Pakistan change for spin battle (22 October 1998)
THE final Pakistan-Australia Test starting here today looks like being a battle of the spinners with both sides contemplating the possibility of using three slow bowlers
22-Oct-1998
22 October 1998
Pakistan change for spin battle
By Peter Deeley in Karachi
THE final Pakistan-Australia Test starting here today looks like
being a battle of the spinners with both sides contemplating the
possibility of using three slow bowlers.
Pakistan, who have never lost in 32 Tests here, must win to
prevent Australia - who are 1-0 up - achieving their first series
win in the country in 39 years.
Saqlain Mushtaq, who has returned from the bedside of his sick
father in England, and left-arm spinner Shakeel Ahmed, who would
make his Test debut at 31, are almost certain to play but Mushtaq
Ahmed is out with a knee injury.
The home selectors are also considering bringing in off-spinner
Arshad Khan or using the left-arm turn of teenage batsman Shahid
Afridi, who would also replace Inzamam-ul-Haq up the order if his
foot injury rules him out.
They are also able to call on Wasim Akram, who returns after
missing the second Test because of a virus.
Australia, too, are looking at a trio of slow bowlers. After a
final look at the pitch they will decide whether to bring in
off-spinner Gavin Robertson to support Stuart MacGill and Colin
Miller.
If Robertson is chosen he will replace Damien Fleming, leaving
the visitors with only one genuine quick bowler in Glenn McGrath.
Darren Lehmann, who scored 98 in the first Test but missed the
second game with a groin injury, is preferred to Ricky Ponting,
captain Mark Taylor reasoning that Lehmann is the better player
of spin.
Australia (from): *Taylor, Slater, Langer, M Waugh, S Waugh,
Lehmann, -Healy, Miller, MacGill, McGrath, Robertson or Fleming.
Pakistan (from): *Sohail, Anwar, Ijaz, Inzamam or Afridi, Malik,
-Moin, Wasim, Yousaf, Azhar, Shoaib, Shakeel, Aaqib, Arshad.
Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)