Australia’s one-day skipper George Bailey is expecting Pakistan to “doctor” their pitches to suit spin in the upcoming clashes between the two sides in the United Arab Emirates.
Pakistan are due to host Australia for three ODI games in a series that starts on Tuesday (1500 local, 2200 AEDT).
Australia made a bright start to their tour with a six-wicket win in Sunday’s one-off Twenty20 clash in Dubai, with spinners Glenn Maxwell and Cameron Boyce claiming 3-13 and 2-10 respectively.
Maxwell is expected to play key roles with bat and ball in the one-dayers and also push for a Test recall for the two-match series which starts in Dubai on October 22.
While Australia’s spinners have started the tour well by restricting Pakistan to 9-96 before replying with 4-97 off 14 overs, David Warner’s unbeaten 53 was the only performance of note in Australia’s T20 innings.
“Even in the last game you see that they were having trouble against Shahid Afridi and Raza Hasan so we can exploit that,” Pakistan’s one-day captain Misbal-ul-Haq told a media conference on Monday.
Misbah admits the Australia players’ experiences in the Indian Premier League, which have included matches in the UAE, have helped them improve their ability to handle turning pitches.
Bailey agrees exposure to spinning decks is aiding his side, but it’s an ongoing process.
“I still think teams are doctoring their wickets to produce very large spinning wickets when we come and play them, which says to me that teams still think that we’re vulnerable against spin,” Bailey said.
“The challenge for us is to become so good at spin that is no longer required. Teams are then producing the best cricket wickets they can.”
Dubai will host the second ODI on Friday and also the first Test starting on October 22.
“I imagine the Dubai wicket won’t change too much,” Bailey said.
“I think we’re playing (the ODI game) on the same wicket and I believe the Test wicket might even be the same as well.
“That’s going to be a challenge.”
The Dubai pitch for the T20 game spun from the first over, bowled by offspinner Maxwell.
Misbah was asked what types of pitches Pakistan wanted.
“It’s a secret,” he said.
For the Australians, who’ve enlisted Muttiah Muralitharan as a spin consultant, the secret is out.
