Big Picture
The ICC's rankings would suggest that Pakistan (6th) and Australia (9th)
will be competing for the minor placings at the World Twenty20 in Sri
Lanka that follows this series. Yet the talent and aggression contained
within both sides is considerable, and will be on full display over the
next three matches in Dubai as Mohammad Hafeez and George Bailey, the
two captains, decide on their best T20 combinations before the big
tournament.
Pakistan's best in the format has been proven good enough to lift the
world title, as proven over a joyous three weeks in England in 2009. At
the last tournament in the West Indies they looked good for another
tilt, only to be humbugged by an extraordinary innings from
Michael Hussey as Australia scraped their way into the final, ultimately lost to England. Since then Cricket Australia have taken an increasingly serious look at T20, reflected in how the workloads of several players have been managed to have them building up to a peak over the next month.
Michael Hussey as Australia scraped their way into the final, ultimately lost to England. Since then Cricket Australia have taken an increasingly serious look at T20, reflected in how the workloads of several players have been managed to have them building up to a peak over the next month.
The ODI series that preceded these games was narrowly won by Australia,
but the T20 side is not that of Michael Clarke. Bailey has plenty to
live up to over the next three matches, not least the need for him to
put a stamp on the captaincy with his bat, which so far has yielded a
grand total of 60 runs and a highest score of 24. Hafeez is also seeking
to make the role his own, having shared his first series with Sri Lanka
earlier in the year. He is adamant that there is more to his team than
the spin wiles of Saeed ajmal, and the next three matches will provide a
chance to prove it to the world and themselves ahead of the World T20.
Form guide (Complete matches, most recent first)
Pakistan WLLLW
Australia LWLWL
Australia LWLWL
Watch out for
The omission of Umar Gul
from the ODI team was a talking point, and his absence left the
Pakistan attack looking a little too over reliant on spin, even if the
slow bowlers called on were all of high quality. He is back in the team
for the T20s and will be looking to add some fire and swing to the team,
as well as the yorkers he is so capable of delivering in the shortest
format. Australia's batsmen will be wary of Gul, who took 4 for 8
against them on this ground in 2009, though they will also hope he will
be short of rhythm in his first few overs.
Having shown his fearlessness in his first international series, Glenn Maxwell will now have the chance to secure a spot for himself in the T20 team
ahead of the world title bout in Sri Lanka. Maxwell's combination of
power and composure was compelling during the series deciding ODI, and
his ability to attack the spinners with conviction should serve him well
again here. Pakistan had greater success against Maxwell's modest off
spin, and it is in that discipline that the young allrounder will want
to improve in these matches.
Team news
Umar Gul and Mohammad Sami will add a greater pace threat to the
Pakistan team, while Imran Nazir's batting should also find a valued
place in the XI.
Pakistan (squad) Mohammad Hafeez (capt), Imran Nazir, Nasir
Jamshed, Kamran Akmal (wk), Asad Shafiq, Shoaib Malik, Abdul Razzaq,
Shahid Afridi, Yasir Arafat, Umar Akmal, Saeed Ajmal, Raza Hasan, Umar
Gul, Mohammad Sami, Sohail Tanvir
Brad Hogg's wrist spin will add a dimension lacking from Australia's ODI
combination, while the returns of Shane Watson and Pat Cummins add
power and pace. Cameron White's chance of a place in the batting order
may depend on the bowling balance chosen.
Australia (squad) David Warner, Shane Watson, Matthew Wade (wk),
David Hussey, Michael Hussey, George Bailey (capt), Cameron White,
Daniel Christian, Glenn Maxwell, Brad Hogg, Xavier Doherty, Clint McKay,
Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Ben Hilfenhaus, Alister McDermott
Pitch and conditions
The change of formats means more palatable playing hours for both sides,
though it will not entirely rule out the emergence of dew as a factor
in the second innings. Dubai's pitch has shown evidence of some pace and
bounce in recent times, but its most abiding characteristics are
helpfulness to spinners.
Stats and trivia
- The banned left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Amir was the man of the match the last time these two sides met, at Edgbaston during the 2010 series played in England. Pakistan won the series 2-0.
- Pakistan have won seven and lost seven of the 14 T20 matches they have played in Dubai. They defeated Australia in the two sides' only previous match at the ground, by seven wickets in 2009.
- This is Australia's first T20 series of more than two matches' duration
-
Quotes"We haven't really had a long time together as a Twenty20 team so it will be good playing Pakistan. We were unlucky on missing out on the [World T20] final the last time. This team has got good balance of youth and experience and on our day we can beat the best teams in the world."
Shane Watson believes the ICC rankings do not do Australia's T20 talent justice
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