Pakistan pulled off an incredible ODI series win in Australia over the weekend and on Thursday they will begin their quest to repeat the feat in a T20 series which begins in Brisbane as the opening game of three between the two sides is played out.
Pakistan came from behind to win the ODI series and will be looking to draw first blood here. You would imagine Australia will want a reaction to that 50 over demise and will be looking to go one up with two to play again themselves.
Australia
I think it is fair to say that both the ODI series and indeed these T20 matches are down the pecking order when it comes to importance to Australia. They have made it perfectly clear that the upcoming Test series with India is their priority and that feels fair enough given that those two nations are two of the best in the red ball format. That is going to leave them up against it in this series though with a fringe or second string side so they will need some individual efforts to come to the party.
This is largely a white ball squad and one with individuals that have done well in the Big Bash over the last couple of seasons but it is still a second string selection. It looks like Australia are going to have a fairly deep batting unit and they are always loaded with all-rounders so they are not going to be light on bowling options but this sort of squad had little answer to Pakistan in the 50 over games so need to perform a lot better here if they are to come out on top.
Pakistan
This will be the first T20 internationals that Pakistan have played since their dismal T20 World Cup showing back in June so there is an element of having to prove themselves regardless of who they were playing. The fact that it looks like they will be up against a fringe Australia side will give them a chance of building some confidence and momentum to take on another series to Zimbabwe with them but this is Pakistan cricket and things are never straightforward where they are concerned.
To be fair to them, when the chips have been down after that pretty horrible opening Test defeat to England last month, we have seen the character of this side and with plenty of new faces in the setup for this series it will be interesting to see if this is a Pakistan side that are building in the shortest format of the game or whether they are merely going from one poor side to another. If they are going to win this match and series then they will have to bat well.
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Team News
Australia are without all of their major bowlers who are preparing for the red ball team so the likes of Spencer Johnson, Xavier Bartlett and Nathan Ellis are likely to get starts. Josh Inglis will skipper the side with Mitch Marsh with the Test team.
Pakistan are expected to make a number of changes from the side that played in their last T20 World Cup match. Mohammad Rizman, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf and Shaheen Shah Afridi are all likely to play but this will be a more inexperienced squad.
Betting
I do think that this weakened Australia side will probably be better equipped to handle with T20 cricket than the 50 over game but even then based on how easily Pakistan won those last two ODIs they have to be value at 2/1 to win the match. This isn’t an easy ground to defend at the best of times but I would wager that the Pakistan seamers will get more out of the surface than the Australian ones, although perhaps you could argue that the Australia openers will be more suited to the wicket.
In saying that, a number of Pakistan players have played in the Big Bash so they know what it is all about. I would have Australia as the favourites for this match even though they have just been battered in the last two ODIs but 2/5 vs 2/1 is way out of line as to where I would have it. Pakistan have a really good top four and a quality seam attack and they also have plenty of confidence from the ODIs. The price feels too big and I’m priced in.
Tips
Back Pakistan to win 1st T20 for a 3/10 stake at 3.00 with Coral
