After surviving an almighty scare in the opening Test, Australia know they can seal their series with Pakistan before the New Year when the two sides meet in the traditional Boxing Day Test at Melbourne.
That first Test was a day-night game but we revert to the normal style of Test cricket for this one and hopefully this match becomes as fascinating as the one in Brisbane did. Pakistan have to avoid defeat to keep the series alive.
Australia
I’m not sure whether it was complacency or the fact the Gabba wicket became an absolute road but Australia will be disappointed that Pakistan got as close to the impossible as they did in the first match. It would almost have left like a loss in the end despite the good things they did earlier in the game and given their recent slump they could have done without that.
The positives from that match was very much the form of a couple of players who are new to the side or in the case of Jackson Bird, new back in the team. Bird took six wickets in the match and generally bowled well throughout while there was a maiden century for Peter Handscomb which will give him plenty of confidence.
Pakistan
Misbah ul Haq will have been delighted with the fight his team showed and in fact but for one bad session when they batted first time around they were well in the match. Australia looked like getting away from them early on but this Pakistan side are a game bunch and always come out fighting and you have to like that about them.
They should have taken a lot from that near miss in the final innings in Brisbane and if they can take belief from that and compete better in the first innings there is no reason why they can’t level the series here. This is a side which won at Lord’s and at The Oval earlier in the year so they can win away from the desert.
Team News
Despite nearly throwing the first game away it would be a massive surprise if Australia aren’t unchanged for this match. There is no doubt Nic Maddinson needs a score but he is expected to get another chance to make one.
Unless Pakistan want to change the make up of their bowling attack they may well be unchanged too. Rahat Ali would be the one to make way should they want to mix things up.
Melbourne Cricket Ground
This ground doesn’t need any introduction to any serious cricket fans. It is one of the most famous in the world and will be staging Test cricket for an amazing 109th time here. Australia are 62-30 here with 16 draws while Pakistan have two wins from nine starts with a couple of draws.
The pitch here is always nice to bat on but this is a good cricket wicket and the bowlers are always in the game. The boundaries are big so the bowlers can try out their variations and we usually get a decent test between bat and ball.
Betting
I’m looking forward to this match after the way the first one ended but sadly there aren’t many betting lines which take my fancy. I wouldn’t put anyone off the prices on offer on Pakistan but I wouldn’t mind seeing the start before I commit to them.
One bet I do like though is the performance of Wahab Riaz. I thought Riaz bowled really well in Brisbane and there is something about Australia which really fires him up as we remember that over he bowled to Shane Watson in a one day match last year.
Riaz took five wickets in the first Test and clobbered 30 in the second innings so a line of 85.5pts looks a touch on the low side. It wasn’t just in Brisbane that Wahab bowled well. He did so in the warm up match too so I like his potential to sail over that line.
Tips
Back W.Riaz’s Performance – Over 85.5pts for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with Paddy Power
Back him here:
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