Australia's odd couple find Test spark

Aaron Finch and Usman Khawaja are cut from different cloth but the pair have built some serious chemistry after forming a Test partnership 16 years in the making.

At first glance it seems like an odd pairing.

At one end Finch, a white-ball superstar famous for his destructive batting and renowned in his younger days for being hot-headed and outspoken.

At the other Khawaja, a stylish left-hander who exudes calmness at the crease and is known in the dressing rooms for his cheeky personality.

But underlying Australia's new-look opening pairing is a shared history and a determination to improve themselves which proved crucial as they led an inspired fightback to draw the first Test against Pakistan in Dubai last week.

"I wouldn't say chalk and cheese but we're obviously very different at the same time," Finch said.

"I think I've calmed down a lot as I've got a bit older and since getting married. When I started playing cricket for Australia a little bit more, I probably changed slightly with that.

"I can be quite emotional at times on the field as a captain.

"(Usman) is obviously very calm. Some players you can bat with are on edge and they put you on a bit of an edge, and if you're already nervous it can escalate a little bit. But he was great to bat with."

Both Finch, who made his long-awaited Test debut in Dubai, and Khawaja shed 7kg in the off-season with an eye towards the Pakistan series.

Coach Justin Langer highlighted the chemistry between the pair after they combined for stands of 142 and 87, with man-of-the-match Khawaja top-scoring in both innings and Finch falling just one run shy of twin half-centuries.

The pair have known each other for the best part of 16 years, having first crossed paths in an under-15s match between Victoria and NSW in Bendigo.

"I think it really helped me relax in that environment, being able to bat with someone who I've known for so long," Finch says.

"We've played quite a lot of cricket together in juniors and played for Australia together. We debuted in ODI cricket together.

"He obviously knows his game inside-out, he's ultra-confident in his game but very calm in the way he goes about it and the way that he talks. It was nice to have that chemistry with someone I've known for a long time on my debut especially."

Finch and Khawaja will again open the batting in the series-deciding second Test in Abu Dhabi starting on Tuesday.

But with David Warner and Cameron Bancroft suspended and Matt Renshaw overlooked during the UAE series, the million-dollar question is whether Finch and Khawaja can also flourish opening on bouncier home decks in the summer.

"Honestly I haven't thought about it one bit," Finch said.

"It'd obviously be great to play well and almost be first in line for that spot when the home summer's selected. But it's just about putting ourselves in a position now to win a series.

"I'd bat anywhere. Just anywhere that you get an opportunity."

Qantas Tour of the UAE

Australia Test squad: Tim Paine (c), Ashton Agar, Brendan Doggett, Aaron Finch, Travis Head, Jon Holland, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc

Pakistan Test squad: Sarfraz Ahmed (c), Azhar Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Usman Salahuddin, Yasir Shah, Shadab Khan, Bilal Asif, Mohammad Abbas, Hasan Ali, Wahab Riaz, Faheem Ashraf, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Hafeez

Oct 7-11: First Test, drawn

Oct 16-20: Second Test, Abu Dhabi