ZCZC
BSP-04
CRICKET-AUS-PAK-TOSS
Pakistan win toss, choose to bat in first Test v Australia
BRISBANE, Australia, Nov 21, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Pakistan captain Azhar Ali
won the toss and chose to bat in the first cricket Test in hot and humid
conditions at the Gabba in Brisbane on Thursday.
As expected, Pakistan will give 16-year-old pace sensation Naseem Shah his
first cap, making him one of the youngest players in Test history.
Shah, who decided to remain on tour after his mother died last week, made
the team after impressing with an eight-over spell against Australia A in a
lead-up game in Perth.
Pakistan omitted experienced paceman Mohammad Abbas in favour of the
players who performed so well against Australia A.
Australia have recalled opener Joe Burns to partner with David Warner at
the top of the order and middle-order batsman Travis Head.
“There’s a bit of grass on the pitch but it looks a good pitch to bat on,
especially if you get through the new ball then there will be lots of runs in
it,” Azhar said.
“We’re really excited to see Naseem play. It was very emotional this
morning when he got his cap.
“It was difficult to leave out Mohammad Abbas but sometimes form can take
over and we know he’s very good and our number one bowler, but at the moment
these three pacers are doing the job and we picked them.”
Australia – Joe Burns, David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith,
Travis Head, Matthew Wade, Tim Paine (capt), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc,
Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
Pakistan – Shan Masood, Azhar Ali (capt), Haris Sohail, Babar Azam, Asad
Shafiq, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Yasir Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Imran
Khan, Naseem Shah.
Umpires – Richard Illingworth (ENG), Richard Kettleborough (ENG)
TV Umpire – Michael Gough (ENG)
Match Referee- Jeff Crowe (NZL)
BSS/AFP/AU/07:55 hrs