'They are clear in their mind that it’s going to be safe': Australia's interim head coach talks about upcoming tour of Pakistan

Australian cricket team will travel to Pakistan after 24 years. Australia’s first visit to Pakistan since 1998 will have three Test matches, three ODIs and one T20I match. After showcasing an impressive performance against the England cricket team in the recently concluded Ashes series, the Pat Cummins-led side will be determined to keep the winning momentum alive.

In a situation like this, just days before Australian cricket team’s departure, their head coach Andrew McDonald has spoken about his side’s preparations and plans for the Pakistan series.

McDonald speaks

While talking about his side’s strategies, McDonald said that his players are “ready to go and they are clear in their mind.”

“They’re jumping on the plane. So that to me says they’re ready to go and they are clear in their mind, that it’s going to be safe and it’s an exciting tour and they’re getting their heads around the cricket as opposed to the other things that potentially can pop into their mind,” McDonald said in a virtual press conference.

“Yeah, well, it’s difficult to tell in terms of Pakistan and Pakistan is different to Pakistan in the UAE. You know, they’ve got some great options, spin bowling options that, you know, fastball. Shaheen Shah Afridi, you know, keeps getting better every year. Left-arm pace, swings the ball, can reverse swing the ball as well, so they got some exciting players,” he added. 

Mission Pakistan

McDonald also talked about his own players and while talking about the opponent team he seemed confident as he feels that Pakistan “in their own conditions is an element of predictability.”

“Equally, we’ve got some really exciting players as well. Mitchell Starc and Cummins and Hazlewood and Cameroon Green and our bowling attack is equally exciting. So I think it’s going to be a really good contest. Yeah, you say that Pakistan is unpredictable, but I think in their own conditions is an element of predictability. They like to draw games out. You know, they play the long game, they’re patient and they play their conditions well,” he explained.

Australia will take on the hosts Pakistan in the first Test on March 4, in Rawalpindi.