Pakistan Chase a Rare Double Against Understrength Australia

Pakistan Target Rare Double Over Understrength Australia

Pakistan to Face Second-String Australia in Three-Tests Series

Pakistan will bid to become just the second team to complete a Test series double over Australia in Australia when they meet in the first Test in Brisbane on Thursday.

Only the mighty West Indies, under the leadership of Sir Clive Lloyd and Viv Richards, have achieved the feat, when they won series in 1975-76 and 1988-89.

Pakistan won a three-Test series 2-0 in the United Arab Emirates in October-November 2018, and are slight favorites this time around against an Australian team without a host of their top players.

David Warner, Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft are all serving year-long bans for their roles in the Cape Town ball-tampering scandal, while Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are injured.

Pakistan, meanwhile, have a settled side, with Babar Azam in good form coming off a century in the second Test against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi last week.

Pakistan Seek to Capitalize on Australia's Weakness

Pakistan's chances of success may rest on how well they exploit Australia's weakened bowling attack.

Mitchell Marsh, Pat Cummins and Peter Siddle all lack experience at Test level, and Pakistan will be looking to score runs against them and put pressure on Australia's batsman.

Pakistan's bowlers, led by Mohammad Amir and Hasan Ali, will also need to be at their best to contain Australia's batsman, who include Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne and Marcus Harris.

Pakistan Aim to Make History

A series win in Australia would be a significant achievement for Pakistan, and would further enhance their reputation as one of the world's leading Test teams.

It would also be a fitting tribute to their former captain, Misbah-ul-Haq, who retired from international cricket earlier this year.

Pakistan will be confident of their chances, but they will need to play to their full potential to overcome a determined Australian team.