Australia eyes T20I series sweep, Pakistan looks to end tour on a high

Australia, having already sealed the T20I series with wins in Brisbane and Sydney, will aim for a clean sweep in the final match at Hobart's Bellerive Oval.

For Pakistan, this match represents an opportunity to reclaim some pride after a lackluster performance in the shortest format following their spirited ODI series victory.

The stakes differ for both teams: Australia will seek to maintain its dominance and further refine its white-ball strategy, while Pakistan will focus on providing exposure to its young players and building a foundation for the future.

Australia’s stellar performers

Australia has discovered standout players throughout this series. Pacer Spencer Johnson has been particularly impressive, with his fiery spell of 5/26 in Sydney marking the best T20I figures by an Australian fast bowler. He eclipsed James Faulkner's 5/27 against Pakistan in Mohali in 2016. Alongside Johnson, Xavier Bartlett has been instrumental with the ball, notably taking 3/13 in Brisbane to dismantle Pakistan’s batting lineup.

Australia's Spencer Johnson took five wickets in the second T20I against Pakistan in Sydney.Cricket Australia

On the batting front, Australia's aggressive approach has set the tone. Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matthew Short have been pivotal at the top, combining for a 52-run partnership in Sydney that laid a solid foundation. This intent has been key to their dominance in the series.

With the series already secured, Australia may rotate its squad, potentially giving opportunities to players like Josh Philippe and Sean Abbott, who are yet to feature in the series. Maintaining their attacking mindset while testing bench strength could provide invaluable insights for their T20I plans.

Troubles and opportunities

For Pakistan, the tour has been a mixed bag. While the ODI series victory was a major highlight, its struggles in T20Is reflect inconsistency. Babar Azam, who looked in touch in the ODIs, has been out of form in the shortest format, scoring just six runs across two games.

Despite the losses, there have been silver linings. Haris Rauf’s 4/22 in the second T20I kept Australia to a manageable total, while Sufiyan Muqeem and Abbas Afridi have impressed with their performances. Inexperienced batters Usman Khan and Irfan Khan Niazi showed grit, with Usman’s fighting 52 in Sydney being a notable effort in a losing cause.

With the series already lost, Pakistan has a golden opportunity to blood more youngsters.

Omair Bin Yousuf, hailed as one of Pakistan’s brightest batting talents, could replace the struggling Babar Azam, allowing the ace batter to take a breather. Similarly, all-rounders Arafat Minhas and Jahandad Khan, both of whom have performed well on overseas tours with Pakistan Shaheens, could add depth to the lineup.

Managing workload will also be a priority. Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah, who have been below par in this series, might sit out to make way for fresh faces.

For Australia, the goal will be to continue its attacking brand of cricket, testing different combinations without losing momentum. For Pakistan, the focus will be on regrouping and giving their youngsters a platform to shine.

The third T20I may be a dead rubber in terms of the series, but it presents opportunities for both sides to achieve their objectives.