The 3rd Test between Australia and Pakistan will start on Tuesday the 3rd of January at the SCG. Australia will be looking for a series sweep over the visitors, while Pakistan will be hoping they can salvage something from what has been an overly disappointing series.
The Boxing Day Test in Melbourne was destined to end in a draw after rain hindered the first four days of play. However, after it took Australia over four days to amass a 181 first innings lead, Pakistan collapsed in their 2nd innings on day five. After losing two quick wickets, Pakistan looked to have steadied the ship at 2-63 with first innings hero Azhar Ali and veteran Younis Khan at the crease. They then went on to lose their next 8 wickets for 100 runs, falling 18 short of making Australia bat again and with just over 10 overs to play in the day.
Mitchell Starc was the catalyst of the Pakistani collapse, capturing 4-36, while Nathan Lyon put to rest doubts over his selection for the upcoming India tour with a handy 3-33. The win was set up by the batting of Australia’s three most experienced top order batsmen, with David Warner making a blistering 144 off 143 and captain Steve Smith being the mainstay of the Australian innings with 165. Usman Khawaja was unlucky not to reach triple figures also, falling for a classy 97. This means that we went 2-0 in our tips for the 2nd Test after we tipped the Aussies to win and Steve Smith to top score in their first innings.
The Aussies will go into the Third Test with a few changes, all-rounder Hilton Cartwright will become the 450th player to don a baggy green when he replaces Nic Maddinson at number six. With the addition of the medium pace bowling option in Cartwright, Australia will opt for a second spinner in Steven O’Keefe for the spin friendly SCG wicket, he will replace Jackson Bird. Australia are likely trialling this line-up ahead of their tour of India, where wickets will mostly be conducive to spin as we’ve seen Indian spin duo Ravi Ashwin and Ravi Jadeja dominate series there in recent history.
The talk was that Pakistan Captain Misbah-ul-Haq would step down from his duties and not play in the final Test of the series, however, it has been confirmed in recent days that he will play, and captain the side in Sydney and consider retirement at the conclusion of the Test.
Im sticking with my original series prediction, that Australia would win the first two Tests before Pakistan’s star spinner Yasir Shah would get them over the line in Sydney. Pakistan’s batting line-up has looked a lot better than I thought it would coming into a series away from home. Their pace unit has also looked dangerous, with Wahab Riaz consistently bowling over 140km/h, which is what you need to do to have seccuess in Australia. If those to facets of Pakistans game can continue to contribute as well as a rejuvenated Shah on the SCG wicket, I could see them taking the chocolates here at some really good value.
TIP: Pakistan to Win - $7.10 at Sportsbet
I’ve liked Younis to have a standout game all series, and while it hasn’t come yet, this is the Test that is primed for him to take over. Along with maybe Michael Clarke and Kumar Sangakkara, Younis is the most accomplished batsmen to spin bowling of the modern era. With the Aussies bringing in two spinners for this Test, and Younis boasting arguably the best sweep shot in cricket, I like Younis to score a ton in the first innings.
TIP: Younis Khan To Score 100, 1st Inn - $7 at Sportsbet
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