Daijiworld Media Network
Dubai, Sep 7: Welcome to the 2nd T20I between Pakistan and Australia from Dubai. Pakistan hammered Australia by seven wickets and they will look to repeat the dose today. Should Australia lose the series 3-0, they will slip below Ireland in the ICC T20I rankings. Brad Hogg will play a vital part in the match today for Australia but at this, one has to say that Pakistan are favorites. Stay with us for the toss and the team updates.
Pitch Report: The teams are playing on the same pitch which was used in the previous T20 match. There are a lot of cracks on the pitch with a sprinkling of grass. There is a possibility of dew as the match progresses.
Pakistan have won the toss and elected to bat
Bailey: This pitch will not change much. We have made three changes. The batting line-up remains the same. Mitchell Starc, Dan Christian and Brad Hogg are in the team. We want to test our team composition for Sri Lanka. A win will be the perfect birthday gift.
Hafeez: We will bat first. The pitch looks a bit different and we want to put some runs on the board. We have an unchanged team. The bowling unit is performing well. 140 plus is a good score on this track.
Today is George Bailey's birthday. He is 30 years old today.
Nasir Jamshed: My family stays in the US but I stay in Lahore. I had some fitness issues and I have been working hard on it. I have been waiting for this opportunity. I hope to breakthrough into the Test team but my current focus is on ODIs and T20Is. This series is crucial for the morale of the team. I had a good run in the SLPL and this has helped me in adjusting to the conditions here. Hafeez is a good opening partner as he guides me well.
Mitchell Starc was handed his debut cap some time back.
Teams:
Pakistan (Playing XI): Mohammad Hafeez(c), Imran Nazir, Nasir Jamshed, Kamran Akmal(w), Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Sohail Tanvir, Raza Hasan, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal
Australia (Playing XI): Shane Watson, David Warner, Michael Hussey, David Hussey, George Bailey(c), Cameron White, Matthew Wade(w), Mitchell Starc, Daniel Christian, Brad Hogg, Pat Cummins
Match Preview :
George Bailey all but conceded that his team had little or no chance of winning the much coveted World T20 cup if they were to play the sort of cricket that they displayed on Wednesday. In what was an imminently forgettable night, the batsmen simply failed to come in terms to be bowled out for just 89, their second lowest score in a T20I match and their lowest against Pakistan. They have only two matches remaining to find their form ahead of the extravaganza and should go into Friday's match in a much better frame of mind if they are to dethrone Pakistan.
On the other hand, Pakistan continued their build up to the World T20 with an emphatic performance. The batsmen had very little to do after the fine show of the bowlers, the catching was safe and the ground fielding was up to standards. With tougher tests awaiting them in Sri Lanka, Pakistan will hope to clinch the series with a similar effort in the second match.
Pakistan: Despite being a neutral venue, the Middle East has turned out to be a profitable avenue for Pakistan. They have acclimatized to the conditions well and with the pitches on the slower side, the spin strategy has worked wonders. A nation known for its fearsome pacers, Pakistan has now turned out to be a land of spin. If Saeed Ajmal is the magician, Rehman has turned out to be ideal foil. Mohd. Hafeez has quietly bowled himself into a world class off-spinner while newcomer, Raza Hasan impressed in the first outing. The batsmen did not get much of a chance to show the wares and will be hoping to make a better fist of it in the second match.
Australia: Things have not yet reached the stage of desperation for the Australians as yet, but another loss will rekindle discussions on the team. For all the success in international cricket, Australia are craving for one trophy that has not adorned their cupboard, the World T20. Wednesday night's performance was a shocker but Australia have shown previously that they have the ability to fightback from disasters. They will need loads of it if they are to mount a serious challenge to Pakistan.
Team News:
Australia responded to the massive defeat in the 1st T20 by ringing in three changes. Xavier Doherty, Ben Hilfenhaus and Glenn Maxwell have been left out in favor of Mitchell Starc, Brad Hogg and Dan Christian.
Shahid Afridi has not yet recovered from the hand injury which he suffered in the final ODI. After a dominating performance on Wednesday, Pakistan need not tinker with their squad unless they want to experiment ahead of the T20 World Cup.
Quotes:
Our win will help us in the World Twenty20, we need to carry the winning momentum on into the World Twenty20 - Mohammad Hafeez wants his team to continue with the momentum.
I still think we can win it. Definitely. Absolutely. I certainly don't think we'd win if we played like we did today - George Bailey wants his team to pull up their socks.