Australia's 16: who's ready for the Test
ESPNcricinfo runs the rule over the preparation of all 16 Australia players ahead of the first Test, which starts in Dubai on Wednesday
Brydon Coverdale
19-Oct-2014
The man in form: Steven Smith has been solid against spin and pace • Getty Images
All but one of Australia's 16 squad members played the tour match against Pakistan A in Sharjah, and their results were decidedly mixed. ESPNcricinfo runs the rule over the preparation of all 16 players ahead of the first Test, which starts in Dubai on Wednesday.
Chris Rogers
Horror tour match in which he was lbw for a golden duck in the first innings and run out for 3 in a mix-up with Phillip Hughes in the second. Stronger against pace than spin - he was struggling against local spinners at times in the nets last week - but is coming off an excellent county season for Middlesex.
Horror tour match in which he was lbw for a golden duck in the first innings and run out for 3 in a mix-up with Phillip Hughes in the second. Stronger against pace than spin - he was struggling against local spinners at times in the nets last week - but is coming off an excellent county season for Middlesex.
David Warner
Only member of Australia's team who was rested from the warm-up game in Sharjah, due to a groin injury he picked up during the final ODI. Walked plenty of laps of the ground while his team-mates played, and the coach Darren Lehmann is confident Warner will be fit to take his place in Dubai.
Only member of Australia's team who was rested from the warm-up game in Sharjah, due to a groin injury he picked up during the final ODI. Walked plenty of laps of the ground while his team-mates played, and the coach Darren Lehmann is confident Warner will be fit to take his place in Dubai.
Alex Doolan
One of the best Australian performers from the tour match. Had not scored a century in any form since his Test debut, so broke through an important mental barrier. Scored 104 before retiring and notably was comfortable against spin as well as pace. Will have a chance to make No.3 his own after a mixed debut series in South Africa.
One of the best Australian performers from the tour match. Had not scored a century in any form since his Test debut, so broke through an important mental barrier. Scored 104 before retiring and notably was comfortable against spin as well as pace. Will have a chance to make No.3 his own after a mixed debut series in South Africa.
Michael Clarke
Missed out on time in the middle in Sharjah, where he slashed to point for 10 in the first innings and was bowled by one that stayed low for 5 in the second. It was his first match since hurting his hamstring in Zimbabwe, and although his fitness appears no longer to be an issue, his lack of game time is hardly the ideal preparation.
Missed out on time in the middle in Sharjah, where he slashed to point for 10 in the first innings and was bowled by one that stayed low for 5 in the second. It was his first match since hurting his hamstring in Zimbabwe, and although his fitness appears no longer to be an issue, his lack of game time is hardly the ideal preparation.
Steven Smith
The form batsman of the team. Scored heavily in the ODI series and made a polished 58 before retiring in the first innings in Sharjah. Used his feet against the spinners, punished the fast men and did not display any signs of vulnerability. Could be Australia's batting key in the series.
The form batsman of the team. Scored heavily in the ODI series and made a polished 58 before retiring in the first innings in Sharjah. Used his feet against the spinners, punished the fast men and did not display any signs of vulnerability. Could be Australia's batting key in the series.
Phillip Hughes
Picked up 65 in the second innings in Sharjah after 14 in the first, and was typically streaky early on before finding his touch against both pace and spin. Looks set to be the backup batsman, though, and will likely be on drinks duties in Dubai.
Picked up 65 in the second innings in Sharjah after 14 in the first, and was typically streaky early on before finding his touch against both pace and spin. Looks set to be the backup batsman, though, and will likely be on drinks duties in Dubai.
Mitchell Marsh
Much being spoken of for a man who is yet to debut. But a fifth bowler will be needed in the hot conditions and Marsh appears the leading all-round candidate. Like Clarke, entered the Sharjah game having to prove his fitness after a hamstring injury. Bowled seven overs and scored a duck and 35, without any obvious discomfort. Still developing as a batsman but in form this year. Scored a first-class double-century for Australia A in the winter.
Much being spoken of for a man who is yet to debut. But a fifth bowler will be needed in the hot conditions and Marsh appears the leading all-round candidate. Like Clarke, entered the Sharjah game having to prove his fitness after a hamstring injury. Bowled seven overs and scored a duck and 35, without any obvious discomfort. Still developing as a batsman but in form this year. Scored a first-class double-century for Australia A in the winter.
Glenn Maxwell
Was lucky to squeeze into the squad, by the admission of selector Rod Marsh, and will be even luckier if he plays in Dubai. Bowled 12 overs in Sharjah without taking a wicket, and scored 18 in the one innings he batted. Hard to see how the selectors would balance the side if Maxwell were to play, given they are reluctant to have two offspinners and Nathan Lyon is the frontline slow bowler.
Was lucky to squeeze into the squad, by the admission of selector Rod Marsh, and will be even luckier if he plays in Dubai. Bowled 12 overs in Sharjah without taking a wicket, and scored 18 in the one innings he batted. Hard to see how the selectors would balance the side if Maxwell were to play, given they are reluctant to have two offspinners and Nathan Lyon is the frontline slow bowler.
Brad Haddin
Looked good during his 38 not out in Sharjah, and work behind the stumps was clean. Rested from the final two days of the game and should be fresh for the first Test.
Looked good during his 38 not out in Sharjah, and work behind the stumps was clean. Rested from the final two days of the game and should be fresh for the first Test.
Mitchell Johnson
Bowled at good pace in Sharjah despite the unhelpful conditions, and was used in short spells as is likely in Dubai. Will make the Pakistan batsmen uncomfortable regardless of the pitch, as he showed in claiming three wickets in each of his one-day appearances so far on the tour.
Bowled at good pace in Sharjah despite the unhelpful conditions, and was used in short spells as is likely in Dubai. Will make the Pakistan batsmen uncomfortable regardless of the pitch, as he showed in claiming three wickets in each of his one-day appearances so far on the tour.
Peter Siddle
Dropped from the Test team in South Africa earlier this year due to dwindling pace, but speed has improved again after strength work in the off-season. Shared the new ball with Johnson in both innings in Sharjah and is expected to do so in the first Test as well. Picked up two wickets in first innings in Sharjah but was used sparingly in the second.
Dropped from the Test team in South Africa earlier this year due to dwindling pace, but speed has improved again after strength work in the off-season. Shared the new ball with Johnson in both innings in Sharjah and is expected to do so in the first Test as well. Picked up two wickets in first innings in Sharjah but was used sparingly in the second.
Steve O'Keefe
Bowled well in the first innings in Sharjah, collecting 3 for 76. As usual, did not spin the ball greatly but was accurate and made the batsmen play, and notably used variations such as cross-seam to get the ball to kick off the pitch at times. Has a good chance of debuting in Dubai as part of a two-man spin attack with Lyon.
Bowled well in the first innings in Sharjah, collecting 3 for 76. As usual, did not spin the ball greatly but was accurate and made the batsmen play, and notably used variations such as cross-seam to get the ball to kick off the pitch at times. Has a good chance of debuting in Dubai as part of a two-man spin attack with Lyon.
Nathan Lyon
Batsmen were keen to attack him in the first innings in Sharjah, but the pitch was offering him little turn that early in the game. Collected 2 for 49 in the second innings, when the ball was spinning more, and bowled 36 overs for the game. Should have a heavy workload in the first Test to give the fast men plenty of rest in the heat.
Batsmen were keen to attack him in the first innings in Sharjah, but the pitch was offering him little turn that early in the game. Collected 2 for 49 in the second innings, when the ball was spinning more, and bowled 36 overs for the game. Should have a heavy workload in the first Test to give the fast men plenty of rest in the heat.
Ben Hilfenhaus
Bowled 13 overs for one wicket in the first innings in Sharjah, without getting much help from the conditions. Is sitting on 99 Test wickets and will only have the chance to reach 100 in this game if the selectors decide against two spinners. In that case, would be vying with Mitchell Starc for third fast-bowling spot.
Bowled 13 overs for one wicket in the first innings in Sharjah, without getting much help from the conditions. Is sitting on 99 Test wickets and will only have the chance to reach 100 in this game if the selectors decide against two spinners. In that case, would be vying with Mitchell Starc for third fast-bowling spot.
Mitchell Starc
As with Hilfenhaus, only a chance to play in Dubai if pitch sways selectors towards three fast men. Bowled 15 overs without a wicket in the second innings in Sharjah, but was difficult for the batsmen to get away.
As with Hilfenhaus, only a chance to play in Dubai if pitch sways selectors towards three fast men. Bowled 15 overs without a wicket in the second innings in Sharjah, but was difficult for the batsmen to get away.
James Faulkner
Added to the squad as cover for Marsh, and will stay with the group until the second Test in Abu Dhabi, but shouldn't expect a surprise call-up. Took the brunt of some powerful batting from Haris Sohail and Babar Azam in the second innings in Sharjah. Match for Faulkner consisted of a golden duck and 0 for 57 from eight overs.
Added to the squad as cover for Marsh, and will stay with the group until the second Test in Abu Dhabi, but shouldn't expect a surprise call-up. Took the brunt of some powerful batting from Haris Sohail and Babar Azam in the second innings in Sharjah. Match for Faulkner consisted of a golden duck and 0 for 57 from eight overs.
Brydon Coverdale is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @brydoncoverdale