We can beat Australia this time: Yousuf

A good bowling line-up has raised Mohammed Yousuf's hopes of beating Australia in a Test series down under, a feat which Pakistan has never achieved.

As the hosts are re-building their team following retirements of stars like Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Adam Gilchrist, Yousuf is fancying glory on Australian soil.

"They are no longer invincible and the feeling one had some years ago that beating Australia in Australia was like going into a lion's cage to slay the animal is no longer there even among our players," Yousuf said.

"I think we have a bowling attack that is capable of causing problems for Australia and they are now beatable," Yousuf told the Express newspaper.

The pace duo of Mohammed Asif and Umar Gul has done extremely well for Pakistan in the recent past. Young fast bowler Mohammed Aamer is also coming up well for them.

Pakistan has never managed to beat Australia in a Test series Down Under and their best results have been two drawn series (1-1) in the 70s and 80s.

Yousuf, however, admitted that Pakistan need to improve in the batting and fielding departments.

"Our bowling is not a worry and they did well in New Zealand but we have to lift our batting and fielding standards if we want to improve our performances in Australia.

"It is up to us now to take advantage of the situation and try to do well in the coming series. I just hope that our openers, Salman Butt and Imran Farhat, continue to do as well as they did in New Zealand. They must carry the same form to Australia," Yousuf said.

The Pakistan captain said arriving in Australia after playing in difficult Kiwi conditions would help his players settle easily there.

Pakistan are scheduled to play a three-day match against Tasmania from Saturday in Hobart before the first Test in Melbourne from December 26.