Thrashing Pakistan in their recent Test series has hardly lulled Ricky Ponting into a false sense of security. The Australian captain said his side had steeled themselves for a “dangerous” Pakistan to emerge in their five-match one-day series which starts in Brisbane on Friday.

Ponting agreed with opposite number Mohammad Yousuf’s assessment on Thursday that the Pakistan one-day team were a better side than the inexperienced Test outfit that crashed 3-0 Down Under.

Indeed Ponting sounded more than just a little wary of the likes of new additions Shahid Afridi, ex-captain Younis Khan and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan.

“If you read through their side it probably looks like a better team on paper than what their Test team does,” Ponting said.

“We know Pakistan are a dangerous one-day team and at different times I am sure they will be very good in this series.

“We just have to make sure we don’t let a lot of their match-winning players have too much of an effect on this series.”
While Yousuf could not shed any light on his final line-up on Thursday, he did promise plenty of “fight”.

“We have all young players and we haven’t had much Test cricket, only in last two years,” he said.

“That’s why we are troubled in Test cricket.

“We have played a lot of one-day, that’s why Pakistan team is much better than the Test team.

“We will give some fight.”

Ponting said Australia “probably will” enter as favourites, but claimed his side weren’t getting distracted by their recent Test romp.

“That doesn’t mean anything to us, we have switched over from Test to one-day cricket,” Ponting said.

“The focus is now on us being the best one-day team that we can be.”

Both captains pinpointed the return of former Pakistan captain Younis Khan as crucial.

Younis went on indefinite leave after he had “lost control” of his side in November’s 2-1 one-day series loss to New Zealand, but later claimed he just wanted a break from the game.

“He is a very experienced player and is the best player in the team because he’s a great fighter, all the time fighting,” Yousuf said.

“He’ll be a lot of help to me.”

Ponting added: “He is a class player that adds a bit of experience in their middle order.

“With guys like Younis, Afridi and Mohammed Yousuf they do end up having a well balanced and experienced one day cricket team.

“But we have a very good record against Pakistan in all forms of the game and we hope that continues in the next few weeks.”
Australia holds a 47-29 win-loss one-day record overall over Pakistan and a 27-16 tally on home soil.

At the Gabba, the sides are locked at 2-2.

While a question mark remained over Pakistan, Ponting hinted that allrounder James Hopes may be 12th man on Friday.

It would be a massive blow for Hopes who will be replaced by WA’s Adam Voges in the second clash at the SCG on Sunday after Australia opted to alternate the allrounders in the opening matches.

It doesn’t auger well for Hopes, with Ponting confirming Shaun Marsh will open with Shane Watson in Brisbane.

© AAP 2012

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