Australia will face Pakistan in the first of the five ODIs that will be played at Gabba in Brisbane. And after a 3-0 whitewash of the visitors, the Aussies will be looking at continuing with their good ODI form - that has already seen them beat England 6-1, India 4-2 and win the Champions Trophy in South Africa.

Australia will go into the first ODI in an unprecedented manner. They have named a different team for the first game as compared to the second game, as this will allow the cricketers to play in the KFC Big Bash T20 finals. The final will be played between Victoria and South Australia, with both the teams having already qualified for the Champions League T20.

However, it does not seem like it will make too much difference to the team which only recently won the ODI series against India. They will look to go into the playing eleven with Shane Watson opening the innings along with one of Brad Haddin or James Hopes. Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey, Hopes (if he does not open), Cameron White and the bowlers will come in next for the side.

The onus will be on the in-form Shane Watson to provide them with the kind of start that the hosts are so used to seeing. This includes a run of two successive centuries in the Champions Trophy followed by three 40s and a ninety against India.

It will be interesting to see the kind of combination they field in their bowling. Most of the bowlers have been declared unfit, and it remains that Doug Bollinger, Clint McKay and Peter Siddle will take field along with Nathan Hauritz.

The Pakistani line-up will be even more interestingly followed. Most of their players would be reeling from the snub that the IPL gave them and this will mean that the likes of Shahid Afridi and Umar Akmal, will look to make the games count. The team continues to be led by Mohammad Yousuf, but the biggest news would be that of the return of their former captain Younis Khan into the squad. Fawad Alam, who was sent back home after just one Test also returns back, while wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed continues to back Kamran Akmal up as the wicket keeper.

However, the attacking batting of Akmal means that he should retain his place in the side and could even open the innings. Salman Butt will be the other opener, who will be followed by the likes of Mohammad Yousuf, Younis Khan, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik and Afridi down the order; a strong batting line-up which needs to show much more application than now.

Tag :- Champions Trophy   Kamran Akmal   Michael Hussey   Mohammad Yousuf   Ricky Ponting   Younis Khan