As the much-anticipated Test series between Pakistan and Australia begins today, Australian captain Pat Cummins won the toss and asked Pakistan to bat at Perth Stadium on Thursday.
For what is expected to be his final Test series, Aussie hard-hitter David Warner will be seen padding up with the pressure to score runs and maintain his position on the hard and bouncy pitch.
Eyes will also be on whether opening partner Usman Khawaja wears shoes with messages of support for people in Gaza, having been told it is against ICC rules.
The only change for Australia from the team that started their last Test against England at the Oval in July is the return of fit-again spinner Nathan Lyon in place of Todd Murphy.
Lyon has 496 Test wickets and is on the verge of joining just seven other Test bowlers to breach the 500-mark.
“We play pretty well here, have a good record. An Aussie ground with pace and bounce,” said Cummins.
New Pakistan captain Shan Masood included two debutants in his side, adding pacemen Aamer Jamal and Khurram Shahzad to an attack spearheaded by Shaheen Shah Afridi. They have no specialist spinner.
Pakistan have performed poorly in Australia, losing 14 Tests on the trot with their last win in 1995.
“We wanted to have a bat as well,” Masood said.
“You have to put the toss aside and put in a good bowling performance.”
Teams
Australia: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
Pakistan: Shan Masood (capt), Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Aamer Jamal, Khurram Shahzad
