Pakistan vs Australia: All eyes on Lahore pitch, with previous both tests ending in a lifeless draw
Australia's first tour to Pakistan after 1998 began on 4th March 2022 with the three-match Test series and the tour will end on 5th April 2022. Australia is touring Pakistan for a three-match Test series, three-match ODI series, and a T20I match. The teams have played two test matches that ended in a draw, and therefore, all eyes are on the third one in Lahore to get a decisive match.
Image credit: pia.images.co.uk Pitch : Will it produce results in Pakistan
"Pakistan is ready to play "tough cricket" and will go for a result in the decisive third Test against Australia after the first two matches ended in draws", said head coach Saqlain Mushtaq.
The first two matches at Rawalpindi and Karachi witnessed batting-friendly pitches. Pakistan batters scored four centuries in the first match, with Imam-ul-Haq scoring tons in both innings. Continuing their red-hot form in the second match, Babar Azam (196) and Mohammad Rizwan (104*) played brilliant knocks hitting hundred each. Australian batters to hit big shots but only Usman Khawaja could convert it to a century. Now, as the series stands at 0-0, the final match of the Test series will be played from 21st March 2022 to 25th March 2022 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. The pitch at Lahore will be under the scanner, as earlier, both the pitches were so batting-friendly that bowlers had a tough time picking up wickets. ICC rated Rawalpindi's pitch as below average after the dead draw.
Pitch at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Pitch is a big factor in a test match. The previous two matches were flat batting-friendly pitches. Lahore will host its first Test match since 2009. So the data is not sufficient about the pitch for international matches. However, in the last 5 first-class matches played at the venue over the last year, pace bowlers have averaged 49.16 while the spinners have taken every wicket after conceding 56 runs
Playing XI
Australia will be unchanged against Pakistan for the series-deciding third and final Test in Lahore starting from Monday, captain Pat Cummins said on the eve of the match.
Probable playing XI for Pakistan vs Australia 3rd test
Australia: Usman Khawaja, David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Swepson
Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam (c), Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Sajid Khan, Nauman Ali, Shaheen Afridi
Players to watch with the bat - Babar Azam, Marnus Labuchagne, Steve Smith
Players to watch with the ball - Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali, Nathan Lyon
Young cricket fans are not much used to watching too many draws in international cricket anymore. Fans in Pakistan want to get some results from this third test match. Both the previous games have lowered the fans' enthusiasm but would have given hope for this third match. After a very long time, it would be if the third match also turned out to be indecisive. One can remember one such series between India and Pakistan, hosted by the latter. Will the series end with a winner or the trophy will be shared; all the action starts from tomorrow 21st March 2022.