Absence of Pakistan seamer Mohammad Abbas surprises Australia

Abbas, who has taken 66 wickets in Test cricket at an average of just 18.86, is currently ranked 12th in the ICC’s Test bowling rankings, making him the highest-positioned Pakistani

Nathan Lyon confessed his surprise at the absence of Mohammad Abbas from Pakistan’s side as the first Test against Australia got underway in Brisbane.

The 29-year-old was expected to feature for Azhar Ali’s tourists, given his skillset as one of the global game’s premier seamers.

Abbas, who has taken 66 wickets in Test cricket at an average of just 18.86, is currently ranked 12th in the ICC’s Test bowling rankings, making him the highest-positioned Pakistani. Wahab Riaz is the next best-placed fast bowler from the country, but he has not played a Test since October 2018.

Azhar explained of the decision to leave out Abbas: “We know he's very good and our No.1 bowler but at the moment these three pacers are doing the job and we picked them.”

“I was actually really surprised, personally,” Lyon told cricket.com.au after Australia bowled their tourists out for 240 on the first day of the series.

“I thought the way he bowled in our series in the UAE was absolutely world-class. I think he's ranked around the top 10 so for him to miss out, it must show the quality of the Pakistan bowling.

“So, we're not going to take them lightly, that's for sure – they've got some world-class bowlers there – but yeah, very surprised that Mohammad wasn't a part of their side.”

When Australia faced Pakistan in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in 2018, Abbas took 17 wickets across the two games, with each wicket costing just 10.58 runs apiece and coming at a strike-rate of just 26.7.

^{Naseem Shah made his Test debut for Pakistan at 16 years of age}

Given Abbas’ style – operating without great pace and traditionally relying on seam movement, it was thought that the pitch prepared at the Gabba might suit him against the Australian top order.

However, having spent the majority of last season with Leicestershire playing County Championship cricket, Abbas’ pace is said to have been down.

Ricky Ponting added: “You think about these conditions, it would've been perfect for him. Even the next Test in Adelaide, it's going to be great conditions for him there as well.

“There's probably a couple of the Aussie batsmen who think it's good that he's not playing because I think they can probably handle the other two better than they can handle him.”

In Abbas’ absence, teenage sensation Naseem Shah became the ninth-youngest male Test debutant in the game’s history – and the youngest to make his debut against Australia. He lined up alongside left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi and Imran Khan, who was perhaps the most likely of the trio to make way for Abbas.

Khan, however, benefited from a fine display during a warmup match against Australia A; he took five wickets, including that of Joe Burns, who will open the batting alongside David Warner for the hosts.

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