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.
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