Cricket: Hopes tips Aussies to turn the tables

Aussie all-rounder James Hopes. Photo / Getty Images

DUBAI - Australian all-rounder James Hopes doubts Pakistan's spinners can keep up the stunning bowling form they produced in the opening one-day international of their five-game series.

Hopes, who was the standout performer in a generally dismal team display in Dubai on Wednesday night, predicted Australia's batsmen would hit back in the second clash at the same venue on Friday.

Pakistan spinners Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal took eight wickets between them to cause a quickfire collapse in the series opener.

"We've got some pretty good players of spin in the team, guys like Andrew Symonds are very good players of spin and they'll figure it out," Hopes said.

"They'll do a few things, they'll change where they bat, they'll look to score in different zones, so we'll try and throw something different at them and see how their spinners respond."

He said if Australia's batsmen managed to work their way on top, the spin duo's form might start to dip.

"They had a good day (on Wednesday) and if Afridi keeps bowling like that he's going to be hard work and if Ajmal keeps bowling like that he's going to be very hard work," said Hopes.

"But I'd be surprised if they bowl like that for five games."

Hopes, who was the only batsman who managed to turn the tide, belting an unbeaten 48, said his teammates would also be much better placed after the experience gained in the first match.

He said Australia's batsmen had managed to handle even Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan with reasonable success once they became accustomed to his variation.

"I don't think his record against Australia's that great," he said.

"We struggle seeing players we haven't seen before and we haven't played Afridi in a long time and he bowled very well ... with Ajmal he's rather hard to pick.

"But we'll have a few strategies, I think we'll start playing him like we've played Murali, doing a few things different against him and probably bring out the sweep shot a bit more."

- AAP