Pakistan vs. Australia 1st Test: Date, Live Stream, TV Info, Preview

After whitewashing Pakistan in the one-dayers, Australia will be hoping for more of the same in the two-match Test series which starts on Wednesday.

The Aussies crashed to a 153-run defeat in their warm-up match against Pakistan A on Saturday though and will need to improve if they're to win in Dubai.

Let's see how the two sides shape up ahead this week's series opener.

Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium
Date: Wednesday 22 October
Start Time: 10 a.m. local (7 a.m. BST)
Live On: Zee Cinema (UK), Fox Sports (Australia)
Weather: There should be no worries with the weather. According to Accuweather.com, it will be dry, bright and sunny with temperatures reaching a sultry 35 degrees Celsius.

Overview

The Pakistani attack that takes the field against Australia will have a very unfamiliar look. Saeed Ajmal is still trying to rework his action, Abdur Rehman is out of form and favour and seamers Junaid Khan and Wahab Riaz are injured.

Despite the absence of those big names, there's still some cause for optimism for Pakistani supporters. The Pakistani A team made the visitors look ordinary in their recent warm-up match, winning at a canter.

Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail and Ahmed Shehzad all impressed with the bat with Rahat Ali causing problems with the ball.

The loss of Saeed Ajmal will of course be a huge blow. The mystery spinner is the leading wicket-taker in Test matches in Dubai and destroyed England almost single-handedly when the sides met in 2012.

The recalled left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar is expected to play on Wednesday but a more daring pick would be rookie leggie Yasir Shah. It's unlikely that either will provide the threat of Ajmal though.

Despite the lack of experience in the Pakistan line-up, Chairman of selectors Moin Khan is confident of his side's chances. He told PCB.com, “The series will provide an excellent opportunity to the youngsters to test and hone their skills at the highest level against a highly competitive Australia side, it will also provide a good chance to our experienced players to return to their best form.”

Moin also had one eye on events next year, adding that “the squad has been selected keeping in mind next year’s ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.”

The precise make-up of the Australian XI will largely depend on the state of the pitch. This week's Test will be played on the same surface used for the T20 international which offered plenty of assistance to the spinners.

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First look at the Dubai pitch for Wednesday's first #PAKvAUS Test pic.twitter.com/i7vsNsiOln

— Dave Middleton (@Dave_Middleton) October 20, 2014"

Selector Rod Marsh told CricketAustralia.com, “There's more than one spot to discuss I can promise you that, for a variety of reasons. We haven't even come close to saying this is what the XI will be. There's so many other things to consider."

If the track does look like turning into a dust bowl, look for left-arm spinner Steve O'Keefe to join Nathan Lyon in the final XI. Steve Smith's underused leggies could also come into play.

Reverse-swing looks the likeliest way the seamers will prosper and in Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle the Aussies have two fine exponents.

There are question marks in the batting too. The tourists are expected to welcome back captain Michael Clarke who missed the ODI series through injury. Opener Chris Rogers has been in wretched touch and could be vulnerable at the top of the order.

A century from Alex Doolan in the warm-up match put him in the reckoning for selection. Phil Hughes will also be knocking on the door. All-rounder Mitchell Marsh is also very much in contention and would balance the side nicely.

The Aussies have a great recent record against Pakistan, winning 13 of the past 14 Test meetings between the sides. Despite the recent setback, they'll be favourites to make it 14 out of 15.

Key Players

Pakistan

An inexperienced Pakistani side will rely heavily on the experience of captain Misbah-ul-Haq and veteran middle-order batsman Younis Khan.

The novice bowling attack has a chance to impress ahead of next year's World Cup. Rahat Ali and Mohammad Talha will need to perform if Pakistan are to pull off a surprise win.

Australia

If the pitch does turn, the performance of Nathan Lyon will be crucial for the Aussies. Pakistan struggled mightily against the left-arm spin of Rangana Herath in their recent series against Sri Lanka so Australia may also add Steve O'Keefe to their attack.

Squads

Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Ehsan Adil, Haris Sohail, Imran Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Talha, Rahat Ali, Sarfraz Ahmed (W/k), Shan Masood, Taufeeq Umar, Yasir Shah, Younis Khan, Zulfiqar Babar

Australia: Michael Clarke (captain), George Bailey, Alex Doolan, James Faulkner, Brad Haddin, Ben Hilfenhaus, Phil Hughes, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve O'Keefe, Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner.