Mickey Arthur backs Pakistan’s bowlers to trouble Australia

Pakistan are coming off a 0-2 lose against New Zealand before turning up against Australia As Pakistan gears up to face Australia, that too in their den, head coach Mickey Arthur believes his team has the capability and the pace artillery to trouble the Aussies’ fresh-batting line-up. Pakistan is currently in Australia to play a three-Test series beginning from December 15 at the Gabba in Brisbane. After making drastic changes for the third and the final Test against South Africa a fortnight ago, the Australian selectors are likely to go for a much needed stability when they would name their squad for the Brisbane Test starting next week. On the other hand, Pakistan, which have produced bowling legends like Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, doesn’t have similar kind of names. But Arthur believes his side has the bowling attack which can create serious pressure on the Aussie batsman and can cause a lot of trouble “Our attack is good enough to get 20 wickets, we just have to get enough runs and that’s something we’re working extremely hard at”, stated Arthur. “There’s a lot of obstacles to get over for us. This is like Australia playing in India, conditions are totally opposite for us. If we can master the conditions, which we’re working very hard at, and have belief to play well in these conditions we’re as good a chance as any. We have wonderfully skilled players but they’re out of their comfort zone now, just like Australia are when they go to India,” he insisted. Pinpointing tainted fast bowler Mohammad Aamer, the head coach said, “He’s not the pace of Mitchell Starc but his control is very, very good and when he gets the ball to swing he’s as good as any going around. He’s quick enough as well, he’ll be a handful,” he added. The left-arm pacer has served his time- both in the eyes of the game, which gave him a fiveyear ban, and that of the law after being released three months into a six-month jail term. Aamer, along with fast bowler Mohammad Asif and former skipper Salman Butt were found guilty of various offences of corrupt behaviour relating to the Lord’s Test between England and Pakistan in August 2010 by the independent Anti-Corruption Tribunal in February 2011. Pakistan, who are coming from a 0-2 lost against New Zealand in two-Test series, have traditionally struggled Down Under, having managed to clinch only four wins from 29 Tests. The Gabba Test will be followed by the second and third Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (December 26-30) and Sydney Cricket Ground (January 3-7, 2017) respectively. Yasir Shah ruled out of warm-up match against Cricket Australia XI due to injury. Yasir Shah is now battling to be fit for the first Test of the three-match series against Australia beginning December 15 at the Gabba Cairns: Pakistan legspinner Yasir Shah has been ruled out of the warm-up game against Cricket Australia XI due to a back injury. Yasir hurt his back during a training session at the Cazaly’s Stadium in Cairns and is now battling to be fit for the first Test of the three-match series against Australia beginning December 15 at the Gabba. According to the ESPN-cricinfo, Yasir is being treated by a doctor in Cairns, and has been advised a few days’ rest. Yasir, who made his debut in October 2014, has quickly developed into Pakistan’s first-choice spinner and has so far missed just one Test, which was against England in Abu Dhabi in October last year due to back spasms. In July, he became the first leg-spinner since Shane Warne to be ranked the No. 1 Test bowler, and also the first Pakistan bowler since Mushtaq Ahmed in December 1996 to achieve the feat. Pakistan will play a three-day tour game against CA XI from December 8.