Steve O'Keefe is accurate, has a good arm ball, and an excellent first-class record, but might need more than that to succeed in Test cricket

On a hot day in Dubai, and on a slow surface, Mitchell Johnson put in an outstanding effort to unsettle Pakistan's batsmen

Geoff Marsh became only the third Test cricketer to have had two sons who also played Test cricket after he presented his second son Mitchell with his baggy green in Dubai

What Australia have not done since returning a fractured unit from India is head back to Asia to play an Asian team. Two of their major weaknesses - handling spin and reverse swing - will be tested in the UAE by Pakistan

Mitchell Marsh can be a future captain of Australia, according to the current leader Michael Clarke

Peter Siddle, who felt "pretty fatigued" while bowling in South Africa in March, said that he felt in top shape after being put through a new strength and conditioning programme designed to bring back his pace

ESPNcricinfo runs the rule over the preparation of all 16 Australia players ahead of the first Test, which starts in Dubai on Wednesday

Michael Clarke and Mitchell Marsh should be fit for the first Test against Pakistan, but Australia's chairman of selectors Rod Marsh said the final XI may not be decided until the morning of the match

Phillip Hughes conceded that his team found it difficult to deal with spin and reverse swing, after Australians crumbled to a 153-run loss against Pakistan A in Sharjah

Phillip Hughes scored a half-century but Michael Clarke and Chris Rogers missed out on their last chance for some decent time in the middle ahead of the first Test, as Pakistan A wrapped up a 153-run victory in the tour game in Sharjah

On the first two days of this game, Saqlain Haider was working in a bank, dealing with dirhams from 8am until 4pm. On day three, he was standing behind the stumps negotiating nasty Mitchell Johnson deliveries.

Playing two spinners has not brought Australia much success in the post-Warne era, but the UAE might prove the exception

After going wicketless on the first day in Sharjah, Nathan Lyon was the only Australian to make a breakthrough on day three as Babar Azam and Haris Sohail ground down the bowlers with unbeaten centuries

Darren Lehmann has been rewarded for his positive impact on Australia's performance with a one-year extension to his contract as head coach

Australia's coach Darren Lehmann has said he is confident opener David Warner will be fit for the first Test in Dubai after suffering a groin injury during the third ODI in Abu Dhabi on Sunday

Alex Doolan is the first to admit that fancy footwork against the spinners does not come naturally to him but his 104 against Pakistan A has suggested he may enjoy the opportunity

Alex Doolan scored a confident century on the second day against Pakistan A in Sharjah to join the in-form Steven Smith in leading Australia's strong recovery from a shaky top-order start

Asad Shafiq will enter the first Test in Dubai full of confidence after scoring a breezy century to take Pakistan A to 305 for 8 in 90 overs against the Australians on the first day of their tour match in Sharjah

Shane Watson's immediate future appears to be at No. 6 in the Test team and No. 3 in the ODI side, but he still wishes he could open the batting for Australia across all formats