Pakistan preparing for swing and speed

Pakistan batsman Asad Shafiq says the local knowledge of coach Mickey Arthur is proving invaluable as the tourists prepare for a trial by pace in the upcoming three-Test series against Australia.

The Pakistanis are in Cairns for a three-day pink-ball match against a Cricket Australia XI beginning Thursday, with the first Commonwealth Bank Test starting a week later in Brisbane, on December 15.

Arthur, who coached Australia through an overly disappointing period between November 2011 and June 2013, has been readying his charges for conditions vastly different from those to which they're accustomed in their current 'home' base, the United Arab Emirates.

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"Test cricket is always difficult cricket. The challenges over here are different and the challenges in the UAE are different, so we are looking forward to playing good, positive cricket," Shafiq said.

"You have to tackle the fast bowlers here, which is a totally different challenge (to the UAE).

"(Arthur is) giving us all advice because he knows the conditions, he knows everything about here, so he's helping us out a lot."

Shafiq, a 50-Test veteran who is yet to play any form of international cricket in Australia, said he was working with Arthur on particular points as he looks to adapt to the bouncier, faster wickets.

"About batting, he discusses two or three points with me," Shafiq said.

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"You have to stick on your cut shot here, because you will get good bounce to cut the ball here, so I am focusing on that.

"We all are very determined, because we didn't have a very good series in New Zealand, we have to play hard and we have to bounce back.  

"It's my first time in Australia and we are really excited, and we're really hopeful to get a good result."

The significance of the practice match has not been lost on the tourists, with the clash against the young CA side their only opportunity to familiarise with the manner in which the pink ball might play next week at the Gabba.

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Pakistan played a pink-ball Test against West Indies in Dubai in October, and Shafiq – who made 67 in the first innings – said there was no notable swing from the pink ball, though he'll be expecting a different story in Australia.  

"That was a very good experience, my first experience (with the pink ball)," he said.

"Once I played with it, things got a bit better and clearer – there was not a problem with the visibility of the ball or something like this.

"The ball wasn't swinging in the UAE when we played a Test there, but we're now expecting some good swing bowling here.

"So we're preparing ourselves for that swing bowling."

Pakistan's tour match against the CA XI will be live streamed on cricket.com.au, the CA Live app and Cricket Network on Facebook.

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