Australia vs Pakistan, AUS vs PAK 2023-24, Today Match Prediction 26 December 2023

AUS vs PAK Match Prediction & Analysis

Australia and Pakistan will face off in the second Test of the three- match series at Melbourne Cricket Ground from Tuesday.

The series opener saw Australia complete an emphatic 360-run win over Pakistan. Captain Pat Cummins will be hoping that the side can continue their winning streak in the Boxing Day Test at MCG.

Currently, Australia have taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match Test Series. On the other hand, Pakistan will have to put in an improved performance with bat and ball in a bid to level the three-match Test series.

Both teams have competed 10 times in the five-day format at the Melbourne Cricket Ground where the home team have a far superior record with six wins compared to just two victories of the visitors whereas two matches ended as a draw.

RECENT PERFORMANCE

AUS

W L L W W

AUS

487/10 in 113.2 4.3

AUS vs PAK 2023-24

Australia beat Pakistan by 360 runs 14 Dec 2023

PAK

89/10 in 30.2 2.93

ENG

283/10 in 54.4 5.18

The Ashes 2023

England won by 49 runs

27 Jul 2023

AUS

395/10 in 81.5 4.83

ENG

237/10 in 52.3 4.51

The Ashes 2023

England won by 3 wickets

06 Jul 2023

AUS

254/7 in 50.0 5.08

ENG

325/10 in 76.2 4.26

The Ashes 2023

Australia won by 43 runs

28 Jun 2023

AUS

327/10 in 81.3 4.01

ENG

393/8 in 78.0 5.04

The Ashes 2023

Australia won by 2 wkts

16 Jun 2023

AUS

273/10 in 66.2 4.12

PAK

L

AUS

487/10 in 113.2 4.3

AUS vs PAK 2023-24

Australia beat Pakistan by 360 runs 14 Dec 2023

PAK

89/10 in 30.2 2.93

HEAD TO HEAD

TEAMS PREVIEW

Australia Preview

Despite a solid performance in the opening Test, Australia might not make any changes to their playing XI for the second match. Opener David Warner’s return to form will be a major boost for the home team going into the match.

 In the batting department, Australia will be relying on the likes of openers Usman Khawaja, David Warner,  right-hander Marnus Labuschagne, all-rounder Mitchell Marsh and former captain Steve Smith to score bulk of the runs. In the previous match, David Warner showcased excellent form with the bat for Australia and smashed a splendid 164 runs off 211 balls with the help of sixteen fours and four sixes. Besides Warner, Mitchell Marsh continued his rich vein of form and produced excellent scores of 90 and 63 not respectively.

 On the bowling front, the onus will be on the likes of pace trio of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc to provide timely breakthroughs. The experienced trio had an excellent outing with the ball for Australia and picked up 12 wickets between them.For Nathan Lyon, the first Test proved to be a memorable one as he completed his 500 wickets for Australia. He picked up five wickets in the first Test against Pakistan.

Australia Predicted Playing XI:

David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

Australia Actual Playing XI:

Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, David Warner, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Steven Smith

Pakistan Preview

After producing a below-par batting performance in the first the visitors are expected to make changes to their playing XI.Khurram Shahzad, who made his Test debut for Pakistan at Perth, has been ruled out of the remainder of the series due to a stress fracture. Hasan Ali is expected to take his place in the XI for the Boxing Day Test. 

Mohammad Rizwan is expected to be slotted into the playing XI in place of Sarfaraz Ahmed, who missed crucial stumping of David Warner in the first Test. 

In the batting department, the visitors will be relying on the likes of captain Shan Masood, in-form opening batsman Imam-ul-Haq, right-hander Babar Azam, resilient Asad Shafique, Salman Agha and wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan to score bulk of the runs. 

On the bowling front, the onus will be on the likes of pacers Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Aamer Jamal along with the spin duo of Abrar Ahmed and Salman Agha to produce timely breakthroughs.

Pakistan Predicted Playing XI:

Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood (c), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk)/Mohammad Rizwan, Agha Salman, Faheem Ashraf/ Wasim Jnr., Shaheen Afridi, Aamer Jamal, Hasan Ali.

Pakistan Actual Playing XI:

Hasan Ali, Shan Masood, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Agha Salman, Saud Shakeel, Mir Hamza, Shaheen Afridi, Aamer Jamal, Mohammad Rizwan

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

However, since the match is being played at MCG where in the recent past, the pitch will certainly assist the spinners. The weather forecast for the Boxing Day Test is far from ideal as thundery showers are expected to take place on the first three days of the match.

AUS vs PAK Pitch Report

Melbourne Cricket Ground is going to host the Boxing Day Test between Australia and Pakistan.

Toss: To Bowl

Both the teams will be keen to win the toss, bowl first and make use of overcast conditions. The average first innings score at Melbourne Cricket Ground is around 305 runs.