Ponting calls for unchanged XI in Adelaide

Ricky Ponting believes Australia should head into Friday's second Domain Test in Adelaide unchanged after the hosts rounded out a comprehensive innings win over Pakistan on Sunday afternoon at the Gabba.

The Australians were made to work hard for their victory by a committed middle- and lower-order resistance that was led by Babar Azam (104) and Mohammad Rizwan (95), with the pace trio of Pat Cummins (43 overs), Josh Hazlewood (41) and Mitchell Starc (34.4) sweating through a solid day's toil in the Brisbane heat.

Despite the workload, as well as the tight turnaround between Tests and the switch to a day-night contest with a pink ball, Ponting sees no reason for selectors to change the side that largely dominated the tourists throughout four days to take an unassailable 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

"I'd go in with the same eleven," Ponting told cricket.com.au. "There were some murmurings this morning actually that there was a chance that (Michael) Neser might play in Adelaide, but I can't see how that would be possible.

"They've finished the game a day early, the bowlers had a couple of days off in between bowling innings, so they physically should be OK by the time the Adelaide game starts.

"They've worked well as a group here – the three quicks have worked well together, and Nathan bowls well anywhere at any time, so if I was the selectors I'd be reluctant to break the group up."

Paceman James Pattinson is expected to be available for selection again after being ruled out of the series opener due to an indiscretion in the Marsh Sheffield Shield.

But Starc, his competition for the final fast-bowling spot leading into the Gabba Test, finished with seven wickets for the match and bowled with the kind of "controlled aggression" he had preached in the build-up to the Test, according to Ponting.

"He's shown enough for me – I've actually been really impressed with Starc here (in Brisbane)," said the former Test captain. "His pace has been really good – maybe not quite as quick as we've seen in previous years – but his control has certainly seemed a lot better."

Australia captain Tim Paine was delighted with the output from his pace attack, as well as the reliable Nathan Lyon, who claimed match figures of 2-114, and appeared to infer the likelihood of the incumbent quartet retaining their places in the XI.

"I thought our bowlers in this game were terrific, to take 20 wickets inside four days," Paine said. "The squad that was named was for the first two Tests, so we'll get to Adelaide, have a look at the conditions, we've got the pink ball that will come into consideration as well.

"We know it's going to be a long summer, but I thought the four of them bowled superbly, and they've all done very well in pink-ball Tests in the past."

Domain Test Series v Pakistan

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c), Cameron Bancroft, Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner

Pakistan squad: Azhar Ali (c), Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq, Imran Khan Snr, Iftikhar Ahmed, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Musa Khan, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Yasir Shah.

First Test: Australia won by an innings and five runs.

Second Test: November 29 – December 3, Adelaide (d/n) (Seven, Fox & Kayo)