Pakistan v Australia 1st Test Prediction

Australia started their full tour of Pakistan on a positive note while winning one T20 followed by a clean sweep of 3-0 in One Day Internationals. The current series is being hosted in the United Arab Emirates due to security reasons in Pakistan. The battle between the two teams will begin again in the longest version of the game and the Kangaroos have a psychological edge over the hosts. Both countries have played 57 Tests, Australia won 28, lost 12 and 17 of them produced no result. U.A.E hosted two Tests between two sides in October, 2002-3 at Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium and Pakistan lost both of them by a hefty margin of over an innings each time. The forthcoming two Tests will be played in Dubai and Abu Dhabi where Australia will try to make another clean sweep while Pakistan will anticipate a better performance in the series.

Players to watch

Younis Khan has played 91 Tests for Pakistan scored 7610 runs at an average of 51.41 with 24 hundreds and 28 half centuries. His skipper, Misbah-ul-Haq, is a solid middle order batsman but lacks his form at the moment while the opener Taufeeq Umar has been re-called after about two years. Asad Shafiq and Hairs Sohail smashed centuries against the Aussies in the recent tour match which was lost by the visitors by 153 runs. Ahmed Shehzad, Azhar Ali and Mohammad Hafeez are useful batsmen whereas Mohammad Talha, Rahat Ali, Ehsan Adil and Zulfiqar Babar will look after their bowling attack.

Michael Clarke with an experience of 105 Tests behind him comprising 8240 runs, averaging 51.50 including 27 centuries and even fifties will be a dangerous customer. David Warner, Chris Rogers, Glenn Maxwell, Steven Smith, James Faulkner and Mitchell Marsh form a formidable batting unit. Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus and Nathan Lyon are their match winning bowlers.

Time & Venue

Wednesday, October 22 – Sunday October 26, 2014 @ 06:00 GMT, 10:00 local at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Weather

A typical warm weather of U.A.E with the temperatures around 28-35ᵒC.

Toss

The winner will opt to bat first and give their batsmen a chance to pile up mammoth runs.

The Pitch

The surface will most likely favour the batsmen and spinners.

Teams

Pakistan – Misbah-ul-Haq (C), Ahmed Shehzad, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Ehsan Adil, Haris Sohail, Imran Khan, Mohammad Talha, Rahat Ali, Sarfraz Ahmed, Shan Masood, Tufeeq Umar, Yasir Shah, Zulfiqar Babar.

Australia – Michael Clarke (C), Alex Doolan, Chris Rogers, James Faulkner, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Marsh, Phillip Hughes, Glenn Maxwell, David Warner, Steven Smith, Peter Siddle, Steve O’Keefe, Mitchell Starc, Ben Hilfenhaus, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon.

Prediction

Australia is favourite to win the encounter.