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Watch: David Warner, Steve Smith Seen Playing Tennis Ahead Of 2nd Test Against Pakistan
Australia will take on Pakistan in the second Test match from Saturday in Karachi and both teams will look to break the deadlock in the series after the first match at Rawalpindi ended in a tame draw. Australia will depend on its bowling attack to find a way to get past the Pakistani batters. The hosts on the other hand would want to negate the threat of the Australian pace attack, but another dead pitch will make for poor advertisement for Test cricket and that must be playing on the mind of the Pakistan board.
2nd Test: Australia brace for Karachi challenge after Rawalpindi run-feast
Pat Cummins knows the task gets significantly tougher for his team in the second Test against Pakistan on Saturday. Australia's first Test in Pakistan in 24 years turned out to be a run-feast in Rawalpindi where 1,187 runs were scored and only 14 wickets fell, earning a "below average" rating from the match referee. After five dull days of bat dominating ball, things are likely to spice up on a dry track at Karachi's National Stadium where spin and reverse swing should ensure runs are not taken for granted. Australia have responded by harnessing debutant Mitchell Swepson with Nathan Lyon in a two-man spin attack, sacrificing the pace of Josh Hazlewood and endorsing Mitchell Starc's reverse swing skills. "The wicket here looks a little bit drier. Historically, it's bit friendlier for the spinners," Cummins told a news conference on Friday.
Pakistan vs Australia: Steve Smith Trolls Himself In Congratulatory Tweet For Mitchell Swepson
Mitchell Swepson will make his much-awaited Test debut when Australia take on Pakistan in the second Test of the three-match series starting on Saturday at the National Stadium in Karachi. His selection in the playing XI has a special significance as he his call-up comes a week after legendary Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne died in Thailand. Since Pat Cummins announced Australia's playing XI for the Karachi Test, many have taken to social media to congratulate Swepson, among them was Australian superstar Steve Smith.
Australia brace for Karachi challenge after Rawalpindi run-feast
KARACHI, Pakistan : Beginning a tour of the sub-continent with a draw is a result perfectly acceptable to most visiting captains but Australia skipper Pat Cummins knows the task gets significantly tougher for his team in the second test against Pakistan on Saturday.
ICC rates Rawalpindi pitch 'below average' after drawn Pakistan v Australia test
The Pindi Cricket Stadium pitch for the first test between Pakistan and Australia has been rated "below average" by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and given one demerit point after the first test ended in a draw.
Pakistan vs Australia: David Warner wants a better pitch for 2nd Test against Pakistan
Australia opener David Warner said he hopes for an improved pitch for the second Test in Karachi after the visitors could claim only four Pakistan wickets in the series-opening draw on Rawalpindi's docile wicket. “I just want a game where you can actually create 20 chances,” Warner said on Thursday. “It's something that's going to be exciting and entertaining for the crowd.” Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ramiz Raja has acknowledged that drawn games are not a good advertisement for Test cricket and Pindi Cricket Stadium's wicket was described by Australia batter and vice captain Steve Smith as a “dead wicket.”
Pakistan vs Australia, 2nd Test: Aussies look to second spinner after Rawalpindi stalemate
The historic occasion -- Australia's first Test in Pakistan since 1998 -- was marred by a pitch described as "dead" by vice-captain Steve Smith as Pakistan piled up 728 runs for the loss of just four wickets, and one of those was a run out. Openers Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique both made maiden Test hundreds -- Imam scoring one in each innings -- while senior batsman Azhar Ali also passed three figures during five attritional days. The series now moves to Karachi's National Stadium, a favourite hunting ground for Pakistan, who have won 23 of the 43 Tests they have played there while losing only twice. Australia have never won in Karachi in eight attempts, losing five and drawing three.