Watch Australia Vs. Pakistan 2nd ODI Live Streaming

Australia and Pakistan move to Sydney – the venue that caused much heartburn in Pakistan after the second Test – for the second ODI. While Australia will have fond memories of the ground where they pulled off an improbable and stunning win at the start of the year, Pakistan will be eager to erase the bitter memories that the Test left them with. A number of players on both sides are common to the ODI and Test sides, and with not even a month being over since that match, there is no dangers of memories running short.

Both sides are aware, that the ODIs will provide for a much more equal platform for competition than the Test matches did, and that showed in the first ODI, where Pakistan put up a challenging total, and Australia needed Cameron White to play an outstanding innings to take them home.

Pakistan have always been the most mercurial of sides, and several of their problems have arisen from in-fighting and disunity, but there is one thing that has united Pakistan teams across the ages, and that is playing against India. They may not be facing India on the field, but with all the off-field controversy about the IPL auctions, and the collective rejection of the players, the team is likely to be a more unified force than it has been at any point in the Australian tour. Shahid Afridi, in particular, seems to have taken the snub to heart, and it showed in his batting in the first ODI, when he blasted 48 off 26 balls. His ODI average is in the low twenties, but he continues to be the main man in Pakistan’s limited-overs plans with his ability to turn matches with bat and ball.

Pakistan also need young Umar Akmal to exhibit the temperament that, allied to his undoubted talent, will bring forth the next world-beating batsman. The only spot of bother in the batting order seems to be Younis Khan, who pottered around for 46 painful runs in the first ODI. However, the time spent in the middle, and the freedom from team politics and decisions since renouncing theh captaincy, could be just what was required for Younis to rediscover his touch. The bowling was a bit wayward, with excellent first spells by Asif and Aamer being negated, but the talent in the bowling lineup cannot be questioned. It is only a matter of harnessing it, and if they do that, Pakistan could give Australia a good run for their money.

Australia, on the other hand, showed just why they have been so dominant in the ODI format and why they hold the No.1 ranking by a comfortable margin. Although they were made to scrap initially, they found a man for the job and eventually won without any discomfort. It was Cameron White in the first ODI, but Australia have always managed to find a man for the job in crunch situations. This was much in evidence in their ODI series against India late last year, where they won despite fielding an almost second-string side. The in-born Aussie competitiveness and toughness has stood them in good stead and they seem to be able to draw on reserves of determination and self-belief that other teams just don’t have. Their only real worry is the form of Ricky Ponting. The skipper has been noticeably short of runs throughout the summer, notwithstanding his double century in the third Test. Even in the first ODI, he looked to be struggling and not fully at ease. However, the old adage of form being temporary and class permanent holds true, and Pakistan will ignore Ponting as a batting force at their peril.

Teams:
Australia (From): Shaun Marsh, Shane Watson, Ricky Ponting(c), Michael Clarke, Cameron White, Michael Hussey, Brad Haddin(w), Nathan Hauritz, Clint McKay, Doug Bollinger, Peter Siddle, James Hopes, Adam Voges

Pakistan (From): Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal(w), Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf(c), Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Aamer, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Asif, Naved-ul-Hasan, Fawad Alam, Imran Farhat, Iftikhar Anjum, Khalid Latif, Sarfraz Ahmed