AUS vs PAK, 3rd Test | Playing 11 Prediction, Cricket Tips, Preview & Live Streaming

Australia lead the series 2-0 [AP Photo]

The third and final Test of the ongoing Benaud–Qadir Trophy will kick off from Wednesday (January 3), which will pit Australia and Pakistan against each other in the customary Pink Test that will take place at Sydney Cricket Ground. 

AUS vs PAK, 3rd Test: Team Previews

Australia

With an unassailable 2-0 lead, Australia head into the final contest high on confidence. The Test will be special as it will be hometown hero David Warner's final red-ball match for Australia, which will put the takes a tad bit higher.

Skipper Pat Cummins has named an unchanged XI from the Melbourne Test, stating that all pacers including himself are fit and raring to finish the series on a high. The batting will once again revolve around Warner, Khawaja, and Smith, where the aforementioned players have flourished in parts across the two completed Tests. 

Mitchell Marsh will look to repeat his heroics, while Travis Head will want to ably support Nathan Lyon, given the conditions will suit spinner as the match progresses. 

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Pakistan

With back-to-back losses, Pakistan have thrown away all inhibitions and named a new-look playing XI for the New Year Test, which sees their premier pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi rested.

Apart from Afridi, out-of-form opener Imam-Ul-Haq has also been dropped, with management handing youngster Saim Ayub a well-deserved debut. Having not played a specialist spinner so far, Shan Masood and the think tank have opted to give Sajid Khan the green signal, giving the track at Sydney will resemble Asian conditions. 

 Babar Azam will need to step up the plate and display his best, having failed in previous two Tests, if Pakistan have any chance of winning their first match since 1995.

AUS vs PAK, 3rd Test: Match Details & Live Streaming

AUS vs PAK, 3rd Test: Sydney Cricket Ground Pitch Report

The track at Sydney Cricket Ground is expected to mimic Asian conditions and start off as batting friendly, then moving onto favouring the spinners. Reverse swing will also come into effect as days pass by.

AUS vs PAK, 3rd Test: Playing XI

Australia XI: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Nathan Lyon, and Josh Hazlewood.

Pakistan XI: Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood (c), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan(wk), Agha Salman, Aamer Jamal, Hasan Ali, Mir Hamza, and Sajid Khan.

AUS vs PAK, 3rd Test: Cricket Exchange Fantasy Tips

AUS vs PAK, 3rd Test: Winner Prediction

Australia head into the third and final Test as firm favourites, given their recent form. 

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