AUS vs PAK 2nd Test: The last week of the year and it is time for Boxing Day Test Matches. Pakistan are on a tour of Australia for a Three-match test series and the stage is all set for the AUS vs PAK 2nd Test at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground. Pakistan will again be on the ground with the motive of winning the first test after 1995 on Australian soil and here we are with Pakistan PLAYING 11 For The Second Test against Australia prediction.
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With a 15-match losing track in test matches and no victories in Australia since November 1995, Pakistan approaches Tuesday’s Boxing Day fixture. The game is remembered for Ijaz Ahmed’s elegant century and Mushtaq Ahmed’s outstanding bowling spells, which allowed Pakistan to overcome Australia by 74 runs in a match played in Australia.
Pakistan failed to hold their footing against Australia in the Perth Test. In the first encounter of the series, the Australians were relentless. They outperformed Pakistan in every way possible, and with one more game remaining in the series after this, they will be looking for another strong showing in Melbourne.
Pakistan is dealing with injury concerns ahead of the Melbourne encounter. Due to injuries, bowlers Khurram Shahzad and Noman Ali are out. Ali, who did not participate in the first test’s 360-run defeat in Perth last week, underwent appendix surgery in Melbourne on Saturday. Muhammad Nawaz has been added to Pakistan’s squad for the second Test as a replacement.
AUS vs PAK 2nd Test: Pakistan PLAYING 11 Prediction
It was a complete failure outing for Pakistan in Perth. Neither they batted well, nor bowled. We saw one big hundred from Warner and 3 more half-centuries from the Australian side but Pakistan were able to add just one half-century, which shows the difference in the batting form and intent of both teams.
It was a good pitch at Perth and batting wasn’t too difficult but it was Australian ruthless bowling that bowled out Pakistan in just 89 runs.
We have seen in the past that Abdullah Shafique is a good batter with pretty decent technical applications. When accompanied by Imam-Ul-Haq to open the innings, Pakistan succeeded in the top. Skipper Shan at 3 provides the team with an aggressive option and keeps the scoreboard moving.
Babar Azam, the best batsman of Pakistan in at 4. He has been a little off-colour in the recent while but you could never doubt on such a brilliant batter. Saud Shakeel follows him at 5 giving the side a balancing factor. He is too good to be a number 5 test batter and just wait for a match-winning knock from him.
For how long, PCB will stick to Sarfaraz Ahmed as a wicketkeeper batter? As it is very evident that Rizwan as a batter has more scoring areas compared to Sarfaraz and more save hands while keeping the stumps, should Pakistan make way for Rizwan in the Playing 11? Pakistan Cricket Board is backing Sarfaraz for his experience and might still back him for the boxing day test match.
Shaheen Afridi led the bowling unit in Perth but he wasn’t at his best that day. He was too expensive and didn’t pose any threat to Australian batters but he is a skillful bowler and in the absence of Naseem Shah and Haris Rouf, he will make a strong comeback. Aamer Jamal was too good with the ball in Perth. Raw pace, solid lines, and cooked lengths were his strengths in the first test, and would see to repeat the same.
Down below is the predicted Pakistan PLAYING 11 For The AUS vs PAK 2nd Test:
AUS vs PAK 2nd Test Pakistan PLAYING 11
Abdullah Shafique
Imam-ul-Haq
Shan Masood (c)
Babar Azam
Saud Shakeel
Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk)
Agha Salman
Faheem Ashraf
Shaheen Afridi
Aamer Jamal
Mohammad Wasim Jr
AUS vs PAK 2nd Test: Pakistan Squad
Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood(c), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan(w), Agha Salman, Hasan Ali, Mir Hamza, Aamer Jamal, Shaheen Afridi, Sajid Khan, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Abrar Ahmed, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Wasim Jr
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