Daijiworld Media Network

Adelaide, Mar 20 : Four wins on the bounce has given Pakistan momentum. The batting was the weak link especially at the top of the order and they rectified that by including Sarfraz from the South Africa game. That decision proved to be a fine choice as the diminutive keeper batsman injected life into a dull batting line-up. Younis Khan hasn't made runs though and so has Sohaib Maqsood. More is expected from Umar Akmal too. Misbah remains the only consistent performer with the bat. That should worry Pakistan a bit. But the quickies have responded magnificently although Mohammad Irfan would be a big loss.

Teams:

Australia (Playing XI): David Warner, Aaron Finch, Steven Smith, Michael Clarke(c), Shane Watson, Glenn Maxwell, Brad Haddin(w), James Faulkner, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood

Pakistan (Playing XI): Ahmed Shehzad, Sarfraz Ahmed(w), Haris Sohail, Misbah-ul-Haq(c), Sohaib Maqsood, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Khan, Rahat Ali, Ehsan Adil

Pakistan have won the toss and have opted to bat

Clarke: 'We've got a full 15 to choose from today, so that's a great problem to have for the selectors. All the boys are looking forward to today. I am not that bothered (to lose the toss) to be honest. Looks like a beautiful wicket. You've got to bowl at some stage, why not start now. One change, Josh Hazlewood comes in for Pat Cummins. They've left a little bit of grass on it, so I think we will see some good pace and carry and hopefully a little bit of seam with the new ball.'

Misbah: 'I believe it's all about momentum and we've got the right momentum at the moment. Winning four games in a row, I think everybody is confident. That's the ideal type of situation we need to have before the knockout stage. We are going to bat first. Looks like there is a bit more pace and bounce and it might assist the seamers. This (pitch) looks a little bit different from the last two pitches. Let's see. We've been bowling in the night. So even movement with the new ball, seam movement and little bit of more carry and bounce has really helped. I am not sure about reverse swing today bowling in the night, but I think we will get little bit of conventional swing. We are going in with the same side that played against Ireland.'

Pitch report by Damien Fleming: The sun is out. The pitch looks an absolute belter. Nice and hard and flat. If the opening bowlers pitch the ball up, they should get some traditional swing. With a well-grassed pitch, it won't deteriorate much for reverse swing to come into play in the last 10 overs. India scored 300, Bangladesh 275, if you get in, pace and bounce will be consistent, so you should be able to score around that 275-300 mark.

Tom Moody has the latest Australian team news. He tweets: 'Australian selectors go with bounce against pace, Josh Hazlewood replaces @93Cummins for todays QF in Adelaide.'
'When you have a goal of winning the World Cup, you have to beat any team on the way,' said Misbah, who admitted a Pakistan win would be regarded as an upset.

Quotes: Michael Clarke is pretty clear in his head: 'Tomorrow will be a tough challenge and I believe we have to be at our best to beat them.'

Weather update: It rarely rains in Adelaide, so no worries about the weather. It is expected to be pleasant conditions with a high of 28C predicted.

Pakistan: In a big blow to Pakistan, the giant, Mohammad Irfan has been ruled out of the World Cup due to a stress fracture in his right hip. His replacement, Ehsan Adil played in the game against Ireland and could hold onto his spot. Yasir Shah still has to wait to make his second World Cup appearance.

Pre-match team news, Australia: The only bone of contention for Australia is to choose between Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. The rest of the team picks itself.

He added that the choice of the replacement would be up to the team management. 'If Pakistan proceeds to the semi-final, then a replacement will be sent and it could be Ajmal. It could also be Junaid Khan. When Junaid and Mohammad Hafeez had got injured, I had suggested that Ajmal should be sent as a replacement but the tour selection committee wanted a fast bowler and an opener as replacement,' he added.

A bit of heart-warming news for all Pakistani fans. PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan has said that Saeed Ajmal could be sent as a replacement for Mohammad Irfan if Pakistan defeats Australia in the quarter-final in Adelaide and qualifies for the semi-finals.

The Pakistan skipper also added that his squad were in upbeat mood after a run of wins that included a victory over highly-fancied South Africa. 'I think four straight wins gives you a lot of confidence as a playing unit, the mindset is good and the momentum is with us and this is the best time to play against such a good team because we are also in a good frame of mind,' said Misbah.

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq reckons Australia will be favourites to win but added that the tag of favourites would count for little in a knockout game. 'They (Australia) are favourites but there is no hard-and-fast rule that favourites are always going to win the match,' said Misbah. 'It's which team performs better on the day, takes their chances and have some luck, they can really defeat any team,' he added. 'We are positive and hopeful. I think we've got a bowling line-up which can go through any batting line-up.'

What are the headlines doing the rounds before the game? Michael Clarke says his side start on zero again. 'When you walk out on the field tomorrow it's a new day,' Clarke said. 'We all start on zero with the bat and zero with the ball as well. The past is the past. We need to turn up tomorrow and play our best cricket if we want to beat Pakistan, it's as simple as that. I don't think you are ever owed anything in this game of cricket so we have to make sure we're ready to go tomorrow, which we will be.'

Pakistan are a mercurial side and very unpredictable as everyone knows. In a knockout game, it wouldn't be wise to write them off, even though Australia are firm favorites. It takes only one bad day to go out of the tournament at this stage and Pakistan will certainly be preying on that stat.