After two soul-sucking, somnolent draws, the series moves to its culmination with the third and final Test match, at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. For both sides, the pressing question would be to address how to take 20 wickets.
Pakistan getting all out for 148 in Karachi was the only period of play in the entire series where bowlers seemed to enjoy their work. Otherwise, the tour has been unforgiving for both fast bowlers and spinners. Australia were firmly placed to go 1-0 up, but the defiance of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan did not let that happen.
Pat Cummins has confirmed the same playing XI. In other words, Mitchell Swepson will retain his place ahead of Josh Hazlewood. Given the short break after the second Test match, where the Australia bowlers laboured in the scorching sun, they will look to bat first in Lahore.
Pakistan, meanwhile, are heavily dependent on Shaheen Shah Afridi for early strikes. With the pitch not aiding spinners as much as they would have liked to, Afridi is their only bowler can break the game open with raw pace. Faheem Ashraf and Hasan Ali have not impressed, though both managed to find reverse swing at some stage. They may hand a Test debut to Zahid Mahmood, who will take a place vacated by either Sajid Khan or Nauman Ali.
Among batters, their top four have consistently delivered in the series, but Fawad Alam need to get some runs. He did not get an opportunity to bat in the first Test, and made 0 and 9 in the second.
Probable XIs
Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam (c), Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Zahir Mahmood, Sajid Khan, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi
Australia: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cam Green, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Swepson, Nathan Lyon
Fantasy Tips
- Load your team with as many batters as you can. Make Imam captain.
- Among spinners, pick Lyon.
- Place your bet on Pakistan to make it 1-0
Fantasy XI: Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq (c), David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Mohammad Rizwan, Steven Smith, Babar Azam (vc), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Nathan Lyon