PAK v AUS 2018: Patience will be key against Pakistan, says Tim Paine

Australia have won only 1 out of 17 Test matches in Asia since 2007.

Australian players during net session | Getty Images

Australian captain Tim Paine has stressed on the need to show more patience against Pakistan to improve their terrible Asian record when they will play Men in Green in their two-match Test series next month in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Since 2007, Australia has won only 1 out of 17 Test matches in Asia, continually struggling against the spin in India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Now, they will face an even more stiff challenge against Pakistan, by whom they have already whitewashed 0-2 in 2014, as the Kangaroos will be without their premier players Steve Smith and David Warner in the UAE.

The Australian has already landed to the UAE a week ago in a bid to adapt the scorching weather, with temperatures still hitting 40 degrees Celsius (104F) with the tour will begin with a four-day match in Dubai from Saturday (September 29).

While the two-match Test series will get underway with the first Test starts in Dubai from October 7 followed by the second and final match in Abu Dhabi from October 16.

As per reports in AFP, Paine told reporters on Friday (September 28), “We've just spoken about little ways we can change. Traditionally Australian teams have been aggressive and tried to take the game to the opposition. Over here, in particular, you've got to be really patient and try to stay in the game for as long as you can. It's about us being really patient, really disciplined. Langer (Australian coach) spoke about leaving our egos at home, particularly as a batting group and being prepared to bat for a long, long time. If we can do that we can have some success.”

Meanwhile, Australia will be without the services of their pace duo of Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, but they have made a different plan to counter Pakistan's spin trap, as they have rehired former India bowler Sridharan Sriram as a consultant, who has brought leg-spinner Pardeep Sahu and left-arm wrist spinner Karapak Jiyas from India for practice in Dubai.

The skipper added, “We've faced a hell of a lot spin, there's no doubt about that and Australian touring sides always do. We get heaps of net bowlers. We can train as long as we like - that's another thing we've touched, we can be great trainers, but at the end of the day it's about how we play in a game.”

He also admitted that the entire Aussie set-up was surprised with the news that Pakistan dropped their premier pace spearhead Mohammad Amir for the series because of his poor form.

Paine signed off by saying, “A lot of the guys were (surprised). But we've spoken about worrying about what we can control. We know he's not there but Wahab Riaz is in who's really dangerous, particularly in these kinds of conditions when the ball is reverse swinging. We're just trying to focus on what we're doing at the moment; we'll look at Pakistan's Test team closer to next week.”

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 29 Sep, 2018

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