Pakistan look to tighten up their act
Sunday, 3 January 2010
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, according to website cricinfo.
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.
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.
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: 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.
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.
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.
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: 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.