Australia eye victory lap against Pakistan at end of stellar year

MELBOURNE : Australia will look to cap a brilliant year with a golden home summer by beating Pakistan in a three-test series starting in Perth on Thursday as David Warner looks to bow out of the longest format on a triumphant note.

Having won the World Test Championship, retained the Ashes and earned a record-extending sixth World Cup title, Pat Cummins's side have the chance to celebrate with home fans against a team they have whitewashed in their last five home series.

Australia head coach Andrew McDonald said the hosts would field their strongest side, which means a welcome return for spinner Nathan Lyon, who will chase his 500th test wicket after injury ruled him out of the last three matches of the Ashes.

Warner, however, may be the biggest headline of the series as he looks to defy his detractors with big runs ahead of a planned swan song in the series finale in Sydney.

Warner's place in Australia's white ball teams is assured after a prolific World Cup but his spot in the test squad has been on shaky ground in recent years due to declining output.

His selection for the first test triggered a scathing column by former team mate Mitchell Johnson, who questioned whether Warner deserved a "hero's sendoff" in Sydney five years on from 'Sandpaper-gate'.

One of Australia's greatest openers, 37-year-old Warner can put the debate to bed with a big score at Perth Stadium but failure to do so would put pressure on selectors to fast track a successor.

Pakistan arrive with a new skipper in Shan Masood and a familiar backdrop of tumult as they look to win a first ever series in Australia and a first test since 1995.

Masood inherited the captaincy after Babar Azam stepped down as all-formats skipper last month in the wake of their