ISLAMABAD – Australia’s Mitchel Starc and Peter Siddle have declaredPakistan’s Azhar Ali as the real danger for Australian team.
With Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood ruled out of the series in the UAE dueto injuries, Starc and Siddle are expected to do the bulk of Australia’space bowling.
The two fast bowlers will have their work cut out against Pakistan openerAzhar Ali, who they have earmarked as the prize scalp in the series.
“They’ve got a quality batting line-up, and on some really flat wicketstheir whole middle-order’s going to be a really good battle,” Starc toldcricket.com.au.
“I think someone like Azhar Ali, who scored a fair few runs against us inAustralia last time they were here, he’d be a big one at the top of theorder for them.
“He can bat long periods of time, he’s not too fazed about being tied down.So I think if we can get him early and get their middle-order in against anewer, harder ball, then that’s a good starting point.”
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Azhar Ali has a stellar record as an opener for Pakistan, scoring over5,000 runs in 65 matches at an average of nearly 45. He has 14 Test tons tohis name with three of them coming against the Aussies.
His record facing the Baggy Green is even more impressive with the batsmanaggregating 837 runs in seven Tests at an average of 69.75.
When Australia took on Pakistan in the UAE in 2014, the right-hander becamethe eighth batsman from his country to register a ton in both innings of aTest after slamming 109 and an unbeaten 100 at Abu Dhabi.
In the last Test series between the two sides held in Australia in 2016-17,Azhar had smashed an unbeaten double ton in Melbourne and was thesecond-highest run-scorer in the series behind Steve Smith.
