Australia vs Pakistan 2019, First Test: 5 players to look out for 

Another summer of Test cricket in Australia is going to kick start from November 21, 2019. Australia will take on Pakistan in a two-match Test series, the first game of which is to be played at the iconic Gabba stadium in Brisbane. It will be Men in Green's first Test in the ICC World Test Championships, which sees India firmly holding on to the top spot after their thumping victories against South Africa and Bangladesh at home.

Also see - India vs West Indies schedule 2019

Australia are playing a Test series after a scintillating contest in the Ashes series which ended 2-2. Ahead of the start of the home summer, their captain Tim Paine hinted at retiring post the end of this summer of cricket. He was rather understanding of his position in the team, amidst growing concerns of his lacklustre batting returns in recent times.

Pakistan are in a tremendous re-building stage with senior statesman taking over from Sarfaraz Ahmed as the skipper of their Test team. Babar Azam's foray into T20I captaincy hasn't gone as planned as he has not yet tasted success. It has to be seen if Azhar Ali can inspire his troops in a series which highly favors the hosts.

Here's looking at five players to look out for in the two-match series between Australia and Pakistan:

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#5 Azhar Ali

Azhar Ali, Pakistan's new Test captain

Pakistan have gone through yet another reshuffle in their team management. The incumbent Mickey Arthur made way for Misbah-Ul-Haq to take over as the head coach. And their captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has been dropped from all forms of the game, giving Azhar Ali the opportunity to lead the test match team.

Although a very huge honour for any cricketer to lead his side, Azhar would know he couldn't have asked for a worse time to take over the reins. Pakistan have been struggling to put on a contest in all forms of the game off-late. To add to this big names like Mohammed Amir and Wahab Riaz decided to end their red ball careers to focus on LOIs.

Along with the various challenges that would be presented to Azhar Ali, comes a huge opportunity as well. Not many people would give Pakistan much of a chance in this series against Australia on their home conditions. It is also is the team's foray into the ICC World Test Championship.

Azhar Ali certainly has proved his mettle as a batsmen. A test specialist who should be tried in LOIs as well to provide stability to the middle order has amassed 5669 runs in 73 matches at a very formidable average of 43.02. He can bat well and bat long. The question Pakistan's fans would be asking is- How good a captain can Azhar Ali be?

#4 Steven Smith

Steven Smith

The world of cricket was shaken by the involvement of Steven Smith's name in the 'Sandpaper gate' scandal. Post serving his one year ban from all forms of cricket, Smith has come back with a renewed vengeance to score big runs. It's almost as if his appetite to score runs has increased two fold post his return for Australia.

The former skipper made a resounding comeback into the Test team as he marauded the English bowlers on his way to amassing a humongous 774 runs in four games at an average of 110.74. No bowler seemed to have an answer for his brand of brilliance. Jofra Archer's habit of getting it to bounce from an unexpected length meant that Smith had to miss one game in the Ashes series.

Playing in home conditions for the first time post the ban, the #1 ranked batsman in the ICC rankings would be certainly looking forward to this new challenge. If he is allowed to get in and get set, Pakistan would be looking at lot of leather hunting in this series.

#3 David Warner

David Warner has been prolific in the T20Is.

Australia's attacking, free stroking opener David Warner has had it great since he made his comeback into the game after a year's hiatus. He has been instrumental in his team's rapid improvement in T20Is with some stellar performances in the home series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

A lot of talk before this year's Ashes was about David Warner's poor record away from home in Tests. And sadly, that tag will continue to stay after his dismal showing in England where he couldn't accumulate a total of 100 runs in the series. Stuart Broad and Jofra Archer had his measure, exposing his technical issues against the moving ball.

Warner would be looking forward to silencing critics with some impressive performances in the home summer. He has got the backing of his team and coach Justin Langer, which must make it easier for him to get back into form.

3698 runs in 38 games at an outstanding average of 59.65 at home suggests that he prefers these conditions. The question is how soon can the dynamic batsman get into scoring form in whites.

#2 Mohammad Abbas

Mohammad Abbas

A lot of talk ahead of the Australia- Pakistan test series revolved around this series being a contest between Patt Cummins versus Mohammad Abbas. Both are extremely talented and are the bowling spearheads of their respective teams. Abbas has risen in the ranks after impressive returns in recent times. 66 wickets in 14 games at a superb average of 18.89 makes for fine reading.

He gets to ball to nip around at a fairly good speed, and should enjoy playing in Australia where the pitches offer lot of bounce and pace. With the likes of Mohammed Amir and Wahab Riaz opting to focus only on white ball cricket, Abbas would have to play the role of a mentor for some raw, fresh talent that would be unleashed on Australia.

The pressure would be on the tall seamer to deliver. The question is whether the Australians will allow him to or not. It promises to be an interesting contest without a doubt- Abbas vs Australia's batsmen.

#1 Babar Azam

Babar Azam.

Pleasing to the eyes, effortless, sublime- these are some of the adjectives that can be used to describe Babar Azam. He has got class with the bat in his hands and makes it look ridiculously easy when on song. He can be considered a tough competition for the top four in world cricket- Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, Joe Root and Steven Smith.

For a player who averages above 50 in ODIs and T20Is and who has been appointed the new T20I captain, Azam hasn't lived up to expectations in the longest form of the game. It's a good sign that Pakistan have entrusted lot of faith in the youngster and haven't left him out of the team.

It's that confidence in his stroke making ability that Pakistan would be banking on to counter the Aussie pacers. A batsman who has all the shots in the book and the technique to face up against the best in the business would be hoping to make a mark in red ball cricket down under.