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Perth: Australia are known to stage strong comebacks and Pakistan - given their inconsistencies and lack of firepower in batting ranks in either setting or chasing
Pakistan's series-levelling victory in the second ODI at Melbourne was nothing less than a historic achievement, but it is imperative for the visitors to put it behind them and focus on the road ahead.
Australia are known to stage strong comebacks and Pakistan - given their inconsistencies and lack of firepower in batting ranks in either setting or chasing big totals - face a monumental task.
The five-match ODI series is currently levelled 1-1 with three more games to go, and the third game will be played on Thursday at the WACA, Perth.
Pakistan and Australia may approach the remaining contests as considering it as a three-match series, since it is that benefit which teams can get if they are at levelled terms competing in long series across formats.
Pakistan deserve to fancy bigger achievements in Australia if they manage to replicate their performances from Melbourne, because for the first time on this tour, they produced an all-round show. Bowling first, they kept attacking Australia till the hosts did not crumble, and Pakistan did not make the familiar mistakes in their chase.
Australia have handed debut to Peter Handscomb, which does not seem to be a move taken in haste. Mitchell Marsh has been ruled out of the third ODI, while Chris Lynn will miss the entire series due to a neck injury.
Australia batted first at Brisbane and Melbourne, and squandered opportunities of posting big totals in batting-friendly conditions.
For Pakistan, Azhar Ali will continue to remain out of action. He suffered a hamstring pull in the first game, and Mohammad Hafeez stepped in to guide Pakistan on the way out of the trenches.
There are no major fitness concerns for Pakistan, and in all likeliness, Mohammad Aamer and Junaid Khan will partner to trouble the Australian top-order once again.
WACA Ground is lucky for Pakistan, they have won four of six ODIs between the two teams in Perth, though Australia's two victories came in the most recent meetings in 2010.
Squads:
Australia announce XI for 3rd ODI: Steven Smith (Capt.), David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Travis Head, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Wade (wk), James Faulkner, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Billy Stanlake.
Pakistan (from): Mohammad Hafeez (Capt.), Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Sharjeel Khan, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Asad Shafiq, Mohammad Rizwan, Imad Wasim, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Ali, Rahat Ali, Umar Akmal, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Aamer.
Stats and trivia
Pakistan have won four of six ODIs between the two teams in Perth.
Match facts
Thursday January 19, 2017 (d/n)
Start time 1120 local (0320 GMT)
