Aussies' new plan for ball management

Australia's Test team has undergone wholesale changes since the fateful events in Cape Town, and one more shift is set to take place when the side returns to action in Dubai on Sunday.

Along with a new coach, a new full-time captain, new deputies and a completely re-vamped batting order, there will be a new way in which the Australians manage the ball in the field.

Given the events at Newlands, which saw Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft each suspended for their part in the ball-tampering scandal, the Australians have reviewed just who looks after the ball.

Prior to Cape Town, it was the batters – predominately Warner at mid-off – who were tasked with handling the ball and maintaining its condition between deliveries.

But now the bowlers will have more input because, as skipper Tim Paine pointed out on the eve of the first Test against Pakistan, they're the ones who use it.

"They (the bowlers) have taken a bit more ownership of the ball and obviously they've got to bowl with it," Paine said.

"I think it's a good idea. We'll have some guys holding it a bit more while the bowlers are bowling and they're traditionally going to be sweating a bit more.

"In cricket teams I've been in, the bowlers tend to be pushed to the side and the batters take over the ball.

"We've spoken to our quicks. We've got 'Starcy' (spearhead Mitchell Starc) and 'Sidds' (recalled veteran Peter Siddle) who are really experienced, they know exactly what they want to do and it's up to the rest of us to support them."

The root of the plan to use sandpaper on the ball at Newlands was to rough up one side of the ball in order to generate the precious reverse swing that had proved so destructive throughout the series.

While that nefarious plan backfired in spectacular, unprecedented fashion, reverse swing is set to play a big part in the two-Test series against Pakistan.

And while finding an abrasive surface can be hard to come by in places like South Africa and Australia, Paine believes the dry wicket square that surrounds the first Test pitch might be a natural catalyst for reverse swing.

"I had a quick look at the pitch yesterday and it looked pretty much like I've always seen it here; it'll be pretty flat," Paine said.

"The interesting thing I thought was the square around it.

"Because of the Asia Cup the square is really, really dry and I think there will be some chances for quite a bit of reverse swing."

Dubai hosted eight 50-over Asia Cup matches in 13 days, including the series finale on September 28.

While the centre square has been worn out, Paine is uncertain whether the Test pitch will disintegrate, but he expects the match to accelerate faster and faster the deeper it goes. 

"It's about being patient and playing the long game," he said.

"The first three or four (days) can move really slowly.

"We've got to be prepared for that and fight really hard and be as patient as we can and make sure we get to that later stage of the game and be right in it."

Qantas Tour of the UAE

Australia Test squad: Tim Paine (c), Ashton Agar, Brendan Doggett, Aaron Finch, Travis Head, Jon Holland, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc

Pakistan Test squad: Sarfraz Ahmed (c), Azhar Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Usman Salahuddin, Yasir Shah, Shadab Khan, Bilal Asif, Mohammad Abbas, Hasan Ali, Wahab Riaz, Faheem Ashraf, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Hafeez

Tour match v Pak A:Match drawn

Oct 7-11: First Test, Dubai

Oct 16-20: Second Test, Abu Dhabi