Pakistan’s Clash Against Australia at Adelaide Oval

After narrowly missing a comeback win in the first ODI at the MCG, Pakistan faces a must-win scenario at the scenic Adelaide Oval on Friday to keep the series alive.

Pakistan’s bowlers, led by fiery spells from Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah, nearly defended a modest total of 203 in the opener, giving new ODI captain Mohammad Rizwan a strong start. Their short-pitched bowling approach unsettled Australia’s batters on the MCG’s fast, bouncy track, but Pakistan may need to adjust at Adelaide, which has shorter boundaries square of the wicket. A disciplined line and length strategy could be more effective against an aggressive Australian lineup.

To stay in contention for Sunday’s series decider in Perth, Pakistan must overcome their recent struggles against Australia, having only won twice in their last 14 ODIs against the hosts.

While Australia’s first ODI win was not dominant, they have a chance to close the series, which will be the final appearance for skipper Pat Cummins, Steven Smith, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Marnus Labuschagne before their first Test against India. Starc enters in exceptional form, Cummins delivered under pressure at the MCG, and Smith’s 44 helped quiet concerns about his batting. However, Labuschagne’s form remains inconsistent; he managed only 16 in the opener and struggled against Rauf’s bounce.

Form Guide:  

Australia: WWLLW  

Pakistan: LLWWL  

Players to Watch:

With Travis Head on paternity leave, Matt Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk are vying to fill David Warner’s spot. Short, who had recent success in England, failed in the first game but will look to capitalise on familiar conditions at the Adelaide Oval, where he has excelled for the Strikers in the BBL.

For Pakistan, Babar Azam was a standout on a difficult MCG pitch, scoring a graceful 37 off 44. Although he eventually fell to leg-spinner Adam Zampa, Babar’s ODI record speaks for itself, with an average of 56.52. He’ll have good memories of the Adelaide Oval, where he scored a century against Australia in 2017.

Team Updates:

Josh Hazlewood is expected to replace Sean Abbott, marking his only international appearance before the Test series. After a month-long break, he returned to play for New South Wales but went wicketless in the Shield match.

Australia (probable):

1. Matt Short, 2. Jake Fraser-McGurk, 3. Steven Smith, 4. Josh Inglis (wk), 5. Marnus Labuschagne, 6. Glenn Maxwell, 7. Aaron Hardie, 8. Pat Cummins (capt), 9. Mitchell Starc, 10. Adam Zampa, 11. Josh Hazlewood.

Naseem Shah, who left the field in the first ODI due to cramps, is expected to return, and Pakistan may consider adding a specialist spinner for Adelaide’s conditions.

Pakistan (probable):

1. Saim Ayub, 2. Abdullah Shafique, 3. Babar Azam, 4. Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 5. Kamran Ghulam, 6. Salman Ali Agha, 7. Irfan Khan, 8. Shaheen Shah Afridi, 9. Naseem Shah, 10. Haris Rauf, 11. Mohammad Hasnain.

Pitch and Weather

Though Adelaide Oval is known for being a high-scoring ground, a recent low-scoring Sheffield Shield match favoured spin. For this ODI, the pitch is expected to play flatter, with its shorter square boundaries boosting scoring. There’s a chance of rain Friday morning, but the forecast clears up by the afternoon, ensuring ideal conditions for play.