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Australia have ignored Pakistan’s third Test shambles to focus on the “hard” job of taking 20 wickets on a flat Bellerive Oval wicket.
Pakistan’s team for the dead rubber, starting Thursday, remains a mystery due to defiant vice-captain Kamran Akmal’s place following his second Test shocker at the SCG.
Kamran, one of four tour selectors, has been told by management to fall on his sword and allow rookie wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed to make his Test debut in Hobart.
But the 48-Test incumbent says he won’t drop himself, posing the possibility of a selection stalemate late Wednesday.
Captain Ricky Ponting shook his head over the tourists’ dramas but said his team hadn’t spoken about their potential changes and state of disarray after losing the first two Tests.
“I don’t know what’s happening this week to to tell the truth,” he said. “There’s all sorts of things going on at the moment.
“So I’ll wait and see at the toss what 11 players they have on that team sheet. That’s all we can worry about.”
Although drizzling rain fell in Hobart on match eve, hot weather leading into the game has dried the Bellerive pitch out to make for batsman-friendly conditions.
Ponting expected a typical Hobart wicket which has traditionally made for hard work for bowlers as the Australians chase a clean sweep.
“The state games have been pretty good batting wickets and it’s been hard to bowl sides out,” he said.
Australia named a predictable XI for the match, with Victorian paceman Clint McKay dropping out of the 12-man squad to return to play for the Bushrangers.
There is just one change from the team which scored a 36-run comeback win at the SCG with opener Simon Katich fit again to take the place of Phillip Hughes.
Australia: Simon Katich, Shane Watson, Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Marcus North, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Peter Siddle, Doug Bollinger, Clint McKay (12th man).
Australia versus Pakistan in Test cricket
Head to head
Overall: Played 54, Australia won 26, Pakistan won 11, Drawn 17
In Australia: Played 31, Australia won 20, Pakistan won 4, Drawn 7
At Hobart: Played 2, Australia won 2.Last time:
Overall: Australia won by 36 runs at SCG in 2010
At Hobart: Australia won by four wickets in 1999Scores
Australian highest: 617 at Faisalabad 1980
Pakistan highest: 624 at Adelaide 1983
Australian lowest: 80 at Karachi 1956
Pakistan lowest: 53 at Sharjah 2002Biggest wins
By Australia: Innings & 198 runs at Sharjah 2002, three times won by 10 wickets
By Pakistan: Innings & 188 runs at Karachi 1988, three times won by nine wicketsIndividual records
Highest score for Australia: 334no by Mark Taylor at Peshawar 1998
Highest score for Pakistan: 237 by Saleem Malik at Rawalpindi 1994
Best bowling in an innings for Australia: 8-24 by Glenn McGrath at WACA Ground 2004
Best bowling in an innings for Pakistan: 9-86 by Sarfraz Nawaz at MCG 1979
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