AUS vs PAK 1st Test Dream11 Prediction, Fantasy Cricket Tips & Playing XI Updates for Today's Cricket Match - Nov 21st, 2019

Australia plays its first Test match of the summer as they host Pakistan in the first Test on Thursday. With the summer marking the beginning of the new season, Australia will look to set the tone of the rest of the year with a convincing win.

This Test also marks Steve Smith and David Warner first red-ball international in Australia since their ban. Although they are expected to lead Australia to a win at the Gabba, Pakistan isn't a team to be taken lightly. Under the stewardship of Misbah ul Haq, Pakistan will look to rattle a few feathers with an exciting bowling unit set to take centre-stage at the Gabba. All in all, an action-packed Test match awaits both sides. Here are a few tips to help you pick your Dream11 team for AUS vs PAK 1st Test.

Also see - IND vs WI schedule

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Squads to choose from

Australia

Tim Paine (c), Cameron Bancroft, Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner

Pakistan

Azhar Ali (c), Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq, Imran Khan Snr, Iftikhar Ahmed, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan, Musa Khan, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Yasir Shah

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Playing XI Updates

Australia

Australia has already confirmed it's playing XI with Joe Burns set to open alongside David Warner at the top of the order. Steve Smith is expected to bat at four with the likes of Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head batting around him. Mitchell Starc, who was left out for most Ashes tests earlier in the year, is picked alongside Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood while Nathan Lyon plays as the lone spinner in this game.

Possible XI: Warner, Burns, Labuschagne, Smith, Head, Wade, Paine(WK&C), Cummins, Starc, Lyon and Hazlewood.

Pakistan

With this being Pakistan's first Test under Misbah and Azhar Ali, their preferred XI is still an uncertainty. While Azhar should open the batting alongside Shan Masood, the likes of Haris Sohail, Asad Shafiq and Babar Azam are expected to feature in the middle order.

With Sarfaraz Ahmed not in the squad, Mohammad Rizwan is the designated keeper while Iftikhar Ahmed should get the nod at the No.6 slot. A young bowling attack is set to take precedence with Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah expected to play alongside one another. Mohammad Abbas will yield the new ball while Yasir Shah plays the lone spinner for the Pakistan outfit.

Possible XI: Azhar(C), Masood/Imam, Sohail, Shafiq, Azam, Rizwan(WK), Iftikhar, Yasir, Shaheen, Naseem and Abbas.

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Match Details

Australia vs Pakistan, 1st Test

21st November 2019, 5:30 AM IST

The Gabba, Brisbane

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Pitch Report

The pitch here has generally provided some extra zip for the pacers. Nevertheless, the batsmen should be able to play their shots freely once get themselves in with good value for their shot selection on offer. The weather is perfect for the entire duration of the game while either side will be looking to bat first and make good use of the conditions on Thursday.

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Fantasy Tips and Suggestions

Wicket-keeper: Mohammad Rizwan is the preferred keeper ahead of Wade and Paine for this Test. Although Wade is the better batsman among the three, Rizwan is also capable of scoring some runs in the middle order. With the Pakistan keeper rated at 8 credits, his selection would help in picking more established players such as Steve Smith and Pat Cummins in the fantasy side.

Batsmen: Steve Smith is arguably the best Test batsmen in the world right now. The former Australian captain had a dream Ashes where he plundered over 700 runs in four games against England earlier in the year. David Warner is another good option and should be backed to regain his form while Babar Azam is another valuable asset. Asad Shafiq was one of the standout batsmen for Pakistan last time around with the middle order batsmen almost nearly pulling off a heist in 2016. He is ideally picked in the side for this game as well with Haris Sohail also a possible option.

All-rounders: Only one all-rounder is assured of a place in the playing XI from both sides - Marnus Labuschagne. He is picked in the side for his batting prowess with the Queenslander in decent form in the domestic circuit as well. He is also capable of rolling his arm over and has the knack of picking a wicket or two as well. If picked in the side, Iftikhar Ahmed is also a worth-while option.

Bowlers: Picking three or even four bowlers from Australia would be an ideal option considering the relative strengths of either side's batting units. Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood should pick a few wickets with the new ball while Mitchell Starc is known for cleaning up the tail with his pace and accuracy. Nathan Lyon has a good record at the Gabba and will be looking to build on it while one of Mohammad Abbas or Shaheen Afridi should round the fantasy team for this game.

Captain: David Warner and Steve Smith would be itching to get off on the right note in that is their first appearance in a Test in home soil since their infamous ban. Both of them are viable options along with the pace duo of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. If one were to pick a Pakistan player as captain, Babar Azam would do the trick.

Fantasy Suggestion #1: Mohammad Rizwan, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Steve Smith, David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shaheen Afridi, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc. Captain: Steve Smith, Vice-Captain: Pat Cummins

Fantasy Suggestion #2: Mohammad Rizwan, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, David Warner, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood and Mohammad Abbas. Captain: David Warner, Vice-Captain: Josh Hazlewood