Inside Pakistan's planning for the first Test

Pakistan will enter the upcoming Domain Test series riding a wave of confidence on the back of a strong display against Australia A in Perth, a fixture that provided a sneak peek at their game plan for the two-Test series.

Pakistan hit 7-386 on day one of their second and final warm-up match against a Cricket Australia XI at the WACA Ground on Friday, a red-ball affair to complement the day-night Australia A game, but with their opposition comprising players all aged under 25, it will be decidedly more low-key for the Pakistanis. 

Most of Pakistan's line-up seems settled, but they could make two changes to their playing XI for the first Test in Brisbane from the Australia A game.

It's almost certain they will include Mohammad Abbas to replace one of the bowlers, most likely Imran Khan. 

Australia A were bowled out for 122 in their first innings, with Imran claiming 5-32, but the pace of the Gabba wicket is set to pave the way for young pace sensation Naseem Shah and Shaheen Afridi to get the nod.

Pakistan would also want to avoid selecting Abbas and Imran together as it could make their pace attack somewhat one-dimensional. 

A four-pronged pace attack made up of Abbas, Imran, Naseem and Shaheen would mean they drop front-line spinner Yasir Shah, but that appears only a remote possibility.

The leg-spinner, even though he took only one wicket in the tour match, bowled economically (39 runs in 22 overs) with great control and drift, something that was missing from his bowling in the Test series in Australia three years ago.

Yasir also scored 53 against Australia A, which could play in his favour as Pakistan's tail could become very long without him.

One of the problems Pakistan had on their previous tour to Australia was finding a fifth bowler, but that issue appears to have been resolved with Iftikhar Ahmed in the side. The off-spinning allrounder scored 79 not out in the second innings and dismissed two left-handers Usman Khawaja and Travis Head in the first innings in Perth. 

Batting is Iftikhar's strength, but his off-spin could be important against Australia's left-handers.

Pakistan coach Misbah-ul-Haq looks keen to bring back Azhar Ali as an opening batsman, the position at which he scored 1,325 runs at an average of 63.09 in 12 Tests under Misbah's captaincy in 2016 and 2017, including a double-century in the Boxing Day Test. 

Azhar opened in the tour match, but Haris Sohail's lack of form might mean Azhar enters the Tests batting at No.3

Haris has two centuries in his past five Tests, including one against Australia in Dubai, but most of his success in Tests has been in Asia. He missed the series in South Africa at the start of the year due to a knee injury and does not have a half-century in three Tests (one in Ireland and two in England) outside Asia. 

The left-hander scored only 18 and four against Australia A and was sloppy in the field and is in danger of being omitted.

He made just two from four balls against the Cricket Australia XI before he was caught out off the leg-spin of South Australian Lloyd Pope, and Pakistan could well be tempted to now omit him and move Azhar to number three. 

That would then mean either Imam-ul-Haq or the uncapped Abid Ali would come in to open alongside Shan Masood, who is a sure starter after an impressive showing in South Africa, where he compiled 228 runs at 38.00, before making 22 and 65 in the tour match.

If the two-day match against the CA XI was a 'bat-off' for the Pakistan openers, Imam's 44 would see him get the nod over Abid who fell for a third-ball duck at the WACA, while Masood confirmed his form with a knock of 76.

Pakistan's middle-order is in good order with Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq and Iftikhar and the bowlers are in good form having dismissed Australia A for 122. If they can replicate that display in the Tests, Pakistan could be a shot at claiming a Test victory in Australia for the first time in 24 years.

After a horror T20 International series, where they were hammered 2-0 by a spirited Australia, Pakistan could not have asked for a better tune-up for the two-Test series, starting next Thursday. 

Babar (157) and Asad (119) registered unbeaten centuries, while seamer Imran Khan returned a five-wicket haul in the first innings as Pakistan dominated the three-day game. 
But the most excitement came from the fiery spell young fast bowler Naseem delivered in the second innings as he accounted for Marcus Harris with a short ball that found the edge. 

Naseem bowled only eight overs and returned 1-21, but his pace, ability to bowl fiersome short balls and consistency in beating the edge have seen him firm to make his debut in the first Test at the Gabba. 

When Naseem was rested from the first innings due to the death of his mother, Pakistan could have replaced him with Mohammad Abbas or Mohammad Musa Khan, but that would have meant the game no longer had first-class status. 

The three day-game in Perth wasn't a low-key warm-up fixture – in contrast to the match Pakistan had on their previous tour to Down Under in 2016-17. That fixture was against a highly-inexperienced side with no exposure to international cricket and played on a slow pitch in Cairns and did not provide adequate preparation for the Test series they lost 3-0.

This time, Pakistan geared up for the Test series with a match against an 'A' side which featured nine international and six Test players and was played at one of the country's main venues in conditions Pakistan are likely to confront in Brisbane and Adelaide. 

Pakistan was initially offered to contest a day-night fixture over four days in either Melbourne or Perth, but Zakir Khan, PCB's Director International Cricket Operations, requested an additional tour game to allow Pakistan to trial two sets of players and prepare for both pink and red ball.

They will also get the chance to play on two different pitches – the drop-in wicket at Perth stadium and the pitch at the historic WACA Ground, where today and Saturday they are meeting a young Cricket Australia XI in a non-televised match.

The request was driven because of the fact that Pakistan will play a red-ball Test in Brisbane and pink-ball Test on a drop-in wicket in Adelaide. 

Domain Test Series v Pakistan

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c), Cameron Bancroft, Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner

Pakistan squad: Azhar Ali (c), Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq, Imran Khan Snr, Iftikhar Ahmed, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Musa Khan, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Yasir Shah.

Warm-up match: Australia A v Pakistan, match drawn

Warm-up match: v Cricket Australia XI, November 15-16, WACA Ground

First Test: November 21-25, Gabba (Seven, Fox & Kayo)

Second Test: November 29 – December 3, Adelaide (d/n) (Seven, Fox & Kayo)