*Official* Pakistan vs Australia in the UAE 2018

[the big bambino]

Apparently there's a green top for Abu Dhabi

 

[TheJediBrah]

Apparently there's a green top for Abu Dhabi

Maybe a few days out . . . I'll believe it when I see it

 

[stephen]

You'd have to think that a greentop would negate any advantage for either side. Depending on how green it is, one of the quicks from either side could take a huge haul (though I'd say of the Aussie quicks, Siddle would be most likely). It also means that Australia wouldn't need to play Holland. It'd be a duck hunt for both sides fast bowlers.

But I have no doubts that if anything it'll be more of a turner than the last test.

 

[Borges]

The ICC test rankings for Australia are very volatile at this moment.
If Australia win the second test, they move up to #2; if it is a draw, they drop to #4; if they lose, they would become #5.

 

[CricAddict]

The ICC test rankings for Australia are very volatile at this moment.
If Australia win the second test, they move up to #2; if it is a draw, they drop to #4; if they lose, they would become #5.

If Australia wins this test and then the India series, will they go to number one?

 

[stephen]

If Australia wins this test and then the India series, will they go to number one?

I doubt it. India are well clear of second.

 

[aussie tragic]

Paine quoted that no changes to top 6, expect possible tweaking of the batting order....renshaw misses out again

 

[Starfighter]

I'm wondering if Pakistan will keep Wahab despite the detritus he sent down or go for someone else. I'd like to see what Hamza is made of. Having been a follower of Sadaf Hussein's career for many years I've got plenty of time for Pakistani bowlers with ridiculous domestic figures, and have been disappointed that the aforementioned has never gotten a go.

 

[stephen]

Paine quoted that no changes to top 6, expect possible tweaking of the batting order....renshaw misses out again

Yeah because having marsh and marsh at 3 and 4 worked so well...

 

[Gnske]

Smarsh is guaranteed a ton in this game, knowing his style.

 

[Top_Cat]

No way we're seeing a green top in Abu Dhabi.

 

[Starfighter]

I can practically hear the mower starting up.

 

[GotSpin]

Smarsh is guaranteed a ton in this game, knowing his style.

Smash is basically never going to get dropped so I'd prefer for labuschagne to fail since he's probably going to be an average player forever

 

[Victor Ian]

The ICC test rankings for Australia are very volatile at this moment.
If Australia win the second test, they move up to #2; if it is a draw, they drop to #4; if they lose, they would become #5.

This is ludicrous. Australia are all time turdworthy at the moment (even imagining Smith and Warner are still in the side), and England at home aside, they haven't won anything for a long time. It's kind of a negative indictment on the woes of the levels of world cricket at the moment. Basically, the world is playing at late 80's level Australia.

 

[stephen]

Yep I can't remember a less competitive time in world cricket since the 80s. and even then there were some ATG players.

Australia is helped by only ever losing to South Africa at home.

 

[FBU]

I'm wondering if Pakistan will keep Wahab despite the detritus he sent down or go for someone else. I'd like to see what Hamza is made of. Having been a follower of Sadaf Hussein's career for many years I've got plenty of time for Pakistani bowlers with ridiculous domestic figures, and have been disappointed that the aforementioned has never gotten a go.

What about Junaid Khan, is he fit?

 

[jimmy101]

Don't forget that Australia's current ICC rankings are based on a whole bunch of games from pre-Sandpapergate times.

 

[aussie tragic]

Pakistan batting with Australia unchanged. Hope it's not as boring a day as day 1 in Dubai

 

[stephen]

Maybe Australia needs to bring in Wade as a specialist tosser.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Could be another handy toss to win for Pak.