Queensland leg-spinner Mitch Swepson will play the second Test against Pakistan, with seamer Josh Hazlewood making way.

The second Test starts in Karachi on Saturday afternoon (AEDT) with Australian selectors opting for two frontline seamers — Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc — and two spinners — Nathan Lyon and Swepson.

Selectors were criticised for not picking a second specialist spinner and only taking four wickets in 239 overs in the first drawn Test in Rawalpindi, although the lifeless pitch meant it may not have affected the result all that much. 

Australia took all of their wickets in the first innings, with Pakistan declaring on 4-476, before Pakistan managed to take 10, eventually dismissing Australia for 459 early on day five.

Australia could not remove Abdullah Shafique (136*) or Imam-ul-Haq (111*) in the second innings as the historic first Test match in Pakistan since 1998 meandered to a draw.

Swepson has played seven Twenty20s for Australia since 2018 but no Tests, as Australia's men's side has not travelled to the subcontinent or anywhere else particularly spin-friendly since playing Pakistan in the UAE in October 2018.

The 28-year-old leg-spinner has carried the drinks as a member of the touring party a number of times, having established himself as next cab off the rank after Lyon with strong Sheffield Shield form for Queensland.

Although Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne both made their Test debuts in 2010 and 2018 respectively, at least partly on the back of their handy wrist-spin, the last time the Australian men's team picked an out-and-out leggie was Bryce McGain in 2009.

Swepson will be hoping to fare better than McGain, who finished his only Test innings with 0-149 from 18 overs in Cape Town.