Australia Confident of Beating Pakistan in the Final ODI

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AUSTRALIA remains confident of bouncing back from a heavy defeat and winning the third and final match of the ODI series against Pakistan, despite struggling to find an answer to the spin of Saeed Ajmal. Australian captain Michael Clarke admits he made a mistake opting to bat first in the second ODI against Pakistan. Ajmal has notched 3-30 and 4-32, with Australia winning by four wickets in Sharjah and Pakistan coasting to victory by seven wickets in Abu Dhabi on Saturday morning. It's no coincidence that the side batting second has won both times, with bowlers struggling to maintain their accuracy in the midnight dew. Australia are also monitoring the fitness of Mitchell Starc, who broke down with soreness in the chest/side area and failed to complete his eighth over in Abu Dhabi. Left-arm quick Starc, who took five wickets in Sharjah and none in Abu Dhabi, has spoken of the difficulty of bowling second with a slippery ball. Australia captain Michael Clarke admits he made a mistake by batting first in game two. However he said if Pakistan win the toss and bowl first in Monday night's game three in Sharjah, his bowlers need to suck it up and get their heads around the challenge of bowling second in the late-night conditions. Australia made a competitive total of 9-248 in Abu Dhabi. But Australia's quicks, who dismissed Pakistan for 198 in game one, could only grab three wickets in Pakistan's reply of 3-249 from 43.4 overs. Hussey said Ajmal, who has dismissed him lbw for five and bowled for 61 in the series, is world-class. His skipper Misbah-ul-Haq says he's the best spinner in world cricket. "The more you face him, the more you can read him," Hussey said. "We've got to try to play him better because he's certainly the one who's been the difference so far in the two teams." Hussey also said bowling in the midnight conditions is a work in progress for the Australians who conceded 20 wides in game two. "That (bowling with wetter balls) is something we probably need to do more of as well, just to try to get better at it,'' he said. "Looking at the third game, I think it's about our recovery now. "It was pretty challenging (hot and humid) conditions out there. "It didn't go well but we need to put that game behind and come in with a really positive frame of mind and come in for one huge effort in the third game. "We've got a great chance in the third game."

AUSTRALIA remains confident of bouncing back from a heavy defeat and winning the third and final match of the ODI series against Pakistan, despite struggling to find an answer to the spin of Saeed Ajmal.

Australian captain Michael Clarke admits he made a mistake opting to bat first in the second ODI against Pakistan.

Ajmal has notched 3-30 and 4-32, with Australia winning by four wickets in Sharjah and Pakistan coasting to victory by seven wickets in Abu Dhabi on Saturday morning.

It's no coincidence that the side batting second has won both times, with bowlers struggling to maintain their accuracy in the midnight dew.

Australia are also monitoring the fitness of Mitchell Starc, who broke down with soreness in the chest/side area and failed to complete his eighth over in Abu Dhabi.

Left-arm quick Starc, who took five wickets in Sharjah and none in Abu Dhabi, has spoken of the difficulty of bowling second with a slippery ball.

Australia captain Michael Clarke admits he made a mistake by batting first in game two.

However he said if Pakistan win the toss and bowl first in Monday night's game three in Sharjah, his bowlers need to suck it up and get their heads around the challenge of bowling second in the late-night conditions.

Australia made a competitive total of 9-248 in Abu Dhabi. But Australia's quicks, who dismissed Pakistan for 198 in game one, could only grab three wickets in Pakistan's reply of 3-249 from 43.4 overs.

Hussey said Ajmal, who has dismissed him lbw for five and bowled for 61 in the series, is world-class. His skipper Misbah-ul-Haq says he's the best spinner in world cricket.

"The more you face him, the more you can read him," Hussey said.

"We've got to try to play him better because he's certainly the one who's been the difference so far in the two teams."

Hussey also said bowling in the midnight conditions is a work in progress for the Australians who conceded 20 wides in game two.

"That (bowling with wetter balls) is something we probably need to do more of as well, just to try to get better at it,'' he said.

"Looking at the third game, I think it's about our recovery now.

"It was pretty challenging (hot and humid) conditions out there.

"It didn't go well but we need to put that game behind and come in with a really positive frame of mind and come in for one huge effort in the third game.

"We've got a great chance in the third game."