Pakistan completed a 2-1 ODI series victory over Australia on Saturday thanks to some supreme batting from Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq. Here is Wisden’s combined Pakistan-Australia team of the series.
Travis Head
190 runs @ 63.33
Despite being bowled for a first-ball duck by Shaheen Afridi in the third ODI, Head has laid down his claim to be a permanent fixture in the Australian one-day team. Playing his first ODI since November 2018, Head’s 101 off 72 deliveries in the series opener was a match-winning effort, while his 89 in the second match was another impressive knock.
Imam ul-Haq
298 runs @ 149
Carried his Test form into the 50-over arena to produce a fantastic series. He hit two hundreds in the first two matches and finished unbeaten on 89 in the decider to secure a series win. The opener finished the series with a spectacular average of 149 while striking at more than a run a ball.
Babar Azam (c)
276 runs @ 138
Babar was at his imperious best in the second ODI. Chasing 359 to win, Babar played a knock brimming with character and skill to set up Pakistan’s highest ever successful run chase with a masterful 114. After another match-winning century in the decider, he now has five ODI hundreds in 12 innings as captain – a staggering start to life as a leader. He’s also averaging more than Virat Kohli in the format.
Fakhar Zaman
102 runs @ 34
He’s out of place in the batting order of this side but merits a place for the key role he played in the second ODI, when he struck 67 off 64 balls to set the base for a record-breaking chase.
Ben McDermott
195 runs @ 65
McDermott’s scores of 104 and 55 are enough to secure his place in our side. To bring up your maiden international hundred with a six must have felt special. McDermott has an impressive average of 44.60 after five ODIs and has put himself in the mix for a more permanent role in the Australian white-ball set-up.
Khushdil Shah
46 runs @ 46 | 2 wickets @ 53.5
Didn’t have much success with the ball but was impactful in the series-levelling win. Coming in at No.5 in the mammoth chase in the second ODI, Khushdil held his own as the finisher, striking 27 off just 17 balls to secure a famous victory for Pakistan.
Alex Carey (wk)
65 runs @ 21.66
A poor series from Mohammad Rizwan means Carey makes the cut. A valiant 56 in the finale helped Australia to a respectable total of 210, and the gloveman also impress with his leg-side grab to dismiss Rizwan off Adam Zampa in the first ODI.
Mohammad Wasim
5 wickets @ 31
Wasim had an impressive series, particularly when you consider his inexperience at this level – his 3-40 in the last match was vital in restricting Australia to a low score.
Shaheen Shah Afridi
6 wickets @ 17.16
Despite being rested for the first match, Shaheen makes our side thanks to his six wickets in the two matches he played. He once again showed off his incredible ability with the white new ball, removing Head with the first ball of the third ODI.
Haris Rauf
5 wickets @ 28
Rauf’s extra pace troubled the Australian top order. His quickfire dismissals of Aaron Finch and Marnus Labuschagne in the last ODI were key in halting the visitors and setting up a series-deciding win.
Adam Zampa
6 wickets @ 26.5
Zampa was Australia’s leading man with the ball in their solitary win, taking 4-38. He couldn’t reach those heights in the next two ODIs, but he finished as the joint leading wicket-taker alongside Afridi.