Australia vs Pakistan 2016-17

A struggling Australian team will be tested to the hilt when a fallible Pakistani side, which flirted with the No. 1 spot in ICC Test Rankings a few months ago, challenges them in a three-Test series. Not long ago, Australia were at the pinnacle in ICC Rankings, sitting pretty at the first spot in Test cricket going into the tour of Sri Lanka. But their horrendous performances in Sri Lanka and at home against South Africa have changed the dynamics completely.

Pakistan’s tour of Australia 2016-17 will start with a three-Test series. The first match will be a day-night Test at The Gabba, Brisbane, from December 15-19. The second Test will be at Melbourne from December 26-30, and the final Test will be played from January 3-7, 2017, at Sydney. The five-match ODI series will begin from January 13 at Brisbane and will conclude at the Adelaide Oval on January 26.

Australia were blanked 0-3 in Sri Lanka, a mortifying performance which marked the beginning of a tough phase. However, Australia’s struggle in Sri Lanka on turning wickets and against quality spin bowling did not ring the alarm bells until the team capitulated against South Africa at home. In their three-Test series versus South Africa, Australia were hammered in first two Tests without even putting up a fight, which led to the exit of many non-performing players and selection of as many as four young players.

At Hobart, Australia were bowled out for a poor 85, which marked a lot of changes in the cricketing setup. Trevor Hohns and Greg Chappell returned as selectors, and Australia drafted in young batsmen such as Matt Renshaw, Nic Maddinson and Peter Handscomb. In the bowling department, Chadd Sayers was included as well. With a string of changes, Australia showed signs of improvement as they registered a consolatory win in the final Test, a day-night contest at Adelaide Oval against South Africa.

Keeping in mind that Pakistan are coming off a listless performance in the two-Test series in New Zealand, Australia can fancy their chances. Pakistan suffered two heavy losses against Kiwis, losing the first Test at Christchurch by 8 wickets and the second and final match by 138 runs.

It was their manner of defeat at Hamilton in the second Test which makes Pakistan fallible. Chasing an improbable 369 on the final day, everything looked fine for the tourists till tea as they reached a formidable 158 for 1. The final session saw one of the most shocking collapses, as Pakistan folded up for mere 230, handing the Kiwis a big victory.

It goes without saying that Pakistan will be heavily reliant on their senior batsmen such as Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan for success, but they will have to be wary of Australian quicks Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, who bagged 14 and 17 wickets in the South Africa series respectively.

Schedule

Thu, Jan 26, 2017 ( 08:50 IST )

Australia vs Pakistan, Live Cricket Score, 5th ODI match
at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
Live Cricket Score, 5th ODI match

Australia beat Pakistan by 57 runs
Sun, Jan 22, 2017 ( 08:50 IST )

Australia vs Pakistan, Live Cricket Score, 4th ODI match
at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Sydney
Live Cricket Score, 4th ODI match

Australia beat Pakistan by 86 runs
Thu, Jan 19, 2017 ( 08:50 IST )

Australia vs Pakistan, Live Cricket Score, 3rd ODI match
at W.A.C.A. Ground, Perth
Live Cricket Score, 3rd ODI match

Australia beat Pakistan by 7 wickets

FEATURES

AUS vs PAK ODI series 2016-17: Marks out of 10 for both teams
Devarchit Varma January 27, 2017 10:49 AM IST
Let us take a look at how the players from both Australia and Pakistan performed in the five-match series, starting with the winning side:
PAK vs AUS ODI: Warner-Head show, Sharjeel-Babar’s brilliance and other highlights
Devarchit Varma January 26, 2017 7:55 PM IST
Pakistan wobbled to their seventh defeat out of eight international matches on the tour of Australia 2016-17, on Thursday, when the hosts completed a 57-run
AUS vs PAK 5th ODI at Adelaide: Likely XI for both sides
Abhishek Kumar January 25, 2017 8:54 PM IST
Let us have a look at the combination both teams are likely to play in the fifth ODI.
PAK vs AUS, 5th ODI: Warner vs Junaid, Sharjeel vs Hazlewood and other key battles
Devarchit Varma January 25, 2017 1:30 PM IST
Pakistan will face an uphill task in order to achieve a consolatory victory, as they face an on-song Australian cricket team on Thursday.
PAK vs AUS 4th ODI: Warner’s blitz, Pakistan’s horror day and other highlights
Devarchit Varma January 22, 2017 6:50 PM IST
Pakistan continued to have a miserable run in Australia. They played all-round poor cricket to concede their ongoing five-match ODI series to the hosts 1-3,

Misbah-ul-Haq: Was giving serious thought to retirement after AUS tour
Asian News International May 21, 2017 1:51 PM IST
Misbah-ul-Haq retired from the International cricket after Pakistan's first series win against West Indies in the Caribbean island.
Fans taunt Azhar to leave captaincy at Lahore airport
Press Trust of India January 28, 2017 7:43 PM IST
Azhar Ali had a forgettable ODI series versus Australia, both as skipper and batsman.
PAK drops to No. 8 in ICC ODI team rankings
Indo-Asian News Service January 27, 2017 5:36 PM IST
Pakistan is in danger of failing to qualify directly for the 2019 ODI World Cup in England, according to ICC latest rankings.

PHOTOS: Pakistan vs Australia, 5th ODI at Adelaide
CricketCountry Staff January 26, 2017 8:33 PM IST
Australia cruised to a 57-run victory over Pakistan in the fifth and final one-day international at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday.
PHOTOS: Australia vs Pakistan, 4th ODI at Sydney
CricketCountry Staff January 25, 2017 1:11 PM IST
Australia sealed a series victory against Pakistan, as they won the fourth ODI of the five-match series at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Sunday,
PHOTOS: Australia vs Pakistan, 3rd ODI at Perth
CricketCountry Staff January 19, 2017 7:35 PM IST
Steven Smith scored 108 not out and Peter Handscomb stroked his way to a brisk 82-ball 84 to power Australia to a big win, by
VIDEO: Warner opens up on maiden Test ton at MCG
CricketCountry Staff December 28, 2016 7:23 PM IST
David Warner brought up his 17th Test century whereas his first at MCG.
Why Matt Renshaw's parents missed his maiden Test fifty
CricketCountry Staff December 15, 2016 8:24 PM IST
Australia started off the first day-night Test against Pakistan well, with newbie Matt Renshaw scoring his maiden half-century and playing a matured knock at The
Smith praises Aamer, welcomes Renshaw and more
CricketCountry Staff December 14, 2016 9:49 PM IST
Australian skipper Steven Smith pinpointed Mohammad Aamer as a potential “handful” ahea dof the opening day-night Test vs Pakistan at The Gabba is Brisbane.