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
Third Test
21-25 March @ Lahore
What is that old football analogy oft spruiked come State Of Origin time – they breed 'em tough up north in Queensland?
Well they've had to breed 'em tough anywhere if you are a bowler in this Test Series in Pakistan as runs are plentiful and wickets are scarce.
So far it has seen 2431 runs made in varying ways and only 42 scalps taken at an average of nearly 58 per wicket.
The decks have been lifeless and given they've gone late into the final day, you'd expect some breaking up of the surface.
However the middle of the pitch has seen very little variation. Historically that hasn't been the case when you consider so many of Pakistan's legendary bowlers mastered the craft of reverse swing.
The movement of the cherry through the air was considered far more important and beneficial to your cause than doing anything off the 22 yards.
Strangely, all that happened for Australia in one short, sharp burst during the first innings. 53 overs saw the home team sent packing. It was Starc with his tailing yorkers, Cummins via his constant skill and Green from a greater height.
But then come the time when you'd expect even greater assistance, and with over 170 overs to play with, very little movement occurred.
A few things need to be considered. Whether you agree with the decision not to enforce the follow on or not, for it to get to the end of the game was hardly because of that.
With 90 minutes left in the day, Pakistan only needed 5 RPO with six in the shed. The reason for that – some brilliant batsmanship firstly from Babar Azam who we detailed in the First Test Preview as such a classy player. Facing 425 balls in a fourth innings requires not just temperament and concentration but fitness and focus of the highest order.
However the counter punch from Mohammad Rizwan almost concealed any frailties the host may have had and made Australian nerves a jingling. Surely they'd not surrender 506 runs for victory?
His attack meant bowlers were, for a period of the afternoon, more concerned with not offering easy runs than they were taking wickets. That switch in the psyche was of great benefit to Pakistan come the final session.
Once more on a last day Nathan Lyon bowled well but couldn't quite see the team to the ultimate goal. He was very good though. Swepson tried hard but he quickly found out what Test Cricket means.
The last hour once again showed how exciting this version of the game can be and yet all we end up is two games for two non-results.
Australia's position was set up by another masterclass by Usman Khawaja on the subcontinent. He excels on these surfaces that maybe don't see movement significantly sideways and variation is more vertical.
That is often because he plays less horizontal shots – at least to the quicks. His sweeping though to the spinners is sublime and often of the reverse variety.
There were plenty of contributions across the board but Khawaja the only one to have the fortitude for the long haul. That is except Labuschagne who would have stewed over his run out for days – one pities his PK or Juicy Fruit content.
The big question going to Lahore is who takes more out of the result. Was it Australia because they bossed the game or Pakistan for surviving that bossing?
Suspect if you had said to the tourists you'd be level going into the decider, that they would have taken it given the lack of pre-tour practice.
However having dominated the Second Test, they would feel betrayed by that position.
The Gaddafi Stadium hasn't been quite the happy hunting ground for the home team as Karachi was but that is splitting hairs with those stats mainly from days of yore. They haven't played here for 13 years due to the sad nature of what has occurred in that time.
It will only be the sixth time these two countries have played here. But Australia has played two famous ODIs in Lahore.
The first was in beating an Imran Khan led host nation in the 1987 World Cup Semi Final. Typical of that team there were good even contributions with the bat and Craig McDermott got them home with the ball in what was a huge surprise. Ultimate success followed in the Final against England.
The second was in losing the 1996 World Cup Final to Sri Lanka. In retrospect 241 was a disappointing total but a bowling attack containing McGrath and Warne would still have fancied their chances.
Aravinda de Silva simply played a blinder and gave their country their biggest international success.
Given the workload from Karachi, it was anticipated that the bowlers would get manoeuvred again. Unless there is a late change of mind, the same eleven are on the team sheets.
It might have been a time for Agar to play. Or even a Hazlewood return. Maybe even Boland's metronomic style to be considered? But apparently not.
Pakistan deserves credit for the nature of their fight so far. Their bowling hasn't been utterly mesmeric. It has been more workmanlike. But the batting has been exemplary bar for that one innings when they got 'reversed'.
We have literally no idea who wins this. Once more the toss could see who plays from in front.
However we're pretty certain Marnus Labuschagne won't be charging down the pitch looking for a quick single knowing full well there are runs a plenty in store. He'll keep his head down and make a few here.
And him being a Queenslander means he'll be tough when it counts. Well at least that is what gets said and that is what is needed.
Suggested Bets: Marnus Labuschagne 50+ 1st Innings @ $2.50
