Australia vs Pakistan (Test 1 of 3): Match prediction and betting tips

In the 1^st Test of Pakistan tour of Australia, ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 champion Aussies will face 6^th place holder of the ICC Test ranking Pakistan at Perth from 14^th to 18^th December 2023. It is now expected that both Australia and Pakistan will try to deliver their best performances to secure their place among the top 3 positions of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship 2023-25.

Predictions for Australia vs Pakistan test match

Australia’s confidence is now at an all-time high, as they recently achieved the Cricket World Cup triumph. The Aussies are also the current No.2 team in the ICC Test ranking with 118 ratings (tied with table-topper India). Pakistan, on the other hand, is not in good form, as they ended their recent World Cup journey in 5^th place while winning just 4 out of 9 games. Their top batter, Babar Azam, recently stepped down from the captaincy, and there are numerous rumours of a dressing room feud with the coaching staff and management.

⚡ Quick tips for Australia vs Pakistan match

• Steve Smith to score “50 or above” in 1st Innings – ➡️ 2.30 at Cricbaba ⬅️
• Australia to become “Team with Top Batter” – ➡️ 1.29 at 1xBet ⬅️
• Pat Cummins to become “Player of the Match” – ➡️ 8.0 at 10CRIC ⬅️

📝 Australia vs Pakistan betting tips

Australia, indeed, is the clear favourite for this 1^st test match, as most of the squad members of the Baggy Caps are currently in excellent form. They will be playing the game on their home ground, which is another great advantage they have. However, Pakistan will leave no stone unturned. So, most expert bettors now prefer alternative markets for this match rather than traditional outcomes.

1. Steve Smith to score “50 or above” in 1^st Innings – 2.30 odds at Cricbaba

The former skipper of the Australian side, Steve Smith, is widely regarded as one of the greatest test batsmen of the modern cricketing era. This 34-year-old middle-order batter has already scored 9,320 runs in 102 international test matches with an average of 58.61. He has 32 centuries and 39 half-centuries in his test career.

Smith has an impressive test record against the Pakistani side. He played just 12 test matches against Pakistan and scored 981 runs, with his best being 165*. He also scored 2 tons and 8 fifties against the Greens. 

2. Australia to become “Team with Top Batter” – 1.29 odds at 1xBet

Without any doubt, Australia has the best test batting lineup besides India and England. Not just their former skipper Smith, but also other batting legends like David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, Usman Khwaja, and Alex Carey can single-handedly win any test match in Australia jersey.

In the last test encounter between Australia and Pakistan in March 2022, the Aussie batting lineup led their victory with 391 and 227 runs in their 1^st and 2^nd innings, respectively. They also won that 3-match Test series. 

3. Pat Cummins to become “Player of the Match” – 8.00 odds at 10CRIC

Cummins is considered a force to be reckoned with, not just in the Test series, the current Aussie skipper is an excellent bowler in all three formats. This is because he recently led the side to win the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. In his test career spanning just 55 matches, he took 239 wickets with a bowling average of 22.94. He has nine 5-wicket hauls in his bag, too.

Cummins played just 5 test matches against the Pakistani side and took 20 wickets till now with a bowling average of 26.35, his best being 5/56. It was Cummins who took 8 wickets (5 in 1^st innings and 3 in 2^nd innings) in the last test encounter with Pakistan at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

West Indies vs England match details

Pitch condition for Australia vs Pakistan match

The all-new Optus Stadium (Perth) has a drop-in pitch that creates loopy and uneven bounce, which can be difficult for Pakistani batters. It also has a faster outfield.

Australia Starting XI

Pat Cummins (C), Marnus Labuschagne, David Warner, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Lance Morris

Pakistan Starting XI

Shan Masood (C), Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Hasan Ali, Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Agha Salman, Faheem Ashraf, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Afridi.

Previous matches between Australia and Pakistan 

Australia and Pakistan came face to face in 69 test matches, out of which Australia won 34. Pakistan achieved victory in just 15 matches, while 20 test matches remained as draws. 

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