Pak's chance to end drought

The first match of the two-Test series between Australia and Pakistan will be played at Lords from July 13 to 17. Headingley (Leeds) will host the second Test from July 21 to 25. It will be the 56th Test match between the two teams and first in England. Australia have won 27 and Pakistan 11 in 55 previous Test matches. The remining 17 Test matches ended with out a result. Pakistan have lost 12 Test matches in a row against Australia. After the drawing the Test match at Karachi in 1998, Australia went to win nine Test matches at home, two Test matches at Sharjah and one in Colombo. Australia have blanked Pakistan 3-0 in their last three series in Australia. Pakistans last victory over Australia came at Sydney in 1995-96 series. Shahid Afridi who led Pakistan in five one day internationals and 11 Twenty-20 matches, will captain for the first time in a Test match. Australian opener Simon Katich expects Pakistans new captain Shahid Afridi to spark an improvement from his side when the teams meet for two Tests. The series comes barely six months after Pakistans disastrous tour of Australia, when they lost 3-0 and the board subsequently dished out harsh penalties to a range of players. HIGHEST INNINGS TOTALS: Pakistans 624 at Adelaide in 1983-84 is their highest ever total against Australia. Australias highest against Pakistan is 617 at Faisalabad in 1979-80 while their highest at home is 585 at Adelaide in 1972-73. LOWEST INNINGS TOTALS: Pakistan were bundled out for just 53 runs at Sharjah in 2002-03 which is their lowest total against Australia. Their lowest total against Australia in Australia is 62 at Perth in 1981-82. Australias lowest against Pakistan is 80 at Karachi in 1956-57 while their lowest in Australia is 125 at Melbourne in 1981-82. HIGHEST MATCH AGGREGATES: As many as 1640 runs were scored for the loss of 33 wickets in the match played at Melbourne in 1972-73 series which is the highest match aggregate between the two teams. LOWEST MATCH AGGREGATES: The lowest match aggregate between Pakistan and Australia was recorded at Sharjah in 2002-03 when 422 runs were scored for the loss of 29 wickets. The lowest match aggregate in a 'complete Test match played on Australian soil is 783 runs for 32 wickets at Sydney in 1976-1977. HIGHEST INDIVIDUAL SCORES: Mark Taylor holds the record of highest individual score on either side. He made an unbeaten 334 at Peshawar in 1998-99. Graham Yallop holds the record of highest individual score for Australia at home . He made 268 at Melbourne in 1983-84. Salim Maliks 237 at Rawalpindi in 1994-95 is the highest score by a Pakistani batsman against Australia. The record of highest individual score by a Pakistani in Australia is held by Majid Khan who made 158 at Melbourne in 1972-73. BEST BOWLING IN AN INNINGS: Sarfraz Nawaz who took nine wickets for 86 runs at Melbourne in 1978-79, holds the record of best bowling performance in an innings on either side. Glenn McGaths eight for 24 at Perth in 2004-05 is the best bowling performance by an Australian bowler against Pakistan. BEST BOWLING IN A MATCH: Fazal Mehmoods 13 for 114 at Karachi in 1956-57 is the best bowling performance by Pakistan bowler against Australia. Imran Khan who took 12 wickets for 165 runs at Sydney in 1976-77 holds the record of best bowling performance for Pakistan in Australia. Shane Warnes 11 for 77 at Brisbane in 1995-96 is the best bowling performance by an Australian against Pakistan. AUSTRALIA -PAKISTAN TEST ENCOUNTERS : Host Tests Aus Won Pak Won Drawn In Australia 20 3 7 10 In Pakistan 32 21 4 7 In Sri Lanka 1 1 - - In Sharjah 2 2 - - Overall 55 27 11 17

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