Cricket / Vin Lowe / 30 September 2009 / Leave a comment Bet Now

The last league game for Australia will see them face Pakistan at Centurion, which will be one game that they will not want to lose in order to qualify for the semi-finals, writes Andy Morris.

A loss for Australia will allow India a mathematical - but a distant - possibility of going through to the knock-out at their expense.

Having seen both Australia and Pakistan play in the tournament so far, it will be fair to say that there has been some quality cricket on offer.

And there isn't too much to choose from between the two line-ups. While I would put Pakistan marginally ahead in terms of their bowling strength, thanks to the presence of the spinning duo of Saeed Ajmal and Shahid Afridi, the Australian batting is a trifle better than their Pakistani counterparts. Especially now, that even Michael Hussey has returned back to his best.

The Aussies will heavily bank on their quick bowlers to pick up early wickets, something that Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson could provide with their bowling.

However, with wickets, there is a definite possibility that these really quick men also go quicker to the boundary; as their economies of more than five runs per over in the recently concluded seven-match series show. Shane Watson's lack of runs would be a worry - he has had two ducks in the two games - but he could do well to contribute with the ball after having finished second on the list of bowlers in that series in England.

However, Australia will miss the services of Michael Clarke, whose back injury has meant that he will be flying back home. This means, that for now, the line-up will remain the same, and Callum Ferguson will continue to bat at the number six position after Michael Hussey - who is a bit dodgy on form - and Cameron White.

For Pakistan, their spinners will be their trump card on a track which has had help for the slower bowlers. Saeed Ajmal's ability to get the ball going both ways, and Shahid Afridi's penchant to mix things up with lines, lengths and pace could prove to be handful to the Australian middle order which hasn't had too much experience facing the spinners. The batting, on the other hand, may have looked good, but will need the openers to come good. Both Imran Nazir and Kamran Akmal haven't had a great series so far, and they will look to correct that, something that will need them to play a longer innings.

Having said that, Umar Akmal's matured knock in the game against West Indies means that he will be the one that the Aussies will need to be wary of. Not too many youngsters have shown so much maturity at such an age, and one gets the sense that Akmal is the next big star in the making. Australia could just be his first big scalp!

All in all, Pakistan looks marginally ahead going into this clash, but a favourable toss for the Aussies could even things out.