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Pakistan vs Australia, 1st Test: "Brave Enough To Take On Opportunities," Says Pat Cummins

Australia's arrival in Pakistan for their first Test tour of the country since 1998 has been billed as a significant event for the cricket world and it is definitely important. Pat Cummins turn to his team's batting line up saying there could be times when the scoreboard will only tick over at two runs an over and they have to be prepared to bat. The Australian captain said they have to learn the beats of playing Test cricket on the sub-continent pitches to win against the hosts. "There could be times when the scoreboard is only ticking over at two runs an over and for our batting group we've just got to be prepared to bat and bat and bat," said Pat Cummins as reported by ESPNcricinfo.

Australia Captain Pat Cummins Upbeat For Historic Pakistan Test

Australia's first Test in Pakistan in 24 years starting Friday is threatened by rain, but even storm clouds failed to dampen the mood of rival captains Pat Cummins and Babar Azam on the eve of the match. Rain forced both teams to cancel their practice sessions Thursday, but the forecast is clear for Friday and most of Saturday, with showers likely on the last three days of play. Despite the weather, Cummins and Azam were geared up for the historic Test -- to be played in front of a sell-out 16,000 crowd in Rawalpindi, the garrison city just south of the capital, Islamabad.

ICC World Test Championship Table Update: Defending Champions New Zealand Drop To 6th After Loss vs South Africa In 2nd Test

The 198-run loss in the second Test against South Africa at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch proved to be a bitter pill to swallow for World Test Championship title holders New Zealand. The defeat, which meant that the two-match series was drawn 1-1, pulled New Zealand down to sixth in the standings having won only two of the six games played by them in this WTC cycle. The win for South Africa was their third in five games as they were placed above last time's WTC finalists India, who occupy the fifth spot currently.

Pakistan vs Australia Preview: Australia Step Into Unknown For 1st Test In Pakistan Since 1998

Australia take on Pakistan in the first Test of the three-match series from Fiday and the series opener will be played in Rawalpindi. All Pakistan vs Australia Test series will now be called the Benaud-Qadir series, named after legendary Australia all-rounder Richie Benaud and Pakistani leg-spin great Abdul Qadir. Ashes-winning Australia will face unfamiliar conditions, heavy security and unpredictable, but talented, opponents when they begin their first Test in Pakistan for 24 years on Friday. Having landed in Islamabad just three days ago to be immediately engulfed in "head of state-level security", the Australians have had little time to acclimatise to conditions in Rawalpindi, where the first Test will be played. But they may like what they see as they practise, with a pitch often more conducive to seam bowling than the more typical spinners' wickets more usually found across Pakistan.

Australian Wicket-Keeping Legend Rodney Marsh "Critical But Stable," Flown To Adelaide

Australia wicket-keeping legend Rodney Marsh, who remains in an induced coma after suffering a heart attack last week, has been flown to a city hospital from Bundaberg in a "critical but stable condition." The 74-year-old had suffered the heart attack on the way to a charity event at Bundaberg in Queensland on February 24. A report in the 'Sydney Morning Herald' quoted a Bundaberg Hospital spokesperson as saying "Marsh was transferred interstate on Monday in a critical but stable condition." Marsh was shifted to Adelaide to be closer to his family, according to the report.

Pakistan vs Australia, 1st Test: Nathan Lyon Relishes Babar Azam Challenge

Australian spin great Nathan Lyon said Wednesday he was relishing the challenge of bowling against one of the world's top batsmen, Babar Azam, in the first Test against Pakistan starting this week. The 34-year-old is the highest wicket-taker in the Australia squad with 415 from 105 Tests, and boasts a record of 95 victims in 19 matches across Asia. Azam is the world's number one batsman in one-day internationals as well Twenty20s, and is ranked ninth in the Test rankings. "I have always said from day one of my career that I want to compete against the best players in the world, and Babar is definitely one of those guys," Lyon told a video news conference.

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.

"Tremendous Thinker Of The Game": Marnus Labuschagne's High Praise For Ravichandran Ashwin

India's Ravichandran Ashwin is currently one of the best spinners in world cricket, especially in Test cricket. The veteran cricketer has been hailed by many elite batters and was also recently on the receiving end of plenty of praise from Australian batter Marnus Labuschagne. Speaking to Cricbuzz, Labuschagne praised Ashwin's record and also stated that "you obviously have to lift your game" when batting against the off-spinner. Explaining why Ashwin's tactical sense is different from other spinners, Labuschagne said, "The reason Ashwin's record is so good is because he's a tremendous thinker of the game. So, he's always thinking about how he can get you out. About what you are doing. And so what he's doing to counter that?"

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Australia Cricket Team Sport News

Pakistan vs Australia, 1st Test: "Brave Enough To Take On Opportunities," Says Pat Cummins

Australia Captain Pat Cummins Upbeat For Historic Pakistan Test

ICC World Test Championship Table Update: Defending Champions New Zealand Drop To 6th After Loss vs South Africa In 2nd Test

Pakistan vs Australia Preview: Australia Step Into Unknown For 1st Test In Pakistan Since 1998

Australian Wicket-Keeping Legend Rodney Marsh "Critical But Stable," Flown To Adelaide

Pakistan vs Australia, 1st Test: Nathan Lyon Relishes Babar Azam Challenge

Watch: Pat Cummins Tries To Bowl A Bouncer To Steve Smith But Things Don't Go As Planned

"Tremendous Thinker Of The Game": Marnus Labuschagne's High Praise For Ravichandran Ashwin