Shane Watson backs Brad Hogg to play second T20 against Pakistan – Cricket News Update
Australia’s vice-captain, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/George-Bradley-Hogg-c59047 making the playing XI for the second T20 International against Pakistan, to be played at Dubai, on Friday, September 7, 2012.
The Dubai wicket assisted spinners more in Wednesday’s opening T20, as the Australian batting line-up succumbed to Saeed Ajmal-led spin trio of Pakistan. Ajmal, Hafeez and 20-year-old debutant http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746
out for their second lowest T20I total of 89 runs.
Pakistan’s pacers also managed to penetrate – http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sohail-Tanvir-c90665 returning with figures of three for 13 from 2.3 overs.
All-rounder Watson, who missed the 2-1 ODI series win over Pakistan due to a calf injury, which he had sustained during tour of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 in July this year, hoped the Dubai pitch to be more spin friendly in the next couple of games.
"There's no doubt the wicket is only going to turn more," said Watson during a post-match media interaction in Dubai, on Thursday.
"I'm sure there's a good chance Brad Hogg will play. He certainly is a wicket-taking bowler," he added further.
Australia’s T20 squad, currently ranked ninth in ICC’s T20 team rankings, is going to face similar slow-paced pitches in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 in the World Cup later this month, and might find it quite difficult to adjust if they did not bounce back in the next couple
of games against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Watson-c96326, after the seven-wicket defeat in the series opener, on Wednesday night.
"We've certainly got to play a lot better over the next couple of games to be able to build the performances that we know we're going to need over the next month," said the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Queensland-c834 all-rounder who managed to score 8 runs and picked up one wicket last
night.
Bailey also rued his side’s batting failure; however, he was confident of bouncing back in the next two games.
"It (seven-wicket defeat) certainly hasn't altered my thoughts that we can still be a very good team,” said Bailey at the post-match press conference.
"I still think we can win it. I certainly don't think we'd win if we played like we did today," he added further.
The second T20 International between the two outfits will be played at the same Dubai venue, on Friday, September 7.
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