Australia’s batsmen are preparing to launch an all-out attack on Pakistan’s spin wizard Saeed Ajmal in Monday night’s deciding game three of their one-day international series.
David Hussey said on Sunday the Australians had been studying video tapes of how Sri Lanka took the long handle to the off-spinner in the ODI series in Sri Lanka in June.
Sri Lanka won the five-match series 3-1 and Ajmal took only three wickets at 40.66 – in stark contrast to his starring role against Australia which has so far produced seven scalps at 8.85.
Middle order batsman Hussey fell to Ajmal in the first match in Sharjah and again in game two in Abu Dhabi, caught at slip for three and lbw for a duck.
“I know all the boys are watching a lot of video on how to read him and how to play him differently,” Hussey told reporters on the eve of the Sharjah clash.
“(Sri Lanka’s) Kumar Sangakkara plays him a totally different way to the way the Australians play him so we maybe we are looking at that aspect of playing Ajmal.
“He’s a fantastic bowler. But we have to change our game plan.
“We’re defending him a little bit and to our perish.
“Maybe the best form of defence is attacking him.
“We’ve seen the Sri Lankans play him, we’ve seen the Indians play him, and we might think that’s the better route to go.”
Australia won the first match with a score of 6-199 chasing Pakistan’s 198 and Pakistan turned the tables in game two with a total of 3-249 in the 44th over after Australia made 9-248.
Australia’s openers David Warner and Matthew Wade have scored 46 runs between them in two matches and big-hitting Warner played an unusually quiet innings in Abu Dhabi, nudging the ball around for 24 off 68 deliveries.
Hussey said Australia may struggle to win game three with a repeat of their opening stands of the first two games of 13 and eight.
Pakistan opener Nasir Jamshed showed the way with a match-winning 97 off 98 balls in game two.
“We just need Dave Warner and Matthew Wade to play their natural games and back their own ability,” Hussey said.
“You might see a different opening combination play. I reckon they’ll smack it to all parts.”
Hussey said left-arm quick Mitchell Starc, who took 5-42 in game one in Sharjah and was unable to complete his eighth over in Abu Dhabi because of chest soreness, was feeling fine.
“We desperately need him in the team,” Hussey said.
The squad’s only frontline spinner Xavier Doherty is a potential replacement if Starc is rested.