Tim Paine stresses on 'partnerships and patience and pressure'

On the slow and dry pitches of the United Arab Emirates, things can be long and dour for the first few days of a Test match before getting frantic on the last couple of days. Tim Paine is well aware of what challenges await his side, and has called on the new-look squad to display patience when they tackle the pitches and the the hot and humid conditions. "I think games traditionally in the UAE take a long time so we are going to have to be really patient," Paine said before leaving for the tour. "We have spoken about partnerships and patience and pressure, which is going to be a real key over there. "We are going to have to play really hard, tough cricket particularly from the batting side. And then in the heat over there, it's the same for our bowlers; it's going to be about patience, trying to wear them down and being in a position late in the game where we can make a move." Paine is aware that the quicks in his team possess the ability to work as strike weapons even on dry surfaces, but he also knows that in the sweltering heat of the UAE, he will have to utilise them judiciously. "We have to be really careful with all our quicks over there," Paine said. "It's going to be over 40 degrees and really high humidity so we're going to have to be clever about how we use our bowlers. "Starcy [Mitchell Starc], in particular, who is a strike weapon – I expect him to be bowling short spells and as fast as he can. We're hopeful – no, we’re sure – Starcy will have a really big series, and if he does, it will go a long way towards winning it for us."