Dead Dubai track greets Aussies

Australia's pace bowlers will rely heavily on reverse swing or face the prospect of toiling away on a dead and lifeless track after the same Dubai pitch that hosted limited-overs matches at the start of the month has been maintained for Wednesday's first Test.

Dubai International Stadium groundstaff had planned to bring up a new pitch for the first Test against Pakistan, but that idea was scrapped after the one-day international match on October 10.

Australia pace bowler Peter Siddle said the pace bowling group would be pinning their hopes on reverse swing with the new ball likely to soften quickly.

"It's going to be a bit tired and a bit worn and it'll probably not offer a great deal for the fast bowling. But that sometimes does play into your hands, it does open up the opportunity for reverse swing," said Siddle.

Although Australia have yet to finalise their XI, with Rod Marsh saying selectors may wait until as late as the morning of the game to make that decision, Siddle is expecting a Test debut for New South Wales left-armer Steven O'Keefe.

"Most likely two spinners, but our side hasn't been picked," said Siddle.

"We've got enough spin there, we've got enough quicks, we've got plenty of variation I think throughout our side which is a good thing.

"Whatever side we go with, we're going to be quite comfortable with. The boys are prepared for a lot of spin."

Pakistan Cricket Board team manager Moin Khan denied the decision to abort bringing up a new pitch and stick with the same wicket from the limited-overs games was on his team's instructions.

"I've seen the pitch, it looks good," Moin told cricket.com.au. "It looks to me a very good Test track.

"There was not any instruction passed to the groundsman to use the same pitch or not.

"When we played the one day game we didn't have much time to prepare the new one I think. That is the only reason.

"It's a home series so we do get advantage, that will be the bottom line of the series. But every team has the option to have this home advantage as host."

Siddle said Australia would not fear the Pakistan spinners, who will be without No.1 weapon Saeed Ajmal who is still working on remodelling his action after being banned from bowling for using an illegal action.

Siddle pointed to Australia's aggressive approach to spinners under coach Darren Lehmann as a tactic that would continue in Dubai.

Shane Watson blasted England's Simon Kerrigan to all parts of The Oval last August while there was a concerted effort from the team to hit Graeme Swann out of the attack during last summer's whitewash which was so effective the England off-spinner retired from cricket midway through the series.

"We had the disappointing tour of India the other year against spin bowling, but then you look at the side and the way we've played spin bowling since then, we've got on top of spinners and really attacked them," said Siddle.

"I think that's going to be no different here. The boys are prepared for it, looking forward to the challenge. It's just another challenge for us a team to get back to No.1 in the world."

Dubai hosted the VB Tour of the UAE opening Twenty20 match on October 5, with spin obvious from the first ball as Glenn Maxwell opened the bowling.

Maxwell finished with 3-13 and debutant Cameron Boyce took 2-10 while for Pakistan off-spinner Raza Hasan took two wickets in Australia's six-wicket win.

The ODI in Dubai was also won by Australia, by five wickets, with Mitchell Johnson taking 3-40 as reverse swing came into play.

"If it didn't reverse, it would have made it very difficult," said Johnson after that match.