Battle of the unpredictable begins

The Preview by Brydon Coverdale

December 25, 2009


Match facts


December 26-30, 2009


Start time 10.30am (23.30 GMT)



Big Picture


It's hard to know what to expect from a contest between the team that has played the most Tests over the past two years and the side that has played the fewest. Australia's hectic schedule means they've played 27 Tests since this time in 2007, while Pakistan's home circumstances have limited them to eight Tests in the same period. Australia are coming off a 2-0, though tightly-fought, series against West Indies. Pakistan have just drawn 1-1 in New Zealand.

In years gone you could confidently predict not just an Australian win, but a rout, so dominant have they been against Pakistan since the mid-90s. But this is a different Australia side and as the series against West Indies proved, one closer back to the pack than ever before. This Pakistan side retains the essence of all Pakistan sides and thus capable of anything.

What can be expected for sure is some high quality pace bowling. After a decade of batting riches, cricket suddenly finds itself with good fast bowlers floating around and few are more exciting than the ones Australia and Pakistan have; between them, Doug Bollinger, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Johnson, Mohammad Aamer, Mohammmad Asif and Umar Gul are likely to determine the fate of the series.

If Pakistan feel they have the better spinners in Danish Kaneria and Saeed Ajmal, Australia will be more than confident that their batting is by far the stronger. But if all goes well, it could be the most closely-fought series between the two sides since the 1994-95 tussle in Pakistan.


Form guide (last five Tests, most recent first)


Australia - WDWLW


Pakistan - DWLDL




Watch out for


Doug Bollinger: He has become Australia's newest cult bowling hero. He entertains his team-mates with his antics, thrills the fans with his wholeheartedness and good humour, and worries the opposition with his pace, swing and consistency. Chris Gayle made no secret of the fact that he felt Bollinger was the most dangerous of Australia's fast men during the recent Test series and Bollinger will be desperate to ensure his place in the attack becomes permanent.

Three hundreds on an impressive Pakistan A tour to Australia in July brought Umar Akmal into the national side and he hasn't stopped scoring since; he already has two international hundreds and a spate of fifties. He was hugely impressive in his maiden Test tour against New Zealand and his clear-headed aggression and a steady technique should win him more fans here.


Team news


All the talk in the lead-up to the Test has surrounded Ricky Ponting's fitness after suffering elbow tendon damage in the third Test against West Indies. He trained well on Thursday and Friday and is more than likely to take his place in the side come Boxing Day. On the off chance he is ruled out, Phillip Hughes will come in. Siddle also looks set to return in place of fellow Victorian Clint McKay after sitting out the WACA Test against West Indies with a hamstring strain. Siddle bowled without trouble in a state one-day match on Wednesday. A long-standing groin problem for Nathan Hauritz has opened the doors for young legspinner Steve Smith, but Australia will give Hauritz time till the morning of the Test before making a final call.

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/Steve Smith, 10 Peter Siddle, 11 Doug Bollinger.

Pakistan have no such injury concerns though a niggle to the fourth finger on Danish Kaneria's spinning hand is being looked at. There is talk in the camp of playing an extra spinner in place of a fast bowler, but that will depend on the surface and a decision is expected later. Pakistan will not readily dismantle the pace trio that served them so well in New Zealand.

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 Aamer, 9 Umar Gul/Saeed Ajmal, 10 Mohammad Asif, 11 Danish Kaneria


Pitch and conditions


The drop-in MCG pitches have generally provided a slowish surface in recent years and the runs haven't always flowed as easily as at other venues. The forecast for the five days is mostly good, with temperatures expected to rise as the game goes on.


Stats and Trivia






•Pakistan have played eight Tests at the MCG for two wins, in 1978-79 and 1981-82


•Australia's loss to South Africa in Melbourne last summer ended a run of nine consecutive wins for Australia at the MCG


•The MCG is the only one of Australia's five major venues at which Michael Clarke has not scored a Test century





Quotes



"I think the conditions here and probably in Sydney as well will help Pakistan."
Michael Clarke


"Because Australia don't have McGrath and Warney anymore, there are more chances of sides coming and playing well over here."
Salman Butt

Australia needs to beat Pakistan convincingly to retain third position

Australia will need to beat Pakistan comprehensively in the three-Test series starting in Melbourne on Saturday if it is to retain its third position in the Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship table.

Australia starts the series with a difference of 33 rating points relative to sixth-placed Pakistan and this gap means it is expected to win the series convincingly. As such, because the rankings are weighted to reflect this difference, failure to win comfortably will mean Australia will drop points.

While Australia?s 2-0 win will keep it on 116 ratings points and a clean sweep will earn it just two ratings points, a 1-0 or 2-1 series win will drop it to 115 ratings points and behind Sri Lanka when the ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point.

On the other side of the coin, Pakistan?s series win will severely dent Australia?s hopes of narrowing the gap with the front-runners.

A 1-0 or 2-1 series win for Pakistan will drop Australia to 110 ratings points, and if the home team suffers three consecutive defeats it will slip to 107 ratings points, just two ahead of fifth-placed England which is involved in a four-Test series against South Africa.

In the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for Test batsman, Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf is the highest-ranked batsman from either side. He is in fifth position, just 11 points behind India opener Virender Sehwag and as many points ahead of Australia vice-captain Michael Clarke.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting is in 14th position, his lowest ranking since October 2002.

Batsmen outside the top 20 are Simon Katich (21st), Brad Haddin (28th), Kamran Akmal (32nd), Phillip Hughes (34th), Umar Akmal (36th), Imran Farhat (38th) and Marcus North (42nd).

Gautam Gambhir of India heads the batting table with Sri Lanka?s Mahela Jayawardena second and his captain Kumar Sangakkara third.

In the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for Test bowlers, second-ranked Mitchell Johnson will spearhead the bowling responsibilities as he is the only home team bowler involved in the series inside the top 20.

Just outside the top 20 are Peter Siddle in 22nd position, Doug Bollinger in 39th place and Nathan Haurtiz is in 43rd spot.

Pakistan has Mohammad Asif (fifth) and Danish Kaneria (13th) inside the top 20 while Umar Gul is in 24th position.

Dale Steyn leads the bowlers? chart with Muttiah Muralidaran of Sri Lanka third.

Meanwhile, New Zealand?s Shane Bond has retired from Test cricket in ninth position. He achieved his highest ranking of third in October 2007 while hi highest rating was 778 points which he achieved in March 2006.

The schedule of the series is

26-30 Dec ? First Test at Melbourne
3-7 Jan ? Second Test at Sydney
14-18 Jan ? Third Test at Hobart

Ajmal 'much better' than Hauritz - Salman Butt

The batsman Salman Butt has said Pakistan will take a spin advantage into the series against Australia, labelling offspinner Saeed Ajmal as "much better" than Nathan Hauritz. Butt's comments came on a day when Hauritz was challenged by Australia's chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch to improve his record in the final innings of Tests to help bowl Australia to victories.

Pakistan have Ajmal and Danish Kaneria to choose from in the three-Test series starting on Boxing Day, and the Melbourne and Sydney pitches are expected to suit the slow bowlers. Ajmal has confounded the Australians with his doosra in one-day cricket and Butt said he had a distinct edge over Hauritz.

"He [Hauritz] is a good offspinner," Butt said. "He's conventional. The only advantage Saeed has is he can spin the ball both ways and a bit faster than Hauritz. That makes him the best spinner. Hauritz is also good but I think Saeed Ajmal is much better."

The series could be a telling one for Hauritz, who will encounter friendly surfaces but also some of the most accomplished players of spin in the world. Hauritz has been a steady part of the attack in the past 12 months but has not taken more than three wickets in an innings and averages 49.66 in the fourth innings of games.

"In the first innings of Tests, Hauri has played a good role for us," Hilditch told the Herald Sun. "The challenge for him is to take the next step when a spinner needs to come to the fore late in Test matches. Can he win us a Test match? All I can say is that his next challenge will be to see whether he can step up to play that role.

"Hauri is a very capable bowler. But we will continue to look for that next group of spin bowlers. It is really important to us that we can develop a group of maybe four different types of spin bowlers and we can pick from that group."

For the time being, Hauritz's position is not under threat and he will be hoping to prove himself as a matchwinner over the next few months. Australia's vice-captain Michael Clarke said Hauritz was a strong character and would not be upset by Hilditch's comments.

"I think Hauri will take that on," Clarke said. "I think it's constructive criticism for Nathan and he's a pretty strong guy and a great guy also to have around. He's young, he's got a lot of talent with both bat and ball. His performances have been really good since playing all forms of the game."

Clarke is wary of Pakistan's dangerous attack, which as well as two class spinners features Mohammad Asif, Umar Gul and the 17-year-old left-arm fast man Mohammad Aamer. They will be joined by Mohammad Sami, who is in form having just taken eight wickets in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final.

"He's got some pace," Clarke said of Sami. "The young left-armer looks like he's got a bit of pace as well and a couple of good spinners in their squad as well. We're going to have to be at our best. I think the conditions here and probably in Sydney as well will help Pakistan."

http://www.cricinfo.com/ausvpak09/c...ory/440931.html

Sami hopes to deliver in Australia

KARACHI, Dec 23: Fast bowler Mohammad Sami said on Wednesday that he was looking forward to the tour of Australia with renewed vigour after guiding Karachi Blues to a crushing 141-run victory over Habib Bank in the final of the RBS Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship.

Sami, who blew away Habib Bank’s hopes with a stunning bag of 6-38, was due to leave for Melbourne via Bangkok late on Wednesday night after being summoned to Australia by Pakistan team management to complement the pace battery of Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Aamir, Umar Gul and Abdur Rauf.

Talking to reporters after the final at the National Stadium, Sami was upbeat about his international comeback after playing his last Test against India at Bangalore in December 2007.

“I’m going to Australia in a confident mood especially after the way everything clicked for me this afternoon. I felt in rhythm and everything I tried worked well,” the 28-year-old speedster said of his match-winning spell in Habib Bank’s second innings.

“This is probably the best I’ve bowled in terms of taking wickets, but there were many times this season when I bowled really well without any reward. There is no doubt in my mind that if I get a chance to play there [in Australia] there will be no lack of effort on my part.”

Sami hoped that despite a chequered span in international cricket he was hoping for better luck from now. “There were times when I really felt disappointed with myself. I even thought of giving up playing cricket. But somehow I kept going in the hope of getting another chance at the top level and here I am!”

The Karachi Blues skipper, who claimed 38 wickets in the championship, paid tribute to the entire team for their splendid win. “It was a great teamwork that we all took part in. It would be unfair for me to single out anyone, but I must appreciate the way all the guys contributed. Tanvir Ahmed and Asad Shafiq stood out as top performers, but others also made invaluable contributions,” Sami remarked. “The support staff also did a marvelous job. Sadiq Mohammad [the team coach], Zafar Ahmed (manager] encouraged us throughout while and our video analyst Mohammad Asim was always ready to pinpoint our flaws and available to rectify them.”

Hasan Raza, the Habib Bank skipper, while expressing his disappointment at the defeat conceded that Karachi Blues deserved to win the title.

“There are no excuses after such a big defeat in a low-scoring final. Definitely we batted poorly this afternoon with no game plan at all. But at the same time, both Sami and Tanvir bowled in the right areas and troubled our batsmen.

Particularly Sami was simply unplayable and that’s one reason for me to admit that Karachi Blues are deserving champions,” the former Pakistan batsman said.

MELBOURNE: Experienced Pakistan batsman Misbah-ul-Haq believes Australia’s dominance in the world of cricket has weakened after losing a couple of top

The Aussies ruled the world for a long time but they found it difficult to maintain their superiority following retirement of bowlers like Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath.

‘If you look at the standard of bowling it’s really changed. At one time they had four frontline bowlers, all great bowlers, match-winners,’ Misbah said.

‘Now it’s a bit changed. They don’t have Warne especially. He was one of the legends of spin bowling. So Australia is suffering a bit of a problem in their bowling, but they’re still a good team. You still have to work hard and you have to play well against them.’

He believes Aussies still pose a difficult task for a young Pakistan side with or without skipper Ponting who is battling for fitness after an elbow injury.

‘They are still performing well and giving tough time to their opponents. It is really tough to beat them in their own conditions. You have to play well to compete with Australia in Australia,’ he maintained.

Misbah, who was called up in place of Younis Khan who preferred to miss the tour citing poor form, said the side responded well to replacement skipper Mohammad Yousuf.

‘Yousuf is a leading run-getter and a senior player, so everyone respects him. Batsmen and bowlers are just looking to their jobs and playing as a unit. Change of captaincy is not an issue to any of them.’

Pakistan trained at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday.—Agencies

Pakistan, England to play Twenty20s in Dubai

Cricinfo staff
December 24, 2009

Pakistan are set to play two Twenty20 internationals against England in Dubai in February to warm up for the ICC World Twenty20 in the West Indies at the end of April.

"We have reached an agreement to play two Twenty20 matches against England on February 19 and 20 as part of our preparations for the World Twenty20 next year," Wasim Bari, the Pakistan Cricket Board's chief operating officer, told AFP.

Pakistan wind up their tour of Australia on February 5 while England will head to Dubai a month after their tour of South Africa concludes. The World Twenty20 will be held between April 30 and May 16.

Pakistan are the defending champions and Bari said the latest development was aimed at discovering more talent. "We see the two matches as an opportunity to try and develop some new players and give more and more players the opportunity to play at the top level," Bari said.

He added that the Pakistan A team will take on England A for a series of three one-dayers in the UAE later in the year.

Mohammad Yousuf wants Younis Khan for ODIs

Cricinfo staff
December 24, 2009

Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf has said he had requested Younis Khan to make himself available for the one-day series in Australia in January, after the Tests. Younis, the regular captain, backed out of the three-Test series in New Zealand because he wanted a break from international cricket but didn't figure in the squad for the three Tests in Australia, starting on December 26 in Melbourne.

"Yes, I did call up Younis because we have always been good friends and we have played a lot of cricket together," Yousuf told PTI. "I would definitely like to see Younis back in the team as soon as possible because he is a very experienced batsman and the team is missing him.

"We always got along well together and that is why I called him up to enquire about his plans. I am happy that he was very positive about resuming playing international cricket again."

Younis returned to domestic cricket by featuring in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final in which his team, Habib Bank, was routed by Karachi Blues by 141 runs inside three days. However, Younis failed to convince the selectors about his batting form as he made just 7 and 4.

Iqbal Qasim, the selection chairman, however made it clear that Younis will not be considered for the Tests but was optimistic of his chances of making the one-day squad, provided he impresses in the one-day Pentangular Cup.

"He can definitely make the one-day squad," Qasim said. "We have no doubt about his class and fitness but we need to give him some time to get over his poor form and start scoring runs again."

Looking ahead to the series, Yousuf was bullish about Pakistan's chances and backed the middle order to find some form.

"The fact that we played a close Test series in New Zealand is good for us and I am sure our experienced batsmen like Shoaib Malik and Misbah-ul-Haq will strike their best form soon," Yousuf said. "They just one need one long innings to get back their confidence. I know my boys can handle such pressure. We are looking forward to some close matches in Australia."

Pakistan need strong leadership to tame Aussies: Hughes

Hughes says Pakistan will be formidable foes in the series, starting in Melbourne from Dec 26, if skipper Mohammad Yousuf can gel his men as legendary Imran Khan once did.

‘I think we will see some wonderful cricket from them but their consistency is a worry,’ said Hughes, who suffered a 0-3 away Test series loss as skipper to Imran Khan’s side in 1982.

‘You need good, strong leadership. They have had more captains than pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, with the comings and goings. They need an Imran Khan, someone who is strong at the top.’

Hughes was impressed by emerging stars of Pakistan side, particularly middle-order batsman Umar Akmal.

The 19-year-old made 129 on debut against New Zealand at Dunedin last month and 379 runs at 63.1 for the series.

‘Umar looks a tremendously exciting player,’ said Hughes of Lahore prodigy, who is a younger brother of wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal.

‘New Zealand are difficult at home and there is no doubt that two Akmal brothers –– Kamran and Umar –– are good.’

He suspects a Pakistan attack featuring pace pair of Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir could trouble Australia, who may recall left-hander Phillip Hughes if skipper Ricky Ponting does not recover from an elbow injury.

‘Phil Hughes is a promising but with a severe technical deficiency he needs to overcome,’ the 70-Test Hughes said.

Pakistan might be cricket’s touring nomads but re-emergence of leg-spinner Danish Kaneria and promising rookies mean Australia would be challenged in three Test series, Hughes said.

‘They have useful bowlers and produce wonderful cricketers. As far as producing sheer talent, Pakistan has some wonderful young talent and will test our blokes,’ he said.

‘If Australia has an edge it will be that they are more physically and mentally hardened.’—Agencies

Kaneria to play major role in Pak bowling attack during Test series Down Under

23 Dec, 2009 © ANI
Melbourne, Dec.23: While all eyes would be on Pakistan young and energetic pace attack during the first Test against Australia starting December 26, Pakistani leg spinner Danish Kaneria is also expected to play a major role in the match.

Kaneria, who just went past legendary leg-spinner Abdul Qadir by bagging his 245th Test wicket in 55 matches, in seen as a major weapon against the Aussie batting line up.

Kaneria proved his worth during the just concluded New Zealand Test series by bagging 13 wickets in two matches, has also highlighted the need of wrist spinners in the team, especially as Australia does not have one.

“I think it is a distinct advantage. A wrist spinner will get the bounce from any sort of wicket, no matter if it’s green or if it’s a flat track,” a foreign news agency quoted Kaneria, as saying.

Kaneria has an impressive record in Australia, having taken a five-wicket haul in Melbourne and seven wickets in Sydney the last time Pakistan toured in 2004-05.

Kaneria to play major role in Pak bowling attack during Test series Down Under