Oz look to rebuild after Sandpaper-gate

Dubai, October 6 

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Australia’s hopes of winning back respect and moving on from the ball-tampering scandal that plunged the team into disgrace face their first Test on Sunday when Tim Paine’s rebuilding side meet Pakistan in the series-opener in Dubai. 

With former captain Steve Smith, and opening batsmen David Warner and Cameron Bancroft serving suspensions for Sandpaper-gate, the Australians have brought a vastly different squad to the Middle East from the one crushed 3-1 in South Africa six months ago. A whole third of the 15 in the United Arab Emirates have yet to play a Test, and Paine’s side will feature three uncapped players when they head out into the Dubai heat to play Sarfraz Ahmed-captained Pakistan in the first match. Paine will be supported by a new vice-captain in all-rounder Mitchell Marsh and a new coach in former Test opener Justin Langer.

 Australia enjoyed a positive warm-up, with opener Aaron Finch, middle-order batsman Travis Head and the Marsh brothers all getting runs in the tour match against a Pakistan A side.

That was enough for Langer to confirm One-day specialist Finch and South Australia skipper Head would play their first Tests.

Yasir targets 20 Australian scalps, series win  

Pakistan spinner Yasir Shah has sent a warning to Australia’s batsmen that he is targeting 20 wickets and a win in the two-match Test series. The 32-year-old has been Pakistan’s main spin weapon since making his Test debut against Australia at the same venue four years ago. He and left-armer Zulfiqar Babar took 26 wickets between them to rout Australia 2-0. 

“I have a target of 20 wickets. I know how important it will be to take wickets so that remains my main target. And for the team, it is very important to win the series,” he said. Yasir has grown in stature and wickets with each series. He took 24 wickets in three Tests in a series win over Sri Lanka a year later. — Agencies