Confidence Shaken (But Not Stirred?)

Big Picture

An opening stand of 126 in 25 overs is the sort of situation that spawns a strong total from the batting side. In Pakistan's hands, however, it produced a batting implosion that merely underlined the painful struggles the team's batting has faced since their Sri Lanka tour.

With the team management struggling to explain the collapses, all the batsmen can do is put up a better performance because a win in the final game isn't merely a question of pride anymore. Given the gap between the ODI series and the Tests, a win here could carry Pakistan into the five-day format in a relatively better frame of mind. They will, however, find themselves without two key players after Wahab Riaz picked up an injury in the second match, and their regular captain Misbah-ul-Haq opted out of the game, as Pakistan look to try a new combination in the dead rubber. Shahdi Afridi is expected to lead in Misbah's absence.

Australia's success has been built on their quick adaptation to local conditions. Glenn Maxwell's innings in the last game is another positive for the team and he has also contributed well with the ball. While the spinners have found assistance on the low, slow tracks, Mitchell Johnson has said that the fast bowlers are also working on getting some reverse swing to work for them.

Form guide

(most recent first, completed matches only)
Australia WWLWL
Pakistan LLLLW

In the spotlight

Recalled to the ODI side after more than a year, wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfraz Ahmed has capitalised on his chances, extending his form in Tests into the 50-over format. This series is his first stint as an opener in the ODI format and so far he has responded with scores of 34 and 65. The middle order for the third game will be a new line-up, making it imperative for Sarfraz to emulate his partnership with Ahmed Shehzad from the second ODI.

As Australia's lead spinner in the series, Nathan Lyon has enhanced his chances as a World Cup contender with his frugal bowling. A double-wicket maiden in the first ODI helped turn the game in their favour and he has been the side's most economical bowler in the series at 3.65 runs an over.

Team news

Keeping the absences of Misbah-ul-Haq and Wahab Riaz in mind, Pakistan will have to tweak their line-up and bring in either Sohaib Maqsood or Umar Amin.

Pakistan (probable) 1 Ahmed Shehzad, 2 Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), 3 Asad Shafiq, 4 Umar Amin/Sohaib Maqsood, 5 Umar Akmal, 6 Fawad Alam, 7 Shahid Afridi (capt), 8 Sohail Tanvir, 9 Raza Hasan, 10 Zulfiqur Babar, 11 Mohammad Irfan

Australia may opt to retain the same XI that won the second ODI.

Australia (probable) 1 David Warner, 2 Aaron Finch, 3 Steven Smith, 4 George Bailey (capt), 5 Glenn Maxwell, 6 James Faulkner, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Kane Richardson, 10 Xavier Doherty, 11 Nathan Lyon

Pitch and conditions

The last time Pakistan and Australia played an ODI in Abu Dhabi, the visitors struggled to cope with high humidity. It's unlikely to be comfortable, with temperatures expected to stay near the 37-degree mark along with an increase in humidity in the evening. Dew could become a factor in the second half of the game.

Stats and trivia

• In their last four ODIs, going back to the second ODI against Sri Lanka, Pakistan's batting collapses have read - 6 for 41, 7 for 55, 5 for 47, 10 for 89
• Mitchell Johnson has 6 for 64 in two games so far. His best performance in a three-match bilateral series is 7 for 144 against Bangladesh in 2011.
• Pakistan's win-loss ratio against Australia in ODIs is 0.55, their second-worst against a Full Member, after South Africa (0.48)

Quotes

"I am there to be the aggressor and still try and bowl and hit the wicket hard and bowl those bouncers as well."
Australia fast bowler Mitchell Johnson has no intention of easing up against the Pakistan batsmen