PERTH, Australia, 2 December 2004 — Pakistan paceman Shoaib Akhtar sent an early warning to Australia’s ever-confident batsmen with a blistering spell of bowling that clearly signaled his intentions for the upcoming Test series here yesterday.

The Rawalpindi Express kicked off his tour with a sizzling five-over spell which caught a Western Australian second XI by surprise on the first day of their opening three-day tour match at James Oval in Perth.

At stumps on the first day Pakistan were 235 for 7 in reply to Western Australia’s 158.

Younis Khan was at the crease unbeaten on 132 and Danish Kaneria was with him on two.

Although his figures of 1-22 weren’t the best in the team - those belonged to his fellow opening paceman Mohammed Sami who claimed 3-17 - Shoaib was clearly on target and on-song.

At one point the pair had the home side reeling at 18 for 4 before a 70-run stand between Luke Ronchi with 66 and Scott Meuleman with 32 gave the innings some credibility.

Pakistan had slumped to 37 for 3 in reply, but steadied to lead by 77 runs at the close of play.

Shoaib’s figures could easily have been better but most of the runs he conceded were lucky edges through the slips cordon while he also had Meuleman caught off a no-ball.

Since his disappointing series against India earlier this year, when he took just seven wickets at 42.43 in three Tests, Shoaib said he had put in some serious training and the results were starting to show.

“I have been bowling fast,” he said.

England Can Beat Australia but

Pakistan Will Struggle: Wasim

In Lahore, cricket great Wasim Akram yesterday tipped England to beat Australia in next year’s Ashes series but warned that Pakistan faced a tough tour against the world champions.

Wasim said England’s “balanced” attack could cause problems for Australia.

“For me England is the team which can beat Australia in next year’s Ashes for they have a very balanced attack with Steve Harmison as spearhead and an aggressive all-rounder in Andrew Flintoff,” Wasim told AFP.

His comments echoed remarks by New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming, whose team were soundly beaten by Australia this week to round off a 2-0 clean sweep for the home side.

Wasim, who led Pakistan to a 3-0 defeat in their last tour of Australia in 1999, said the current team will also find it very difficult in their three-Test series starting in Perth on Dec. 16.

“I think Pakistan’s tour of Australia will be very tough and although Pakistan has always given tough time to Australia they will find the current tour tougher than expected,” he said.

He predicted leg-spinner Shane Warne, the world’s leading Test wicket-taker, to be Pakistan’s tormentor rather than the Australian pace attack. “Pakistan will have to guard against Warne who has always taken wickets against Pakistan and he will be a tough opponent in Australia,” Wasim said. He also called for spearhead bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami to make up for “lackluster” recent performances with a good showing on the tour.