Australia will be locking horns with Pakistan in their own den, starting 15th December. The series promises to keep everyone on their toes with both teams flexing their muscles to get under each other's skin. Nonetheless, the teams have tasted contrasting fortunes over the last couple of series.
Australia have had a torrid time over the last four months or so, decapitated first at the hands of Sri Lanka by 3-0 and then tantalizingly eschewing a series whitewash by South Africa. The Pakistan team, on the other hand, has been a revelation over the second half of 2016. They turned over England by 2-1 and followed that up by thrashing the West Indies in the UAE.
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Courtesy a string of defeats, Australia have had to inculcate changes to their side while Pakistan have settled in quite smoothly. Most importantly, Pakistan have been winning outside while Australia have found it tough even on home turf.
On recent form, Pakistan will be starting as favourites, but the wounded Kangaroos can’t be dismissed – mainly because of the history of these two teams. Here, we take a look at Pakistan’s Test record in Australia, which is far from flattering.
Pakistan’s Test numbers in Australia
| Matches | Won | Lost | Draw | Win/Loss |
| 32 | 4 | 21 | 7 | 0.19 |
Pakistan will be looking to break the losing streak of eight Test matches in Australia. They last registered a Test win in Australia 21 years ago, when Wasim Akram’s side rolled over the Kangaroos by 74 runs at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 1995.
Ijaz Ahmed’s ton helped Pakistan post a decent first innings total after which Mushtaq Ahmed, with match figures of 66.2-13-186-9, piled on the agony for Australia. Chasing 247, Australia folded for 172 and gave Pakistan a historic triumph.
Pakistan captains in Australia
Till date, it has been a dismal state for the Pakistani skippers in Australia. Out of Pakistan’s 11 Test series in Australia, they have managed to draw only three of them, leave alone winning a series. To their dismay, they have lost the last seven Test series versus the Kangaroos in Australia. In their last 23 Tests, Pakistan have managed just two wins against 16 losses.
Mushtaq Mohammad, for the time being, is Pakistan’s most fruitful captain in Australia, winning 40% of the matches he has led. Imran Khan and Mohammad Yousuf went winless in five attempts each. It will need something stupendous from Misbah-ul-Haq and his boys to defy the odds and put up an impressive show this time round.
| Captain | Matches | Won | Lost | Draw |
| Hanif Mohammad (1964-64) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Intikhab Alam (1972-73) | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Mushtaq Mohammad (1976-79) | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Javed Miandad (1981-81) | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Zaheer Abbas (1983-83 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Imran Khan (1983-90) | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Wasim Akram 1995-99) | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| Inzamam-ul-Haq (2004-04) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Mohammad Yousuf 2004-10) | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
Top five run-getters in Tests for Pakistan in Australia
Statistically, Asif Iqbal has been Pakistan’s most prolific run-scorer, with close to 700 runs at an average of 45.40. With a century conversion rate of 75%, he was Pakistan’s reason to cheer amidst a host of dreary performances. Imran Khan and Majid Khan were also pretty consistent for the men in green.
Zaheer Abbas (15 times) and Javed Miandad (16 times) have represented Pakistan the most in Tests in Australia. With over 1,000 runs, they formed the core of the side and rarely disappointed. In 28 Test innings, Zaheer has surpassed 50 or more 11 times, which is an achievement in itself against the fiery Aussie quicks.
| Batsman | Matches | Runs | Average | 50’s | 100’s | Highest |
| Zaheer Abbas | 15 | 1097 | 40.62 | 10 | 1 | 101 |
| Javed Miandad | 16 | 1028 | 38.07 | 7 | 2 | 131 |
| Imran Khan | 13 | 733 | 36.65 | 4 | 1 | 136 |
| Majid Khan | 11 | 716 | 35.80 | 2 | 2 | 158 |
| Asif Iqbal | 9 | 681 | 45.40 | 1 | 3 | 152 |
Top five wicket-takers in Tests for Pakistan in Australia
Sarfaraz Nawaz’s 9/86 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground will be etched as one of Pakistan’s most exhilarating bowling spells. Chasing 382, Australia were cantering along when havoc unfolded. From 3/305, they capitulated to 310 all out. Sarfaraz Ahmed, within a space of 33 balls, picked up seven wickets, conceding a solitary run.
Wasim Akram boasts of the best bowling average and strike rate among all bowlers, which shows the significance of his ability to jag the ball both in the air and off the pitch. Apart from the pacers, Pakistan also had spinners delivering for them; Danish Kaneria and Mushtaq Ahmed share 46 wickets among themselves. That suggests Yasir Shah’s role will be pivotal if Pakistan has to topple Australia.
| Bowlers | Matches | Wickets | Average | Strike Rate | 5 wkt match | 10 wkt match | BBI | BBM |
| Sarfaraz Nawaz | 12 | 50 | 31.46 | 77.00 | 5 | 1 | 9/86 | 11/125 |
| Imran Khan | 13 | 45 | 28.51 | 67.50 | 3 | 1 | 6/63 | 12/165 |
| Wasim Akram | 9 | 36 | 24.05 | 58.00 | 3 | 1 | 6/62 | 11/160 |
| Danish Kaneria | 5 | 24 | 40.58 | 64.00 | 3 | 0 | 7/188 | 8/204 |
| Mushtaq Ahmed | 4 | 22 | 33.53 | 60.60 | 2 | 0 | 5/95 | 9/186 |
Ground-wise record
Other than the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Sydney Cricket Ground, Pakistan haven’t been able to defeat the Aussies. The good news for the Pakistanis is that out of the three Tests, two will be played on their favourite hunting grounds in Melbourne and Sydney.
The first Test at Brisbane will be Pakistan’s second day-night encounter. In their first day-night encounter, Pakistan rolled over the West Indies, riding on the back of a triple century by Azhar Ali. Though Australia lost to South Africa by 2-1, the day-night encounter was snaffled by the Kangaroos.
| Ground | Matches | Won | Lost | Draw |
| Adelaide Oval | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Bellerive Oval | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Brisbane Cricket Ground,Woolloongabba, Brisbane | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Melbourne Cricket Ground | 9 | 2 | 5 | 2 |
| Sydney Cricket Ground | 7 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| W.A.C.A, Perth | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
With Australia stumbling along in Test cricket, it’s up to Pakistan to strangle them further and thread together a respectable show this time round. Pakistan is currently ranked 4th in the ICC Test Rankings, three rating points behind Australia.
The Test series has all the ingredients to turn into an enthralling one, and with the kind of talents both teams possess, there won’t be any dearth of gripping moments.
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