The Australian openers have terrified Pakistan bowlers with their impressive partnership during the first Test match at Perth Stadium.
Pakistan debutants for Australia Test series
Australia and Pakistan are scheduled to play in the NRMA Insurance Test series starting on December 14. With the beginning of the new WTC cycle, both sides made their fresh start hoping to win the Test championship.
Khurram Shahzad and Jamal are the two debutants who were added to the Pakistan playing 11 leaving Hasan Ali on the bench. They will be joining with Mir Hamza and Mohammad Wasim Jr.
On this occasion, the former captain Wasim Akram spoke about the debutants saying Shahzad is the type of bowler who can “can give you long spells”, while Jamal is “quick, he’s 140 (kph) but last I saw him … his control wasn’t there.”
The two debutants receive their Test caps 🧢👏#AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/GGAj1ND2sS
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) December 14, 2023
The match started with Australia winning the toss and Usman Khawaja and David Warner opened their innings having an impressive start by scoring 117 runs before lunch break. They entirely dominated the Pakistan bowlers at Perth Stadium.
Warner was able to bat comfortably on the bouncy surface which could support batting conditions. His test form will be a big threat to the Pakistan bowling unit which features two debutants in the playing Xl.
On this occasion, Warner spoke on the media saying, “Lord’s (for the second Test against England in July) was going to be my last Test if I wasn’t scoring runs in England.”
His partner Khawaja is also a prominent lead in the Test matches. While speaking in the media, he said, “I am a grown man I can do anything I want, but I think the ICC will keep coming down and giving me fines and at some point, it will detract from the game.”
“I stand by what I said, I will stand by that, I think forever. For me, I need to get out there and concentrate on what I am doing but it is right at the forefront of my mind.”
“I will try to (challenge the ICC) as soon as possible… I find it a bit unfair that they have come down on me at this point in time where there definitely has been precedents in the past of similar things.”
The Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon who is part of the squad, is waiting to join the 500-wicket club. He is been on the verge of achieving this feat for nearly six months after he sustained a calf injury during the Ashes 2023.
He is only four wickets away from achieving the milestone, of joining his fellow Australians Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne.
He has taken 22 wickets in three Tests he played at Perth at 18.45. “It’s no secret he’s the main guy in our bowling attack,” Cummins said about the bowler at the pre-match conference.
The Test match between Australia and Pakistan in Perth can be seen by live streaming in telecast channels.
Australia squad
Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Lance Morris, Steve Smith, Mitch Starc, David Warner
Pakistan squad
Shan Masood (c), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi
