Factbox: Pak meets Australia

HISTORY

The countries have met 55 times with Australia winning 27 tests and Pakistan 11. There have been 17 draws.

CAPTAINS

Pakistan – Shahid Afridi,30,is the fourth man to captain his country since the start of last year,an indication of the turmoil affecting the team. He has not played test cricket since 2006 after a self-imposed exile.

A dashing,piratical figure with his long hair and beard,Afridi is a destructive if undisciplined batsman whose 37-ball century against Sri Lanka is still the fastest one-day hundred. His brisk leg-spin bowling has been an increasingly important weapon in one-day cricket. Played: 26 tests,1,683 runs @ 37.40,47 wickets @ 34.89.

Australia – At the age of 35,Ricky Ponting remains his team’s premier batsman and would still command a middle-order place in a mythical all-time Australia XI.

As a captain,though,he has now suffered the indignity of losing consecutive Ashes series in England. With a return series against England starting in Australia this year,Ponting and his team will be eager to make a statement against Pakistan. Played: 144 tests,11,928 runs @ 55.22.

WEATHER

Scattered showers are forecast on Wednesday and Thursday after a sunny start on Tuesday. The weather will remain warm with the rain clearing by the weekend.

SQUADS:

Australia – Ricky Ponting (captain),Michael Clarke,Doug Bollinger,Peter George,Ben Hilfenhaus,Michael Hussey,Michael Johnson,Simon Katich,Usman Khawaja,Marcus North,Stephen O’Keefe,Tim Paine,Steven Smith,Shane Watson

Pakistan – Shahid Afridi (captain),Azhar Ali,Danish Kaneria,Imran Farhat,Kamran Akmal,Mohammad Aamer,Mohammad Asif,Saeed Ajmal,Salman Butt,Shoaib Malik,Tanvir Ahmed,Umar Akmal,Umar Amin,Umar Gul,Wahab Riaz,Yasir Hameed,Zulqarnain Haider

UMPIRES:

Ian Gould (England) and Rudi Koertzen (South Africa)

Match referee: Chris Broad (England)