Clarke a concern ahead of second encounter

Match Facts

Sunday, January 24, SCG
Start time 1425 (0325 GMT)

The Big Picture

Australia over-ran Pakistan in the opening game thanks to Cameron White's first century at home and there is an opportunity to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series when the sides meet in Sydney on Sunday. The five-wicket success in Brisbane showed both outfits are batting well, but they will have a different set of conditions to cope with in game two.

Australia have a slight injury concern over Michael Clarke, who flew to Sydney earlier than his team-mates on Saturday. Clarke was hit in the ribs by Mohammad Aamer shortly before being dismissed for 58 and crumpled to the ground. "I think he'll be okay," Ricky Ponting said. "It looked pretty sore. I don't know much more about it but he seemed okay in the rooms."

There was also a worry for Ponting with the size of the crowd in Brisbane, which at 19,758 was about half the capacity, but the captain, a strong defender of the 50-over format, is hoping for much better over the next two fixtures. "Sydney will be pretty much sold out I reckon and Adelaide [on Tuesday], you always get pretty good attendances there, so I think the next couple of games will tell a truer story than this one." However, unless there is a surge in support, the SCG will be half-full as well.

Form guide (most recent first)

Australia WNWWW
Pakistan LLLWL

Watch out for...

Shahid Afridi showed his immense power when he seemed to be pulling Pakistan to a match-winning total by blasting 48 off 26 deliveries in Brisbane. When Afridi is thrashing it's not safe standing on the boundary and he cleared it three times at the Gabba. His spin was less of a threat, going for 1 for 66 off 10, but the SCG will offer him much more assistance. "It's always good to see him," Salman Butt said. "You can enjoy what he does and everyone in the world enjoys what he does, he's a great entertainer."

Doug Bollinger heads to Sydney for his first ODI at his home ground, a place where he is treated like an all-conquering hero. His bowling in Brisbane was excellent after he gave up 15 in his opening two overs, finishing with 2 for 37 off 9.4. The two wickets came in his middle spell when he picked up Butt with an edge behind and Mohammad Yousuf, who played on to a steepling short ball which deflected from glove to ground to bails.

Team news

Adam Voges, the batsman and part-time spinner, joins the squad while James Hopes was retained even though he was 12th man in Brisbane. Unless Clarke is out there shouldn't be any alterations. "We'll wait and see what it looks like in Sydney," Ponting said, "but when you have a win like that it's pretty rare you make changes."

Australia (probable) 1 Shane Watson, 2 Shaun Marsh, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Clarke, 5 Cameron White, 6 Michael Hussey, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Nathan Hauritz, 9 Clint McKay, 10 Peter Siddle, 11 Doug Bollinger.

Pakistan were happy with their batting in Brisbane so there shouldn't be any re-shuffling there, but there could be some tinkering further down the order. The tourists have a huge group of bowlers with them in a 17-man outfit and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan might be vulnerable after returning 1 for 61 in Brisbane, with Umar Gul a very capable replacement.

Pakistan (possible) 1 Salman Butt, 2 Kamran Akmal (wk), 3 Younis Khan, 4 Mohammad Yousuf (capt), 5 Umar Akmal, 6 Shoaib Malik, 7 Shahid Afridi, 8 Umar Gul, 9 Mohammad Asif, 10 Mohammed Aamer, 11 Saeed Ajmal.

Pitch and conditions

After the swing of Brisbane comes the spin of Sydney. This is good news for the Pakistanis, who have Afridi and Saeed Ajmal in their preferred line up, while Shoaib Malik also offers some offspin. Australia have the specialist Nathan Hauritz, who will be happy to see his adopted home ground after giving up 0 for 68 in nine at his old backyard. There could be a shower or two during the day, with a maximum temperature of 25C.

Stats and trivia

• Australia's record at the ground is excellent, with 73 wins in 111 50-over games, while Pakistan have lost nine of 13
• Zaheer Abbas is the only Pakistani with a century, 108 against Australia in 1981-82, there in an ODI
• Allan Border leads the run list in Sydney with 1561, 282 ahead of the third-placed Ricky Ponting. Imran Khan is the best of the Pakistanis with 311

Quotes

"The last few series we've played in we've played some incredible one-day games and [the first ODI] was another one of those. If that keeps happening I don't think anyone can be talking down the 50-over game."
Ricky Ponting

"It was a good outing for him after a lay off and he looked good after he had been in for one hour. It was unfortunate when time came to accelerate he didn't middle that one, but overall he did well."
Salman Butt on Younis Khan's return of 46 in Brisbane