Stand-in Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf has boldly predicted that his talented attack is capable of bowling out Australia twice ahead of their three-Test series opener in Melbourne on Boxing Day.
And Yousuf's optimism might be justified considering paceman Mohammad Asif and leg-spinner Danish Kaneria starred in the recently-drawn three-Test series against the Black Caps in New Zealand.
The pair claimed 32 wickets between them to be first (19) and third (13) respectively on the series' wicket-takers list.
With the likes of Umar Gul and Mohammad Aamer supporting Asif in the pace department as well as Saeed Ajmal on call with his off-spin, Yousuf is confident of producing positive results against the Aussies too.
"Yes, we have a very good bowling side we can take 20 wickets in a Test," Yousuf said before Pakistan's training session at the MCG on Christmas Day.
"We have to play good cricket for five days. This is not Twenty20 cricket, it is five-day cricket, at least 30 hours playing good cricket against any team."
However, the Pakistani captain knows his batsmen will also have to carry their weight.
Yousuf scored 111 when he last played at the MCG and he hopes to at least match that effort this time around.
"I will try for the same performance. I will try ... I will try for 300," he quipped.
Pakistan's selectors are yet to finalise the team that will tackle Australia in the Boxing Day Test but if it were up to Yousuf, who confirmed Gul was fit to play after a knee scare, not much tinkering would occur.
"So far I'm very happy with the team from the past three Test matches, we played good cricket (in New Zealand) and I am pleased with the way we played," he said.
That's not to say that Yousuf wouldn't prefer former skipper Younus Khan in the team.
Yousuf admitted the absence of Younus will hurt the team's chances of a successful Australian tour.
Younus took a break from international cricket last month after a match-fixing inquiry tarnished his captaincy.
Although he was cleared of any wrongdoing, the 32-year-old claimed to be 'disgusted' by the allegations before pulling out of the country's tour of New Zealand.
The former skipper, who averages over 50 in Tests, has since returned to the domestic scene in Pakistan but failed to gain selection for the Australian summer.
According to Yousuf, the sooner his predecessor returns to the national team, the better.
"We will miss him," Yousuf said.
"He's a very experienced player and a very good team player as well and has performed all over the world."
Meanwhile, Yousuf isn't concerned by the status of Ricky Ponting and Nathan Hauritz who remain under injury clouds on the eve of the first Test.
"I don't mind if they play or not play," Yousuf said. "We have to take 20 wickets and we need to do better batting or bowling."
As for West Indies captain Chris Gayle's claim that the Windies discovered a weakness in Ponting's batting this summer, Yousuf replied: "He has made 25,000 runs in both (ODI and Test) cricket ... he's the best player."
If Hauritz fails to take his spot in the team, raw New South Welshman Steven Smith will make his Test debut - if that occurs Yousuf could be forgiven for thinking Smith was a pitch invader.
"Who? Steven Smith?," Yousuf said when asked if he knew who Smith was
http://sportal.com.au/cricket-news-display/yousuf-backs-bowlers-83317
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