Pakistan bat first in opener against Aust
Australia have been asked to bowl first on their return to Pakistan, after electing to stick with three quicks and go without a second spinner in the first Test in Rawalpindi.
Steve Smith Sport News
Virat Kohli's 100th Test: 5 dramatic moments of his red-ball career
India's superstar cricketer Virat Kohli plays his 100th Test on Friday, but not as captain following his shock resignation from one of world sport's top jobs in January.
Virat Kohli's 5 Dramatic Moments In Test Career
India's superstar cricketer Virat Kohli plays his 100th Test on Friday, but not as captain following his shock resignation from one of world sport's top jobs in January. Leading from the front as one of the modern game's best batters, India under Kohli became a force to be reckoned with outside the subcontinent but never won a multinational tournament. The brash social media star and advertising hot property -- married to a Bollywood actress -- had his share of run-ins with umpires and opponents alike along the way.
Nathan Lyon targets clean sweep for Australia in Pakistan Tests
Nathan Lyon said on Wednesday he was proud to be involved in the team's first tour of Pakistan in 24 years and hoped for a 3-0 Test series win to make the trip even more memorable. Australia completed a 4-0 Ashes series victory over England earlier this year and while they face vastly different conditions in Pakistan Lyon said the goal was to win every match. "My mindset is every game we go into, we will look to win, not draw or lose. My mindset is to win 3-0 in Pakistan," Lyon told reporters ahead of the first Test, which begins on Friday in Rawalpindi. Major teams have shunned Pakistan since an attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore in 2009 that killed six policemen and two civilians but international sides have recently started touring the country again. "Pakistan haven't had the opportunity to have a lot of international cricket here over a number of years so to be able to be the first Australian team to come here to play ... It's a pretty proud moment," Lyon said. "We've spoken as a group about how big it is for the people of Pakistan to see the likes of Steve Smith, David Warner, Pat Cummins and Marnus Labuschagne ... these guys are proud to come out here and play to be role models."
Watch: Pat Cummins Tries To Bowl A Bouncer To Steve Smith But Things Don't Go As Planned
Australia have begun their preparations for the upcoming tour of Pakistan, starting March 4. Ahead of the start of the first Test in Rawalpindi, the Australian team hit the nets at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. The likes of Pat Cummins, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, among others were all sweating it out before the start of their first tour of Pakistan in 24 years. During the net session, Australia Test skipper Cummins tried to bowl a bouncer to his deputy Smith but the result wasn't quite as planned.
Cricket-Lyon targets clean sweep for Australia in Pakistan tests
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Australia spinner Nathan Lyon said on Wednesday he was proud to be involved in the team's first tour of Pakistan in 24 years and hoped for a 3-0 test series win to make the trip even more memorable.
Lyon targets clean sweep for Australia in Pakistan tests
ISLAMABAD : Australia spinner Nathan Lyon said on Wednesday he was proud to be involved in the team's first tour of Pakistan in 24 years and hoped for a 3-0 test series win to make the trip even more memorable.
Players to watch in Pakistan-Australia Test series
Pakistan will start their first Test series at home against Australia in 24 years in Rawalpindi on Friday under heavy security with the tourists on unfamiliar turf. Here's a look at three players from each side to watch as the long-awaited and potentially fascinating three-Test battle unfolds. Started his career as a leg-spinning all-rounder against Pakistan at Lord's in 2010 before developing into one of the most complete batters in international cricket, Steve Smith's average of 59.87 is unsurpassed by any active Test player and he has proved his adaptability by scoring 1,200 runs in 13 Tests on slow, turning sub-continent wickets. Australia will look to Smith -- who by his own lofty standards had a lean series against England with 244 runs at 30.50 and a top score of 93 -- to anchor their batting against a formidable Pakistan attack on pitches alien to the tourists. Likely to be the key to winning matches on the slow and turning pitches of Pakistan.