Pakistan Cricket
Pakistan v Australia - 2nd Test Preview
Pak v Aus- Sharjah!
By Imran Chaudry
October 10 2002
After an exciting First Test against Australia in Colombo, Pakistan move onto Sharjah for the remaining two Tests. The First Test saw the experienced Australians came through in the end. Pakistan needs to raise their game in Sharjah as the Australians will be looking to wrap up the series.
Playing a home series on neutral territory is difficult, but Pakistan did beat the West Indies 2-0 in Sharjah earlier this year. Pakistan has played in Sharjah for many years, so they should be familiar with the conditions. The pitch should suit the spinners, so Mohammed Sami is likely to lose his place to Danish Kanairia (as hinted by the captain Waqar Younis in a press conference after the First Test). Imran Nazir, Misbah-ul-Haq and Abdul Razzaq’s places in the side are all under threat, with Imran Farhat, Hasan Raza, and Naveed-ul-Hasan waiting in the wings if any further changes are made.
If Pakistan is to level the series, the whole bowling attack will have to improve as the only bowlers to impress in the First Test were Saqlain Mushtaq and Shoaib Akhtar who took eight wickets each. All five bowlers need to be firing on all cylinders, as there is no room for excess baggage. Two or three of the batsmen really need to go on and make a big score, Imran Nazir, Taufeeq Umer, Rashid Latif, Younis Khan (twice), and Faisal Iqbal (twice) all had starts and are capable of making big hundreds.
The Australians have been rocked by the calf injury to Jason Gillespie, which has ruled him out of the remainder of the series. Brad Williams has been called up as his replacement, but it is highly unlikely that he will take part in the Second Test. Therefore Andrew Bichel and off spinner Nathan Hauritz are likely to contest the vacant position left by Jason Gillespie. Mark Waugh has come under fire for some of the catches he dropped, and he will be well aware that he cannot afford anymore failures. Apart from the one change, expect Australia to field an unchanged line-up.
The Threats:
For Australia the bowlers Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath will continue to be a threat. In the batting line-up, the Mark Waugh will be desperate for a big score; otherwise it could be curtains for him
.Pakistan Prospects:Pakistan have many individuals to look out for, Shoaib Akhtar and Saqlain Mushtaq will continue to be a threat, and we also expect an improved performance from the rest of the bowling attack. In the batting line-up I expect Taufeeq Umer to put in another solid batting display, and watch out for Faisal Iqbal as well.
The Verdict:
My prediction for match: Pakistan will win the match and level the series, as they will have learned a lot from the First Test defeat.
Probable Sides:Pakistan: Taufeeq Umer, Imran Nazir, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Faisal Iqbal, Abdul Razzaq, Rashid Latif (wkt), Saqlain Mushtaq, Waqar Younis (capt), Shoaib Akhtar, Danish Kanairia.
Australia: Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Ricky Ponting, Mark Waugh, Steve Waugh (capt), Damien Martyn, Adam Gilchrist (wkt), Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Nathan Hauritz or Andrew Bichel, Glenn McGrath