It was a run feast during the first Test between Pakistan and Australia in Rawalpindi as the two teams together amassed more than 1100 runs during the course of the match before it ended in a draw. The Australian bowling unit was frustrated a bit more as they could only manage to pick 4 wickets and that too only in the first innings.
The Test consisted of almost everything, runs, rain, centuries except the wickets & a result. The pitch at the Rawalpindi stadium received a lot of criticism as it certainly had nothing on offer for the bowlers. In fact, the track has now been rated as "below average", and the venue also received a demerit point.
"The character of the pitch hardly changed over the course of five days and that there has been no deterioration apart from the bounce getting slightly lower. The pitch did not have a great deal of pace and bounce in it for the seamers nor assisted the spinners as the match progressed. In my view this does not represent an even contest between bat and ball. Therefore, in keeping with the ICC guidelines, I rate this pitch as below average," Match Referee Ranjan Madugalle stated in his match report.
Well, all said and done, the action now shifts to Karachi where the two sides will lock horns with each other in the second Test, scheduled to begin from March 12, 2022.
Match Details
Match: Pakistan vs Australia, 2nd of three Tests
Date: 12 March 2022
Time: 10:30 AM IST
Venue: National Stadium, Karachi
Telecast: Sony Sports Network
Pitch Report
The track in Karachi could assist the batters but it is expected to have something on offer for the spinners as the game progresses. With some quality spinners in both the line ups, we can expect a result in this clash. But for now, if you win the toss, bat first.
Team News
Australia: Australia have roped in Mitchell Swepson in the XI and the spinner will be making his Test debut for Australia. “He’s pumped and to be honest, we’re all pumped for ‘Swepo’. It’s been a long time running drinks over the last couple of years, but he’s absolutely ready,” said Cummins.
“He’s been a huge part of the squad, even though he hasn’t been playing. So we’re really excited to see him get a chance. The wicket here is a little bit drier and historically a bit friendlier for the spinners,” added Cummins.
Pakistan: The Pakistan batters are in terrific form, with Imam-ul-Haq scoring twin tons in the first encounter while Azhar Ali notching up a century in the first innings and Abdullah Shafique in the second. Nauman Ali was the pick of the bowlers for the side after he scalped six wickets in the first innings.
Probable XI
Australia: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Swepson, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam (c), Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi
Fantasy XI
Alex Carey, Mohammad Rizwan, David Warner, Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja, Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Marnus Labuschagne (VC), Pat Cummins, Shaheen Afridi (C), Mitchell Swepson