Australia to name team today (30 September 1998)

30 September 1998

Australia to name team today

By Farhana Ayaz

RAWALPINDI, Sept 29: The Australian tour management will decide on Wednesday whether to pick either Ricky Ponting or Darren Lehmann and also to play three seamers (plus a spinner) or two spinners and two pace bowlers in the first Test against Pakistan, which begins at the Pindi Cricket Stadium from Thursday.

Australian skipper Mark Taylor said the team would be announced after a second net session tomorrow morning.

Ponting, who plays for Tasmania, has appeared in 18 Tests whereas West Australia's left-handed middle-order Lehmann has only the debut Test against India at Bangalore to his credit.

The Australian batting line-up of Mark Taylor, Michael Slater, Steve Waugh, Justin Langer, Mark Waugh and Ian Healy (who needs three more dismissals behind the stumps to break the 355 world record of Rod Marsh), will form the mainstay. The rookie leg-spinner Stuart MacGill, who destroyed the KCCA, and off-spinner Gavin Robertson carry Australia slow bowling team whereas Colin Miller, the only uncapped player in the Australian team, may have to wait little longer to make the debut. The Tasmanian off spinner, who claimed a record 67 wickets during the Australian Sheffield Shield season, can also bowl with the new ball. He was termed as a "surprise" for Pakistan by the Australian skipper at the start of the tour.

After the green top at the wicket was removed, curator Mohammad Ashraf stated on Tuesday that the brownish-looking pitch would assist the pacers on the first day and then would slowly start taking turn. It is expected to assist the spinners during the last two days. The toss would provide an edge to the team that won the toss as the morning bouncy wicket to help fast bowlers.

Tourists spent a busy day at the stadium where they held extensive warm-up drills and net practice under skipper Mark Taylor and coach Geoff. Australian team also held a gym session in the morning at the hotel.

Prior to the practice session the 18-member touring party went to the Australian High Commission office in Islamabad to cast their votes for the Australia's general elections.

They were greeted by the Australian High Commissioner Geoffrey Allen, who jokingly told the cricketers that every effort will be made to keep them away from the courts here.

South African Peter Van der Merwe, match referee for the Pakistan-Australia first Test, arrived here along with Englishman Peter Villey who is the neutral umpire for the series, nominated by the International Cricket Council (ICC). Javed Akhtar of Rawalpindi, also on the ICC penal, will be the other umpire for the match.

For Van der Merwe, this will be his third visit to Pakistan as he also toured in 1992 and 1995.

For Peter Willey, who first visited Pakistan as a player almost 21 years ago, that too for an international XI.

He joined the profession of umpiring in 1992 and he was taken on the ICC panel three years back. This will be his 12th game as an ICC umpire.

The Pakistan team arrived here on Tuesday evening. They are scheduled to hold net session on Wednesday afternoon.

Source :: Dawn (https://dawn.com/)