Australia and Pakistan tight-lipped on their final XIs ahead of World Cup quarter-final
Green Adelaide pitch set to favour quicks
Throughout several sets of lone fielding routines and running drills conducted on Thursday afternoon with only specialist coaches and medical staff for company, Michael Clarke kept a close eye on the Adelaide Oval pitch.
While those other members of the Australia team who exercised the option for today's optional training ahead of Friday's knockout quarter-final against Pakistan worked in the nets, Clarke slogged away in the middle.
Shying at the stumps, pivoting and throwing, judging sky balls on the boundary, sprinting between plastic cones on the flawless turf, practising his high-speed directional changes.
And all the time the Australia captain watched Adelaide Oval ground staff apply the heavy roller to the green-tinged strip, television technicians fit the hardware for the in-stump cameras and – as the Australia squad eventually headed for their hotel – a hessian cover was laid over the pitch and the surrounding surface watered.
The fact that no attempt was made to shave the fine but distinct cover of grass that had caught the skipper’s eye earlier in the day would have gladdened Clarke’s heart as much as the apparent ease with which his body coped with the demanding work-out.
Particularly after fast bowler Pat Cummins, who is expected to retain his place in an unchanged starting XI tomorrow ahead of fellow quick Josh Hazlewood, recently described the once-docile Adelaide deck as among the fastest he’s played on in Australia this summer.
“I think fast bowling will play a big part tomorrow, especially if they leave that grass on the wicket like there is now - fingers crossed,” Clarke said at today’s pre-match media conference.
“I think the (Adelaide) pitch has certainly got quicker over the years.
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Clarke faces the media in Adelaide on Thursday // Getty
“It’s a beautiful ground, and I think we’re going to see another great wicket tomorrow.
“But both teams have good fast bowlers in their line-ups so the batters, we’re going to have to make sure we play really well.”
Having identified the pitch’s pace as a potentially vital ingredient that is expected to see respective spinners Xavier Doherty (Australia) and Yasir Shah (Pakistan) reduced to drinks runners, Clarke declined the offer to name the team that boasted the better fast-bowling line-up.
He was similarly tight-lipped when asked about his team’s likely batting order.
“I can guarantee I won’t be opening - maybe one day, but not now,” was his only insight alongside confirmation David Warner and Aaron Finch would retain that top-of-the-order role, for tomorrow at the very least.
Nor did he divulge any details on Australia’s likely XI for tomorrow, claiming the National Selection Panel would await to see how those who did train yesterday (not the fast bowlers) pulled up afterwards.
Not that he was on his own there.
Pakistan’s veteran skipper Misbah-ul-Haq, at age 40 the oldest competitor among the Test-playing nations at this tournament, was similarly reluctant to name his line-up although that was largely due to surprise at being asked to reveal it.
“What do you want me to do? Announce the team here?” a quizzical Misbah shot back during his media conference, before adding with a smile: “No, it's a secret.”
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Misbah at what could be his last press conference as ODI captain // Getty
Misbah has been a solid, steadying influence on a team that is synonymous with spectacular highs and dizzying lows, often with both of those extremes falling in close chronological proximity.
When Pakistan’s World Cup campaign ends, Misbah will follow Sri Lankan legends Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jaywardene into ODI retirement.
But if any leader is capable of piloting this mercurial outfit that will field virtually a second-string bowling attack (without injured first-choice seamers Mohammad Irfan and Junaid Khan and spinners Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeez) to the World Cup’s final four it is Misbah.
Having led his Test team to a thumping series win over Australia in the UAE last October, the methodical middle-order batsman knows what it takes to get past the tournament host even if Clarke’s team starts tomorrow as warm favourites on legal betting markets.
“Yes, they (Australia) are favourites but there is no hard and fast rule that favourites are always going to win the game,” Misbah said.
“It's on the day, the team that performs better, the team who has better chances, better luck, can really defeat any team.
“So we are hopeful and we are very positive.
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Steve Smith chats with former Australia captain Kim Hughes // Getty
“I think we've got a bowling line-up which can really go through any team, and a few batters just getting back into form.
“This is only a matter of just putting a good show on that day.”
Similarly, Clarke knows that despite Pakistan’s inferior placing on the ICC world ODI rankings and their indifferent start to this World Cup campaign they are a team that pays little heed to reputation and therefore loom as a danger opponent.
As do all in a tournament’s knockout phase.
And Clarke, who again indicated that unlike Misbah his desire to continue playing the 50-over format at international level will extend beyond this campaign, suggested those rankings and form lines may indeed be misleading.
“I think Pakistan have been under-rated for a long time, especially in the shorter form of the game,” Clarke said.
“They’ve got a lot of talent in their attack and they’ve shown that through this tournament, they’ve got a good mix of youth and experience with their batting and they are led well really by Misbah.
“I think tomorrow is going to be a really tough challenge for us and I do believe we have to be at our best to beat them.”