After Australia saw off England in an incredibly one-sided Ashes battle, they now venture to fields afar and much different cricketing environs.

Racing and Sports will cover the three tests in Pakistan with some hopefully insightful views and the odd gamble which might add to the viewing pleasure.

PAKISTAN v AUSTRALIA

Second Test

12-16 March @ Karachi

It seems such an antiquated and redundant thing to say but that was one seven day stretch that made you feel a tad numb.

In a twelve month period when some great cricketing names, long past and not so long ago, left us in tragic circumstances, you'd hope the 'ball could turn' in a different direction.

Then to lose Rod Marsh and Shane Warne within 24 hours, seems utterly preposterous. Hard to make sense of it all. Just do one thing - talk to friends and family for as long as you can because you just never know.

One only imagines Tiger O'Reilly is spinning a yarn with Richie nearby (who is reading the form guide), prophesising that someone should get rid of these horrible pitches, wasting time with quickies and taking boring offies off and now. Abdul Qadir likely showing them just where to pitch a fizzing wrong un' and Warne would add let's bring the leggies on from both ends. That was very much the legspinning mantra and how many think the game is best played – to attack.

And so while it really is trite to go on talking about the game itself, there are two tests to be completed in the series. It is literally a case of 'The King is dead – long live the King.' The show must go on.

So using that theorising, what a disgraceful 22 yards that was. Snoring was more exciting than that. 1187 runs for 14 outs. Australians bowled 239 overs and managed four scalps – one of which was run out.

Yet in some respects, Australia did a decent job really to regroup after the tragic happenings and have enough fortitude, application and skill to focus and enforce a draw.

It would have hit them every bit as hard, and maybe hardest (bar close family and friends) in a sensation of numbing given how isolated they must feel – hubbing amongst themselves, complete with extraordinary security and little ability to get fresh air.

And yet even from the second when it occurred they didn't let Pakistan ever get fully away. Only 245 runs were allowed on the opening gambit. That is not quite 1950s style run rates but it's hardly of this vintage.

With only the loss of Shafique to that poor shot before lunch, the hosts didn't quite press home the advantage strongly enough. Runs were there when they had a poorly constructed Australian team down.

No question Imam-ul-Haq and Azhar Ali batted so well but going under 3rpo was not the play when trying to assert advantage.

Australia picked a poor attack from the perspective of an attacking nature. Starc and Hazlewood didn't provide any fruit for the sideboard but wickets would have literally added the scoreboard pressure required.

One could only see the blonde leggie berating selectors for not being game. Swepson was there to be picked and when Nathan Lyon came on first change inside a half hour the gnawing of teeth would have started.

Then he managed to turn every ball a foot in that opening over – clenching of dentures became the fashion.

In Cummins and Hazlewood they would have had good control and Green showed back home he is capable of controlling the flow too. They were unlikely to get away from them. By innings end, the captain had tried eight bowlers. Only Warner, Khawaja and the keeper hadn't rolled the arm over.

Making the best of a flawed situation, they batted with much more purpose and aggression. The run rate was almost four when Warner departed. Both he and Khawaja missed hundreds but by exerting pressure, it just knocked Pakistan off their tilt.

Oh how Usman would have loved to bring up three figures. His heritage, his form and a due acknowledgement of the recently bereaved surely would have been completely deserving.

In the end no one made the big score but even contributions were enough to stave off defeat.

Credit to Pakistan for playing from in front and not just because of the toss. Still, woe is a dormant surface that offers nothing for the bowlers and doesn't even allow batsmen free scoring.

While they may well make some personal changes, it's Australia that needs the real influx of spirit. Swepson has to play and even Agar if selectors think Nathan Lyon needs a rest off that 78 over workload.

Suspect it would be Starc to miss out but whoever goes, you can't play three specialist quicks on unresponsive decks.

At the National Stadium in Karachi, Pakistan has an extraordinary record. They have played 43 tests there and lost TWICE – once to England in 2000 and to South Africa in 2007.

With that background, it's not hard to fathom Australia hasn't exactly charged onto that pitch with confidence abounding historically. There are only three draws amongst eight tests between these nations as their high point.

The closest and probably quite famous was in 1994, and it involved the great legspinner. The locals chased 314 to win and were at one stage 7-184 before Inzamam held things together late with Rashid Latif, Waqar and Mushtaq.

The last pair added 57 but it all came down to Ian Healy missing a stumping off Warne that went for the winning byes.

Other fascinating parts of that Test were that it was Mark Taylor's debut as Captain – and he managed two globes. Also Michael Bevan scored his first Baggy Green and played beautifully in his first dig.

You would be thinking for this coming game that the curator will have been told things must differ – be they a directive from the internal jurisdiction or from ICC Management. Another five days like the recent battle and no one will watch.

Expecting that the surface could favour more turn and with that in mind, thinking Steve Smith can shine brightly here. He is a top user of his feet and manoeuvrer of the ball around the field. Not always chasing boundaries, he plays on the spinners' mind – they get flummoxed and exasperated as he turns over the strike.

Let's hope the Karachi pitch is lively, vibrant and turns for all. Boring cricket is never great and roads like in Rawalpindi don't help.

Give me Hobart of two tests ago with the real required demonstration of skill and character far more than a run fest lacking in entertainment.

Those leggies, wherever they are right now, would likely wholeheartedly agree.

Suggested Bets: Steve Smith 50+ 1st Innings @ $2.40