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PAK vs AUS | 2nd Test | Mitchell Swepson to make debut as visitors announce XI

With the pitch for the second Test match of this historic series expected to assist spin, Australia have decided to go in with two spinners. This means that Mitchell Swepson will finally get an opportunity to make his Test debut for Australia. He is the first leg-spinner to make it to Australia’s Test XI since 2009. 


Swepson has been in Australia’s Test squad for quite a few years now. He was there as Nathan Lyon’s backup but failed to make it to the XI. However, he has finally got the opportunity and would be looking to make the most out of this. 


“He’s pumped and to be honest, we’re all pumped for ‘Swepo’. It’s been a long time running drinks over the last couple of years, but he’s absolutely ready,” said Cummins. 


The captain seemed confident that Swepson would come good and he would be eager to repay the faith shown. 


“He’s been a huge part of the squad, even though he hasn’t been playing. So we’re really excited to see him get a chance. The wicket here is a little bit drier and historically a bit friendlier for the spinners,” added Cummins. 


The Australian skipper would be hoping that the duo of Lyon and Swepson can spin a web on the Pakistani batsmen.


The news of Swepson’s debut comes a week after the demise of the great leg spinner Shane Warne. 

“Never got to properly thank this man for his influence on my cricket career,” Swepson posted in his tribute for Warne on social media following the legend’s death on Friday.


 “He has made me push myself day in and day out without ever knowing it. Truly the greatest cricketer I’ve ever seen play the game,” added Swepson. Warne played a role influencing a lot of cricketers and Swepson would have a great career if he can replicate anything that Warne did. 


The first Test match ended in a draw and the pitch was rated as poor. Both teams would be hoping for a better pitch this time around as no one likes a drawn Test match. The first match saw a run-fest while the bowlers had very little to celebrate. 


Australia XI: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Swepson. 


The second Test is all set to begin on Saturday at Karachi’s National Stadium where both teams will look to take a lead in the three-match series. Pakistan haven’t announced their playing XI yet, but Hasan Ali and Haris Rauf could come in to strengthen the pace-battery. 

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ICC rates Rawalpindi pitch as below average, given demerit point

ICC rated the pitch used for the first Test between Pakistan vs Australia at Rawalpindi as "below average", and the venue received a demerit point. After a dull draw at Karachi, Match Referee Ranjan Madugalle rated the pitch where the bowlers found it difficult to pick wickets. "The character of the pitch hardly changed over the course of five days and that there has been no deterioration apart from the bounce getting slightly lower. The pitch did not have a great deal of pace and bounce in it for the seamers nor assisted the spinners as the match progressed. In my view this does not represent an even contest between bat and ball. Therefore, in keeping with the ICC guidelines, I rate this pitch as below average," Madugalle stated in his match report. In ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process, one demerit point is allocated to pitches rated below average by match referees. If a surface is declared poor and unfit, the venue will receive three and five demerit points. Demerit points will remain active for five years. Also, if a venue accumulates five demerit points or more. In that case, it will be banned from hosting international cricket for a span of twelve months. If a venue earns ten or more demerit points, it will be suspended from staging international cricket for 24 months. Meanwhile, PCB chief Rameez Raja had a different take on the matter. Raja conceded that the pitch was prepared to nullify the Australian bowling attack while understanding the fans' frustration. "Just for the heck of it, we can't prepare a fast pitch or a bouncy pitch and put the game in Australia's lap ... It's important that when we play at home, we play to our strengths," Raja commented. The 2nd Test will kick off at Karachi on Saturday.