Confident Pakistan hope to shine at MCG

Mickey Arthur… will he bring in a right-arm pacer for the Boxing Day Test?

KARACHI: On a high despite their loss in the first Test in Brisbane, Pakistan will start getting ready for the Boxing Day Test against Australia from Wednesday (today) at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The Pakistanis flew out of Brisbane following their 39-run loss in the first Test fully aware that the momentum was with them despite the fact that the Australians will begin the second Test with a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

The Pakistanis, who seemed down and out after conceding a mammoth first innings lead, almost recorded what would have been a stunning victory after being asked to chase 490 runs at the Gabba. Pakistan just fell 40 runs short, piling up 450 runs in the second innings thanks to a brilliant century by Asad Shafiq and vital contributions from the lower order batsmen.

“The morale of the team is high after a memorable showing in the second innings in Brisbane,” a team official told ‘The News’ from Melbourne on Tuesday.

“The boys know that they can compete against the Australians and all of them are raring to have a go at the hosts in the second Test,” he added.

The Melbourne Test which gets underway from December 26 is a must-win game for Pakistan ahead of the final Test in Sydney.

On Wednesday (today), Pakistan will carry out a strenuous training session at the MCG where things will be back to normal following the pink ball Test in Brisbane.

Among the talking points ahead of the second Test will be whether Pakistan’s head coach Mickey Arthur will opt to bring a change in the team’s pace attack. Pakistan fielded the left-arm trio of Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz and Rahat Ali at the Gabba and are now mulling over the idea of bringing in a right-armer in the bowling attack against a side that has five left-handed batsmen.