Pakistan and Australia set to swing the changes for second Test
Overview
Pakistan vs Australia, second Test
National Stadium, Karachi, Pakistan
12-16 March, 10:00 local
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After a dull draw in the opening Test of the series in Rawalpindi both sides will make changes to their team for their meeting in Karachi.
Just 14 wickets fell across five days play in that historic series opener and all parties will be hoping for a better prepared pitch for the second Test, after the corresponding pitch in Rawalpindi received a 'below average' rating from the ICC.
With a pitch more conducive to five-day cricket likely for the second Test, both teams will inject some fresh faces into their line-up in an attempt to gain a positive result.
Pakistan may look to re-shuffle their pace attack with Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf and all-rounder Faheem Ashraf all in contention to feature, while Australia are expected to include a second spinner should conditions suit.
Uncapped leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson may win the nod to partner the experienced Nathan Lyon, while left-armer Ashton Agar could also be given a chance to impress.
History suggests Pakistan will be hard to beat in this contest, with the hosts having won 23 and lost just two of the 43 Tests they have played at the National Stadium.
Conversely Australia have a poor record at the venue and are yet to claim a Test match victory from eight attempts at the ground.
Australia currently sits on top of the ICC World Test Championship standings with a 77.77 win percentage, while Pakistan is second on a 66.66 win percentage.
Remember the last time
It was at this ground some 24 years ago that star Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi made his Test debut and the then 18-year-old made an instant impression by claiming his maiden five-wicket haul during Australia's first innings.
The match went on to be drawn, with Mark Waugh's classy 117 in the second innings offset by an unbeaten 120 from Ijaz Ahmed on the fifth and final day as both sides shook hands early.
Interestingly, a dry Karachi pitch meant both teams selected three spinners for the Test.
Afridi partnered tall off-spinner Arshad Khan and left-armer Shakeel Ahmed, while Australia used the versatile Colin Miller alongside New South Wales duo Stuart MacGill and Gavin Robertson.
What they said
PCB chairman Ramiz Raja: "I hope that this series, going forward, will become more interesting, but only one match is done, so don't jump the gun, there's a lot of cricket to be played."
Australia captain Pat Cummins: “Our intel for Karachi and Lahore (is that two spinners) is probably the way to go. We’ll have a look at the wicket first. (Playing two spinners) may have been helpful here but I don’t think it would have made too much difference."
Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan, Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Fawad Alam, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Zahid Mahmood
Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner. On standby: Sean Abbott, Brendan Doggett, Nic Maddinson, Matthew Renshaw
First Test: 4-8 March in Rawalpindi
Second Test: 12-16 March in Karachi
Third Test: 21-25 March in Lahore
**First ODI:**29 March in Rawalpindi
**Second ODI:**31 March in Rawalpindi
**Third ODI:**2 April in Rawalpindi
**First T20I:**5 April in Rawalpindi
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