The boys are off to Zimbabwe today and begin a hectic schedule of cricket in all forms which will last 12 months.

Series against India, South Africa, Pakistan and the West Indies will be followed by the all important Ashes series in England from July 2015.

Zimbabwe's cricket team seems to be travelling no better than its economy. If the Aussies keep this up (ie big hitting in the first ODI) it won't do their confidence any harm.

Zimbabwe's cricket team seems to be travelling no better than its economy. If the Aussies keep this up (ie big hitting in the first ODI) it won't do their confidence any harm.

They kept up the big scoring against the Proteas Jack only to be outdone by an even bigger effort from SA.

Funny game, beaten by Zimbabwe of all sides and we respond by giving the Proteas an arzz kicking.

Anyone know what's happened to James Muirhead, the promising leg spinner who played well in a couple of International T20s last year but is now back playing district cricket only?

Anyone know what's happened to James Muirhead, the promising leg spinner who played well in a couple of International T20s last year but is now back playing district cricket only?

My understanding is that Jimmy will feature in the longer format Jack.

A very very good prospect.

Looks like we have Pakistan's measure ~ Glenn Maxwell blasts Australia to a series win over Pakistan in Dubai

Looks like we have Pakistan's measure ~ Glenn Maxwell blasts Australia to a series win over Pakistan in Dubai

Bit of a fizzer this series. Watched a bit of the first two ODI's and I can say it wasn't very exciting at all.

Bit of a fizzer this series. Watched a bit of the first two ODI's and I can say it wasn't very exciting at all.

Little wonder the excitment level has subsided when we play so much cricket these days.

Reckon we should dispense with some of the shorter form.

Little wonder the excitment level has subsided when we play so much cricket these days.

Reckon we should dispense with some of the shorter form.

Definitely. ODI's are obsolete now.

We should be sticking to tests and T20I's, which they rely on to bring in those who don't usually support cricket. I'm not a big fan of it myself but it's something different.

Pakistan choke with a 2 wicket maiden final over from Glenn Maxwell.

You wouldn't bet on a result like that, would you?

Extraordinary over from Maxwell even allowing for inept batting from the tail.

Anyone have info on the fitness of Pattinson and Siddle ?

No but Pat Cummings is back.

No but Pat Cummings is back.

I see that Pattinson is currently playing for Victoria two's as a batsman and making runs too.

Nice to Cummins back and taking wickets after such a long stint on the sidelines.

@theagesport: CRICKET I Windies abandon India tour over pay dispute | http://t.co/GOPiQ81q3C

The way the Windies have been going lately I'm surprised they were getting paid at all.

So we've kicked off the Pakistan series with a loss to Pakistan A. Our two old foes again, spin and reverse swing, ruined us in the second innings. Rogers and Clarke have no form to speak of either, which doesn't help.

Looks like a team of Rogers, Warner, Doolan, Clarke, Smith, Marsh, Haddin, Johnson, Siddle, O'Keefe, Lyon is how we're shaping up. Marsh at 6 to provide the third bowler support whilst we run with two spinners in the UAE.

No Harris, Pattinson or Watson from our most recent Test side (the one that beat South Africa in South Africa). Marsh has Watson's spot and if he can make the number 6 spot his own with the bat, Watson's going to find it super hard to get back in IMO. Harris was the superstar in South Africa so his loss is huge, but Siddle's a good type of bowler to have in UAE conditions.

So we've kicked off the Pakistan series with a loss to Pakistan A. Our two old foes again, spin and reverse swing, ruined us in the second innings. Rogers and Clarke have no form to speak of either, which doesn't help.

Looks like a team of Rogers, Warner, Doolan, Clarke, Smith, Marsh, Haddin, Johnson, Siddle, O'Keefe, Lyon is how we're shaping up. Marsh at 6 to provide the third bowler support whilst we run with two spinners in the UAE.

No Harris, Pattinson or Watson from our most recent Test side (the one that beat South Africa in South Africa). Marsh has Watson's spot and if he can make the number 6 spot his own with the bat, Watson's going to find it super hard to get back in IMO. Harris was the superstar in South Africa so his loss is huge, but Siddle's a good type of bowler to have in UAE conditions.

I think this series has serious upset written all over it. They'll have to fight hard to win this.

So we've kicked off the Pakistan series with a loss to Pakistan A. Our two old foes again, spin and reverse swing, ruined us in the second innings. Rogers and Clarke have no form to speak of either, which doesn't help.

Looks like a team of Rogers, Warner, Doolan, Clarke, Smith, Marsh, Haddin, Johnson, Siddle, O'Keefe, Lyon is how we're shaping up. Marsh at 6 to provide the third bowler support whilst we run with two spinners in the UAE.

No Harris, Pattinson or Watson from our most recent Test side (the one that beat South Africa in South Africa). Marsh has Watson's spot and if he can make the number 6 spot his own with the bat, Watson's going to find it super hard to get back in IMO. Harris was the superstar in South Africa so his loss is huge, but Siddle's a good type of bowler to have in UAE conditions.

Not sure the Aussies took the warm up game too seriously, after all Doolan and Smith both retired undefeated in the first dig and didn't bat at all in the second, neither did Haddin.

Can't see the Pakies winning a test.

Can't see the Pakies winning a test.

More money in losing.

More money in losing.

That too.

Pakistan win the toss and bat 1st Test in the UAE.

O'Keefe and Marsh debut.

Great first session for our boys, Pakistan 2/50 with Johnson and Siddle at their economical best.

Johnson new ball. Bang!

198-4

Younis knocks up a ton then falls lbw to Johnson. Run rate a tick under 2.50; crowd: 17

4/219 at stumps, exciting stuff in front of an abysmal crowd.