Pakistan vs Australia: A mouth watering contest awaits.

By: Raafay Awan

This has to be one of the most awaited series for Pakistan. The hype is not as it should have been thanks to the shortened tour and the ICC World T20 looming around but this is going to be the real test for Pakistan in a long time.

Australia may not be the best team in the world now or as much threatening but for sure they are one to the toughest opponents and a team that fights till the end. Last time both teams met was during the World Cup and Pakistan were the winners.

Pakistan has selected a different squad from the last one that played against Sri Lanka and there have been a few surprises as well, here is a look at the ODI squad of Pakistan for the series.

Pakistan has gone in with three first choice openers for the ODI series with Muhammad Hafeez, Nasir Jamshed and Imran Farhat. Pakistan almost has a settled opening pair in shape of Hafeez and Nasir who gave them really good starts in the Asia Cup (135, 29, 224, 16 runs).

In the absence of Younis Khan who was dropped over his poor performances over the year, Pakistan's middle order looks a touch inexperienced. Pakistan dont really have a capable number 3 batsman so the likes of Azhar Ali who has opened before, and Asad Shafiq will have to take the responsibility. Pakistan's Middle order will be covered by Misbah ul Haq and Umar Akmal at the fourth and fifth spot.

Shoaib Malik has again been included in the squad to fill the gap created by Younis Khan absence but even after ample lot chanced he hasnt been able to prove himself again at the top level. Anwar Ali has been preferred over Hammad Azam, who can bowl quick and also bat solidly and can be a very good prospect for Pakistan in the future if he gets better treatment than Hammad Azam got.

Kamran Akmal inclusion has to be a positive move after almost all the capable keepers were given chances over the past year and a half but no one has come anywhere near Kamran Akmal. Catches are still being dropped, stumpings still being missed so why not at the cost of some quick runs.

Bowling has got to be the strongest Point of Pakistan. With the World's best spin bowling attack that includes Saeed Ajmal, Shahid Afridi, Abdur Rehman Pakistan are not short of resources if you add the options of Hafeez and Shoaib Malik.

Even though Umar Gull has been dropped from the ODI squad Pakistan still have a very capable fast bowling attack. With the likes of emerging Junaid Khan and hard working Aizaz Cheema, accompanied by the inform Sohail Tanvir, Paksitan have enough variety to trouble any opposition.

After the team analysis here are a few stats related to Pakistan vs Australia series.

Pakistan and Australia have played 86 ODI so far out of which Pakistan has won just 30 while Australia had won 52 matches and clearly have the upper hand. On neutral venues Both the teams have faced each other 25 times with Pakistan winning 10 and Australia winning 14 matches. 

Mathew Haayden holds the record for the highest individual inning against Pakistan with 146 runs in the year 2002. Highest Individual inning by a Pakistani player against Australia is 116* by Kamran Akmal during the last series in UAE in 2009.

Highest Team total by Pakistan has been 315/8 way back in the year 1998, while there lowest total is 108 all out in 2002. Highest total scored by Australia was 337/7 during the C&U series 2000, The lowest total scored against Pakistan was 120 all out in the the same C&U series but in the year 1997.

Javed Miandad has been the highest run getter against Australia with 1019 at an average of 33.96. Muhammad Yousuf is the second highest run getter with 1016 runs at an average of 37.62. From the Australia side Ricky Ponting leads the list with 1107 runs at an average of 36.90.

Wasim Akram is the highest wicket taker from Pakistan with 67 wickets in 49 matches while Shahid Afridi is the second highest wicket taker with 43 wickets in 37 matches. Glen McGrath is the leading wicket taker from the Australian side with 57 wickets in 32 ODI matches.

This ODI series will be a launch pad for Pakistani team who will be participating later in the T20 series against Australia and then to the biggest event of the year, T20 Cricket World Cup. After a disappointing series against Sri Lanka Pakistan will try to make amends by performing well.

The conditions are in Pakistan's favor and if we give a neutral look, Australian team has no threatening players they once had, playing in the Alien conditions for them will be another hard task keeping in mind the hot weather conditions and Pakistan's spin attack, it all depends on how Pakistan play as a unit.