1st Test, Australia vs Pakistan Day 2 preview: Australia pacers lay blueprint for Pakistan to follow

The opening day of this much-anticipated Test series had plenty of things going for it. There was some typical Test batting from Asad Shafiq, who batted time and some incisive Australian bowling to score a 134-ball 76. In the end, it proved crucial, as Pakistan were bowled out for 240, despite making a solid start to the match after opting to bat first.

That had much to do with the Australian pacemen. All of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins ensured pressure was sustained with accurate, patient bowling, and in the end, it is what proved decisive on the first day. Pakistan went into lunch at 57/0, and then, within minutes, it all unravelled as they four wickets for three runs to collapse to 78/4 in the second session.

It took fighting knocks from Mohammad Rizwan (37 off 34) and Yasir Shah (26 off 83) to help them cross the 100 and 200 run marks, and put up the total they eventually did. With the Australian bowlers hunting in a pack, the Pakistan batsmen couldn’t get a let up from the pressure, and when the wickets came, they came in a flash.

Cummins started things off, sending back Shan Masood for a 97-ball 27, and Hazlewood added to the wickets tally in the next over, seeing off captain Azhar Ali. In the very next over, Starc was brought in, and he saw to Haris Sohail, before Hazlewood had the prized scalp of Babar Azam, who fell cheaply.

And just like that, Pakistan are already battling for the Test. That said, in what the experienced Australian pacemen did is a blueprint for Pakistan’s own young pace attack – Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Imran Khan – to follow. They need to stick to their plans, and stick to it even when the going gets tough. Once the breakthrough arrives, more often than not, more wickets will follow.

But the Australian pacemen have been doing this for a while. It’s their home patch, and they know the conditions better than most. The Pakistan trio, meanwhile, are inexperienced, and therein lies the difference. Can youthful exuberance triumph over experience? At the moment, Pakistan desperately needs it to.

Key players

Steve Smith (Australia): The No.1 ranked Test batsman will be at it again after triumphing at the Ashes, and he’ll be particularly key should the Pakistan pacemen throw up a few surprises. Smith has seen off the best bowlers the world has to offer, and he’ll look to be authoritative against Pakistan’s youngsters. That’ll set the tone for the series.

Naseem Shah (Pakistan): All eyes will be on Naseem, and as good an impression as he has made so far on this tour, the question is can he cope with it? It’ll be interesting to see how fares. The Pakistan management will be hoping he can surprise the home side – the visitors certainly need him to.

Brief scores

Pakistan 240 in 86.2 overs (Asad Shafiq 76, Azhar Ali 39; Mitchell Starc 4/52, Pat Cummins 2/60) vs Australia

Prediction

Australia to see off some early excellence from the Pakistan pacers, and put up a big total.