Australia vs Pakistan 2019: 3 strategic changes that Pakistan can make for next Test
It proved to be an utterly dominating performance from Australia as they crushed Pakistan by an innings and 5 runs in the opening Test in Brisbane to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The home team literally outplayed the visitors in all three departments of the game and there was no way back for Pakistan. They showed some resistance during brief junctures of the game but Australia were the more superior team in this match by far.
Both teams will now head to Adelaide Oval to play the day-night Test with a pink ball. Ahead of the all-important encounter, Pakistan will look to employ a few strategic changes to ensure a turn of fortunes for them in the must-win clash. Australia has won all their pink-ball Tests so far and Pakistan need to play out of their skins to challenge the star-studded Australian team.
With the 2nd Test slated to be played from 29 November, let us have a look at the three strategic changes that Pakistan can make in the 2nd Test.
Give the new ball to Naseem Shah
The 16-year-old prodigy might well be a future superstar in the making if he manages his workload and remains fit. He was pretty impressive in his debut Test against Australia and was the fastest bowler from either team. Naseem Shah hogged the limelight ahead of the opening Test after he bowled with hostility in the practice game.
With the hype surrounding him, new Test skipper Azhar Ali would have been tempted to hand him the new ball. However, Naseem was introduced as the first change bowler. He looked in great rhythm but in patches. The lack of consistency meant Naseem went for a few boundaries in his opening spell.
The teenage prodigy bowled with hostility on day three morning which included a sensational over to David Warner. He bagged his maiden Test wicket in that over after defeating Warner with a couple of beauties. With the next Test slated to be a pink-ball encounter, handing Naseem Shah the new ball might just work wonders for Pakistan.
Replacing Imran Khan with Mohammad Abbas
It was a surprising move to drop Mohammad Abbas from the playing XI given his exceptional record in the longest format of the game. Abbas has been a find for Pakistan with the new ball in the recent past and his record speaks for itself. In just 14 Tests, Mohammad Abbas has bagged 66 wickets at an astonishing average of 18. Hence, it was surprising to see him get left out in favour of three young pacers.
Pakistan leggie Yasir Shah wasn’t pleased with omission of Abbas and felt his presence could have made a huge difference to the context of the game. The Pakistan pace trio lacked the experience and someone like Abbas could have made a big difference in this line-up. Azhar Ali will surely look to play the skiddy customer in the pink-ball Test.
Set more attacking fields
The captaincy from Azhar Ali was pretty defensive and it was evident from his field placements in the 1st innings specially when David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne were going great guns. The mettle of the skipper is tested during tough phases of a Test match and Azhar Ali was clearly outfoxed by the Aussie batters.
The field placements was baffling to say the least and more attacking fields are required from Pakistan If they harbor hopes of making a comeback in the. It will be interesting see Azhar Ali’s field placements when the two teams fight it out in the day-night Test.
