Big picture: Pakistan want to keep series alive, latest blow for several of Australia’s Test stars
After failing to pull off an incredible heist in the first game at the MCG, Pakistan will need to regroup and pull off a rare victory at the picturesque Adelaide Oval on Friday to keep the series alive.
The short pitch tactics worked well and rattled Australia’s batsmen, but Pakistan will probably need to change their approach on a wicket with much shorter wicket dimensions compared to the MCG. They will do well to focus on bowling a long, disciplined line against an explosive Australian batting order determined to pursue an ultra-aggressive approach.
To keep the series alive ahead of Sunday’s decider in Perth, Pakistan will also have to challenge a poor record against Australia, having won just twice in the last 14 ODIs between the two sides.
Australia were not too convincing in the first game but can close out the series in what will be the final blow for captain Pat Cummins, Steven Smith, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Marnus Labuschagne before the first Test against India.
Starc has been in excellent form at the start of the season, while Cummins was gripped with ball and bat at the MCG. Smith’s 44 allayed fears over his form but Labuschagne is in the midst of a poor patch and scored just 16 in the first ODI before being pressured by Rauf’s extra bounce.
forms guide
AustraliaWWLLW (last five matches completed, most recent first)
PakistanLLWWL
In the spotlight: Matt Short and Babar Azam
As the ‘bat off’ Test continues during Australia A’s second match at the MCG, Australia also has David Warner’s shoes to fill in ODI cricket. With regular starter Travis Head on paternity leave, short matt and Jake Fraser-McGurk are trying to make a convincing case for the Champions Trophy, but both narrowly failed in the opening match. Short has been considered to have the inside run after a good performance against England in the UK recently, but he only made one run in the series opener after edging out Shaheen Shah Afridi at third man. He should enjoy returning to Adelaide Oval, where he has made many BBL runs over the years for Strikers. Short has a golden opportunity before him in conditions that he knows very well.
Team news: Hazlewood returns; Naseem expected to be fit
Hazlewood is likely to replace Sean Abbott in the XI and play his only cap before the first Test. After a month’s break following the UK tour, Hazlewood returned to New South Wales against Queensland in a Sheffield Shield match on cricket Central which finished earlier in the week. He was wicketless in 24 overs in Queensland’s only innings in the drawn match.
Australia (possible): 1 Matt Short, 2 Jake Fraser-McGurk, 3 Steven Smith, 4 Josh Inglis (wk), 5 Marnus Labuschagne, 6 Glenn Maxwell, 7 Aaron Hardie, 8 Pat Cummins (captain), 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Josh Hazlewood
Naseem was forced to leave the field in the first ODI due to cramps but is expected to be available. Pakistan may have to consider playing a frontline role in Adelaide.
Pakistan (possible): 1 Saim Ayub, 2 Abdullah Shafique, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 5 Kamran Ghulam, 6 Salman Ali Agha, 7 Irfan Khan, 8 Shaheen Shah Afridi, 9 Naseem Shah, 10 Haris Rauf, 11 Mohamed Hasnain
Field and conditions
Despite its reputation as a batting paradise, Adelaide Oval has been difficult to bat at, as was underlined by a low-scoring Sheffield Shield match between South Australia and Victoria that ended earlier in the week, although it was designed to help the home team’s spinners. The surface is usually considerably flatter for white-ball cricket and the short square dimensions lead to quick scoring. It rained before the game and showers are forecast for Friday morning. But play should not be affected as sunny conditions are expected throughout the afternoon.
Statistics and curiosities
- Mitchell Starc is six wickets away from becoming the fourth Australian to take 250 ODI wickets. He has the best strike rate by an Australian in ODI cricket (minimum 50 wickets).
- Glenn Maxwell needs 66 runs to reach 4000 in ODIs.
- Shaheen Shah Afridi (25.99) and Haris Rauf (26.23) rank seventh and eighth respectively in terms of bowling strike rates in ODI history (minimum 1000 balls).
- Pakistan have beaten Australia only once in eight ODIs at the Adelaide Oval. His only victory was by 12 races in December 1996.
Quotes
“The game is changing and we want to continue the game in the first 10 overs. Instead of reaching 240-250, which are not winnable scores here, we believe reaching the high mark of 300 is more of a winning total.”
Australia opener Jake Fraser-McGurk
Tristan Lavalette is a journalist based in Perth.
