Australia vs Pakistan: The Result Will Rely on these Factors!

Pakistan traveling down to play is not very lucky for them. As the stats tell us Pakistan has not won a single test match in Australia since 1999. Australia will be hosting Pakistan they will be playing a series that will start from 14th December 2023.

In the last 5 test series played between both teams, Australia is leading the score by 3-2. Pakistan has a chance to level that score by defeating Australia. Many factors will decide the direction in which this series will move, but all in all, it will be a tough task for the Pakistan team as they have many changes in the team, On the other hand Australian team is coming from two big victories- WTC trophy and the World Cup 2023 final.

In the past 25 years, Pakistan has played a total of 5 test series including 14 matches in Australia, and has lost every single one of them. Out of those 14 matches, 4 of them were by an inning defeat, the other 4 were by a margin of at least 170 runs, and 3 of them were by 9 or more than 9 wickets.

The key factors which might change the course of the match are:

• The face-off between Babar Azam and Josh Hazlewood:
  Both the players first met in the Under-19 World Cup. Babar Azam has an average of 11 against Josh Hazlewood while he has taken Babar's wicket 6 times.
  
• Australia's left-handers vs slow left arm:
  Noman Ali will be featured in Pakistan's playing XI due to Abrar Ahmed's injury. Australia has 3 left-hander batters in the top 7 batting order and that too in their top form - Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, and David Warner. This factor could be problematic for Pakistan.
  
• Shaheen Shah Afridi vs Marnus Labuschagne:
  Shaheen has got Marnus 5 times and we all know that Marnus struggles against left-arm pacers. Five of Labuschagne's seven dismissals against Pakistan have come against him.
  
• Nathon Lyon vs Pakistan:
  Nathon Lyon has been an asset to the Australian team for a long time, we have seen him perform against India at the time of the WTC final, and many other times he has proven to be their best spinner, especially in test matches. Pakistan team will have to make a good strategy to tackle him otherwise they will lose wickets and eventually lose the match.
  

These were the key points that may play a big factor in the series and help the team to win. This is going to be an interesting series and Pakistan will be determined to win and break a record.