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With Australia having reached Pakistan for a historic series, after returning to the country nearly 23 years since their last tour to the country, the stage is set for an entertaining series ahead. The men from Down Under will play three Tests, three ODIs and a solitary T20I against their Pakistani counterparts. A hugely anticipated series between two historically powerful sides in world cricket, all eyes will be on the players, when the first Test match begins on March 4 at Rawalpindi.
Many would expect the Aussies to be undisputed favourites, but the curious case behind the inexplicable resignation of successful head coach Justin Langer has left a bitter taste in the mouth. Nevertheless, the Australian squad seems well-rounded in all departments, with senior fast bowlers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood returning to the squad, after missing out on the last few Ashes Tests. Scott Boland and Michael Neser were both also drafted in the squad for the Pakistan tour, but the latter has been withdrawn from the squad.
Australia also have the back-to-form Usman Khawaja in the side, who marked his return to Test cricket with two centuries in the same test in the Ashes. There are not any notable absentees and the Aussies will definitely be feeling good heading into the historic series.
The Pakistan squad on the other hand, does not appear as settled. The Pakistan side has quality in all departments, but lacks a certain bench strength that the Aussies have in abundance. They will be hoping for a good performance from the likes of Fawad Alam, who has resurrected his career of late after an absence of more than a decade. A lot will also rely on Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and the vastly experienced Azhar Ali. Pakistan have also been dealt a huge blow, as fast bowler Hasan Ali and Faheem Ashraf have both been ruled out of the first Test against Australia, but will likely be making a return for the second game.
The Australian Test match side is coming off a dominating victory against the English in the Ashes, in which they won the five-match series 4-0, which also included a gripping draw. The Aussies had a lot of positives to take home from the series, as they had batting contributions from almost all players, including Travis Head and Khawaja. Adding to this, Scott Boland turned out to be a revelation, ripping apart the English lineup in the final few Tests in the absence of senior pacers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.
The Pakistanis will be playing a Test match after nearly three months, after executing a whitewash of Bangladesh in the two-match Test series back in December 2021. While the Bangladesh side is not the strongest in the world, the Pakistanis will take positives from the performances of Abid Ali, Shaheen Afridi, and Sajid Khan, who all did well in the 2-0 victory.
Key players
Pat Cummins will be the focus of a large chunk of attention, both from the media and the fans, after his recent appointment as the skipper of the Australian Test side. After leading his side to a massively successful Ashes victory, the objective this time around will be to do well away from home. He did bring the best out of players like Usman Khawaja and Scott Boland, and it will be interesting as to how he leads his men in the subcontinent, in addition to his bowling, which has been world-class for quite some time now.
Usman Khawaja will also be an important member of the Aussie side during the Pakistan tour. The southpaw has shown that he is back to his best and a successful series against Pakistan would be just what the doctor ordered. Khawaja has provided much-needed solidity to the Australian middle-order, and he together with the likes of Travis Head and Cameron Green could have a huge role to play in the series.
Babar Azam has easily been Pakistan’s best player across formats in the last three years or so, and most fans would expect more of the same from the Pakistan captain. Technically flawless, and one of the most elegant players to watch, Azam will definitely have a huge hand if the Pakistanis are to beat Australia. His leadership will also be closely scrutinised, and a big performance is expected of him.
Shaheen Shah Afridi has been one of the shining lights for Pakistan since the 2019 World Cup, going from strength in all formats. Quetta Gladiators skipper, who very recently won the Pakistan Super League, is also among the players the Pakistan side will be looking towards for a huge performance against the Aussies.
Prediction
The much-awaited Test series between Australia and Pakistan will certainly be a closely watched encounter, with the Aussies returning to Pakistan after a lengthy absence. Pat Cummins will be in charge of his first series away from home, and will be looking to make a statement. Both teams have a lot of quality, but the Australian side just seems much more complete, and add to that their excellent bench strength. Although the Pakistanis will have the home advantage, the Aussies head into Rawalpindi firm favourites.
