Pakistan, Australia set for dramatic series in UAE
dubai — We don’t yet know if any of the players in the Pakistan and Australia Test squads have seen Rocky Balboa script the most stirring underdog triumphs, but both these teams certainly need to take inspiration from the fictional heavyweight boxer when the twoTest series starts under the iconic Ring of Fire in Dubai on Sunday.
During an interview with Khaleej Times, Waqar Younis, Pakistan’s legendary fast bowler and their former coach, gave a perplexed look when asked about his expectations from this Test series.
“You can expect anything to be honest. Both these teams are at par because they have had their share of problems and controversy in the last six or eight months,” Waqar said. Pakistan had gone into the Asia Cup as the favourites only to fall flat on their face.
And captain Sarfraz Ahmed bore the brunt of the public anger due to his wretched form and lack of imagination as captain.
Australia, on the other hand, will play their first Test series after the ball-tampering scandal that put the careers of Steve Smith and David Warner on the line and ruined the cricket-loving country’s image.
Now Pakistan’s own reputation is also at stake in the UAE, having lost their previous Test series here against Sri Lanka last year.
This team of mercurial players is now missing the class and experience of Younis Khan and Misbahul Haq in the five-day format.
Justin Langer’s men also lack experience in the batting department, but they have formidable bowlers who will fancy their chance against Pakistan’s top-six.
And this series could be decided by the winner of the duel between Yasir Shah and Nathan Lyon.
Yasir can be unplayable on the UAE pitches where he has taken 79 wickets from just 12 Tests.
The same pitches sucked the life out of Lyon when they last played here in 2014, but the Australian worked so hard on his game that he has now become the world’s best off-spinner.
And his performances on those dry wickets in India and Bangladesh gave him a shot in the arm. You could see that from how he tormented the Pakistan A batsmen in the four-day game with eight first innings wickets.
Lyon will be backed by left-arm spinner Jon Holland, who took five second innings wickets against Pakistan A, and Travis Head, a middle-order batsman who can bowl decent off-breaks.
Then Mitchell Starc will hope to provide the spark in short spells.
Langer has taken a bold decision in his first Test as Australia coach, handing the Baggy Green caps to Head, limited-overs specialist Aaron Finch and the 24-year-old middle-order batsman Marnus Labuschagne. It remains to be seen if these players justify their coach’s faith and play a role in what could be a dramatic series.