KEY BATTLES TO DECIDE AUSTRALIA-PAKISTAN THREE-TEST SERIES
DAVID WARNER VS MOHAMMAD AMIR
Warner is one of the most explosive batsmen in world cricket and Amir among the most lethal exponents of swing bowling. The reformed left-arm quick is in the same mould as Wasim Akram and will be relied upon to get rid of the Australian opener with his late-hooping outswingers to the left-hander.
YASIR SHAH VS HIS OWN FITNESS
Shah has been compared to Shane Warne in his ability to flight and turn the ball, however it won't be of much good to Pakistan if he is watching from the sidelines. He missed the tour match against a Cricket Australia XI in Cairns after injuring his back in training, and it's still unknown if he will be fit for the first Test.
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THE BATSMEN VS THE PINK BALL
Neither side's batsmen have endeared themselves to the pink ball under lights in Australia. The home side's only sustained success was against South Africa in Adelaide when they bowled spinners for the first hour of the final session last month, only to lose three quick wickets once the new ball was taken. Meanwhile Pakistan lost a combined 10-153 in their two night sessions with the bat in their tour match against a Cricket Australia XI. Tactics could be everything at night at the series-opener in Brisbane.
WAHAB RIAZ VS THE AUSTRALIAN MIDDLE ORDER
Riaz gave a hint of what he can do to Australia at last year's World Cup quarter-final in Adelaide, where he dismissed Warner and Steve Smith before roughing up Shane Watson. His raw speed could challenge Australia's inexperienced batsmen, however he is known to get it wrong and offer plenty of chances for runs.
PAKISTAN'S VETERANS VS AUSTRALIAN PITCHES
The last time Pakistan played Australia Younis Khan hit three centuries in two Tests to average 156, and Misbah-ul-Haq went at 135.5. That was on the sub-continent though, and at 39 and 42 respectively, reproducing that form in Australia remains a whole different challenge. Neither batsman have reached triple figures in the five Tests between them in Australia, and will need to turn that around to win the series.
