Thursday, April 23, 2009

Aussies aim to negate spin threat

Second one-day international, Dubai: Pakistan v Australia
Date: 24th April Start time: 1130 BST Venue: Sports City Stadium
Coverage: Live scorecard and match report on BBC website

Kamran Akmal, Stuart Clark
Australia were bamboozled by spin in the opening match of the series

Australia are hopeful of nullifying Pakistan's spin threat and levelling the series in the second one-day international in Dubai on Friday.

Eight wickets fell to the spinners as the Australians were bowled out for 168 to lose the first game by four wickets.

Acting skipper Michael Clarke insisted: "We'll study footage but I don't think we ever have weakness against spin."

With injured Shaun Marsh (hamstring) out for the series, the tourists are set to include David Hussey.

The Dubai stadium became the 172nd venue in one-day international cricket when it hosted the first match, in which Pakistan leg-spinner Shahid Afridi claimed a career-best 6-38 and off-spinner Saeed Ajmal took two wickets.

"Obviously the ball spinning both ways makes it harder for the batsmen so we need to have individual plans," said Clarke.

Opposite number Younus Khan was delighted to see his side's pre-determined strategy pay off in Wednesday's opening game.

"When I was discussing the team selection with coach Intikhab Alam we considered the fact that Australians are vulnerable against off-spinners, so we picked Ajmal who kept pressure at one end and Afridi did the rest."

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Afridi, meanwhile, credited his performance to a former Pakistan bowler and looked forward to avenging defeat against India in the ICC World Twenty20, which takes place in England this summer.

"I spent a lot of time with Abdul Qadir in the last few months and learnt a lot from him," he revealed.

"Doing well against Australia is great because they are a very good team, so I hope to continue with that and then focus my attention on the Twenty20 World Cup, because last time we lost the final.

Looking ahead he said: "It wasn't an easy victory in the first match. Had it been a six or seven wicket win I would have been more pleased but a win is a win and if you win the first match you get the needed confidence."

The remaining three matches of the series will be staged in Abu Dhabi.

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