AUS vs PAK 2024/25, AUS vs PAK 3rd ODI Match Preview

Big picture: Pakistan confident, Australia shorthanded

Australian soil has been the scene of nightmares for Pakistan for decades. But ignited by the fiery bowling of fast Haris Rauf, Pakistan are on the verge of a rare series victory in Australia and go into Sunday’s decider at Optus Stadium with plenty of confidence after a nine-wicket hammering against the champions. world in Adelaide.

It can, of course, be dangerous to feel any certainty against such a volatile team, but Pakistan deserve to go into the third and final ODI in Perth as favourites. They probably should have finished the series by now if not for Pat Cummins’ latest exploits with the bat at the MCG.

Pakistan bounced back superbly with a masterclass in the second ODI, stunning the Australian batters with deft pace bowling before impressive young opener Saim Ayub treated the Australian frontline attack with disdain.

It’s hard to remember a more clinical performance from a visiting team in Australia. Pakistan, whose white-ball coach Gary Kirsten resigned amid upheaval just a week before the tour, can almost smell an improbable series victory and will face a weakened Australia.

Cummins, Steven Smith, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Marnus Labuschagne will not play as they begin preparing for the first Test against India.

Josh Inglis will become Australia’s 30th ODI captain and will have the daunting task of galvanizing a new team in conditions that will once again test their batting order preaching all-out attack. There will be considerable pressure on misfiring openers Matt Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk, who have both been criticized for their shot selections over the two games.

While the series is seen as an entry into the blockbuster Test Summer, as underlined by the modest crowds in Melbourne and Adelaide, it carries added importance for both teams ahead of the upcoming Champions Trophy in Pakistan.

Form guide

Australia LWWLL (last five ODIs, most recent first)
Pakistan WLLWW

In the spotlight: Josh Inglis and Haris Rauf

Josh Inglis, 29, will make his debut as captain for Australia and will also lead his team in the upcoming T20I series against Pakistan. Given his heavy workload with the gloves, Inglis never took charge of Western Australia or the Perth Scorchers in the BBL, but his leadership credentials and tactical acumen are widely appreciated. He captained a very strong Prime Minister’s XI in a first-class match against the West Indies two years ago. England-born Inglis started the season in sublime form and was even touted as a possible left-field option to solve Australia’s opening Test dilemma. Inglis continued to look in good form in the first two games, but failed to convert starts. On a pitch he has long dominated in the BBL, Inglis emerges as Australia’s key hitter as he bids to start his captaincy on a winning note.

Haris Rauf has undoubtedly been the standout performer so far in this series with eight wickets to shake up Australia. He was unplayable on useful surfaces at times and he cast doubt on the ability of Australia’s batters to handle a fast pace. Rauf should benefit from the extra bounce at Optus Stadium, but he must not get carried away. He should aim to replicate the discipline he showed at Adelaide, marked by a superb line and length – reminiscent of Test cricket – to dismiss Labuschagne. If he manages to finish the series in style, then his performances in the three matches will go down in the tradition of Pakistan’s fast bowling.

Team News: Massive changes for Australia

Speedy Sean Abbott, who played in the series opener, is expected to return for Australia along with experienced all-rounder and Perth local Marcus Stoinis. Local heroes Lance Morris and Cooper Connolly will be considered, while speedsters Spencer Johnson and Xavier Bartlett are also in the squad.

Australia (probable): 1 Matt Short, 2 Jake Fraser-McGurk, 3 Josh Inglis (captain, week), 4 Glenn Maxwell, 5 Marcus Stoinis, 6 Aaron Hardie, 7 Cooper Connolly, 8 Sean Abbott, 9 Spencer Johnson/Xavier Bartlett, 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Lance Morris

After such a comprehensive victory in Adelaide, Pakistan are expected to remain unchanged.

Pakistan (probable): 1 Saim Ayub, 2 Abdullah Shafique, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Mohammad Rizwan (captain, week), 5 Kamran Ghulam, 6 Salman Agha, 7 Irfan Khan, 8 Shaheen Shah Afridi, 9 Naseem Shah, 10 Haris Rauf, 11 Mohammed Hasnain

Location and conditions

A fast, bouncy surface is expected on a pitch that aims to emulate the famous conditions of neighboring WACA. But runs usually take place on the ground in white-ball cricket, as batters target the relatively short straight boundaries.

“The same three principles… pace, carry and bounce, but more of a batting wicket. Lots of runs,” WA Cricket chief curator Isaac McDonald told PK Press Club.

It’s been a relatively mild spring in Perth and pleasant temperatures in the mid-20s are expected throughout the day.

Statistics and anecdotes

Salman Agha has the fifth highest strike rate (94.86) in Pakistan’s history among batters who have faced at least 500 deliveries.
Glenn Maxwell needs 50 runs to reach 4000 in ODIs.
The teams have never played an ODI at Optus Stadium. Pakistan held a 4-3 lead at the WACA.
Only two ODIs have been played at Optus Stadium. In front of more than 53,000 fans, England’s 12-run victory over Australia in January 2018 was the first official sporting event at the Burswood ground, while South Africa beat Australia by six wickets over late that year.

Quotes

“We are going to Perth with a clear plan, a clear method. We are committed to the style we want to play.”
Head coach of Australia Andrew McDonald

“The most important thing is that the team won. This performance we planned to be positive and not think about the result.”
Saim Ayub on Pakistan’s victory in the second match

Tristan Lavalette is a journalist based in Perth