What we do know is Australia have a poor record in Asia and Pakistan have been imposing at home.
Australia are in Pakistan to play Test cricket for the first time since 1998, stepping into the great unknown.
What we do know is Australia have a poor record in Asia and Pakistan have been imposing at home.
Pakistan vs Australia | First Test | Friday 4 March – Tuesday 8 March 2022 | Pindi Stadium, Rawalpindi | 07:00
Pakistan
Babar Azam, Fawad Alam, and Mohammad Rizwan form a strong spine for Pakistan and will look to keep Australia in the field as long as possible.
Shaheen Shah Afridi has a golden arm in all three formats right now and is arguably among the best quicks operating.
Haris Rauf and Faheem Ashraf have been ruled out of the match after COVID-19 positives.
Teenaged paceman Naseem Shah whose last Test appearance came in January 2021 in Christchurch, is now likely to battle it out with Mohammad Wasim Jr for a spot in the playing XI.
Australia
Usman Khawaja is likely to open with David Warner for Australia in the hopes the left-handers can prevent Pakistan from getting amongst them early.
Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith form an imposing middle order but they will need to prove they can perform in Pakistan.
Allrounder Cameron Green will hope to be retained as the fifth bowler but could very well lose out to Ashton Agar as Australia seek an extra spin option.
Despite being in Asia, Australia will almost certainly deploy a pace trio in the form of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc as well as off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
Verdict: Pakistan
At home, Pakistan will have a big edge.
