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Enjoy a draw Australia, this game has a different smell to it

Roar Rookie
14th October, 2018
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Roar Rookie
14th October, 2018
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What can we expect for the next Test? Will it be another hard-fought draw for the Australians?

Or will we see a more dominant batting display from the team which lost ten wickets for just 60 runs?

What changes will Trevor Hohns and his selectors make?

All in all entertainment is guaranteed in Australia’s fight for respect. Should this understrength side go on and win a series in the UAE, they will establish themselves as champion underdogs – joining the likes of Steven Bradbury, Kieran Perkins and Mark Edmondson in the record books as unexpected victories.

It may not be all sunshine and rainbows for the side nicknamed ‘the battlers’, although their effort to achieve a draw magnificent, they were on a highway, the pitch was flatter than a dropped can of coke.

To come up with such a poor display in the first innings with the bat was worrying. That’s especially considering the Abu Dhabi curators may opt to go with a slower, softer wicket which advantages the talented spin in the Pakistan side, especially Yasir Shah, who bowled on an unfriendly pitch for spinners in Dubai but still managed to pick up four for in the second innings.

Pakistan wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed appeals a wicket against Australia's Nathan Lyon with teammates

Pakistan’s players appeal dismissal of Australia’s batsman Nathan Lyon (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

There are some big decisions for Justin Langer and co to make. They are tossing up with a quick, a spinner and a batsman. First, they must decide whether Mitch Starc will lead the pace attack, or whether he rests.

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If they decide not to risk any further injuries to the left armer, will Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins be considered to fly over for this must-win game? Or will they hand a baggy green to Mike Neser or Brendan Doggett. Big one for the selectors that.

To improve the performance with the bat, should there be more depth or replacements in the top six? If you ask me it is both.

The selectors must decide if Jon Holland is the right man to take the orthodox responsibilities for this game or Ashton Agar.

Agar is the one to add depth to the batting, with a Test high score of 98 on debut. This option could pull them out of the hole they got in during the first innings, with Tim Paine, Starc, Pete Siddle and Nathan Lyon only contributing 23 runs in their horror collapse.

To take more weight off Usman Khawaja’s shoulders, there surely needs to be a change in the middle order.

Although it would be harsh on the debutant, Marnus Labuschagne is probably the man to don the orange vest.

He simply isn’t ready for Test cricket with an average of under 35 in the Shield with just 37 first class game under his belt. Matt Renshaw is on the tour – can he improve the middle order?

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I certainly think so, despite the fact he has only batted once in the middle order for Australia, I think his career will be similar to the great Michael Hussey – starting as an opener and finding a home in the middle order.

Expect the unexpected for this decider in the UAE.

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