MELBOURNE - Australia may unleash an all-pace attack against Pakistan for the series-opening day-night Test in Brisbane, home captain Steve Smith said.
Smith expects fast bowler Jackson Bird, recalled for the last Test against South Africa, to hold his place in the 11, meaning debutant paceman Chadd Sayers could edge out spinner Nathan Lyon for the match starting at the Gabba Thursday.
“We want to have another look at the wicket today ... to determine how much grass is on the wicket and things like that,” Smith told reporters in Brisbane at the pre-match media conference Wednesday.
“Jackson will probably play, he played the last game and played pretty well so I dare say he will play.”
The Gabba wicket, which traditionally offers pace and bounce, had a layer of grass on the eve of the venue’s first day-night Test.
Cloudy conditions are also forecast at the end of the week which could make the pink ball swing as both sides hope to eke out an early advantage in the three-Test series.
Curator Kevin Mitchell suggested the match might not last the full five days if the weather was humid.
“It’s not beyond the realms of possibility,” he told reporters.
Lyon took four wickets to help a re-jigged Australia side beat the Proteas in the day-night match in Adelaide, a return to form for the off-spinner after he struggled in defeats at Perth and Hobart as South Africa claimed a 2-1 series win.
Pakistan’s batsmen took Lyon apart in a 2-0 series loss for Australia in the United Arab Emirates two years ago but the spinner has an excellent record in Brisbane and has not missed a Test there since his debut in 2011.
“So I’ll leave you guys to write that, that there’s going to be four quicks and stuff,” Lyon said earlier in the week.”
Australia has not lost a Test at the Gabba since 1988 when it was beaten by Viv Richards’ West Indies.
Pakistan also has fast bowling ammunition to return fire at the Gabba, led by Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz. Smith pinpointed Amir as a potential “handful”.
But Smith also warned Pakistan’s leg-spinner Yasir Shah to make sure his length was on the mark or the Australian batsmen would take to him.
“I guess the extra bounce can play in your favor as a spin bowler at the Gabba, but it can also play against you,” Smith said. “Your length has to be spot on, generally there isn’t too much turn - it’s more bounce, so length is crucial.” - Agencies
