After being humiliated and white-washed by the Aussies in the ODI series, the Pakistanis surprised everybody by bouncing back handsomely and winning the first Test emphatically by 221 runs in Dubai.

2. After being humiliated and
white-washed by the Aussies in
the ODI series, the Pakistanis
surprised everybody by bouncing
back handsomely and winning
the first Test emphatically by 221
runs in Dubai.

3. Suddenly,
the Australians have started
to feel the heat in the desert.
The second and final Test of
the series starts tomorrow in
Abu Dhabi and the tourists
are keen on restoring their
pride. The Australians are
known for their tenacity and
courage and the Pakistanis
will be well aware of a
possible backlash coming
their way.

4. Sure a crushing loss in the previous
start will be a hard pill to swallow
for the Aussies, but given their
recent track record in the Tests, it
would be a folly to bet again
Michael Clarke’s men.

5. Meanwhile, Pakistan will
be desperate to end their
twenty year rut of not
winning a Test series
against the Aussies. It was
way back in 1994, when
Pakistan merely managed
to beat the Aussies in a
Test series.

6. Given so much at stake, the Abu
Dhabi Test will be an intriguing
one. And, if both teams can
bring their best game to the
field, then we could have a
tremendous end to the Test
series. Still it is anybody’s ball
game.

7. Pitch &
Conditions
:

8. The Australians couldn’t adapt well to the
conditions in Dubai. Besides the heat, the pitch
was playing low and slow. And, the Pakistani
spin pair of Zulfiqar Babar and Yasir Shah
spun a web around the Aussie batsmen. The
conditions in Abu Dhabi too will be similar.
Expect variable bounce and the spinners could
once again call the shots. That said, the
batsmen can get decent runs in the first two
days and it is highly unlikely that the captain
winning the toss might be tempted to bowl
first.

9. Given the success in Dubai, the
Pakistanis are unlikely to make any
changes to their playing eleven. That
said, they might be tempted to give their
veteran opener Tuafeeq Umar a go for
the out of sorts Mohammad Hafeez.

10. On the other hand, the visitors too are
unlikely to make any wholesale changes
to their squad. A few questions have
been raised about Alex Doolan’s place in
the team, but he might just keep his place
ahead of Phil Hughes. Spinner O’Keefe
might have to sit out for a seamer. But
that is likely to be a delayed decision
which might be taken early morning
tomorrow.

11. Key
Players:

12. Mitchell Johnson
His fiery and hostile spell with the new cherry can
destroy the Pakistanis in a jiffy. If there is some moisture
in the wicket, this champion bowler will exploit it. A must
in all fantasy cricket teams.

13. Azhar Ali
He has got a compact technique to survive against an Aussie
pace onslaught. His role with the bat at the top will be vital
for Pakistan. A value for money pick in fantasy cricket
leagues.