Australia make two changes

Tweets by @CricketAus

Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Starc have been recalled to the Australian set-up for the second Test against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi, at the expense of batsman Alex Doolan and left-arm spinner Steve O'Keefe respectively.

Australia's heavy 221-run defeat in Dubai last week has prompted the selectors to beef up their pace attack with Starc, despite the pitch again looking likely to turn.

That's where Maxwell comes into the equation, with the allrounder boasting an impressive record in the UAE - albeit in the short forms of the game - but crucially, capable of playing a role with his off-spin.

Captain Michael Clarke could opt to put Maxwell in at No.3 as a direct replacement for Doolan, having said earlier this week that he preferred Steve Smith to remain batting at No.5

The Abu Dhabi Test is a must-win for Australia as they seek to level the two-Test series and avoid a first series defeat to Pakistan since 1994. It will mark Maxwell's third appearance in the Baggy Green while Doolan has been axed after four starts at No.3.

Doolan exits the Test arena having scored 191 runs in eight Test innings at 23.87. His top score of 89 came in the second innings of an impressive debut match in a tough series against South Africa. But since then the Tasmanian has a top score of 37, and four single-figure innings.

Doolan was narrowly run out for five in the first innings of last week's Dubai Test, while was plumb lbw after moving back and playing across the line to the left-arm orthodox of Zulfiqar Babar.

Maxwell's Test debut came during last year's forgettable tour of India where the team was beaten 4-0 amid immense off-field upheaval. He was played as a frontline spinner alongside first Xavier Doherty then Nathan Lyon.

Maxwell made his debut in the innings and 135-run defeat in Hyderabad and was dropped for the next Test. He was recalled for the final Test in Delhi as Shane Watson captained Australia and was asked to open the batting and the bowling in Australia's second innings.

Asked earlier this week if Smith batting at No.3 was a fantasy, Clarke agreed: "It's a fantasy right now."

That fantasy has been hastened by the selectors, to the apparent surprise of Clarke who had told reporters on Tuesday "I can't see that happening in this Test match."

"In the future I think Smithy can definitely go higher up the order," added Clarke.

"He's just starting his Test career though. He's playing really well but we've also got to give him plenty of time.

"I've always had a lot of faith in Smithy and I've pushed hard for him to be a part of all three forms of the game.

"But we've got to be patient with him. He's learning every day. His game's certainly improving.

"Right now I think he's batting really well at No.5 and that's a good thing for the team.

Maxwell has form at Abu Dhabi's Sheik Zayed Stadium. He blasted 95 from just 43 balls here in the Indian Premier League in April this year, hitting 15 fours and two sixes.

The Victorian's white-ball credentials are undoubted but he halso showed improve prowess in last summer's Bupa Sheffield Shield, most memorably in a single-handed salvo against a rampant NSW at the SCG in Feburary.

After Victoria were reduced to 6-9 inside 14 overs, Maxwell launched a stunning counterattack to score 127 off 102 balls. It was his second incredible innings of the match after he scored 94 off 95 balls in the first innings.

Maxwell finished the 2013-14 Shield season with a flourish, scoring centuries in his final two games and finished the season with 544 runs at 43.33. Doolan, by way of contrast, scored 391 runs at 39.1 in one less game.

Starc's touted inclusion for O'Keefe is in line with Clarke's pre-Test prediction that the Abu Dhabi surface would not offer as much turn as Dubai.

However, O'Keefe's four wickets in the first Test (2-107 and 2-112) was the best return by any bowler.

Starc did not train with the Australian squad yesterday, however found some extra zip off the practice pitch on Tuesday.

Australia (probable): Warner, Rogers, Maxwell, Clarke (c), Smith, Marsh, Haddin (wk), Johnson, Siddle, Starc, Lyon

Pakistan (probable): Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq (c), Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Zulfiqar Babar, Imran Khan, Yasir Shah, Rahat Ali