Ponting double-ton pushes Australia to 519

Ricky Ponting's fifth Test double-century and Michael Clarke's highest Test score have left Pakistan facing a mountainous task to avoid defeat over the next three days in Hobart. Both men departed during the second session and a lower-order flurry got Australia to 8 for 519 before Ponting declared on the stroke of tea, when Mitchell Johnson skied a catch off Danish Kaneria.

The second day was just as successful for Australia as the first, although Marcus North's scratchy 21 was a concern and will not ease the questions over his place in the side ahead of March's tour of New Zealand. He was caught behind off Mohammad Asif after combining with Brad Haddin, who made a quick 41 from 34 balls, for a 55-run stand.

It paled in comparison to the 352-run partnership between Ponting and Clarke, which lasted 437 minutes and 626 balls, and was Australia's sixth-highest for any wicket in Test history. The stand ended when Clarke tried to pad up to Kaneria coming around the wicket but saw it take his off stump on 166.

Ponting's innings of 209 came to a close when he attacked in spite of Pakistan's defensive wide-outside-off line and skied a catch to cover off Mohammad Aamer. The captain Mohammad Yousuf took the chance, showing Aamer how it should be done after he put Ponting down at deep square-leg before he had scored on the first day.

Fans stood all around the ground to cheer off their local Tasmanian hero Ponting, who made his third-highest Test score and his first double-ton since January 2005, the first Test double-century by any player at Bellerive Oval, and the highest Test score by an Australian since Justin Langer's 215 in Adelaide against New Zealand five years ago. He picked up an even hundred runs in boundaries - 25 fours - in a near nine-hour stay at the crease.

Ponting was given another life today on 167 when he drove Kaneria and the ball flew through the hands of Imran Farhat at cover. But by that stage Australia were going for their shots and in truth, Clarke and Ponting were rarely troubled by a defensive Pakistan group that seemed simply to be waiting for a declaration.

Until right on tea, that decision didn't come from Ponting, who had declared early in Melbourne but here seemed intent on grinding Pakistan into the Bellerive turf. There are some showers forecast over the next three days, so Ponting must have supreme confidence in his attack.

Younis Khan returns for Australia ODIs

Younis Khan, the former Pakistan captain who took a break from international cricket in November while claiming he had "lost command" of the side, has been picked in a squad of 17 for the five-match ODI leg of the tour of Australia. However, Mohammad Yousuf will continue to lead the side with allrounder Shahid Afridi as his deputy.

Younis' resignation, following an ODI series defeat against New Zealand, came after months of reported unhappiness within the team over his leadership. He went underground immediately after, only to resurface suddenly while attending a PCB coaching course in Lahore and then turning out unimpressively on the domestic circuit. Subsequently there emerged a possibility that he may arrive in time for the ODI series.

Younis had been in contention for a place in the squad following Pakistan's disappointing batting display in the ongoing Test series, and Yousuf had requested him at the start of the tour to join the squad "as soon as possible".


Younis' form since his absence from the national team, though, has been poor. He managed just 11 runs in two innings for Habib Bank Limited in the Quaid-E-Azam Trophy final, and just 18 in his team's opening game of the Pentagular Cup in Karachi.


Kamran Akmal, after a torrid time behind the stumps in Sydney, has been retained and so has his replacement for the Hobart Test, Sarfraz Ahmed. Fast bowlers Rao Iftikhar and Naved-ul-Hasan, who didn't play the Tests, join the ODI squad. Batsman Khalid Latif, who has represented Pakistan in four ODIs, has also been called up.

Pakistan have also announced their squad for the sole Twenty20 international; Afridi will lead the side and the batting will be boosted by the inclusion of the attacking opener Imran Nazir.

ODI squad: Mohammad Yousuf (capt), Shahid Afridi (vice-capt), Umar Akmal, Imran Farhat, Fawad Alam, Kamran Akmal, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul, Rao Iftikhar, Shoaib Malik, Khalid Latif, Mohammad Aamer, Naved-ul-Hasan, Sarfraz Ahmed, Salman Butt, Younis Khan, Mohammad Asif.

Twenty20 squad: Shahid Afridi (capt), Umar Akmal, Imran Farhat, Fawad Alam, Kamran Akmal, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul, Rao Iftikhar, Shoaib Malik, Khalid Latif, Mohammad Aamer, Naved-ul-Hasan, Sarfraz Ahmed, Salman Butt, Rao Iftikhar, Imran Nazir, Mohammad Asif.

Pakistan ring in four changes

It is in dead rubbers that the basis of cricket as an individual sport becomes clearest. But for the grace of Pakistan everyone would've come to Hobart much happier; the series is gone and with it the prospect of a good end to summer. Now attention turns to personal battles of form and there is enough to this Test to keep it sprightly.


To Pakistan first and who would have thought dropping a wicketkeeper who dropped four chances in the last Test - and it wasn't a one-off - would be so difficult? Not least of the confusion surrounding l'affaire de Kamran, as it will now be remembered, has come from the Pakistan camp itself; just as coach Intikhab Alam was definitively ruling him out on Tuesday, Kamran Akmal, definitively, was ruling himself in to an Australian newspaper.

He was finally ruled out as Pakistan, surprisingly, announced their playing XI a day before the Test. But the matter has overshadowed a number of other issues, namely the continuing failures of Faisal Iqbal and Misbah-ul-Haq in the middle order. Changes have been made and Shoaib Malik and Khurram Manzoor are back in but sending back Fawad Alam, who represents a future - in whatever form and shape - was a poor choice. Mohammad Aamer is back as well to give Pakistan, finally, it's first-choice attack and that is something that just hasn't happened in recent years. In all, there will be enough new faces from Sydney so that Pakistan are likely to have a fresh, energetic feel to them. They will be keen to prevent a 12th successive loss and a fourth successive whitewash against this particular opponent.


Australia are far more settled. Such messes they don't often find themselves in and when they do, they are generally quieter and handle it with greater grace and coherence. Still, there are little niggling things that don't quite sit right about their line-up just yet.


A lack of runs from their middle order is chief among them. Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke and Marcus North have two fifties each from six Tests this summer and the first two, at least, should be doing much more than that. Neither has looked particularly out of form, but that in itself can be a greater worry than being out of touch, as North appears to be. Some wickets for Peter Siddle would go down nicely as well, though his presence has never been a non-threatening one.

In the bigger picture this Test may not matter much, but within it there will be enough players for whom it matters a great deal and that makes for compelling viewing.
Form guide

Australia WWWDW
Pakistan LLDWL



Watch out for...

Shane Watson was the Test find of the year for Australia in 2009 and he started the new year in style with 97 at the SCG. In his five Tests this summer, Watson has collected 579 runs at 72.37. His quick scoring at the top of the order has been a key to Australia's positive results, even if scores of 96, 89, 93 and 97 have made him a tragi-comic figure. This will be Watson's first Test at Bellerive Oval, where he started his first-class career in 2000-01, and it was his home ground until he moved back to Queensland in 2004-05.


Who else but the wicketkeeper? Pakistan's handling of the Kamran Akmal/Sarfraz Ahmed issue has been abysmal and inept. On wicketkeeping form alone Akmal, who is 28 today, should have been dropped long ago, but his batting has kept him alive. Sarfraz is a safe keeper and though not as game-changing with the bat, he is no mug either, as success on an A tour to Australia last year proves. His debut tomorrow means it is the first time since October 2004 that anyone other than Akmal has put on the wicketkeeping gloves for Pakistan in a Test match.


Team news

The only change for Australia is the return of Simon Katich, who missed the Sydney Test with an elbow problem. Phillip Hughes flew home to Sydney on Tuesday, having been released from the squad, leaving Clint McKay to serve as 12th man for the fourth consecutive match. Marcus North retained his place despite struggling for form this summer.


Australia 1 Shane Watson, 2 Simon Katich, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Hussey, 5 Michael Clarke, 6 Marcus North, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Nathan Hauritz, 10 Peter Siddle, 11 Doug Bollinger.

Pakistan have made four changes to the line-up that imploded in Sydney. Misbah and Iqbal are out, with Malik and Manzoor the beneficiaries. Aamer is fit again and has replaced Mohammad Sami, and Sarfraz has come in for Akmal.

Pakistan 1 Imran Farhat, 2 Salman Butt, 3 Khurram Manzoor, 4 Mohammad Yousuf (capt), 5 Umar Akmal, 6 Shoaib Malik, 7 Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), 8 Mohammad Aamer, 9 Umar Gul, 10 Danish Kaneria, 11 Mohammad Asif


Pitch and conditions

Hobart is renowned as a swing bowler's paradise and if the conditions are overcast that is often the case. However, just as often there are big runs to be had and Ricky Ponting was expecting a surface on which his attack would have to work extra hard for their rewards. "It looks like a pretty good wicket now, a fair bit drier than it has been over the last couple of days," Ponting said. "As the state games have been this year, they've been pretty good batting wickets and it's been pretty hard to bowl sides out, so I'd imagine this might be the same." The first two days are likely to provide perfect, mild conditions but there could be showers over the final three days of the Test.


Stats and trivia

•It's 20 years since Bellerive Oval first hosted a Test but this is the first time the venue has had a Test in the post-Christmas period


•In eight Tests at the venue, Australia have won six and drawn two - they have never been beaten


•The ground hosted one of the most memorable Australian Tests in the modern era, when Adam Gilchrist and Justin Langer rescued Australia from 5 for 126 to chase down 369 against Pakistan in 1999-2000


•Faisal Iqbal, Pakistan's No.3, has scored more runs (97) in this series than his opposite number Ricky Ponting (80)


•Nathan Hauritz is the leading wicket-taker in the series so far with 12 wickets



Quotes

"What we have to do down here is not let them get back into the game like we let them start in Sydney. There's still a lot of mystery around about them."

Ricky Ponting on the riddle that is Pakistan

"There is no doubt that Sarfraz will play."
Intikhab Alam, Pakistan's coach, puts an end to all speculation regarding Pakistan's wicketkeeper in Hobart

Intikhab says Sarfraz will play

After days of confusion, Intikhab Alam has put an emphatic end to speculation surrounding Pakistan's wicketkeeping spot, saying that there is "no doubt" Sarfraz Ahmed will play as the wicketkeeper in Kamran Akmal's place in the third Test in Hobart starting on Thursday.

Speculation has been rife and silly since the Sydney Test about Akmal and his role in the Pakistan side. Reports emerged blaming his late-night babysitting for the four dropped catches at the SCG and there has been talk of his younger brother Umar pulling out of the third Test with an allegedly feigned back injury in protest at the axing.

The team was given a day off from practice today, but Umar and Sarfraz trained at the Bellerive Oval under the eyes of Intikhab and Aaqib Javed, the assistant coach. There will be a selection meeting the day before the Test begins but Intikhab indicated that if it comes to a vote with the four-man selection committee (Mohammad Yousuf, Akmal, Intikhab and manager Abdur Raquib form the panel), Akmal will step aside.

"Naturally he [Sarfraz] has been sent as a reinforcement," Intikhab said. "Unfortunately Kamran had a bad game and he is a very good wicketkeeper-batsman. It can happen to anyone but the fact of the matter is Sarfraz has been sent here and we will give a chance.
"It has happened in the past [a vice-captain having a vote on his own position in the side]. We were in Sri Lanka, the vice-captain was Misbah-ul-Haq and he wasn't having a good time and we decided in the meeting, at times you have to take that tough decision and we'll take that decision. And there is no doubt that Sarfraz will play.

"We have a three-member committee but this time the manager will also sit in. We're sure the right decision will be taken and he will have a vote as well. I have already spoken to Kamran and I think he understands. These things happen in cricket. I'm sure he's good enough and he'll come back."

Younger brother Umar had a longish net session, having sat out practice yesterday and woken up this morning to stories about the stiff back being merely a ploy to protest at the treatment of Kamran. Intikhab said the back was fine and talk of protest absolute rubbish.

"He is ok. He had a sore back. The last few days the guys have been working very, very hard, and so I gave them a day off today," Intikhab said. "Umar didn't practice yesterday, he was sent to hospital and had x-rays done and the doctors said there is nothing wrong with him. He has had one painkilling injection but that's why I brought him here to make sure he is fit and raring to go.

"It's [the stories of his protest] all rubbish. At times I laugh when I read such stories. He's one of the emerging cricketers in world cricket and he is capable and has the ability to do that. He is ok."

Training cheerily alongside Umar was Sarfraz, who having played eight ODIs in 2008, finally finds himself on the verge of a Test debut, the first man other than Akmal to don Pakistan's Test gloves since late 2004.

"Of course the pressure is there for representing your country against Australia," Sarfraz said. "But all the coaches, the manager and players have really supported me and told me to take no pressure and treat it like you are playing a normal first-class match."

Sarfraz was part of the same Pakistan A tour to Australia as Umar in June-July last year and had a similarly successful time, picking up 11 victims and three fifties in the two 'Tests'. And some advice had already come his way on conditions here, he said, from the man he is set to replace. "Kami supported me and said play your natural game. I arrived two days ago and he said no pressure. He told me about the pitch here, a little bounce and some break. He is a very good player no doubt and everyone goes through a bad patch. I will give my 100% for our team."

Akmal confident of keeping wicket in Hobart

Kamran Akmal, Pakistan's embattled wicketkeeper, has ruled out the possibility of playing in the Hobart Test as a batsman alone, and has insisted again that he is confident he will play. Akmal's position in the side has come under intense scrutiny after a dismal second Test in Sydney in which he dropped four catches and failed with the bat as Pakistan handed Australia a remarkable win that sealed the series.

The PCB immediately decided to fly out Sarfraz Ahmed as a replacement wicketkeeper and said that he will "participate" in the third Test beginning Thursday. The statement left scope for Akmal to come in as a specialist batsman in a faltering middle-order, but for the second day running, the Pakistan vice-captain has defied board directives, maintaining that he will play at Hobart, and do so as a wicketkeeper-batsman.

"I am very happy with being wicketkeeper-batsman, not only batsman," he said. "I have played for Pakistan as a wicketkeeper-batsman with pride, so hopefully I am playing a similar role."

However, Akmal said a final decision would be made by the tour selection committee. A routine meeting is due to be held the day before the Test to finalise the playing XI, but the debate within indicates the discord between the on-tour management and the board.

The matter is further complicated by the composition of the touring selection committee. As vice-captain, however, Akmal has a vote on the playing XI, alongside captain Mohammad Yousuf, coach Intikhab Alam and manager Abdur Raquib. Within that group it is believed that the decision on playing Akmal may reach a stalemate, in which case the captain is likely to prevail with a deciding vote. Given the backing that he has given Akmal all along, it means Yousuf could conceivably choose to continue with the wicketkeeper, and thus clash openly with the board.

"Definitely, I'm very keen I am playing in this Test match but it depends on the captain and coach and management," Akmal said. "I've worked very hard in the nets. I'm still positive and hopefully I will play well here. They will tell me or not in the next few days if I am playing.

"Nothing is on my mind as a batsman. I am playing as a wicketkeeper-batsman. Before the match there is a selection meeting and I will decide with the coach and captain if I'm playing or not."

A deal Pakistan dropped

BRAD Haddin's mentor Steve Rixon has revealed he offered to help coach besieged Pakistan gloveman Kamran Akmal, but was rejected because the Pakistan Cricket Board refused to pay a $5000 fee.

As the deflated tourists sent an SOS for deputy keeper Sarfraz Ahmed, it has been revealed former Pakistan coach, ex-Australian Test quick Geoff Lawson, was so concerned about Kamran's technical flaws he contacted Rixon in 2008.

The former Australian Test gloveman and Haddin's confidant agreed in principle to help Kamran, only to be knocked back when the PCB insisted it would not meet his asking price.

Lawson said the decision had returned to haunt Pakistan, which crashed to a shock second Test defeat last Wednesday after the keeper endured a nightmare, dropping four second-innings catches.

"I would have absolutely helped him," said Rixon, who played 13 Tests and is regarded as one of world cricket's finest keeping coaches.

" 'Henry' (Lawson) actually rang me when he was the Pakistan coach, believe it or not he tried to get me to do work with Kamran. But it didn't eventuate because the board was counting their pennies.

"At the time, I had ICL commitments in India, I wasn't far away and there was a window of opportunity for me to help Kamran, which I was more than happy to do.

"Look at the two keepers (Brad Haddin and Kamran) and their performances in that (Sydney) Test and it was the difference.

"Brad was great and if Kamran takes one of those four dropped catches, it's all over - Pakistan win the Test.

"I wasn't asking for much, it was petty, but for whatever reason the PCB didn't want a bar of it. They deserve everything they get."

A veteran of 48 Tests, Kamran is in danger of being axed for this week's third Test in Hobart, with Sarfraz, his deputy on last month's tour of New Zealand, having been summoned from Pakistan.

It has also emerged former Pakistan gloveman Rashid Latif advised the PCB last year to stand the keeper down for six months to lose weight and improve his skills.

Lawson fears Kamran will be made a whipping boy in Pakistan and urged the tourists to call on Rixon to help the 28-year-old.

"I actually think the kid can be a good keeper," Lawson said.

"I can imagine the papers in Karachi would be slicing Kamran up because he's from Lahore and they would be pushing their local product.

"Sometimes it doesn't take much to get a guy back to form but you need the right coaches to do it.

"The PCB didn't want to invest in Kamran and it's cost them a Test match and the series."

PCB consulting with Afridi for T20 matches

LAHORE: The selection committee of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has started consultations with national T20 captain Shahid Afridi for the Twenty20 Internationals to be played against Australia and England.

PCB selection committee chairman Iqbal Qasim told Geo News that the consideration of names of players for the T20 matches against Australia and England has been started and T20 team captain Shahid Khan Afridi has been contacted on telephone in this regard.

Shahid Afridi is playing domestic cricket in Australia these days.

Pakistan will play their only T20 match on the tour of Australia on February 5 at Melbourne while they will play two T20 matches against England in Dubai on February 19 and 20.

Pakistan cricket needs young blood, says Wasim

LAHORE: Former Pakistan captain and legendry pacer Wasim Akram has said that Pakistan lost the second Test against Australia in Sydney because of scare of defeat and urged the selectors to induct new blood in the team. In an exclusive interview with Deutsche Welle Urdu Service, Wasim, before leaving for India, said that in order to win Test matches against powerful teams one needed special talent, skill, passion and mental fitness. The present Pakistan side lacks these traits. Unlike Twenty20 and one-dayers, Test cricket is like a long race,” he added.

Wasim suggested that cricket authorities of the country should give chance to new players after consistent failure of the senior players. “When the seniors are creating problems for the team and getting out after making only few runs then why not include younger players as they will learn in a year and serve the country for at least two decades. And for this purpose, captain, cricket board and selectors must sit together, communicate and plan. But, unfortunately, I can’t see that happening.”

Due to security problems and foreign teams’ refusal to play in Pakistan, Pakistan hosted only one complete Test match in the last 27 months and according to Wasim playing away from home and lack of Test cricket was also one of the reasons of Sydney debacle. “They have played very few Test matches especially on the home soil and that’s why players are short of confidence,” maintained Wasim, who claimed 916 wickets in both forms of the game.

Defending skipper Mohammad Yousuf defensive moves on the decisive day of the Sydney Test, Wasim said no body was born a leader. “Yousuf is an inexperienced captain and made few mistakes. But he will learn art of captaincy in the long run.” Wasim said coaches Intikhab Alam, Waqar Younus and Aaqib Javed should have told Yousuf when he was getting too defensive and what mistakes he was making. About wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal lapses, Wasim said Kamran was a wonderful and talented cricketer. “Last year his wicketkeeping seemed to be improving but he had a bad day at Sydney. Hopefully, he will work hard more because Pakistan team needs players like Kamran.”

Commenting on Pakistan’s domestic cricket structure, Wasim said Pakistan had experienced regional system that was not successful because one cannot have control over regions. “Even players were deprived of their money which perhaps goes to officials. On the other hand, departments groom players by giving them jobs and players are more relaxed. But over all its a tough call for the cricket board and requires a lot of time for introducing a new domestic system and no one has time for this in this country.” Wasim advised the PCB to hold day-night one-day and Twenty20 domestic matches to keep things going and attract people in stadiums. Wasim Akram urged both India and Pakistan to hold a Test series. “Indo-Pak Test series is imperative because these matches not only generate revenue but also interest on both sides of the border,” he concluded.

Confusion hovers over Kamran Akmal

In the aftermath of Sydney, confusion. As Pakistan look ahead to the third Test in Hobart, contradictory noises are being made over the future of under-fire wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal.

After the loss at the SCG, in which Akmal dropped four catches, an incensed PCB sent Sarfraz Ahmed as a replacement from Pakistan, insisting in a strongly-worded statement that he "will participate" in the Hobart Test.

Akmal, however, has said that he is expecting to keep his place, as reports emerge that he has the backing of a number of players within the side, including possibly the captain, Mohammad Yousuf. "I was very successful with my batting and wicketkeeping on the New Zealand tour and before the New Zealand tour. So I was very happy,'' Akmal was quoted as saying in Hobart by AAP.

"But I think the third day of the Sydney Test match was not good for me - this happens. I'm very keen. My confidence is very high. Management is very confident for me and coaches, Intikhab Alam, Waqar Younis, Aqib Javed, and my team-mates also. I will play the third Test match and more matches for my country."

During and after the loss in Sydney Yousuf resisted talk of dropping Akmal, maintaining that a player of his record cannot so easily be dropped from the side. Akmal is vice-captain of the side and a popular member within the team. If there is even talk of retaining him - let alone if he is eventually retained - it seems to place the touring team management on a direct crash course with the board back home.

The situation between the two sides has anyway been poor on this tour; persistent calls by Yousuf for Younis Khan to be sent to strengthen the batting almost from the moment the tour started fell on deaf ears, the selection committee in Pakistan first delaying and finally turning down the request.

But at least two members of the on-tour selection committee say that Akmal will not play in Hobart. "They have sent Sarfraz all the way here for what if not to play?" one told Cricinfo. "Akmal will not play the third Test." As ever with Pakistan and its many power centres that is unlikely to be the last word on the matter.

Akmal's younger brother Umar, who has impressed and infuriated in equal doses so far on the tour, pulled up at training with a stiff back. Management remain confident that he will be fine for the Test, due to begin on January 14. Mohammad Aamer, who missed the second Test with a groin complaint, has also been training and is said to be progressing well, making it likelier still that Pakistan may finally be able to field their first-choice attack in Hobart at the third time of asking.

'We can compete with any side' - Mohammad Yousuf

Pakistan will hope to pick up the pieces from the traumatic Sydney defeat as they build-up to what will now be a dead rubber at Hobart, where the best they can do is avoid a fourth successive whitewash at the hands of Australia.

The squad has taken the 36-run loss hard and Mohammad Yousuf, the captain, has been trying since to lift the side for the final Test, which begins on January 14. "The team was very, very disappointed after Sydney," Yousuf told Cricinfo.

"But as I told them after the Melbourne loss, we have to see that we continue to play good cricket. We could and should have won at Sydney but we didn't. Few people thought that we could match Australia before we came on this tour, but we played very well here for three days and had one very poor day."

The comments would seem to reinforce what has been the main criticism of Pakistan on this tour; that the side hasn't believed at any point they could challenge and topple Australia. The opening days of the Boxing Day Test and the last at the SCG were particularly illuminating, when Pakistan veered between timidity and blind panic.

Reaction in Pakistan has been predictably harsh, which also reveals how eagerly this series was being followed. Jamshed Dasti, head of the national assembly's committee on sports, has been at the forefront of the backlash, asking with force once again for the ouster of the PCB chief Ijaz Butt. This time there might be enough momentum building for it to result in something.

A number of ex-players, as expected, have not held back, asking for the heads of Yousuf, coach Intikhab Alam, the selection committee and a number of other players. "I think we can expect the criticism," Yousuf said. "I'm not saying don't criticise us but maybe it should be more constructive and it should also highlight the positives that have come out from the Test series as a whole."

Changes are expected in the Test side for Hobart and one is guaranteed. In an unusual move indicative of just how seriously they are viewing the loss, the PCB has issued a release stating that Sarfraz Ahmed is not only flying out to Australia, he will also be keeping wickets in the third Test ahead of Kamran Akmal.

The positions of Faisal Iqbal and Misbah-ul-Haq will also come under intense scrutiny; they have one fifty between them in four innings here. However, the paucity of Pakistan's batting resources is such that they will most likely be replaced by Khurram Manzoor and Shoaib Malik, both of whom were dropped halfway through the New Zealand tour. Questions will be asked about why Fawad Alam was so hastily sent back and not tried after one Test failure in New Zealand; that came two Tests after a debut hundred as an opener, a position he had never played in before.

"We have to look at the positives as we get ready for Hobart," Yousuf said. "Nobody can say whether we will win or lose but we just have to play good cricket for the entire duration. We had our moments in the first Test, where we fought hard. We did well for three days in Sydney. I think the positives are that we know we can compete with any side in the world.

"We now need to learn from our mistakes because if we do then we can beat any side out there."

Hand injury forces Razzaq out of Australia tour

Pakistan allrounder Abdul Razzaq has injured his hand and will be unavailable for the limited-overs leg of the tour of Australia. "I've sustained a fracture while batting" Razzaq told Pakpassion.net. "It was one of those out-of-the-blue injuries, where I was batting and the ball smashed into my hand. The hand has been plastered and I've been advised rest for one month by the medical staff. It's very unfortunate, as I was really looking forward to playing in Australia for Pakistan if selected."

Pakistan have already surrendered the Test series, with the third and final Test in Hobart still to be played, and they were hoping to make amends in the five one-dayers and lone Twenty20 international that follow.

Having played a key role in Pakistan's 2009 World Twenty20 triumph on his return from the unofficial ICL, Razzaq's all-round ability, especially his big hitting lower down the order will, no doubt, be missed by the visitors.

The 30-year-old last featured for Pakistan against New Zealand in November last year. Pakistan lost the three-match ODI series in Abu Dhabi 2-1, but swept the Twenty20 internationals in Dubai 2-0.

Pakistan take handy lead in Sydney

PAKISTAN were 331 for nine at stumps on the second day of the second Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground yesterday, a handy 204-run lead after Australia were routed for 127 on Sunday. Danish Kaneria was on two and Mohammad Asif has yet to score.
Earlier, openers Imran Farhat and Salman Butt set a solid platform with a 109-run first-wicket partnership.
Farhat – having reached his 13th Test half-century – was the first to go. He tried to sweep Nathan Hauritz, but a top edge gave Brad Haddin a comfortable catch. Butt followed 35 runs later, induced by Mitchell Johnson to drive, but late away swing fooled him. He ended up nicking the ball straight to Haddin. Butt faced 164 balls for his 71, including nine boundaries.
Going into lunch on 190 for two, Pakistan then managed to lose seven wickets after the break. Faisal Iqbal was the first to go, adding only three runs to his 24 at tea. Mohammad Yousuf tried to guide a delivery through the slip cordon but Haddin dived to his right to collect a beautiful catch, and the captain departed for 46.
Umar Akmal added a quick 48-ball 49, but Doug Bollinger struck him on the pad and the "not out" decision was referred. With the aid of Hawkeye, the on-field call was overturned.
Bollinger sent Misbah-ul-Haq and Kamran Akmal back in quick succession, and Shane Watson collected the next two wickets as Haddin completed five catches behind the wickets. — SuperSport

SYDNEY: Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf on Monday rued throwing away his wicket in their second Test here, saying that his team could have finished on a stronger position at stumps on the second had some of the batsmen avoided playing bad shots.

Yousuf said that Pakistan could have almost batted Australia out of the Test had they gained a first innings lead of 350 but said that some rash shots from a him and a couple of other batters means the tourists still have some hard work ahead.

“We could have taken ourselves to a stronger position,” he told a group of Pakistani reporters here at the Sydney Cricket ground (SCG) on Monday. “A bigger lead would have brought Australia under a lot of pressure.”

Yousuf blamed himself and three other middle-order batters – Faisal Iqbal, Misbah-ul-Haq and Kamran Akmal – for playing rash strokes. “I lost my own wicket because of a bad shot. A few other batsmen also got out needlessly.”

Pakistan finished day two at 331-9, 204 runs ahead. At one stage they were placed at 237-3 and seemed set for a huge lead over the Aussies.

Yousuf, who is hoping to lead his team to its first win over Australia since 1995, said that he expects his bowlers to do well again.

“They bowled superbly on the first day and I’m sure they can do that again in the second innings.”

Watson and Hughes lead Australia's fightback

Australia's openers capitalised on a flattening pitch and a Pakistani reprieve to advance to 0 for 86 in their second innings, reducing to 120 the tourists' overall lead. Shane Watson raised his 1000th Test run with a lofted pull stroke that Danish Kaneria, fielding at fine leg, dropped over the boundary rope on a morning that saw the hosts restore a degree of parity to proceedings.

Pakistan added just two runs to their overnight first-innings total as Doug Bollinger (4 for 72) snuffed out Kaneria with his fifth ball of the morning. That took Pakistan's lead to 206 - their second-highest first-innings advantage over the Australians in 54 years of competition between the two countries - although with the SCG pitch nowhere near as threatening as the opening day, the Australians would not have entirely counted themselves out of the contest.

The hosts began their second-innings riposte in nervous fashion, with Watson french-cutting Mohammad Asif's second legal delivery milimetres from his leg-stump and Phillip Hughes slashing extravagantly at a wide Mohammad Sami offering the next over. The SCG crowd applauded when Hughes shouldered arms to his next delivery, and the young opener appeared to take the message to heart as he shelved his attacking instincts to see off four maiden overs before the first drinks break.

Watson, meanwhile, adopted a more aggressive mindset and peppered the boundaries with a series of authoritative drives and pull strokes. He was granted two reprieves - Kaneria's dropped catch and, on the stroke of lunch, a bizarre run-out opportunity that saw Kamran Akmal fail to remove the bails with the batsman well short of his ground - but rode his luck to register his eighth score in excess of 50 from 14 innings as a Test opener. Of Watson's 1030 runs scored by the lunch break, 773 had come since his elevation to opener. Clearly, the view at the top agrees with him.

A more circumspect Hughes headed to the break unbeaten on 31 from 71 deliveries. His measured approach was precisely what was required for both the batsman and the team following an inglorious duck in the first innings that preempted a broader Australian collapse.

Sohail Tanvir Targets One day Series in Australia

Speaking exclusively to PakPassion.net, Pakistan pace bowler Sohail Tanvir expressed his disappointment at missing out in playing in the ongoing Twenty/20 Big Bash series for the Victoria Bushrangers.

“I was really looking forward to playing in the Twenty/20 competition in Australia and competing against some of the world’s best players, but unfortunately the knee injury has ruined my plans. It’s just been a spate of bad luck of late when it comes to injuries, with firstly my back problems during and after the Twenty/20 World Cup and now the knee injury” stated Tanvir.

Tanvir who was man of the series in the inaugural IPL Twenty/20 competition, helping the Rajasthan Royals to victory, explained that the injury was one that occurred at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore. “I was working on some fielding routines and dived for the ball and felt my knee give way. I wasn’t sure how serious the injury was at first, but was advised afterwards that I had minor ligament damage. I could have taken a risk and played for Victoria, but at the end of the day my priority is to play for Pakistan and I didn’t want to cause any long term damage to myself and jeopardise my career”.

Tanvir hopes to be back soon though for international duty and has his sights firmly set on being selected for the Pakistan one day squad for the series in Australia. “I’m very hopeful that I will be fit for the one day series in Australia. I’m very positive and believe that I will be 100% fit soon and put all the injury problems behind me. At the moment the doctors have told me to rest the injury but I’m very confident that I will be available for selection in what should be a very hard fought and exciting series against Australia”.

The Pakistan selectors are expected to announce the one day squad shortly before the start of the third test and Tanvir faces a race against time to be fit for the squad.

Yousuf searching for 'elusive' Test all rounder to improve Pakistan's performance

Islamabad, Jan 4 (ANI): Mohammad Yousuf, who is playing his fourth Test as Pakistan's skipper and might lead the team for a longer tenure than earlier expected, has outlined a few grey areas to improve the team's performance in the future.
With Younis Khan, who Yousuf replaced as captain last November, unlikely to return to his role and no other suitable candidate in sight, the experienced batsman could get confirmed as Pakistan's regular skipper.
But to ensure it, he needs to bring about some noticeable improvement in his team's performance graph, especially in Test cricket, The News reports.

One of the key areas, Yousuf has identified, apart from improving the standard of fielding, is to find a good Test all-rounder.

Pakistan has many players to fill up that role when it comes to One-day and Twenty20 cricket, but cannot find a single all rounder for Test cricket.

Shoaib Malik performed that role, but he doesn't bowl much any more while Abdul Razzaq has almost retired from the longest format of the game.

Pakistan have to rely on just four bowlers and have faced criticism from some experts, who believe that they should show more aggression and play with five specialist bowlers to achieve better results.

"How can we do that. It would mean dropping one batsman. It would further weaken our batting," Yousuf said.

"What we need right now is an all-rounder. He could be our fifth bowler," he said.

Speaking on a different issue, Yousuf was non-committal when asked whether he was disappointed when the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) ignored his request to send Younis to Australia.

"I can't say anything about it. It's been many days since I made the request. It's not my call. It's up to the Board and the selectors to make the decision," he said. (ANI)

Pakistan move into powerful position

Half-centuries to openers Salman Butt and Imran Farhat have Pakistan well positioned to establish an imposing first-innings lead over the Australians. After an attritional second session on Monday, the tourists' supreme application at the crease was rewarded with a total of 2 for 190 and a 63-run advantage over Australia's meagre first-day tally.

The hosts would do well to analyse the manner in which Farhat and Butt set about their respective innings on the second day. The Australian top-order, minus Shane Watson, fell to forceful strokes on a seaming wicket in their ill-fated first innings; a direct contrast to the cautious and patient approach of the Pakistani openers. Content to accumulate rather than dominate, Farhat and Butt shelved their cross-bat strokes and successfully repelled threatening spells from Doug Bollinger, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Johnson and Shane Watson to post their third career century stand and first against Australia.

Farhat and Butt have emerged as a dependable solution to Pakistan's problematic opening slot. Their stand of 109, which took their first-wicket partnership average to a robust 47.43, built upon the foundation laid by Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Sami the preceding day to deliver the tourists to a position of dominance in the match. The union was not without its anxious moments, most notably when Farhat was dropped by Marcus North to a regulation slips chance off the bowling of Siddle on 11, but both stood firm on an improving pitch.

The Australians had several other chances to remove Farhat before the lunch break, though less orthodox than North's second dropped catch of the series. In a rare moment of overt aggression, Farhat attempted to charge a Watson delivery that beat the oustide edge. The batsman made no immediate effort to return to his crease, and a direct hit from Brad Haddin would have sent him back to the pavilion. Hawk-Eye later showed that a half-hearted Nathan Hauritz lbw appeal would also have resulted in Farhat's dismissal, however the Australians declined to challenge the original not-out verdict from the on-field official.

Farhat went on to raise his 13th half-century before skying an attempted sweep off the bowling of Nathan Hauritz shortly after the lunch break. Butt also fell in the second session, edging a full-length delivery from a deserving Johnson, however Faisal Iqbal and Mohammad Yousuf ensured there were no further setbacks with an unbroken 46-run third-wicket partnership heading into tea. Yousuf looked to increase the tempo of Pakistan's steady-paced innings by adding 27 in almost even time, including five boundaries, while Iqbal continued the grinding approach of Pakistan's openers to frustrate the Australian bowlers.

The hosts were guilty on occasion of bowling too straight a line, but were nonetheless probing and beat the outside edge on numerous occasions in the first session. Batting conditions improved over the course of the afternoon with the sun intermittently piercing the clouds and the wicket drying, making all the more puzzling Ricky Ponting's decision to bat first on a Sydney green-top.

Shahid Afridi : "Rajasthan and Kolkatta would be my preferred choice in the IPL"

Speaking exclusively to PakPassion.net, Pakistan's Twenty/20 captain Shahid Afridi confirmed that his preferred choice of teams in the Indian Premier League would be either inaugural IPL winners Rajasthan Royals or Shah Rukh Khan's Kolkatta Knight Riders.

"There are a number of franchises that would interest me in the next season of IPL and lets wait and see what happens at the all important auction, but my preferred destinations would be either The Rajasthan Royals or the Kolkatta Knight Riders" stated Afridi.

Both the Rajasthan Royals and Kolkatta Knight Riders employed Pakistani players in the first IPL tournament, with Kamran Akmal and Sohail Tanvir starring for tournament one champions Rajasthan, whlst Salman Butt, Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Akhtar represented Kolkatta.

Afridi who boasts a strike rate of over 146 in Twenty/20 internationals is currently taking part in the Twenty/20 Big Bash for South Australia and has lit up the tournament with 2 Man of the Match performances in both his outings. Afridi was also a key member of the Pakistan squad that lifted the Twenty/20 World Cup tournament last year in England.

"The Big Bash is going live to India so it's a great opportunity for those players in the IPL player list to show potential bidders what they can do for their teams" added the flamboyant all rounder.

Afridi who is widely regarded as one of cricket's great entertainers feels that his time in Australia playing for South Australia, will be beneficial to Pakistan in the forthcoming one day series and Twenty/20.

"The Big Bash is an important tournament obviously for South Australia and myself but also it can be beneficial for Pakistan. I'm really focussed on helping South Australia qualify for the Champions League. It's tough and very competitive cricket out here and there are a lot of good players, but I'm up for the challenge. I also feel that getting used to conditions out here at the various venues will put me in a good position for the forthcoming 5 match one day series for Pakistan and the Twenty/20 match at the MCG" stated Afridi.

29 year old Afridi says he's settled in well in Australia and is thoroughly enjoying his cricket. "We've got a great bunch of lads at South Australia. The morale of the team is high and everyone is working hard and backing each other up. The weather is fantastic and I'm staying in a lovely apartment with Kieron Pollard".

South Australia who have won both their matches so far, next entertain Victoria on 7th January at Adelaide.

Pakistan move into powerful position

Half-centuries to openers Salman Butt and Imran Farhat have Pakistan well positioned to establish an imposing first-innings lead over the Australians. After an attritional second session on Monday, the tourists' supreme application at the crease was rewarded with a total of 2 for 190 and a 63-run advantage over Australia's meagre first-day tally.

The hosts would do well to analyse the manner in which Farhat and Butt set about their respective innings on the second day. The Australian top-order, minus Shane Watson, fell to forceful strokes on a seaming wicket in their ill-fated first innings; a direct contrast to the cautious and patient approach of the Pakistani openers. Content to accumulate rather than dominate, Farhat and Butt shelved their cross-bat strokes and successfully repelled threatening spells from Doug Bollinger, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Johnson and Shane Watson to post their third career century stand and first against Australia.

Farhat and Butt have emerged as a dependable solution to Pakistan's problematic opening slot. Their stand of 109, which took their first-wicket partnership average to a robust 47.43, built upon the foundation laid by Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Sami the preceding day to deliver the tourists to a position of dominance in the match. The union was not without its anxious moments, most notably when Farhat was dropped by Marcus North to a regulation slips chance off the bowling of Siddle on 11, but both stood firm on an improving pitch.

The Australians had several other chances to remove Farhat before the lunch break, though less orthodox than North's second dropped catch of the series. In a rare moment of overt aggression, Farhat attempted to charge a Watson delivery that beat the oustide edge. The batsman made no immediate effort to return to his crease, and a direct hit from Brad Haddin would have sent him back to the pavilion. Hawk-Eye later showed that a half-hearted Nathan Hauritz lbw appeal would also have resulted in Farhat's dismissal, however the Australians declined to challenge the original not-out verdict from the on-field official.

Farhat went on to raise his 13th half-century before skying an attempted sweep off the bowling of Nathan Hauritz shortly after the lunch break. Butt also fell in the second session, edging a full-length delivery from a deserving Johnson, however Faisal Iqbal and Mohammad Yousuf ensured there were no further setbacks with an unbroken 46-run third-wicket partnership heading into tea. Yousuf looked to increase the tempo of Pakistan's steady-paced innings by adding 27 in almost even time, including five boundaries, while Iqbal continued the grinding approach of Pakistan's openers to frustrate the Australian bowlers.

The hosts were guilty on occasion of bowling too straight a line, but were nonetheless probing and beat the outside edge on numerous occasions in the first session. Batting conditions improved over the course of the afternoon with the sun intermittently piercing the clouds and the wicket drying, making all the more puzzling Ricky Ponting's decision to bat first on a Sydney green-top.

ICL returnees, 26 Pakistan players register for IPL auction

Ninety-seven players, including 26 from Pakistan and several latterly with the ICL, have registered for the third IPL auction, which will be held on January 19. The list also includes four players from Associate countries - Rizwan Cheema and Khurram Chohan (Canada), Ryan ten Doeschate (Netherlands), Niall O'Brien (Ireland) - as well as former Zimbabwe nationals Murray Goodwin and Ray Price.

Prominent among the players who were part of the unofficial ICL are Shane Bond, who recently retired from Test cricket, Damien Martyn, Chris Cairns, Saqlain Mushtaq and Justin Kemp.

The Pakistanis - the current world Twenty20 champions - include Mohammed Aamer and Umar Akmal, and the list also includes the exciting West Indian Kieron Pollard.

Merely registering, however, does not guarantee the player will be included in the auction list. The IPL will send the list of 97 names to the franchises who will then select those players they would like included in the auction. The selected players will be informed of their inclusion by January 5.

The number of overseas players a franchise may have on its roster is capped at ten and at present it is unclear how many slots are available. In 2009, over 100 players registered for the auction out of which 50 went under the hammer to fill 17 available overseas slots. The IPL said it expected the number of places to be substantially lower this time.

The list sets a "preliminary expected availability" date against each player's name and, intriguingly, those from Australia and South Africa have been marked as free from the conclusion of their domestic competitions - the Sheffield Shield, in the case of Australian players, and the Standard Bank Pro20 series for South Africans. This suggests that the league has shifted from its earlier stated position, that players would have to put the IPL above their domestic tournaments and be available for the entire season.

That decision, taken in November, said defaulting players would face penalties including termination of player contracts and a ban on future participation, although Lalit Modi, the league's chairman, told Cricinfo that this would only happen in a worst-case scenario.


Registered players



Pakistan: Mohammed Aamer, Shahid Afridi, Shahzad Ahmed, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Akmal, Fawad Alam, Yasir Arafat, Mohammad Asif, Salman Butt, Imran Farhat, Mohammad Hafeez, Yasir Hameed, Faisal Iqbal, Asim Kamal, Danish Kaneria, Mohammad Khalil, Abdur Rauf, Khalid Latif, Azhar Mahmood, Shoaib Malik, Khurram Manzoor, Saqlain Mushtaq, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Imran Nazir, Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Sami.

Sri Lanka: Malinga Bandara, Indika de Saram, Chinthaka Jayasinghe, Thilina Kandamby, Chamara Kapugedera, Nuwan Kulasekera, Suranga Lakmal, Jehan Mubarak, Thisara Perera, Dammika Prasad, Muthumudalige Pushpakumara, Suraj Randiv, Rangana Herath, Gihan Rupasinghe, Upul Tharanga, Kaushalya Weeraratne, ChanakaWelegedara.

South Africa: Yusuf Abdulla, Nicky Boje, Zander de Bruyn, Tyron Henderson, Justin Kemp, Rory Kleinveldt, Andre Nel, Wayne Parnell, Vernon Philander, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Johan van der Wath, CJ de Villiers.

New Zealand: Shane Bond, Ian Butler, Chris Cairns, Brendon Diamanti, Grant Elliott, Martin Guptill, Nathan McCullum, Daryl Tuffey, Lou Vincent.

West Indies: Carlton Baugh, Tino Best, Daren Ganga, Wavell Hinds, Kieron Pollard, Kemar Roach, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Lendl Simmons.

Australia: Brad Haddin, Phillip Hughes, Ashley Noffke, Jason Krejza, Ben Laughlin, Graham Manou, Damien Martyn, Clint McKay, Adam Voges.

England: Tim Bresnan, Anthony McGrath, Eoin Morgan, Monty Panesar, Adil Rashid, Jonathan Trott Usman Afzaal, James Foster.

Bangladesh: Shakib Al Hasan, Shahriar Nafees.

Canada: Rizwan Cheema, Khurram Chohan.

Zimbabwe: Murray Goodwin, Ray Price.

Ireland: Niall O'Brien

Netherlands: Ryan ten Doeschate

Pakistan look to tighten up their act

Pakistan's New Year has begun with a setback. Mohammad Aamer, who bagged a five-for at the MCG and was, by far, his team's best bowler, has been ruled out of the SCG Test due to a groin injury. The blow deprives Pakistan of a potent fast-bowling force that they would have heavily banked on in their attempt to level the series.

However, there is still room for hope. Were it not for a bungled selection move and a series of turfed first-innings catches, Pakistan might well have provided Australia a sterner challenge in the Boxing Day Test. Aamer's new-ball partner Mohammad Asif and offspinner Saeed Ajmal were for the most part a disciplined unit at the MCG, but were undermined by a poor fielding display and the unthreatening bowling of Abdur Rauf.

For Pakistan, the New Year's Test represents an opportunity for a fresh start after a depressing 2009 campaign which saw them cast as cricketing nomads following the decision, based on security advice, to strip them of host venue status. The SCG was the site of their last victory over Australia 15 years ago, and the expected reintroduction of Danish Kaneria into the attack should provide them with added pep.

Australia, on the other hand, produced one of their finest all-round displays in the post-Warne/McGrath era. The evolution of Shane Watson and Simon Katich as a potent opening combination, the maturation of Mitchell Johnson and Doug Bollinger in their respective old- and new-ball roles and the rise of Nathan Hauritz auger well for a new decade and the varied challenges it will bring.

Form guide
(last five completed matches, most recent first)
Australia - WWDWL
Pakistan - LDWLD

Watch out for...
Mitchell Johnson found his groove as a first-change specialist towards the end of a tumultuous 2009 campaign. His pace, bounce and reverse swing with the old ball at the MCG proved harassing for Pakistan's batsmen, and served as the perfect foil for fast bowling counterparts Bollinger and Peter Siddle. The recognition may have gone the way of Hauritz following his maiden five-wicket haul, but Johnson's match figures of 6 for 82 from 40 overs were the most prolific and economical of the Australian attack.

Danish Kaneria proved his workman-like qualities with his first visit to the SCG, claiming 7 for 188 from 49.3 challenging overs in the first innings against a rampant Australian batting line-up. Now recovered from the finger injury that ruled him out of the Melbourne Test, Kaneria is set to join forces with Ajmal in a twin-spin attack on Australia's most famous turning surface. The younger contingent of Australia's modern day batting line-up have had little exposure to quality legspin, possibly providing Kaneria with an early advantage.

Ricky Ponting was surprised by Kaneria's record when he checked it out last week. "He's a very good bowler but I saw his record come up against some of the great spinners of the last 10 years and it stacks up very well against the best of them," he said. "His record is actually better than Abdul Qadir and everyone knows how highly regarded he was. "We have played him here before and he has bowled well."

Team news
Simon Katich's elbow problem is enough of an issue for Phillip Hughes to be called in as a standby, although it would take a lot for Katich to give up his spot after working so hard to get it back. Ponting (elbow) and Hauritz (groin) are carrying niggles, however the fact selectors opted against naming shadow players indicates those two will play. Marcus North appears the only member of the starting XI under pressure with three single-figure dismissals this summer to balance out two half-centuries. The final two Tests against Pakistan will provide a strong indicator as to whether he will be retained for this year's Ashes series.

Australia: (probable) 1 Shane Watson, 2 Simon Katich, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Hussey, 5 Michael Clarke, 6 Marcus North, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Nathan Hauritz, 10 Peter Siddle, 11 Doug Bollinger.

Pakistan have been dealt a serious blow, with Aamer missing out due to a groin injury. Pakistan are likely to make a few changes, with Umar Gul replacing Abdur Rauf, and Mohammad Sami taking Aamer's place. They will also require the services of a specialist spinner and a fit Kaneria, who claimed seven first innings wickets at the SCG in his only previous visit five years ago, and looks likely to replace offspinner Saeed Ajmal.

Pakistan: (probable) 1 Salman Butt, 2 Imran Farhat, 3 Faisal Iqbal, 4 Mohammad Yousuf (capt), 5 Misbah-ul-Haq, 6 Umar Akmal, 7 Kamran Akmal (wk), 8 Mohammad Sami, 9 Umar Gul, 10 Mohammad Asif, 11 Danish Kaneria

Pitch and conditions
The SCG pitch has worn many faces this year - from the slow, low track of the NSW-Tasmania Sheffield Shield game to the hard, seaming deck of the NSW-Victoria one-dayer. Tom Parker, the SCG curator, is hoping for something in between, but believes recent rain in Sydney will provide the fast bowlers with assistance. Indeed, the pitch had a distinct green tinge two days before the coin toss, save for a bare patch two-thirds of the way down the strip. Just whether that will prove helpful for the spinners remains to be seen. Further rain on Saturday added to the groundstaff's worries.

Stats and trivia
Australia's 170-run victory at the MCG was their tenth consecutive Test win against Pakistan. Pakistan's last success over Australia in the Test arena came at the SCG in 1995, albeit in the final match of a series the hosts had already won.
Pakistan closed out a difficult 2009 campaign with a Test record of one win, four losses and four draws. Australia's record for the corresponding period was seven wins, three losses and three draws; a marked improvement on their 5-5-4 record from the previous year.
Katich and Shane Watson have amassed 856 runs for the first wicket in just seven Tests as Australia's opening combination, including three century and as many half-century stands. Their partnership average of 71.33 trails only Jack Hobbs and Herbert Sutcliffe among opening partnerships with ten or more innings together.
Quotes
"We know what to expect from them, we know they have some very talented players. Last week we had their measure, up to us to make sure we start well again."
Ricky Ponting on his opponents.

Shane Watson, Mohammad Asif return to place of debut

Five years have passed since Shane Watson and Mohammad Asif made their Test debuts at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Despite inauspicious outings - Watson fell over delivering his first ball, Asif failed to take a wicket in either innings - great things were expected of the duo by their respective nations, both of which had invested much time and many resources into their development.

This week, Watson and Asif return to the SCG having managed just 14 further Tests since their initial Sydney experience. Injuries, role realignment and, in the case of Asif, drug indiscretions have severely disrupted what might have been a prosperous few years at a time when both teams were desperately attempting to unearth a new generation of superstars. This certainly wasn't in the script.

Fate, however, has conspired to deliver both players back to the SCG in the kind of senior roles originally predicted for them. Granted, few in 2005 would have tipped Watson to one day open the innings at a time when he was sandwiched between Adam Gilchrist and Shane Warne at No. 7, but his match-winning ability with bat and ball, along with the selection flexibility he offers, were precisely the outcomes Australia's selectors had hoped would materialise.

"It seems so long ago, my Test debut here," Watson recalled. "It's amazing how at the time I thought I was ready to go. I thought I was in a good place back when I was a youngster, but you don't realise how much you can learn and the things you really can develop as a batsman, as a cricketer and as a person.

"The confidence definitely plays a big part, knowing I've performed and been able to be successful whether it's been one-day cricket or Test match cricket at the top of the order, and taking on some of the best bowlers in the world with the brand new ball. That makes a big difference to any sportsman. Physically I'm in a much different place to what I was when I was 23. I was more like a rugby league player than a cricketer at that stage. I feel I'm more like a cricketer now physically. It's amazing how things develop and pan out the way they do."

Australia defeated Pakistan in the 2005 Sydney Test by nine wickets, largely due to the first innings double-century by Ricky Ponting and the combined 13-wicket haul from Stuart MacGill and Shane Warne. Five years on, it will be Pakistan fielding two spinners as Danish Kaneria, who claimed seven first innings wickets in his last Sydney appearance, joins Saeed Ajmal on a surface expected to take turn despite its greenish tinge two days from the coin toss.

Watson recalls the damage inflicted by Kaneria in 2005 - his maiden Test innings was terminated by the Pakistani leg spinner, caught Asif, for 31 - and expected him to prove a potent addition to the tourist's attack after missing the Boxing Day Test with a finger injury. "He knows how to bowl well here in Sydney," Watson said. "He does get a lot of revs on the ball, whether it's his top-spinner, his leggie or his wrong'un. He will definitely be a big challenge, there's no doubt about that, and I think it will give them a little more firepower with it spinning in Sydney. It's going to be a big challenge and as a batting unit hopefully we can make sure he doesn't have the Test that he really wants."

Asif, meanwhile, will be called upon to lead Pakistan's attack and replicate the control and accuracy that defined his performance at the MCG last week. The erratic, no-ball prone fast bowler who returned match figures off 0-88 from 18 overs on debut re-emerged in Australia as a purveyor of precision, if not raw pace, to tie down the hosts' batsmen for extended periods.

Still just 27, Asif has before him the opportunity to put right a career that veered wildly off course after his last appearance in Sydney. The path back to the SCG may have been treacherous, but it might yet lead to a bright future.