Whats with this sudden spin attack from Pakistan ?

Pakistan is playing a 5 match ODI series with the Aussies in Dubai. And when everyone (including me) was thinking that the Aussies who are in better form than the Pakistani team, would win it easily. But the Pak team who have hardly played any cricket in last 6-8 months, came out all guns blazing, and drew first blood by winning the first match. And guess what, it was not the pace attack of Shoaib Akhtar, but a deadly spin attack, mainly from Shahid Afridi which did the Oz in. And if anyone has watched how these oz players played the spinners, you would think they are the minnows. Even Bangladesh or an Ireland would have negotiated spin better than the OZ team who are playing without the experienced Ponting and Mike Hussey.

So whats with this sudden spin attack from Pakistan ? Agreed, the track in Abu Dhabi was spinning, and the spinners made good use of it, but a target of 168 was too low to defend and the Paki batsmen chased it comfortably. With this win, suddenly the Pak team have gained the much needed momentum, and great deal of confidence for the rest of the series. And if the Ozs keep on playing like the way they did, they would lose it on next 2-3 games. They looked like under 19s in the game that day. No use of the feet, nothing.

Though the Ozs have won the next game, the series is still on. If you look at Afridis statistics, and by stats i mean the bowling stats for a change, they are staggering. 10-0-38-6, in the first match and 10-0-38-2 in the second match. You would say the Aussies , mainly "big-mouth" Symonds, played him well. But he has been good. Also Michael Clarke has to get back into form as soon as possible. In the second match, he was completely in disarray.

With this sudden surge of the Paki team, with its spin attack, i wonder what might have happened in that team all of a sudden. Or is it just the un-skillfull Aussie team, especially against the spin. Bring on the Indians, and you might see the difference. With Sehwag, Gambhir as the openers, and never looking to get out, i wonder if they would ever bring on Afridi. ;)