Pakistan v Australia, 1st Test, Dubai October 21, 2014

The man who isn't there, the teams who are

In addition to Pakistan, Australia face another opponent in the form of the Dubai heat © Getty Images

Match facts

Oct 22-26, 2014
Start time 10.00 local, 06.00 GMT

Big Picture

For most of the past seven years, Australian cricket has laboured in the absence of Shane Warne's prodigious talents. Warne was not only vital to the team's success between 1995 and 2007 for his own many qualities as a leg spin bowler, but also for what his presence and skill did to aid others. Fellow bowlers, captains and also batsmen were all grateful for his ability to take command of a match, and found themselves growing in confidence whenever they watched him do it.

So it has been in recent times for Pakistan and Saeed Ajmal. His crafty spin meant that few causes were lost until he had bowled his last ball, and Pakistan's other bowlers invariably benefited from an Ajmal spell that left batsmen cowed and confused if not actually dismissed. Now Ajmal has been sidelined, by means other than retirement. Irrespective of the circumstances, he has left a major gulf in Pakistan's team, and granted Australia an unexpected advantage.

Even with Ajmal, Pakistan's Test team had stumbled lately, notably in Sri Lanka. That series was played against the backdrop of Ajmal's report for a questionable action, and the distraction undoubtedly affected the performance of Misbah-ul-Haq's men. Lacking him entirely, they must summon up greater performances from the likes of Zulfiqar Babar and Mohammad Talha, while also hoping that Misbah and Younis Khan can guide the batting order to tallies capable of being defended by an Ajmal-less bowling attack.

Australia, meanwhile, have had time to regather after the exertions of a brilliantly successful but taxing 2013-14. The wages of series wins over England and South Africa are evident in the absence of Ryan Harris, while Shane Watson is also regaining full fitness at home. Michael Clarke enters the series with his captaincy unquestioned but his body increasingly unreliable, and Watson's prospective replacement Mitchell Marsh has bowled only seven competitive overs since his return from a hamstring strain. In their only warm-up match, Clarke's men were undone by a slow pitch and reverse swing - signs that Pakistan may yet prosper, even without Ajmal's influence.

Form guide

Pakistan LLWLD
Australia WLWWW

In the spotlight

At the start of last summer Mitchell Johnson was still an enigma. Now he is the game's most feared fast bowling weapon, having found critical consistency and strength of mind to focus his speed and skill. His major opponent in Dubai are likely to be an unhelpful pitch and steep temperatures. But having razed England with the help of some reverse swing on a similarly barren surface at Adelaide Oval last year, Johnson's confidence is unlikely to be dented by balls not flying immediately through to Brad Haddin.

Misbah-ul-Haq has been holding Pakistan's team together as captain for four years, and during the ODI series the strain showed. Resting from the final match of the series amid controversy about Shahid Afridi's claims to the limited-overs captaincy, he must have felt every one of his 40 years. Australia's victories over England and South Africa were characterised by the unrelenting pressure heaped on Alastair Cook and Graeme Smith, forcing the former to consider his position and foreshadowing the retirement of the latter. It will take a strong captain to stand up.

Teams news

Mohammad Hafeez is likely to slot in as opener over Taufeeq Umar in Pakistan's re-shuffled team, which will also include tandem spin.

Pakistan (possible): 1. Ahmed Shehzad, 2. Mohammad Hafeez, 3. Azhar Ali, 4. Younis Khan, 5. Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 6. Asad Shafiq, 7. Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), 8. Zulfiqar Babar, 9. Mohammad Talha, 10. Yasir Shah, 11. Rahat Ali

Mitchell Marsh and Steve O'Keefe look likely to make their debuts, though the former's lack of bowling after a hamstring strain may cause the selectors to hesitate. Another option would be to play five bowlers with O'Keefe and Mitchell Johnson at Nos. 7 and 8.

Australia (probable): 1 Chris Rogers, 2 David Warner, 3 Alex Doolan, 4 Michael Clarke (capt), 5 Steve Smith, 6 Mitchell Marsh, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Peter Siddle, 10 Steve O'Keefe, 11 Nathan Lyon

Pitch and conditions

The Dubai surface was handed over to Pakistani ground staff ahead of the limited-overs series, and the Twenty20 and ODI pitches were spinning and slow, respectively. Early glimpses of the Test pitch suggested a strip sporting very little grass. Temperatures are forecast to hover around 35C all match.

Stats and trivia

  • This is the first Test match between Pakistan and Australia in Dubai
  • Pakistan's only previous Test match meetings with Australia in the UAE were in October 2002, resulting in two innings victories for Australia at Sharjah. The first was over in two days, the second stretched into a fourth.
  • Australia last played twin spin in the third Test against the India at Mohali in 2013

    Quotes

    "I think it's the slow wickets. I think that's our greatest challenge, the fact that the wickets are so much slower than what we're used to in Australia. It's being able to adapt to that, whether we're bowling or we're batting."
    Michael Clarke sums up his team's environmental challenge

    Daniel Brettig is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @danbrettig

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