Australia vs Pakistan first Test: Tips and suggested bets

Australia start this Test series with their focus firmly on the opening pairing, perhaps to their own detriment.

Headlines have all been about David Warner and whether or not he has deserved a red-carpet send-off to his Test career.

Pakistan have bemoaned poor preparation after their red-ball warm-up ended in a draw on a sluggish wicket.

This will the third Test at the Optus Stadium since it took over as Perth's top cricket venue. Pakistan haven't played a Test match here at all, while Australia have won all three Tests staged at the venue. Pakistan have never won a Test in the city of Perth, having lost at the old WACA on five occasions.

Australia vs Pakistan first Test: Suggested bets

Australia's evident distraction from actually facing Pakistan aside, the hosts are sitting pretty ahead of this series given their middle-order batting power and a bowling attack without equal in home conditions.

Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith might have to cope with being out in the middle against the new ball, but both have been in relatively good touch. Labuschagne has been the big run-getter for Australia and is likely to end up being at the top of the runs column for the hosts again in Perth.

New Pakistan skipper Shan Masood is also the man they will turn to to bat time and put some pressure on the Australian bowlers. While Babar Azam is still in the lineup despite losing the captaincy, he also doesn't have the runs in the bank this year that suggest he might set the Optus Stadium alight. Masood, however, cracked a double hundred in the warm-up and will be one to watch for Pakistan.

Among Australia's fire-breathing fast bowlers, Jos Hazlewood might not inspire as much fear of being hit, but he is certainly a danger to any batter who wants to stay out in the middle. On a drop-in pitch, his type of bowling can often be difference-making as he finds and consistently hits those awkward lengths.

Shaheen Afridi will need to step up as the strike-bowler in this group, and his getting his tail up will be essential to Pakistan getting onto the front foot in both this match and the series. He was extremely raw on his last visit to Australia in 2019 but still got among the wickets. If he can step that up this time around, he could do some damage for Pakistan and end up with the most wickets at the end of the match.

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