Siddle wary of dangerous Pakistan

LONDON: For the first time in living memory, Australia will be taking Pakistan seriously when Misbah-ul-Haq and Company embark upon a tough tour Down Under at the end of this year.

Pakistan, who have seldom done well in Tests in Australia, lost all their matches of their previous tour of the country back in 2009-10.

Australia’s pacer Peter Siddle was part of the home team that thrashed Pakistan during that tour. But ask Siddle whether the Aussies are expecting a similar cakewalk and he will tell you that Pakistan will be offering a different challenge this time.

Siddle said in an interview on Friday that the Australians will be wary of Pakistan, who recently topped the Test Team Rankings, primarily because of their potent bowling attack.

“Pakistan have surprised us over the last 12 months or so, they’ve started playing some consistent cricket,” Siddle said.

“They’ve got some star players but they’ve been a lot more consistent with the sides they’re putting out there — they’re not chopping and changing and I think that’s where they’ve missed out in the past.

“At the moment it looks like they’ve got a pretty settle group of 13, 14 players that they go with. With a couple of injuries to bowlers, they’ve had bowlers come in and perform well, so that’s exciting for them. “I think their squad will be suited to Australian conditions, probably more so than in the past.

“They’ve got explosive players who can take the game away from you, and they’ve got a good assortment of quicks at the moment.

“They’ve actually got some fast bowlers that will be able to make it work on the wickets out here, and put us under a bit of pressure, so that’s a big challenge for us.”

Mohammad Amir is the only member of coach Mickey Arthur’s fast-bowling group that played Tests in England to have played the five-day game in Australia, a country in which Pakistan have won just four of the 32 Tests they’ve contested.

However, the first Test in Brisbane — a day-night affair with the pink ball — could help the Pakistani quicks find their feet in conditions more conducive to swing. “I think people probably didn’t think that much about Pakistan coming out here this summer, but you look at their performances in England on wickets, not quite the same as here, but similar, and they’ve played well,” Siddle said of the 2-2 drawn series that culminated in Pakistan rising to No 1 in the world.

“So with South Africa for three Tests, and Pakistan for three Tests, it’s a big summer for us and one where we have to play some good cricket to get back that number one mantle.”

The Victorian quick, who has returned to bowling off a short run after a lengthy injury lay-off and is again likely to feature in Australia’s six-Test summer, was also conscious of the threat posed by Yasir, as well as Pakistan’s experienced middle order. “They’ve got a class spinner, Yasir Shah, he’s unbelievable,” Siddle added. “He’s got a great record and he’s approaching 100 wickets at the quickest rate.

“The great Shane Warne has worked with him a little bit and has talked up how good he is.

“Then you’ve got the old heads, Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan just hold that middle-order together.” Australia’s three-Test series against Pakistan begins on December 15 in Brisbane, and is followed by the traditional MCG Boxing Day and SCG New Year’s (January 3) clashes.