Australia Aim to Break Ajmal Threat

Sharjah: Australia must learn to deal with the tricky Saeed Ajmal if they are to secure a series win over Pakistan with victory in the third and final one-day international.

Ajmal has troubled the Aussies on the spin-friendly wickets in the United Arab Emirates and could lead Pakistan to a series victory in Sharjah on Monday night.

The off-spinner claimed 4-32 as Pakistan levelled the series with a seven-wicket win in Abu Dhabi.

Ajmal has been a constant threat against Michael Clarke's men, taking seven wickets at a stunning average of 8.85 and an economy rate of 3.10 runs per over.

Pakistan legend Wasim Akram believes the Australians have been unable to pick Ajmal's doosra and veteran Michael Hussey said the 34-year-old had been the key in the series so far.

The Hussey brothers – Michael and David – have been dismissed by Ajmal in both matches, while Glenn Maxwell has also fallen to the spinner twice.

Clarke has continued to be Australia's most impressive batsman, scoring 103 runs in the series with a top score of 66 in the opening game.

But the captain remains without a century in his past seven ODI innings despite passing 50 on three occasions.

David Warner averages 35.6 in ODIs this year but has scored just 29 runs in the opening two matches, while opening partner Matthew Wade has managed just 17 this series.

Australia have enjoyed strong displays from pace duo Mitchell Starc (five wickets at 17) and James Pattinson (four at 16.25), but Starc is under an injury cloud after complaining of a side/chest injury during the second ODI.

Pakistan have also had their issues with the bat but had Nasir Jamshed 97 in second one-dayer stand up when they needed him to in Abu Dhabi.

Shahid Afridi missed the second match due to back soreness but is believed to be fit for the third game and a straight swap with Abdur Rehman seems the most likely scenario.

Teams from

Pakistan: Mohammad Hafeez, Nasir Jamshed, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Umar Akmal, Kamran Akmal (wk), Sohail Tanvir, Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman, Junaid Khan, Aizaz Cheema, Anwar Ali, Imran Farhat, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik

Australia: Matthew Wade (wk), David Warner, Michael Clarke (captain), Michael Hussey, David Hussey, George Bailey, Glenn Maxwell, Daniel Christian, Mitchell Johnson, James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Xavier Doherty, Callum Ferguson, Alister McDermott, Steven Smith, Clint McKay

Pitch and conditions
After the extremely dewy conditions in Abu Dhabi on Friday, the teams return to Sharjah for this third match. In the first two matches of the series it was the chasing team that emerged triumphant, so don't expect the captains to rush into a decision to bat first at the toss.

Stats and trivia

• Should Pakistan win the third match it will be their first ODI series victory against Australia in ten years
• In the past 12 months, only Sri Lanka's Lasith Malinga has taken more ODI wickets than Saeed Ajmal's 44 at an average of 20.38
• In the same period, Australia's leading ODI wicket takers have been Xavier Doherty, Clint McKay and Brett Lee - none of whom have played a match in this series.

Match facts
September 3-4, 2012 (day/night)
Start time 1800 local (1400 GMT)