like the ones in New Zealand, Pakistan will most likely go into this match with three quicks as they did in all matches across the Tasman.
Their spinner, Yasir Shah, is currently the best in the world, bar none, and gave Australia all sorts of problems in their last series against each-other. Australia will do well to stem his impact on the series, especially in the 3rd Test in Sydney, which usually plays as a spin friendly wicket. While they do boast three of the top 20 ranked batsman in the world currently in Misbah-ul-Haq, Younis Khan and Azhar Ali, the Pakistani batting line-up failed miserably in their series against the Kiwis. They failed to score over 230 in their four innings, bringing their ability to bat well away from home, on livelier wickets into question.
Quality swing bowling seemed to be their undoing in the series against New Zealand, with star right armer Tim Southee claiming 13 wickets in the two matches. If Starc and Hazlewood bowl near their best, I think Australia should have this series won by the time it reaches the shores of Sydney. The fact that Pakistan has only won 3 test matches against Australia in the last 20 years is a damming figure, with none of those wins coming on Australian soil. Australia have proved their vulnerability against Asian teams in the sub-continent, losing series in Pakistan, Sri-Lanka and India all within the last four years, it’s a different story at home, and for that reason I think the Aussies take this Test, and the series 2-1. At only $1.36 however, it might be a good base for a multi.
TIP: Australia to Win - $1.36 at Sportsbet (Multi)
I struggle to see a way in which Shah dominates this Test and wins it for Pakistan on what should be a very pace friendly wicket, therefore, if Pakistan were to win the match it will be through a dominant display with the bat. There’s not many players that can claim they average over 50 in Australia, the masterful Younis Khan is one of them, a truly underappreciated batsman over his illustrious 112 Test career. Khan averages 50.49 in Australia and has proven himself playing against the dominate side of his era. I like him to top score in Pakistan’s first innings.
TIP: Younis Khan PAK top scorer 1st Innings - $5 at Sportsbet
Follow @andyrosos on Twitter
Take note: Any of the tips in this article are simply the author’s opinion, so bet at your own risk and always gamble responsibly. Also be sure to check out the Before You Bet Twitter Page for all our thoughts in the lead up to bets! Happy punting!
