Pakistan won a crucial toss on Thursday on a good batting track and went to lunch at 1-82 in the second Test against Australia.

There was plenty of action before play as Australia announced two changes to their side following last week’s massive 221-run loss in the Dubai Test.

Australia dropped batsman Alex Doolan and spinner Steve O’Keefe.

O’Keefe was on debut in last week’s first Test, claiming a team-high four wickets.

No.3 batsman Doolan made a duck and five runs in Dubai and has a career average of 23.87 in four matches, all in 2014.

Offspinning allrounder Glenn Maxwell and left-arm quick Mitchell Starc have been recalled with Maxwell expected to bat at No.3, despite a batting average of just 9.75 in two Tests.

Australia have retained No.1 spinner Nathan Lyon who claimed 2-220 in Dubai.

Starc will join Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle in a three-pronged pace attack for Australia, on a pitch which is expected to play low and slow and suit Pakistan’s spinners Yasir Shah and Zulfiqar Babar.

Australian coach and selector Darren Lehmann said O’Keefe performed well but selectors felt Starc’s reverse swing could be damaging.

Lehmann said dropping Doolan was a “tough call on Alex”.

“We think Glenn’s got a bit of x-factor about him and plays spin quite well,” Lehmann said.

“Alex has been good in a few Test matches for us. Struggled in the first Test.

“But we’ve got to pick a side that we think is going to get 20 wickets and be proactive in our scoring and give us a chance to win the game.”

Pakistan, who lead the two-Test series one-nil, have named an unchanged side.

Australia captain Michael Clarke said he expected the wicket to suit batting for both sides’ first innings.

“If we play well we can certainly win this Test match,” he said.

Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammed Hafeez added 57 before Lyon removed Shehzad leg-before for 35. Azhar Ali is on 11 and Hafeez is on 36.

Clarke was employing a short mid-off and a short mid-on for Siddle shortly before lunch in an indication of the lack of pace in the pitch, with just one floating slip at third slip.

Pakistan, who have won twice and drawn their other three Tests in Abu Dhabi, are chasing their first Test-series win over Australia since 1994.

Misbah said on Wednesday that playing for a draw was an option for his side in Abu Dhabi.