In Test matches, Australia's top-order batsman is in the spotlight. However, Pakistan's white-ball visit kicks off the men's international season before India arrives for the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy. It begins on Monday in Melbourne and consists of three ODIs and three T20Is each.
With just a single match in Sri Lanka to follow in February, this serves as the hosts' main Champions Trophy preparation. With the exception of David Warner's retirement since the ODI World Cup, they are still mainly comfortable in the format and are fresh off a 3-2 triumph in England in September.
Cameron Green is hurt, and Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh are on paternity leave for the series against Pakistan. However, while the fast bowlers, in particular, continue to be handled in preparation for the Tests, the big names will be on display, at least for portions of the series. Two of the three games are anticipated to feature the big three, including Pat Cummins, who is still the ODI captain despite not having played since the World Cup final.
Even if bilateral ODIs are becoming less important, it still seems strange that Pakistan hasn't played since their last World Cup appearance about a year ago (thus the form guide below is relatively irrelevant). But don't assume that means there isn't any drama at all. Babar Azam quit as captain, came back, and then resigned again, even though he didn't play a ball in ODIs throughout this period.
Mohammad Rizwan has been given the leadership, at least for this week, as they attempt to assemble a team capable of competing in a home Champions Trophy. He was dropped during the Test series against England, but he is returning for this tour along with Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah.
Gary Kirsten, the white-ball coach, has also left without playing an ODI in his short time there. The temporary appointment of Jason Gillespie for this trip presents an unforeseen opportunity to face his own country. Although it is believed to be doubtful that Gillespie will be awarded the position full-time, it is still unclear if he would want it. Given that no coach has been selected for the next Zimbabwe trip, it may be something of a trial run. Before Sajid Khan and Noman Ali started working on England a few weeks ago, it seemed as though he may be the first coach to go.
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