PAK vs AUS Match Preview-Australia Tour of Pakistan 2022, 1st Test 

Australia and Pakistan are set to square up against each other in a three-match Test series. The first Test is slated to be played from 4^th to 8^th March 2022 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. After the Tests, the two teams will play 3 ODIs and a solitary T20I against each other. Ahead of the first Test, here’s a look at how both teams shape up.

PAK vs AUS Match Preview-Australia Tour of Pakistan 2022, 1st Test

Australia:

Australia will be touring Pakistan for the first time in 24 years for an all-format series, starting 4^th March 2022. The tour will begin with the first Test, scheduled to be played from 4^th March to 8^th March 2022. Australia have come up with a strong 18-member squad for the Test series. There have not made a lot of changes to the squad which last played the Test series against England.

David Warner is likely to open the batting with Usman Khawaja. The latter should make it into the playing XI, after scoring twin centuries against England in the Ashes series. The middle-order will have the likes of Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, and Travis Head among others. Australia have included two fast bowling all-rounders in Cameron Green and Mitchell Marsh. Only one out of them, though, is likely to make the cut. Besides, they have opted to pick two more spinners alongside Nathan Lyon on the tour.

Mitchell Swepson and Ashton Agar have been picked into the squad. However, for the first test, only Nathan Lyon is likely to play as the pitch in Rawalpindi assists more help to the seamers. Australia have a strong fast bowling quartet in Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Scott Boland. Only three out of them are likely to play. It will be interesting to see who misses out of these four from the playing XI.

Pakistan:

Pakistan, on the other hand, would be delighted to host Australia after a gap of more than 20 years. The last time they played a Test series at home against Australia, they lost it by 1-0. However, their recent form in Test cricket does inspire a lot of confidence. They won the last Test series by a margin of 2-0.

Pakistan have recalled Shan Masood in the Test squad. He last played a Test match against New Zealand in January 2021. Besides, fast bowler, Haris Rauf has also been included in the squad. He is yet to make his debut in the series. Shan Masood is a replacement for Abid Ali, who was diagnosed with a heart condition in December 2021 and is currently under rehabilitation.

For the unversed, Hasan Ali and Faheem Ashraf are unavailable for the first Test as they are currently recovering from their respective injuries. The batting unit of the side comprises the likes of Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Azhar Ali, Imam Ul-Haq, and Fawad Alam to name a few.