PAK vs AUS | Spinning track on the cards in Karachi: Reports

After the joy kill in the historic Test match at Rawalpindi, Pakistan Cricket Board is likely to prepare a result oriented pitch at Karachi. If reports out of the Pakistan media are to be believed, the Karachi pitch is going to be spin friendly after it supports the batsmen in the first couple of days. Australia interim head coach Andrew McDonald confirmed to Reuters that the visiting side is likely to field two spinners in the second Test match, based on the intelligence that they have gathered out of Karachi.

The visiting side, as well as the cricket fans, were left frustrated at the conditions in Rawalpindi, which gave zero assistance to the bowlers. Australia were able to pick a total of four wickets in two innings, one of which was a run out by Marnus Labuschange. 

While the Australian captain Pat Cummins stopped short of criticising the pitch, former captain Steve Smith took a sharp dig at the fourth-day press conference, calling it ‘benign’.

Australia have two options barring Nathan Lyon in their spin reserves. Ashton Agar and Mitchell Swepson. While leggie Swepson has not played a Test match, Agar’s last outing was back in 2017 against Bangladesh, before the left arm off spinner transitioned into a T20 commodity.

In terms of the pecking order, Agar does offer Australia with a slight bit of batting cover, while Swepson is more of a pure bowler. Australia currently need good support in their spin department considering Nathan Lyon took just one wicket in the first Test match despite bowling 78 overs. Coach McDonald however did not seem to be worried by the figures of Lyon and said that Rawalpindi was clearly made thinking about the batters.

"I think we’ll get a totally different surface come Karachi, which will present different opportunities for different tactics," he said.

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ICC Women’s World Cup 2022 | Veteran Jhulan Goswami on the brink of world record

Veteran Indian speedster Jhulan Goswami is nearing an elusive record at the ICC Women’s World Cup. The right-hander, who has 38 wickets to her name in the premier competition needs just two more wickets to become the highest wicket-taker in the World Cup, surpassing Australian Lynette Fullston. Fullston currently holds on to the record with 39 scalps to her name from 20 matches, just one ahead of the Bengal-born. The 39-year-old Indian is most likely to cross the Australian having started her campaign with an exceptional 2/26 in her first match against Pakistan. Goswami was a breath of fresh air to the Indian attack that struggled massively in their preparation for the World Cup in their preparation against New Zealand. Goswami, in her first game, took the wickets of opener Sidra Ameen and Nida Dar and spearheaded the attack with her experience. Asked about the record, a candid Goswami stated that she was not aware of the record. “I often stick to my role and that’s the important thing,” said the veteran. "If you play (for) a long time, you are going to achieve a few individual milestones. Yes, that gives me a lot of joy. I enjoy (when) I contribute and the team wins. Personal milestones do not matter to me as I am an absolute team player," Goswami concluded. The Bengal speedster has been active in the international since 2002 and played her first World Cup in 2005. She came incredibly close to winning the trophy in 2017, having lost in the finals against England. In that game, Goswami was the wrecker in chief for India, picking up three wickets for just 23 runs from her 10 overs. India managed to restrict England to 228 runs in that game, but an exceptional performance from Anya Shrubsole won the home team the World Cup by 9 runs.

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ICC Women’s World Cup 2022 | Jhulan Goswami backs Shafali Verma to come good against NZ

India will be up against one of their toughest oppositions in the Women’s World Cup on Thursday, 10 March. A familiar foe, New Zealand will be raring to go against the subcontinental rivals having drubbed them 4-1 right before the commencement of the Women’s World Cup. India have been good with the bat in recent times, but the struggle of their most attacking outlet - Shafali Verma has been a concern. The right-handed swashbuckling batsman has scored three ducks in her last four outings (including warm-ups) and has been out of touch for quite some time now. However, on the eve of the crucial match, veteran Indian fast bowler Jhulan Goswami has assured Indian fans that Shafali will come good. "I am sure she is working hard in the nets. She is just one big knock away and if she gets an opportunity, I am sure she is going to do well," she added. Verma was played on in the first game against Pakistan after trying to reach at a full length delivery that nipped back into her. Despite being thrashed by New Zealand ahead of the World Cup, Goswami sounded confident, "...that was the plan, just before the World Cup, to acclimatise with these conditions and wickets and come back and play fresh in this World Cup.” India had faced problems with their bowling line-up against New Zealand which essentially ended up being the difference between the two sides in the recently concluded series. The injection of the Bengal speedster seemed to have done the trick in the first game, as they restricted Pakistan team to just 137. Jhulan herself took two wickets while Rajeshwari Gayakwad took four. "I think we bowled well. I guess we hit the ball in the right areas and as a group, we bowled well. The new ball bowlers restricted them very well in the first 10 overs... "Then the spinners bowled well, they were getting a bit of turn on that wicket and I think restricting them below 150 runs is quite a good achievement as a bowling unit," said Goswami. The right hander, on the brink of a world record, stated that the plan is going to bowl in the right areas against the NZ batters and then hope for the best. Jhulan currently has 38 wickets in the Women’s World Cup and needs two more to become the leading wicket-taker in the competition.