After a much more competitive Test series than many were expecting, Pakistan and Australia now turn their attentions to three T20 internationals to round off their battles and the first of those takes place in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
Pakistan finally got themselves over the line in the Test series and now go into what many perceive to be their best format. Australia have plenty to prove in T20 cricket but they look like they are taking these matches seriously which is a start.
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Pakistan
Although they are the current Champions Trophy winners, Pakistan are seen as a tough side to beat in the 20 over format, a point they proved when they saw off Australia in the final of the tri-series the two played along with Zimbabwe in the summer. They will no doubt take plenty of confidence from that match into this series but will need to be at their best to come through here.
If Pakistan are going to win the game you would think on a ground which usually produces low scoring matches, they will need their bowlers to come to the party. In fairness they usually do come to the party with the white ball. There is enough with the bat to get the job done but there is no doubt the bowling is their strength.
Australia
The Aussies are often accused of not taking this format seriously but with Justin Langer having so much success in T20 cricket as a coach of the Perth Scorchers you just knew that he wouldn’t allow that malaise to continue. They look to be going very seriously at these matches as evidence by the fact that they have had a warm up for the series when they overcame the UAE earlier in the week.
When you look at this Australian side there is an awful lot of power in their batting line up and if any two of their top six or seven come off they are going to be very hard to beat. They also have some decent depth with the ball too so they look to be in a good position to avenge that defeat in the Zimbabwe final.
Team News
Pakistan have already named their side and with Shoaib Malik unavailable Hussain Talat and Asif Ali are expected to form the middle order. There is still no place in the side for Mohammad Amir with Hasan Ali leading the attack.
Australia have surprisingly handed their vice-captain role to Mitchell Marsh which suggests that he is going to get the nod over Ben McDermott in an otherwise unchanged side to the one which beat the UAE earlier in the week.
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Betting
I like Australia here. I think Shoaib Malik is a huge player for Pakistan in that middle order and if the Australia seamers can get stuck in at the start of the innings batting could run out very quickly for Pakistan. In truth it doesn’t look like the best batting line up in the world anyway and it certainly isn’t one of the longest.
I’m not always keen on Australia in this format but with the likes of Mitchell Starc set to be featuring with the ball and a seriously power packed batting line up on show I do think they have a good look about them here. I’d have Australia as the slight favourites here so they are my call at a pick ‘em price.
Tips
Back Australia to beat Pakistan for a 4/10 stake at 1.91 with Coral
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