 The fifth and the final ODI of the series between Australia and Pakistan
will be played on Sunday at Perth. The Pakistanis have already lost four games
in a row, after having been defeated in the Tests as well. This means that in
the seven games that they have played on tour, they have lost all seven, whereas
the Aussies continue to dominate.
There is a good chance that a rejuvenated Australian side will go all out for
clean sweep. However, one can expect them to go in with a couple of changes
to the line-up as well. For starters, one of the top-order batsmen could be
afforded a break by the management and there is a good chance that Adam Voges
could his chance after having sat in the wilderness through the four games.
Click for Live Score Card of Australia vs PakistanApart from that, Mitchell Johnson was recalled back into the side in
the previous match, but did not get a game and that meant that he has also gone
four matches without having played a game. A good chance therefore that he will
get a look-in to the match.
It is the Pakistanis who are struggling to get a move on. Earlier, it was their
batting which had been time and again floundering and hence causing great trouble
for the side. However, as the tour has gone on, the bowling has progressively
deteriorated as well, as the slog overs have almost invariably gone for runs.
Two or three of their bowlers have conceded a lot of runs, and all the work
done in the first 15-20 has almost invariably gone waste. In each of the games,
the Aussies have attained totals that have been difficult to chase, and much
of it can be attributed to the manner in which they have bowled.
However, it is not as if the Pakistani batting has been any better than what
it had been at the start of the tour. The collapses are still very much a part,
and some of the strokeplay has been rather appalling on the part of the top-order.
Mohammad Yousuf has almost been nonchalant about his team's batting,
but it must be said that he, himself, has not been in the best of forms either.
In the hindsight, the decision to go after Younis Khan and almost force
him to resign was a foolish one, and the side seems to be paying a huge price
for that. 5-0 looks on the cards!
|
