Pakistan is set to host Australia in the second of three test matches with the series poised at 0-0 after an anticlimactic snooze fest kicked things off. The home side served up an absolute highway of a pitch that produced just 14 wickets over five days, batsmen dominating proceedings throughout. One can only hope that the second encounter in Karachi comes closer to a result, especially given our Draftstars line ups require three bowlers!

 

Draftstars has put up a $5000 contest, with a top prize of $680. There is also a mini contest.

 

Here's a quick look at the scoring for Test cricket:

 

 

Expected Australia Xl: Warner, Khawaja, Labuschagne, Smith, Head, Green, Carey, Cummins, Starc, Lyon, Swepson
Expected Pakistan Xl:  Shafique, Ul Haq, A. Ali, Azam, Alam, Rizwan, N. Ali, H. Ali, Sajid Afridi, Khan, Shah

 

Australia have already confirmed that Mitch Swepson will make his test debut on a wicket that is set to offer more for the spinners in Karachi. In the wake of Shane Warne’s tragic passing, it is only appropriate that a right arm leg spinner enters the fold for this match and I expect Swepson to acquit himself well after patiently waiting for his chance on the sidelines.

 

Pakistan are also likely to make a change, slotting in Hasan Ali as a third seam option in place of all-rounder Iftikhar Ahmed. Sajid Khan and Nauman Ali should resume as front-line spinners, especially the latter who took 6 wickets in tough conditions.

 

 

 

Love It- Nauman Ali $10,900

The pick of the bowlers in the first test, Ali impressed with his accuracy, strategy and ability to extract wickets for a dead surface. He should get more assistance this time around, and Australia are always less comfortable against spin.

 

Love It- Mitchell Swepson $10,000

Swepson finally gets his chance after working hard behind the scenes. He has proven himself in limited overs cricket and at first class level and has reached the point in his career where he knows his game to a tee. At this price it is hard to pass him up.

 

Don’t Love It- Naseem Shah $8,800

There is a lot to like about the young tearaway quick but it does not seem like the Australian batsmen are particularly challenged by him. Aussies are used to facing 140km/h plus operators and Shah needs to channel his energy into formulating strategies that don’t just involve blasting the opposition out.

 

Don’t Love It- Alex Carey $9,700

Carey may present as an attractive salary saving option but I just can’t see how he will score meaningful points. His batting at international level has yet to justify itself in Australian conditions, let alone the challenging wickets of Pakistan, and caught behind dismissals will be in lower supply without the quicks challenging the edge.

 

Who Knows- Nathan Lyon $16,600

The GOAT bowled a mountain of overs with little to show for it in the first test and undoubtedly, he will be looking to lead from the front as Australia’s premier spinner in this one. No one questions Lyon’s record but whenever the national side struggles in spinning conditions the blowtorch is immediately applied to him. With some of the load taken off by Swepson, I expect Gaz to bounce back here.

 

Suggested Draftstars Lineup   

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