Australia v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Adelaide: Preview, likely XIs, prediction

After India’s first-ever Day-Night Test was played among lots of fanfare and excitement the format is returning in Australia where it all began. The second Test match between Australia and Pakistan at the Adelaide Oval will be a Day-Night affair. With Australia leading the series 1-0, this may give more advantage to the hosts who have won all the Day-Night Tests they have played.

Pakistan’s overall record in Australia is abysmal and they have now lost each of their last 13 Test matches Down Under. It included three defeats by an innings, one by ten wickets and another by a massive 491 runs.

They are expected to make a few changes in the squad to provide more stability at the top. Inclusion of Imam-ul-Haq will provide them a proper opener and will help the captain Azhar Ali to bat at his preferred number three. Haris Sohail could make way for this change. In the bowling department, Mohammad Abbas has a very strong chance to play in Adelaide. His exclusion in the first Test already raised few eyebrows and Imran Khan should make way after an underwhelming performance in the first Test.

For Australia, there is not much selection headache and they can play the same squad in the second Test. Steve Smith had a rare failure at the Gabba and would be keen to deliver a big score, especially after seeing the ‘seven’ celebration of Yasir Shah Smith would like to score another ton. Marnus Labuschagne is doing well to enhance his reputation in the world cricket and will look forward to continue with his good form after a career-best 185 in the last Test. Their pace trio of Starc-Hazlewood-Cummins picked up 18 wickets in the Gabba and would love to increase the tally with the pink-ball.

Pakistan and Australia have played 66 Tests so far and Australia have won 32 of them while Pakistan have managed to seal 15 wins.

Key Players

Babar Azam (Pakistan) – Babar has already established himself as an excellent limited-overs cricketer and he will try to enhance his pedigree in Test match cricket. A century in the second innings of the first Test showed his class and he would look to build on that with another good score under the floodlights.

Pat Cummins (Australia) – Cummins is currently the number one bowler in the ICC Test rankings and has an average of 11.38 in the two Day-Night Test matches he has played. He gets excellent support from Starc and Hazlewood and it will be a big challenge for the Pakistan batsmen to face a rampaging Cummins during twilight and under lights.

Likely XIs

Pakistan – Shan Masood, Imam-ul-Haq, Azhar Ali[C], Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan[W], Yasir Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Abbas

Australia – David Warner, Joe Burns, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Matthew Wade, Travis Head, Tim Paine [C] [W], Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

Prediction

Pakistan are generally an unpredictable side and can surprise time to time but this time Australia look too strong to complete a win within four days.