Lyon shines on opening day of tour

An off-spin bowling clinic from Nathan Lyon saw Australia make a solid start to their Qantas Tour of the United Arab Emirates on Saturday, as Pakistan A reached stumps at 6-247.

The Lyon-led Australian attack ensured the hosts crawled along at 2.68 runs per over on a flat ICC Academy track, with the right-armer snaring five wickets in a strong showing ahead of next week's first Test.

Lyon finished with 5-87 and bowled more than a third of the visitors' overs, gaining more turn as the pitch baked in blazing desert temperatures approaching 40 degrees.

While they didn't find the same penetration Lyon did in his marathon 36-over day, the rest of Australia's frontline bowlers all fared well, though spin partner Jon Holland was the only other to claim a wicket.

They weren't helped by three regulation catches going down over the course of the first day, including two in the opening session.

Pakistan A were led by half-centuries from opener Sami Aslam (51) and stocky veteran Abid Ali, who batted 254 balls for a patient and unbeaten hand of 83. Muhammad Rizwan (13) was the other not out batsman at the close.

"Decent conditions to have a first day hit out, pretty happy with the way all the bowlers bowled," Lyon said. "I thought Jon Holland worked really well, bowled well in partnerships.

"(Him and Holland) had good conversations, open conversations. We just really tried to nail it down to basics and tried to keep it simple.

"A lot of guys can come over here and complicate things in the subcontinent. From my past experiences, that's one big message (I've learnt)."

A dusty wind greeted captain Tim Paine at the toss, as his counterpart Asad Shafiq won and elected to bat first, with Paine soon looking perplexed following an uncharacteristic mishap; Mitchell Starc found Shan Masood’s edge in his second over, but the wicketkeeper fluffed a simple chance that bounced straight out of his gloves.

The skipper made no mistake when Masood edged again, this time off Lyon, who then dropped a regulation catch of his own off Aslam, on 27, who had been deceived trying to slog the crafty Holland.

A probing four-over spell from Michael Neser showed why Australia seemingly view him as Starc's likely pace partner for the first Test.

Swung around to bowl from the training nets end after an initial opening burst, the Queenslander bowled with good pace, flashed a glimpse of his sharp bouncer and beat the bat on a number of occasions.

Again the Aussies were spared their blushes as Aslam, shortly after reaching a measured half-century off 108 balls with a forceful sweep, gloved one behind off Lyon that jumped off the pitch.

Holland got a deserved first wicket when he beat Shafiq in flight and had him caught easily by Shaun Marsh at short cover.

Abid Ali brough up a patient half-century, off 155 balls, as Lyon and Holland bowled unchanged for the majority of the second session.

Lyon hardly bowled a poor delivery, operating with four men around the bat who at one stage found themselves in almost constant unison appealing for a succession of lbw and bat-pad catches.

Iktkihar Ahmed finally succumbed, bowled past his searching outside edge, before his replacement Usman Salahuddin followed him back after poking one to Matthew Renshaw at short leg.

The two Alis were immovable for nearly the entirety of the evening session, with Mitch Marsh and Travis Head delivering solid spells, though Lyon should have had his fifth when another catch went down, this time by Shaun Marsh at second slip.

Australia took the new ball and Starc came back for a pacey final spell, but it was Lyon again who made the breakthrough when Saad edged and Paine claimed a brilliant leg-side catch.

Abid held out despite requiring some physio attention late on, with his gritty knock one Australia’s new-look batters will have noted ahead of their own chances at the crease.

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

Sep 29 - Oct 2: Tour match v Pak A, Dubai

Oct 7-11: First Test, Dubai

Oct 16-20: Second Test, Abu Dhabi