Australia will try to stall their fast becoming horror summer in England when they take on the vastly improved Pakistan in the first of the two Test matches at Lord’s. Pakistan will host Australia in the first Test match at Lord’s after the security situation in their own country demanded the shifting of the matches to a neutral venue.
Australia has been stinging under the twin-losses to Pakistan in the T20I series. Prior to that, Australia had also lost to England in the ODIs, and struggled to get past Ireland in the one-off ODI, which means that they will go into the game with a lot to prove. A loss here could send warning signals to those concerned, at the top, given that Australia had earlier beaten Pakistan in all the 12 games the two nations had played this year before the two T20Is.
Pakistan has shown a refreshing spirit and the turnaround in their attitude can be attributed to Shahid Afridi, their captain. However, he returns to the Test match arena after four years and things could get interesting on that front.
Live Scorecard and Commentary, Australia v Pakistan:
Track Tale:
Lord’s will host a neutral Test match for the first time in over a century, and there cannot be too much doubt that it will assist the Aussies. Except for the last Lord’s Test match which they had managed to lose to England, they have had a very good time at the Mecca of cricket in the five day variety of the game.
The slope at Lord’s is quite famous – or notorious, depending on which way you look at it – and over a period of five days, that could play a substantial part in deciding which way the match swings. Otherwise, the track is firm and will allow a lot of runs to be scored in the first couple of innings of the game – and at a fast scoring clip.
Team News:
The selection will be much more straight-forward for the Aussies than it is for Pakistan. Australia will go into the game with their set pair of openers in Shane Watson and Simon Katich, who will be followed by the captain Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke and on all probability, Marcus North. Tim Paine will be the glovesman, thus making his Test match debut, in the absence of the injured Brad Haddin, while they should go into the game with four bowlers.
Mitchell Johnson also makes a comeback after his layoff from the ODIs and the T20Is due to a bad elbow, while Ben Hilfenhaus should play his first Test match since one against West Indies last year. Doug Bollinger will be the third quickie, while Steve Smith will be the second Australian to be handed over his first cap.
Pakistan have worries at the top of the batting order. Salman Butt and Imran Farhat have hardly had too many runs going in the shorter format of the game, and to expect them to come good against a much stronger bowling attack in a Test match will be difficult. But, given the options that Pakistan has, it is left with the choice between the Devil and the Deep Sea; there are virtual greenhorns to replace the opening pair and that will mean that the management has some thinking to do.
Similarly, in the middle-order, there are issues with Shoaib Malik’s batting. He has looked like a pale shadow of himself from the past, and that will be a problem. What will be interesting to note is Afridi’s batting number, but one feels that he will look to stamp his authority by going in at five instead of six.
Pakistan’s bowling is much more settled, with the likes of Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Asif and Umar Gul being the virtual certainties in the playing eleven. Afridi will trundle down his leggies, but the big question is where the side will want to go ahead with Saeed Ajmal or Danish Kaneria as the second spinner.
The Odds Checker:
Australia goes into the game as hands down favourites to win the game, but they will need to be wary of the manner in which the opposition come at them. BetFred offers 1/1 for their victory over Pakistan, as compared to the Asian side at 11/2 (Bet365) to entertain any chances of winning this one. A draw is placed at 13/8 (Stan James)
You can also watch the live streaming of the 1st Test match between Australia and Pakistan at Lord’s on the official Ten Sports website.
You can also 1st Test match between Australia and Pakistan at Lord’s on Ten Sports.
You can follow the live commentary and live score of 1st Test match between Australia and Pakistan at Lord’s here.
