Australia vs Pakistan: 2nd Test, Preview- All eyes on Steve Smith as the hosts look forward to sealing the series

Australia have named an unchanged side ahead of the second Test.

Published - 28 Nov 2019, 15:36 IST | Updated - 28 Nov 2019, 15:36 IST

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After registering a comprehensive victory against Pakistan at the Gabba, hosts Australia will be eyeing to sweep the series by winning the second Test. Australia and Pakistan will lock horns in the much-awaited Day/Night Test at the Adelaide starting from November 29. After their phenomenal show in the first Test, Tim Paine and Co will be relying on their dominant bowling force to steer their ship. The hosts’ bowling force, led by Mitchell Starc, dismantled the Pakistan batting line-up with lethal spells.

Along with a robust bowling attack, Australia also witnessed two of their top-order batsmen getting runs on the board. Despite Steve Smith‘s rare failure to score runs in Tests, Marnus Labuschagne and David Warner left no stones unturned for their side. Labuschagne’s stellar 185 run-knock propelled Australia to post a mammoth total of 580 runs on the scoreboard. He was assisted by David Warner, who was also in desperate need to bounce back on the international scene.

Individual contributions from Asad Shafiq (76), Babar Azam(104) and Mohammad Rizwan (95) were not enough to guide Pakistan from the jaws of defeat. After failing to establish a lead in the second innings, the Azhar Ali-led side had to suffer the defeat by an innings and 5 runs. Pakistan is expected to make a couple of changes in the line-up with the objective to level the series. It will also be interesting to witness how the Pakistan bowlers perform with the pink ball.

Team Combinations

Australia

Australia have named an unchanged side ahead of the second Test. The likes of David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith and Joe Burns will bolster their top-order. After delivering an impressive performance in the first Test, the Australian bowling force was bound to be unchanged. Moreover, the Day/Night conditions are expected to prove beneficial for the speedsters. Steve Smith is also expected to retaliate after failing to amass runs at the Gabba.

Probable XI:
David Warner, Joe Burns, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Matthew Wade, Tim Paine (c & wk), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

Pakistan

Following the defeat, Azhar Ali and Co are expected to reshuffle their starting line-up. Imam-ul-Haq is likely to return into the squad in place of Harris Sohail. After a horror show in Gabba, Mohammad Abbas is set to break into the squad to bolster Pakistan’s bowling force. The inclusion of teenage sensation Naseem Shah remains dubious.

Probable XI:

Shan Masood, Imam-ul-Haq/Harris Sohail, Azhar Ali (c), Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Yasir Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Abbas/Naseem Shah, Imran Khan

Focus will be on

Steve Smith (Australia)

After making a phenomenal comeback in the Ashes 2019, Steve Smith paved his way to becoming one of the best batsmen of the modern era. Leaving everyone behind, Smith gathered 589 runs in the series in just 4 innings at a stunning average of 147.25. However, the right-hander’s prolific run-scoring form with the red-ball was hampered by Yasir Shah, who scalped his wicket for the seventh time in the first Test. Alongside Warner and Labuschagne, Smith will also be eager to impress at Adelaide.

Babar Azam (Pakistan)

The 25-year-old proved his forte by smashing a brilliant ton in the second innings at Gabba. However, he did not get any support in the middle from his teammates. Babar will be aiming to claim his long-term spot in the Pakistan side by replicating his performance. The right-hander had also smashed 157 runs in the practice match against Australia A at Perth. At an average of 36.21, Babar has amassed 1340 runs in 22 Test including two tons. He is expected to steer Pakistan’s batting attack on the foreign soil.