TO get into a winning habit it is important to rise to the occasion and assert authority to leave the opposition guessing.

The Australians against Pakistan had been on a roll for the last couple of weeks in what is for Pakistan a home series and an important one for it is being played prior to the 2015 World Cup to be staged in Australia and New Zealand.

Dispirited Pakistan after their dismal outings last August in Sri Lanka where they had problems putting themselves together to play as a winning unit were much the same against Aussies in their limited-overs matches here in the UAE.

Thus experiencing the ignominy of a 3-0 whitewash in the ODI rubber providing thus their detractors the opportunity to shower heaps of criticism over the team’s composition and their performance.

Here at Sharjah in the four-day side match prior to the two-Test series, things have in some way turned for the better as the Asad Shafiq-led team overcame the Australians by 153 runs and that too well before the end of the fourth day’s play. The unexpected victory has certainly raised the aspirations and spirit of the Pakistan before the first Test starts in Dubai next Wednesday.

Asad, 28, briefing the media after his team’s win paid well-deserved tribute to the youngsters who performed in the match.

“I am glad we registered a timely win which obviously has given us all the heart that we needed. And if we manage to continue this way in the Tests too, we can be a handful for the opposition,” Asad, who has played 28 Tests so far, said after the side match ended.

“Pacers Mohammad Talha, Rahat Ali and Imran Khan bowled superbly to devastate Australian batting as did spinner Raza Hasan which to us is a very good sign,” he added.

Asad badly needed runs to regain his form, and also to establish his place in this important series. In order to achieve this the right-hander made a couple of respectable scores in the ODI series.

However, his unbeaten century in the first innings of the four-day match here must have given him the kind of confidence needed to face the likes of Michell Johnson, Peter Siddle and Michell Starc and Nathan Lyon.

“I am also happy that Haris Sohail and Babar Azam too notched up centuries against the Australian attack [in the second innings]. We got to keep an eye on them and give them the support and opportunity to consolidate their place in the Pakistan team,” Asad emphasised.

No doubt in a serious, cut-throat Test cricket the Australians will be a different proposition whether batting or bowling. Their impressive head-to-head Test record against Pakistan (Tests 57, Australia won 28, Pakistan won 12, matches drawn 17) speaks for itself.

“We should not be too hyped up because we have struck a psychological blow here in Sharjah by winning an important match. The pitch in Dubai could be vastly varied in pace or spin. We have got to play well to get somewhere against the Australians,” Asad stressed.

Published in Dawn, October 19th, 2014