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Due to unusual weather that pounded Canberra,
Pakistan’s preparations for their three-Test series against Australia were
completed one day early.
Around 8:00 p.m. on Friday, a strong electrical storm
made landfall in the area. Winds of up to 55 mph lifted the tent covering the
Manuka Oval field, revealing it to torrential rain.
After surveying the surface late on Saturday morning,
the captains and umpires declared the match off due to safety concerns,
guaranteeing a tie in the match against the Prime Minister’s XI.
Before Thursday’s Test in Perth, the tourists’ top
order was denied extra time, but in Canberra, the form of star player Babar
Azam and new captain Shan Masood appeared excellent.
However, their bowling lineup will be entirely
different, as Mohammad Wasim, Hasan Ali, and Shaheen Shah Afridi all expected
to be named after taking a break.
After legspinner Abrar Ahmed hurt his leg in the tour
match, they will have to consider 37-year-old Noman Ali as a potential
specialist spinner.
Although Matt Renshaw batted his way into contention
with his patient century, the abandonment cost him the opportunity to build on
his undefeated 136 and make a stronger case to the national selectors.
All-rounder Cameron Green suffered the same fate as
contenders Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft, who failed to convert their
early wickets into significant runs.
While expressing his satisfaction that he is not
selecting Warner’s replacement, Nathan McSweeney, the captain of the PM’s XI,
described Renshaw’s undefeated 136 off 337 as a pure Test innings.
“It was easy to get frustrated out there with
some shots you thought should go for four and you’re getting two for it, so the
mental strength for him to face as many balls as he did was impressive,”
he told reporters.
“That puts him in good stead I guess, along with
the other guys, they’ve all batted well, so good luck to the selectors.
“They all have been [ready for Tests] for a
while, they’re all quality players who continue to churn out runs in Shield
cricket, I don’t think there’s a bad decision to be made.”