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Problems are all Pakistan’s as daunting MCG looms

Big Picture: Pakistan seek for inspiration

All we wish for Christmas is a contest, proper? Well, Pakistan will hope for a miracle. If they topple Australia on the MCG it might come near that.

After nearly holding their very own, to a level, throughout the primary three days in Perth, issues unravelled rapidly on the fourth, albeit the floor was tough by the point Pakistan began their second innings.

So they got here to Melbourne considerably battered and bruised, however at the least had a barely longer hole to gather their ideas. They have performed two days of cricket – whether or not that point at Junction Oval will make any vital distinction is debatable – and have additionally misplaced two gamers to damage and sickness.

Despite Pakistan’s second innings collapse final week, their greatest problem seems taking 20 wickets with what appears a reasonably threadbare assault. If the highest order can construct on the begins they acquired within the first innings in Perth they’ll at the least have hope of constructing a complete, though Australia’s assault is relentless.

There is barely a flicker of concern across the house facet, and even the discuss round David Warner has diminished after his 164. Now it is all in regards to the farewell, moderately than whether or not he deserves it.

When Marnus Labuschagne averaging 35 for the 12 months is maybe an space of concern, or whether or not Alex Carey can recapture the batting contact that introduced him a maiden century this time final 12 months, issues are monitoring properly. Things are so steady that the MCG crowd will not even be capable of cheer on Scott Boland.

Form information

(final 5 matches, most up-to-date first)
Australia WLDLW
Pakistan LWWLL

In the highlight: Marnus Labuschagne and Babar Azam

It’s been a lean 12 months by Marnus Labuschagne‘s excessive requirements with a mean of 35. In Perth, he was lbw within the first innings having moved compactly to 16. He was given a working over within the second, together with a painful blow on the hand, earlier than top-edging a brief ball. This time final 12 months his Test common was 59.05 and now it is 52.15. He will, little question, flip issues round and Boxing Day on the MCG – a floor the place he hasn’t had an enormous quantity of success – could possibly be the place it begins.

At 181 for 3 within the first innings in Perth, Pakistan had been making a very good fist of it. Then Babar Azam edged Mitchell Marsh to Carey who simply clung on to the possibility. Pakistan misplaced seven wickets for 90 and the sport was accomplished. There was nothing Babar might do in regards to the great supply from Pat Cummins within the second innings, however Pakistan want him to seek out the groove that introduced scores of 104 and 97 on the tour 4 years in the past. “He’s still in his shell, not really playing his natural way,” Waqar Younis advised ESPN’s Around The Wicket present. “I know the bowlers are too good, it’s hard to get on top of them, but you have to find a way, good players do that.”

Team news: Australia unchanged…

Barring any late Christmas-dinner associated accidents, Australia will probably be unchanged which suggests no place for hometown hero Boland who averages 13.80 on the MCG.

Australia 1 David Warner, 2 Usman Khawaja, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Steven Smith, 5 Travis Head, 6 Mitchell Marsh 7 Alex Carey (wk), 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Pat Cummins (capt), 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Josh Hazlewood

Pakistan have named a squad of 12 and can make a ultimate resolution on the XI on the toss. Mohammad Rizwan replaces Sarfaraz Ahmed as wicketkeeper. Khurram Shahzad has been dominated out of the tour with a rib fracture and Faheem Ashraf has been dropped. That means two of Hasan Ali, Mir Hamza and Sajid Khan will play. Sajid seems more likely to be included until the pitch appears higher for 4 quicks and Agha Salman.

Pakistan 1 Abdullah Shafique, 2 Imam-ul-Haq, 3 Shan Masood (capt), 4 Babar Azam, 5 Saud Shakeel, 6 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 7 Agha Salman, 8 Hasan Ali/Mir Hamza, 9 Sajid Khan, 10 Aamer Jamal, 11 Shaheen Shah Afridi

Pitch and circumstances

The groundsman, Matt Page, has promised a well-grassed floor with tempo and bounce – though the latter two components might not attain Perth ranges. Life has been tough for batters on the MCG in current seasons. But this pitch solely has 6-7mm of grass in comparison with 10mm plus on earlier Boxing Days and is much less thatchy. The pitch has been underneath the covers since December 24 resulting from relentless rain on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The forecast isn’t excellent with a excessive likelihood of extra showers on the primary day extra on the second, however an enchancment after that. However, issues can change rapidly in Melbourne.

Stats and trivia

  • Travis Head wants 42 runs to succeed in 3000 in Tests

  • Saud Shakeel wants 73 runs to succeed in 1000 – he has at present batted 15 occasions, and the document for Pakistan to that landmark is 20 innings by Saeed Ahmed

    • Quotes

    “It looks really good, fair bit of grass, probably a fair bit harder and not as green as last year, knowing it was potentially going to be under covers today and for a little bit tomorrow maybe, so we’ll see how it plays but it looks like a really good wicket.” Australia captain Pat Cummins on the MCG pitch.

    “It was hard out there in Perth. But I still feel there were some positives that probably we didn’t do back when we were here in 2019. We don’t want to force people to play a certain way. But we’ve sort of outlined certain things that we want to do better.” Pakistan captain Shan Masood on the fashion of cricket Pakistan need to play in Melbourne.

    Andrew McGlashan is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo

    Source web site: www.espncricinfo.com

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