Cricket World Cup: Surprise Pakistan attack could rattle Aussies' cage

James Faulkner and David Warner of Australia. Photo / Getty Images

It would seem an unlikely prospect, Pakistan tipping Australia out of the World Cup in their quarter-final knockout in Adelaide today.

After all, they've won just four of the last 18 ODI clashes between the teams in the last six years.

Australia are rolling along, confidence once more sky high having put their one-wicket thriller against New Zealand, which seemed like only a week ago, behind them.

So what must Pakistan do to upset the odds and make their way into next week's semifinal in Sydney?

1: Be bold
Pakistan tend to play an old-fashioned type of game, often seeming happy to settle for a mid-250s score in a game where 300 is often a bare minimum requirement these days. They have an aggressive opener in Sarfraz Ahmed, whose two innings at the cup have produced 49 against South Africa and an unbeaten 101 - plus six catches - in the win over Ireland. Restore veteran Younis Khan to the batting group. He's one of Pakistan's alltime greats and yes, coming towards the end. But Sri Lanka showed that knockouts are not a place for tinkerings. With the ball, attack. The loss through injury of giant left-armer Mohammad Irfan hurts them. Brendon McCullum has put down the template, plenty of slips and back the seamers to make early inroads.

2: Think seriously about legspin
Yasir Shah is a classy, bouncy leggie who has played just one cup game, eight overs for 60 against India back on February 15, also at Adelaide. For some reason the Pakistani management have neglected him - as they did Sarfraz for the first five games. A leaf can be taken from Sri Lanka's book. They gave offspinner Tharindu Kaushal a debut on Wednesday night. Once their batting had failed Kaushal had nothing to work with. But Pakistan need to go for broke. Yasir might just be an ace.

3: Fire the tiger
To lift from Imran Khan's "cornered tigers" of 1992, somehow veteran skipper Misbah-ul-Haq must find the inner switch which makes his players as wholeheartedly committed as South Africa were on Wednesday. Players like Sarfraz, Younis, Misbah, and speedster Wahab Riaz, with Sohail Khan and Rahat Ali must stir themselves. Not to forget Shahid Afridi, who has to put a poor cup behind him and deliver one final roar.

4: Early wickets a must
Whether bowling first or second, Pakistan must get an early wicket or two, to at least get Australia's powerful batting group thinking. If openers Aaron Finch and David Warner get away it could get messy. The seamers must search for movement, therefore pitch it up, don't overdo the short ball or there could be plenty of trips to the boundary rope. If they do opt for Yasir, it might not hurt to give him a couple of early, surprise overs. Break up the pattern, think laterally, not something Pakistan are wont to do.

5: Grab every chance
This might be beyond Pakistan, given their flaky fielding, but they simply have to grasp any opportunities which come their way. It's a sure way to inspire bowlers, and teammates in general. But if they want to stay with Australia, they must be at the top of their game, and probably hope the Aussies are a bit off theirs.

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