Australia have the first of three upcoming chances to win their ODI series with Pakistan, when the two sides meet in the one match in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, as both teams continue their preparations for the World Cup to come.
Pakistan have been awful in the series to date and they will know if they don’t snap out of their slump here then the series will be done with two matches still to come. That will not be what they want heading into a major tournament.
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Australia
Whisper it quietly but the Australians look like they are just clicking into gear and timing their run nicely as they get set to defend their World Cup title in a couple of months. The big thing for those outside Australia to concern themselves with, is they are beginning to play really well and have a bunch of star players still to come back into the reckoning.
In this series they have been completely dominant in both matches, restricting Pakistan to nowhere near 300 and then riding the back of their captain, who is suddenly in outstanding form. You get the feeling that there is going to be no let up from Australia in this series as they look to continue to build a head of steam heading to England for the World Cup.
Pakistan
We always knew that Pakistan were using this series to finalise their World Cup squad and as a result winning may not have been the priority, and we had it confirmed by Shoaib Malik after the second game when he let it slip. Even so, Pakistan will be disappointed by the lack of competitiveness they have shown in the opening two matches of the series.
The big concern for the Asian outfit has to be how weak their bowling has looked in what should be favourable conditions. They have been toothless and if any of them had aspirations of being in the World Cup squad, they are doing their chances little good. They haven’t gone a whole lot better with the bat either so a massive improvement is going to be needed here.
Team News
Australia don’t have the series won but they might use the next three games to assess their options too. They will be forced into one change with Jhye Richardson having dislocated his shoulder in the previous game. Jason Behrendorff or Pat Cummins are most likely to replace him.
Pakistan have to beef up their bowling attack as it has been embarrassing thus far. Junaid Khan and Usman Shinwari are waiting in the wings for their chance and one of them will get it with Faheem Ashraf sitting out the rest of the series.
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Betting
I took Australia on the handicap in the previous match and they covered it by a distance and amazingly the line for this match has shortened! Admittedly we are on a different pitch here but when you have the Pakistan captain coming out and suggesting that winning doesn’t matter in this series I don’t expect too much to change.
So many Australian players are in form at the minute. Both openers are flying while Handscomb and Marsh have shown good form and Maxwell and Stoinis went well in India. There is even more to come from Australia with the ball too and with Pakistan a weakened side who don’t really look interested, I’m more than happy to back another big Aussie win here.
Tips
WON – Back Australia (-3.5wickets/10.5runs) to beat Pakistan for a 5/10 stake at 1.83 with Betway
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