The event was part of Cricket Australia sponsor Alinta Energy’s launch for the Test series. Plenty of families turned up to the BUPA National Cricket Centre in Brisbane to take part in various cricket-based activities.  Steve Smith, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Marnus Labuschagne all spent part of Sunday morning offering tips and encouragement to the participants.

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All the players looked comfortable and were visibly enjoying the opportunity before the intensity of the series against Pakistan. 

It was a marked difference in body language from Steve Smith as he manned the ‘diving catch’ station. Smith looked relaxed as he threw catches for kids while smiling and joking.

After the event, Smith spoke to the media about his form going into the series. Smith commented on the lack of bounce in the last two Sheffield Shield games played and felt the need to “get used to the bounce at the Gabba” over the next few days.

Smith was also asked about the opposition but admitted that he hadn’t seen too much of the recent Australia A vs Pakistan match in Perth. However, Smith plans to watch over some footage as he prepares for Thursday to “work out some ways to go about them [Pakistan’s bowlers]”.

With Smith averaging almost 64 in Tests, and 72 in Tests at the Gabba, it seems that is the last thing that Pakistan will want to hear.

It was not all good news for Australia as news was emerging of James Pattinson’s charge for personal abuse of a player in the recent Sheffield Shield game against Queensland. 

It has since been confirmed that the charge, under Cricket Australia’s code of conduct, would rule out Pattinson due to previous infractions. 

Captain Tim Paine was asked about the player and commented that he had spoken with Pattinson on the matter. "He let himself down, he's let the group down” was Paine’s summation but was quick to point out that Pattinson had apologised for the incident.

Inadvertently, the suspension of Pattinson has made Thursday’s bowling selection easier. It’s looking more likely that Australia will go with an all-New South Wales bowling attack with Queensland’s Michael Neser making way.

With Cummins and Nathan Lyon being certainties, Starc and Hazlewood look set to face Pakistan. The selection of Starc, after struggling to make the starting eleven during the Ashes, could be questionable.

However, 25 wickets in six Test matches at the Gabba suggests that Starc’s left-arm pace fits well. If Neser were to make his debut, on his home ground, he is well set having faced them in the Australia 'A' game.

Taking four wickets, including Azhar Ali twice, suggests that Neser would not be out of place.

With the niceties out of the way, Australia will be fully focused on the opening Test. Pakistan could prove to be difficult opponents, as they did in the day-night Test three years ago, but anything other than a winning start for Australia would be considered a major upset.

Australia’s record at the Gabba is phenomenal; not lost there since the West Indies won in 1988. Expect more of the same next week.

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