Australian cricket team in Pakistan in 1979–80
The Australian cricket team toured Pakistan in February to March 1980 to play a three-match Test series against Pakistan. Pakistan won the test series 1-0.
Background
There was some original doubt as to whether the tour would go ahead due to financial problems. Eventually the tour guarantee was increased and the number of games played cut from eight matches to five.[1]
Australian squad
It was the first tour by an Australian team since the peace treaty between the Australian Cricket Board and World Series Cricket. The original squad selected was as follows:
- Batsmen - Greg Chappell (captain), Kim Hughes (vice-captain), Allan Border, Graham Yallop, Bruce Laird, Julien Wiener, David Hookes,
- Fastbowlers - Dennis Lillee, Geoff Dymock, Mick Malone
- Spinners - Graeme Beard, Ray Bright
- Wicketkeeper - Rod Marsh
Test series summary
First Test
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- Australia won the toss and elected to bat.
- 1 March was taken as a rest day.
- The match was scheduled for five days but completed in four.
- GR Beard (AUS) and Tauseef Ahmed (PAK) made their Test debuts.
Second Test
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- Australia won the toss and elected to bat.
- 9 March was taken as a rest day.
- There was no play on the first day.
Third Test
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- Australia won the toss and elected to bat.
- 20 March was taken as a rest day.
- Azhar Khan and Azmat Rana (both PAK) made their Test debuts.
Impact
The tour was Javed Miandad's first series win as test captain of Pakistan. It was a notable personal success for Allan Border who scored over 600 runs, and a disappointment for David Hookes, who only scored 10 runs for the whole tour.