Rain could ruin decider as Pak and Aus head into series decider all square
Thursday’s game between Pakistan and Australia is the third and final game of a three match ODI series. The series is currently level at one game each.
Australia is currently the world’s third ranked ODI side while Pakistan is fifth.
Pakistan is close to full strength for the series while Australia will be without several regular first-choice players.
Mitchell Marsh was due to skipper the team for the tour, but he was forced to withdraw due to an injury picked up in the IPL. Instead, the Baggy Greens will be skippered by Josh Inglis.
Inglis is essentially Australia’s fourth-choice skipper as Marsh was already acting as a replacement for the absent Pat Cummins and Travis Head.
Australia’s bowling unit has a very unfamiliar look to it – aside from the absence of Pat Cummins, they are also without Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, who are being rested. Also absent are Xavier Bartlett and Ben Dwarshuis.
The world’s former top ranked ODI batsman Babar Azam has been recalled to the Pakistan squad for the series. Fellow veterans Shadab Khan and Naseem Shah have also earned recalls while former skipper Mohammad Rizwan remains sidelined. Despite the experience in the Pakistan team, it was debutant Arafat Minhas who was named Man of the Match on Saturday after he took 5 for 32 with his left-arm spin.
Salman Agha, who is deputy skipper for Pakistan is the highest ranked batsman in the series – he is ninth on the ICC rankings.
The Australian team that played in the series opener had a very unfamiliar look to it as it featured players like Billy Stanlake, Tanveer Sangha, Oliver Peake and Matthew Short.
Venue: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
The opener in Rawalpindi was played on a spin friendly track. While the pitch in Lahore will also aid spin, it is however likely to be a much more balanced contest between bat and ball.
Australia have played 13 games at the Gaddafi Stadium – they have won seven, lost five and there has been one no result.
Pakistan have won 34 of the 57 games they have played at the ground.
Josh Inglis has an excellent record at the Gaddafi Stadium. He has played two games at the venue and currently averages 171 at the ground.
The average first innings score at the venue is 252.
The highest score made at the ground was Pakistan’s 375/3 made against Zimbabwe in 2015.
The lowest score made at the ground in a completed game was Pakistan’s 75 all out, scored against Sri Lanka in 2009.
There is very little difference between batting first or second in Lahore – of the 88 ODIs played at the ground the side batting first has won 45 times while the side chasing has won 41.
Weather:
It is not looking great for cricket in Lahore on Thursday with the forecast predicting an unsettled, stormy Thursday afternoon and evening. Heavy rain showers and strong dust-thunderstorms dominate the afternoon, offering temporary relief from the intense seasonal heat with a daytime high of 36 degrees. High humidity of 40 percent will make conditions feel muggy. Heading into the evening, the rain risk drops to 35 percent as the turbulent weather system slowly clears, leaving behind cooler, partly cloudy skies and temperatures dipping toward a low of 25.
Form (most recent game first):
Pakistan: L, W, L, W, L.
Australia: W, L, L, W, W.
Last five games head-to-head: Aus, Pak, Pak, Pak, Aus.
Key player:
Pakistan, Arafat Minhas: The young breakout all-rounder holds the key to stifling Australia’s middle order. After an impressive debut five-wicket haul (5-32) in Rawalpindi, Minhas backed it up with a tight 2-27 and a fighting 33 runs in the second game. His lethal left-arm spin and lower-order batting depth give Pakistan a powerful tactical advantage on Lahore’s dry pitch.
Australia, Nathan Ellis: The spearhead fast bowler is Australia’s primary weapon to dismantle Pakistan’s top order early. Fresh off a career-best, player-of-the-match performance of 4-33 that successfully levelled the series, Ellis’s exceptional death-over variations and ability to claim prized wickets make him indispensable in leading an understrength, rookie Australian bowling attack under immense pressure.
Verdict: Australia
They may be under-strength but having levelled the series at 1-1 last time out, Australia will have taken plenty of confidence. Far more comfortable playing in Lahore, Australia have shown they won’t be pushovers, despite their poor showing in the series opener
