Australia vs Pakistan Preview: Mohammad Amir aims for another Taunton triumph as Australia await

Pakistan will be hoping for more celebrations like this when they go up against Australia at Taunton tonight.

Mohammad Amir will hope to enjoy another landmark occasion at Taunton when Pakistan face Australia there in a World Cup match on Wednesday.

The group fixture at southwest county Somerset’s headquarters see’s Amir back at the ground where he made his return to first-class cricket in England three years ago.

Amir was the rising star of world cricket when his career came to a stunning halt during a Lord’s Test in 2010 after both he and new-ball partner Mohamed Asif were caught bowling no-balls on the orders of then captain Salman Butt as part of a newspaper sting operation.

The trio all received five-year bans from cricket and jail terms.

That same 2010 season had seen Amir produce a superb display of swing bowling in taking three for 20 as Pakistan dismissed Australia for just 88 on the first day of a ‘neutral’ Test at Headingley.

Those skills remained intact as Amir marked his 2016 return to the first-class game in England in 2016 with a haul of three for 36 against Somerset at Taunton.

All three wickets – including that of former England opener Marcus Trescothick – owed much to late swing.

The intervening years have not been easy for Amir, however, and he almost missed what is his first World Cup after taking just five wickets in 14 matches before a recent one-day series in England.

Amir did not bowl in the washed-out first match against England and missed the last four games with chicken pox. England won the series 4-0.

But having been left out of Pakistan’s preliminary squad for the World Cup, the 27 year old made it into the final 15.

His World Cup debut was a rare highlight after they slumped to 105 all out against the West Indies, with Amir taking 3 for 26 in a seven-wicket loss at Trent Bridge.

He was in the wickets again at Nottingham Ground, but this time in a winning cause, with 2 for 67 as Pakistan surprisingly beat tournament favourites England by 14 runs last week.

But Pakistan’s progress was checked by a total washout against Sri Lanka at Bristol.

Pakistan have won just one of their last 14 matches against champions Australia, the five-times World Cup winners.

That victory was inspired by Mohammad Hafeez’s 72 at Melbourne in January 2017.

And it was Hafeez’s 84 that laid the foundation for an impressive total of 348 against England.

For the Australians, coming off their first loss of the tournament at the hands of India, will be looking to bounce back quickly. The Australians will be hoping that Warner, who already has two half-centuries in the tournament, to be back to his destructive best at Taunton.

Warner’s 56 off 84 balls against India, of which 48 balls were dots, helped contribute to the slow run-rate that left Australia with too much to do at the end of their innings. Warner was also involved in a run-out of captain and opening partner Aaron Finch.

But Finch backed Warner, who along with Smith, is playing in their first major tournament for Australia since the ball tampering scandal, to be back at his destructive best and allow Australia to get off to a flyer against Pakistan. WATCH OUT FOR - Mitchell Starc

Mitch Starc is one of the all time great World Cup bowlers. Expect an improved performance against Pakistan.

Starc recently became the quickest ever bowler to 150 ODI wickets, and sits number 1 in terms of bowling average, and strike rate, of the top 50 wicket takers in World Cup history. But Starc failed to make an impact on Sunday as India hit him to all parts, finishing with 1/74 off his 10. Expect Starc to be back to his best the next time he has the Kookaburra ball in hand. PREDICTION

Pakistan will take plenty out of the way India handled Australia on Sunday and will be looking to move up the ladder with a victory over Australia. As Ricky Ponting highlighted, you don't have to go through undefeated and Australia will be hoping to get their campaign back on track. Expect a number of changes for the Aussies, Marcus Stoinis' injury see's Mitch Marsh be flown into the squad, who won't be available for this match. Rain is predicted to wash-out yet another game in this years World Cup, but if it does get on, we think Australia will win a close one.

Australia to win by 20-40 runs, 3-4 wickets STATISTICS HEAD TO HEAD ODI Matches: 103 Australia: 67

Pakistan: 32

Tied: 1 N/R: 3

HEAD TO HEAD IN WORLD CUPS

Matches: 9

Australia: 5

Pakistan: 4

WORLD CUP RECORDS

Australia

Matches: 87

Won: 64

Lost: 21

Tie: 1

Best Result - Winners (1987, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2015)

Pakistan

Matches: 73

Won: 41

Lost: 30

Best Result - Winners (1992)

ODI Record since World Cup 2015: Australia

Matches: 79

Won: 39 Lost: 37

Pakistan

Matches: 82

Won: 36

Lost: 43