Melbourne: Pakistan spearhead Mohammad Amir is expected to play the Boxing Day Test against Australia despite bruised thigh, officials said yesterday. The left-arm seamer left the field during the first Brisbane Test on a motorised stretcher after falling on the Gabba turf. He appeared in agony but returned a short time later and continued to bowl. Amir was also hit on the thigh by a Mitchell Starc full toss.

"There's quite a bit of bruising on his thigh," Pakistan batting coach Grant Flower said. "He's feeling a bit stiff but he's all right." Flower said he expected the team to field the same bowling attack in Melbourne.

"I think the guys are fit enough. Our attack would be the same," he said. "It's just one of those things that we've had for a while, we don't have that all-rounder."