Australia vs Pakistan: Hosts unchanged for David Warner's farewell Test, visitors leave out Shaheen Afridi
Australia vs Pakistan: Hosts unchanged for David Warner's farewell Test, visitors leave out Shaheen Afridi
Australia have named an unchanged line-up for the second Test against Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The contest bears significance for being David Warner’s farewell match at his home ground.
Captain Pat Cummins confirmed Australia’s seam-bowling trio had all recovered well from the second Test four days ago after clinching the three-match series with a tense 79-run win.
Despite the SCG holding a reputation for taking turn, Australia have not included a second spinner into the team to partner Nathan Lyon.
On the eve of the Test, which will be opener Warner’s 112th and final Test, the pitch looked well-grassed.
“The weather looks pretty good this week and that’s not always the case in Sydney,” Cummins said ahead of the Test, starting Wednesday.
“The groundsman seems happy with where it’s at. It looks like decent coverage of grass, so it should be a good week ahead.”
While Sydney has a history of hosting rain-affected Test matches with 26 washed out days, the most of the Australian venues. But there is only a medium chance of showers this week.
Meanwhile, Warner made a public plea for the return of his baggy green caps after they went missing from his bag while being transported from Melbourne.
In a post on Instagram, the veteran said some of his possessions got lost in transit.
“Someone has taken my backpack out of my luggage from Melbourne to Sydney …inside this backpack was my Baggy Green cap,” Warner said.
“It’s something that I would love to have back in my hands walking out there this week.”
After months of speculation about his place in the team, Warner will get the send-off he desired in his home city after scores of 164, 0, 38 and six in the two Tests against Pakistan.
“Best-case scenario is a (Warner) hundred and maybe a leg-spinner to take the last wicket of the game out of the rough,” Cummins said.
“If he could score some runs and go off in style with a few fours and sixes, I think that’d be a pretty fitting end. ‘Warner Week’ has started.”
Warner, 37, goes into his final Test having scored 8,695 runs at an average of 44.58, with 26 centuries and 36 half-centuries.
Pakistan make two changes
Pakistan, meanwhile, have made two changes. They’ve handed a Test debut to Saim Ayub, who will open the innings replacing Imam-Ul-Haq while senior fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has been left out for off-spinner Sajid Khan.
“You always have to look at the bigger picture after a game like the MCG. We’ve learned the lessons, at least we’ve put ourselves in those positions from where we could compete in or dominate games,” Pakistan captain Shan Masood said Tuesday.
“It’s now about not repeating mistakes, and if we can put in similar efforts to the one in Melbourne, we’ll be winning a lot of Tests.”
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