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28-Oct-2014 15:54:00 GMT
Pakistan v Australia, 2nd Test, Abu Dhabi

Australia Eye Series Level Against Confident Pakistan

Abu Dhabi: After failing another Asian spin test, Australia will strive to bounce back in the second and final Test against Pakistan starting in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

The world number two team were all at sea against an inexperienced but effective Pakistan spin attack and suffered a crushing 221-run defeat in the first Test in Dubai.

It was their fifth consecutive flop against spinners in Asia after being routed 4-0 in India last year. Left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar, playing only his third Test, finished with seven wickets in the match as did debutant leggie Yasir Shah.

Pakistan's batsmen also had a field day. Veteran Younis Khan scored a century in each innings while Sarfraz Ahmed and Ahmed Shehzad chipped in with hundreds. Pakistan will maintain that spin pressure as they look to win their first Test series against Australia since beating them at home in 1994.

Australia's top order of David Warner, who hit a hundred in the first Test, and Chris Rogers were steady. But the middle order, especially Clarke and Alex Doolan, failed in both innings. Clarke was confident runs would come in the second Test.

Australia have the option of bringing in Glenn Maxwell, who can also bowl off-spin, for either Mitchell Marsh or Doolan.

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq warned his team not to be complacent against a tough Australian team.

If Pakistan win 2-0 they will jump to number three in the Test rankings, and Misbah called this a strong incentive.

Teams from

Pakistan:
Misbah-ul Haq (Captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Taufeeq Umar, Shan Masood, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Talha, Rahat Ali, Imran Khan, Ehsan Adil, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Zulfiqar Babar, Yasir Shah.

Australia: Michael Clarke (Captain), David Warner, Chris Rogers, Alex Doolan, Steven Smith, Ben Hilfenhaus, Phillip Hughes, Brad Haddin (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, Mitchell Johnson, Steve O'Keefe, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, James Faulkner, Nathan Lyon.

Match facts

October 30 - November 03, 2014
Start time 1000 local (06:00 GMT)


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