Pakistan won the toss and chose to bowl first under cloudy skies but had to stop play due to an hour-long rain delay, as the much-anticipated first Test against Australia (the first neutral Test played in England after 98 years) prepared to get underway at Lord's. It was a good toss to win as admitted by Australia's captain, Ricky Ponting.He anticipated a tricky first hour before lunch on a pitch with an even grass coverage and in conditions tailor-made for Pakistan's strike bowlers, Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif.
Both sides announced two Test debutants before the toss. For Australia, Tim Paine comes in as wicketkeeper for Brad Haddin, just as he did for the one-day series against England last month, while the legspinner Steven Smith plays in place of Nathan Hauritz, who flew back home to Australia with a foot injury.
Meanwhile, Pakistan have gambled on two rookie batsmen in their middle order, with the selectors looking to the future in Umar Amin and Azhar Ali, whose chance to impress will come later in the game.
Australia 1 Shane Watson, 2 Simon Katich, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Clarke, 5 Mike Hussey, 6 Marcus North, 7 Tim Paine (wk), 8 Steve Smith, 9 Mitchell Johnson, 10 Ben Hilfenhaus, 11 Doug Bollinger.
Pakistan 1 Imran Farhat, 2 Salman Butt, 3 Azhar Ali, 4 Umar Akmal, 5 Umar Amin, 6 Kamran Akmal (wk), 7 Shahid Afridi, 8 Umar Gul, 9 Danish Kaneria, 10 Mohammad Aamer, 11 Mohammad Asif.
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