Cricinfo previews the first Test between Australia and Pakistan at the MCG
The Preview by Brydon Coverdale 25-Dec-2009Match factsDecember 26-30, 2009
Start time 10.30am (23.30 GMT)Big PictureIt’s hard to know what to expect from a contest between the team that hasplayed the most Tests over the past two years and the side that has playedthe fewest. Australia’s hectic schedule means they’ve played 27 Tests sincethis time in 2007, while Pakistan’s home circumstances have limited them toeight Tests in the same period. Australia are coming off a 2-0, thoughtightly-fought, series against West Indies. Pakistan have just drawn 1-1in New Zealand.In years gone you could confidently predict not just an Australian win,but a rout, so dominant have they been against Pakistan since the mid-90s.But this is a different Australia side and as the series against WestIndies proved, one closer back to the pack than ever before. This Pakistanside retains the essence of all Pakistan sides and thus capable ofanything.What can be expected for sure is some high quality pace bowling. After adecade of batting riches, cricket suddenly finds itself with good fastbowlers floating around and few are more exciting than the ones Australiaand Pakistan have; between them, Doug Bollinger, Peter Siddle, MitchellJohnson, Mohammad Aamer, Mohammmad Asif and Umar Gul are likely todetermine the fate of the series.If Pakistan feel they have the better spinners in Danish Kaneria and SaeedAjmal, Australia will be more than confident that their batting is by farthe stronger. But if all goes well, it could be the most closely-foughtseries between the two sides since the 1994-95 tussle in Pakistan.Form guide (last five Tests, most recent first)Australia – WDWLW
Pakistan – DWLDL
Watch out forDoug Bollinger: He has become Australia’s newest cult bowling hero. Heentertains his team-mates with his antics, thrills the fans with hiswholeheartedness and good humour, and worries the opposition with his pace,swing and consistency. Chris Gayle made no secret of the fact that he feltBollinger was the most dangerous of Australia’s fast men during the recentTest series and Bollinger will be desperate to ensure his place in theattack becomes permanent.Three hundreds on an impressive Pakistan A tour to Australia in Julybrought Umar Akmal into the national side and he hasn’t stoppedscoring since; he already has two international hundreds and a spate offifties. He was hugely impressive in his maiden Test tour against NewZealand and his clear-headed aggression and a steady technique should winhim more fans here.Team newsAll the talk in the lead-up to the Test has surrounded Ricky Ponting’sfitness after suffering elbow tendon damage in the third Test against WestIndies. He trained well on Thursday and Friday and is more than likely totake his place in the side come Boxing Day. On the off chance he is ruledout, Phillip Hughes will come in. Siddle also looks set to return inplace of fellow Victorian Clint McKay after sitting out the WACA Testagainst West Indies with a hamstring strain. Siddle bowled withouttrouble in a state one-day match on Wednesday. A long-standing groinproblem for Nathan Hauritz has opened the doors for young legspinner SteveSmith, but Australia will give Hauritz time till the morning of the Testbefore making a final call.Australia (probable) 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/Steve Smith, 10 Peter Siddle, 11 DougBollinger.Pakistan have no such injury concerns though a niggle to the fourth fingeron Danish Kaneria’s spinning hand is being looked at. There is talk in thecamp of playing an extra spinner in place of a fast bowler, but that willdepend on the surface and a decision is expected later. Pakistan will notreadily dismantle the pace trio that served them so well in New Zealand.Pakistan (probable) 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 Aamer, 9 Umar Gul/Saeed Ajmal, 10 Mohammad Asif, 11Danish KaneriaPitch and conditionsThe drop-in MCG pitches have generally provided a slowish surface in recentyears and the runs haven’t always flowed as easily as at other venues. Theforecast for the five days is mostly good, with temperatures expected torise as the game goes on.Stats and Trivia Pakistan have played eight Tests at the MCG for two wins, in 1978-79and 1981-82 Australia’s loss to South Africa in Melbourne last summer ended a runof nine consecutive wins for Australia at the MCG The MCG is the only one of Australia’s five major venues at whichMichael Clarke has not scored a Test centuryQuotes”I think the conditions here and probably in Sydney as well will helpPakistan.”
“Because Australia don’t have McGrath and Warney anymore, there are morechances of sides coming and playing well over here.”
