Daijiworld Media Network

Brisbane, Dec 15 : And what better place than Brisbane with all its bounce and carry to kick off proceedings between two pace batteries. The Gabba surface through the years has turned out to be a fast bowler's redemption ground and the pink ball with the history of three matches behind it for reference has been an equal ally. No wonder the Aussies are contemplating going in with an all-seam attack. Pakistan certainly aren't to be left far behind, never in a competition where fast bowling is being discussed. Hang in there, all the anticipation is set to be put to rest with the teams.

Australia have won the toss and have opted to bat

Teams:

Pakistan (Playing XI): Azhar Ali, Sami Aslam, Babar Azam, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq(c), Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed(w), Yasir Shah, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Rahat Ali

Australia (Playing XI): David Warner, Matt Renshaw, Usman Khawaja, Steven Smith(c), Peter Handscomb, Nic Maddinson, Matthew Wade(w), Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Jackson Bird

Smith stops short of going all out with only one dimension. Sensible given the uncertainty around the playing conditions and how the pitch would behave in the evenings. This ground through the years though has been quite a happy hunting ground for Shane Warne. Graeme Swann too did have quite a few pleasant memories during their historic series win, albeit in playing the holding role. Lyon too has pretty impressive figures out here. Could account for zilch in the evening under lights but why dent the confidence of your only spinner? Well there's Yasir Shah too in the line up to aid our constant comparison.

One side that doesn't ever fall short of pulling out fascinations. Trust them to pick ten wickets in a session. Trust them to lose ten in a session as well. The other that is hoping for some injection of momentum through some new blood being drafted in. Both sides though face off with the hope to build on the other's nosediving confidence. Pakistan come off a tour to New Zealand with two losses in two games and Australia off a home series loss to the Proteas. Let's not forget both sides were on top of the table not very long ago. It seems like ages though since these two sides faced each other in these conditions. Misbah happens to be the only survivor from that last 'eventful' Test of 2010 that these two sides played out on their last tour. To simplify things further, Steven Smith happens to be the only guy to have been around to face Mohammad Amir in a Test.

12:00 local time: Very rarely does the build up to an eagerly awaited series hover around the coach. Mickey Arthur finds himself in one such rare position of importance. Or should we rather say ridicule. On the receiving end of the 'homeworkgate' saga, a punishment that turned tables to have the teacher ousted for the students not completing their homework, Arthur now in the other dressing room would be hoping that his former colleagues have once again avoided doing their homework. And the press just loves playing it up all over again doesn't it? Nobody has been spared. Even the ones not associated with the scandal have been interviewed and they've all managed to rub it in. Not a bad omen to welcome you to our coverage of Pakistan's second leg of their tour to the southern hemisphere.

Preview by Tristan Lavalette

Excuse Australian fans if they do a double take because it's been a rarity for Pakistan to tour Down Under. Since January of 2005, Pakistan have played just three Tests in Australia - in 2009-10 - meaning Australians have been essentially deprived of watching a generation's worth of Pakistani cricket.

Despite traditionally being powerful cricket nations, the rivalry between the teams has never really gotten out of first gear despite regular meetings from the late 1970s through the 1990s. Home teams have dominated the contests ensuring Australia and Pakistan series never quite attained a mouthwatering status. Despite possessing some highly talented teams of yesteryear, Pakistan has never been able to win a Test series in Australia.

For whatever reason, some believe it is due to politicising while others point to financial reasons, there has been a distinct lack of Pakistan on Australian shores although perhaps it's been for the best.

Somewhat innately, Pakistan have a knack of the mercurial; their brilliance is breathtaking but too often soured by baffling brain fades. Far too often, it's been the latter in Australia. Some of their worst performances in Test cricket during the past two decades have been in Australia, where they haven't won since 1996. Pakistan have lost nine consecutive Tests in a continual succession of bumbling efforts.

Despite such a torrid past in Australia, Pakistan should start the series with a healthy dose of optimism. Unlike many previous tours, Pakistan are not facing a formidable foe and their effervescent bowling arsenal should be able to pose some serious questions of an inexperienced Australian batting order.

Dangerous left-arm quicks Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Amir will be confident about opening up an Australian line-up featuring three batsmen in the top six with just one Test under their belts. A 17-year-old Amir was breathtaking at times during Pakistan's last tour of Australia seven years ago before his life spiralled due to the spot-fixing ban.

Those infamous deeds ensures Amir will always remain a polarising figure, however it is undeniable his flowing bowling is majestic as he showcased in a devastating burst against a Cricket XI team in Cairns during a warm-up match.

Yasir Shah is rated the best leg spinner in the world but is under an injury cloud due to a bothersome back. Yasir bamboozled Australia in his debut series two years ago in the UAE and menacingly hovers over a batting line-up susceptible to high quality spin.

With the prospect of a juicy Gabba deck coupled with a swerving pink ball, Pakistan's eclectic bowling attack ensures they have a golden opportunity to break their drought in Australia.

However, contrasting their exciting bowling is a wobbly batting line-up, which is heavily reliant on veterans Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq, who have combined to play 181 Tests and have scored 14,554 Test runs.

For inspiration, Pakistan should turn to South Africa, who were derided as being a two-man batting order ahead of their recent series in Australia. Instead, South Africa had contributors down the order easing the pressure on veterans Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis and the wealth of contributors was a catalyst for the Proteas's stunning series victory.

Likewise, Pakistan are going to need several players to stand up outside of Younis and Misbah. Azhar Ali, who scored a triple century in the day-night Test against the West Indies a few months back, will be called upon to be resolute against menacing Australian spearheads Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazelwood, while dynamic 22-year-old Babar Azam has earned lofty comparisons to Virat Kohli by his coach Mickey Arthur.

If Pakistan can dispense with their comical batting from previous tours of Australia and find a few batting heroes, they may just have a fighting chance of causing a boil over.

Despite a horrid start to the summer, Australia enter the series as firm favourites after an encouraging rebound following the disastrous loss against South Africa in Hobart, where blood letting ensued resulting in a team makeover and an apparent change in mantra.

Results have been instantaneous with a new-look Australian team surprisingly winning the series finale in Adelaide with ease and then routing New Zealand in the Chappell-Hadlee series, albeit in a different format. Australia will be hoping to build on this new-found momentum at the Gabba, their long-time fortress where they haven't loss since 1988.

Starc and Hazelwood will be licking their lips at the prospect of unsettling Pakistan's batting, while Nathan Lyon, Australia's off-spinner, has taken 24 wickets at 23.95 from five Tests at the Gabba - standout statistics that should ensure he is retained despite some speculation selectors are considering a four-pronged pace attack.

Much like Pakistan, Australia's batting appears fragile and reliant on several experienced players. With youngsters Matt Renshaw, Peter Handscomb and Nic Maddinson being retained in the top six, leaders Steve Smith and David Warner along with the rejuvenated Usman Khawaja provide the backbone.

Renshaw and Handscomb impressed on their debuts in Adelaide with solid contributions but Maddinson made a duck in his only innings heightening the pressure on him to perform in Brisbane. If their batting wobbles, Australia could have flashbacks of their nightmarish start to the summer.

Any way you spin it, both teams have similar strength and weaknesses which bodes well for an intriguing and, hopefully, competitive series. Adding to the intrigue is the presence of Mickey Arthur, who coached Australia for 18 months before being unceremoniously axed on Ashes eve in mid-2013. It was a bitter breakup amid a tumultuous time in Australian cricket and many of Arthur's former pupils will be on the field in Brisbane.

Boasting several fascinating sub-plots, this series between Australia and Pakistan has the potential to be a belated memorable affair after so many disappointing contests over the years.