New Delhi, June 2 -- Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson has defended the team's decision to prepare a spin-friendly pitch in Rawalpindi for the first ODI against Australia, a match Pakistan won comfortably by five wickets.
The surface came under scrutiny after spinners dominated the game. Of the 86.4 overs bowled in the match, 62.3 were delivered by spinners, who accounted for 11 of the 15 wickets to fall. Pakistan went in with two fast bowlers and four specialist spinners, while Australia also relied heavily on spin, with captain Josh Inglis using part-time options such as Matt Short, Matt Renshaw and Marnus Labuschagne.
Pakistan's left-arm spinner Arafat Minhas starred on debut with a five-wicket haul, becoming the first Pakistan player to...