Australia have decided to field an unchanged XI for the third and final Test against Pakistan at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, starting Monday. Spin duo Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Swepson have been backed while star pacer Josh Hazlewood will be out.
Visitors revealed the combination on Sunday afternoon. Captain Pat Cummins, while addressing a press conference, said that the team management is happy with how the team’s performance in the Karachi Test ended in a draw.
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Captain Pat Cummins said, ‘We were really happy with how all 11 players went in the last Test. “Everyone has pulled off really well. We gave them a few extra days to make sure everyone comes out well. But no injury concerns, everyone is fresh, so we have confidence in the XI.”
“Having only two fast bowlers, I think reverse swing is going to be a big factor and the way Starsee played the last game was fantastic. It’s always hard to leave someone like Joshi, even Scotty Boland. But the class and difference that Starsee brings as a left-handed batsman, the wind speed is a bit high, we think this is the best opportunity to take 20 wickets.”
The three-match series is tied at 0-0 with the first two games in Rawalpindi and Karachi ending in draws. The series opener proved to be a dull match. However, the next game brought back the interest of cricket fans as home captain Babar Azam and wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan showed great resilience in their 506-run chase.
Cummins believes Australia’s dominance for much of the Karachi Test was a recognition of their methods.
“I think what’s clear is … the way we’ve gone about it is the right way,” he said.
“I’m really happy with how everyone goes about their work[and]strategy. I think it’s just a matter of taking those opportunities.”
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“Wickets are very expensive in this series so you can’t afford to miss too many chances. We created more than 10 chances (in Karachi in the second innings), unfortunately we didn’t take them, so this week it will be a challenge,” Cummins said.
Australia XI: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Swepson, Nathan Lyon.
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