Australia Probable XI for the second Test against Pakistan: Sportsrush presents before you Australia’s Probable XI for the second Test.

The first Test match between Pakistan and Australia at Dubai will unequivocally go down as one of the most riveting Test matches to be played in the recent years. Despite the contest being a nail-biting, the match ended up being a draw, but that is how Test cricket is. Isn’t it?

Barring an Australian win, both the results were possible going into the last hour of the day. It was commendable of both the teams to have played in a manner that they played. There is no hiding to the fact that these type of matches have it in them to attract the audiences to the stadiums.

Despite playing exceptionally well individually, Australian captain Tim Paine wasn’t entirely contended with his team’s effort. Leading the team, Paine would be looking to put in a clinical performance on October 15 at Abi Dhabi, an effort which forces the result in their favour.

In a bid to force a result, Australia would be looking to make at least one change in the second Test.

Australia Probable XI for the second Test against Pakistan

1. Top-Order – Australia are like likely to face the selection conundrum at the top of the order. Before the first Test, Aaron Finch was expected to play in the middle-order in Test matches. However, an injury to Matthew Renshaw made sure that he opened the innings at Dubai.

With Renshaw all set to walk back into the playing eleven, Australia would be wondering where to play him. Coach Justin Langer has recently opined regarding continuing with the opening partnership as both Usman Khawaja and Aaron Finch stitched partnerships of 142 and 87 in the first and second innings respectively.

Now, one out of these batsmen should bat at No. 3. Out of his 59 Test innings, 51 have come at No. 3 for Khawaja. The 31-year old southpaw averages 39.63 at this position. In the three matches that Khawaja has batted as an opener, he averages a whopping 150.

It is likely that Khawaja and Renshaw will open the Australian innings on Monday, with Finch coming in to bat at No. 3.

2. Middle-order – Shaun Marsh, who batted at No.3 in Dubai, scored 7 and 0 in the two innings. From No. 1 to No. 6 in Tests, Shaun Marsh averages the worst at No. 3 (25.66), which might become another reason to drop him down the order to No. 4 or 5.

In Mitchell Marsh and the in-form duo of Travis Head and Paine, Australia will comprise of a sound middle-order. Much like Khawaja, Paine also played one of his best Test innings yesterday. Saving a Test match in such a situation and on alien conditions is easier said than done. Australia would be hoping that their captain continues to play in the same fashion in the second Test as well.

3. Bowlers – It took 63 overs for the Australian bowlers to find their rhythm at Dubai. They might have struggled to adjust with the conditions initially but did well after getting a few breakthroughs. Their relentless effort saw them bowling out the opposition in the first innings at a lower score than expected.

Even in the second innings, the Australian bowlers bowled to their potential, not letting Pakistan slip away with the game. The bowling card might not show that but Mitchell Starc and Peter Siddle bowled their heart out, chiefly in the first innings. Similar to what happened in Dubai, the spinners will hold the key in Abu Dhabi as well.

Probable XI for the second Test: Usman Khawaja, Matthew Renshaw, Aaron Finch, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Travis Head, Tim Paine (c & wk), Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon and Jon Holland.

Read some of the Twitter reactions from the first Test below: