MELBOURNE: Australia vicecaptain David Warner has found it `bizarre` that pundits and fans continue to criticise the team despite winning their last two Test matches after a run of five losses.

Australia beat Pakistan by 39 runs in a thrilling finish in the first Test in Brisbane last week.

Misbah-ul-Haq`s side were dismissed for 450 on the final day at the Gabba, chasing a victory target of 490, having counterattacked late on the fourth evening of the day-night Test.

They were within sight of the world`s largest successful run chase when Mitchell Starc ended a 71-run ninth wicket stand between Asad Shafiq and Yasir Shah that effectively ended the game.

Critics, however, suggested that Australia captain Steve Smith was not ruthless enough when he failed to impose the follow on when Pakistan were skittled for 142 in their first innings, 287 runs short of Australia`s total.

His cautious field settings on day five, with Pakistan still needing 108 runs for victory with only two wickets in hand, were queried by former captains Michael Clarkeand Mark Taylor and slammed as `ridiculous` by ex-England skipper Michael Vaughan.

`It`s bizarre people are mentioning things about the way he went about the game with his field placements, his bowling changes, the way he used Gazza [Nathan Lyon],` Warner told reporters ahead of the second Test, starting at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Monday. `At the end of the day we did win the game. There would be a lot more talk if we didn`t.

The victory was the second for a revamped side after selectors swung the axe following a run of five successive Test losses and Warner dismissed any notion the visitors` fifth-day performance had given them the momentum heading into the Test.

`Pakistan played very well, Warner said. `They backed themselves and played their shots. They got into a fantastic position to win the game. But we know that Test match cricket comes down to that last day, that last hour ... and that delivery from Starcy was right on the money.

`But if they can take confidence out of losing I don`t know. We wonthe game.

Warner did not give any hints as to the make-up of the side, with suggestions that all-rounder Hilton Cartwright could come into the team for batsman Nic Maddinson.

Cartwright could take some of the workload off the team`s pacetrio of Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Jackson Bird bowled 113 overs in Pakistan`s second innings.

Warner, however, was not concerned with their workload.

`All the monitoring and workload is left to the experts and you have to respect their decision, they`re analysing all the data, Warner added.

`If they think someone is going to break down then it`s up to them.

Pakistan-born Australian batsman Usman Khawaja, meanwhile, doubts that Pakistan has the momentum after its fourth-inning performance in Brisbane, nearly chasing down 490 runs.`I don`t think that matters it`s a different ground, different conditions, and you can`t really measure momentum, can you? I`m not sure if it exists,` Khawaja said. `There are always things we can do better, no mat ter what game, but ... we still won.

Security has been increased at the MCG, where a crowd of 60,000 is expected on Monday, following the arrest of seven people over a terror-related plotin the city.

Those charged on Friday were allegedly planning to attack Melbourne`s Flinders Street train station,nearby Federation Square and St Paul`s Cathedral on Christmas Day.

Chief police commissioner Graham Ashton said while they are conndent the terror plot had been contained, extra police will be deployed at major events.

`We 1(now there`s lot of events on overthe nextseveraldaysright across our state, including the Boxing Day Test, Christmas carols, other events that are on,` he said. `There is no intelligence to suggest there is any threat whatsoever in relation to any of those events. However we`re just mak-ing sure we`re taking those extra precautions.

Victoria Police and Cricket Australia were liaising over the appropriate security level.

`Our security team is in contact with the relevant authorities to ensure we have the appropriate level of security at the Boxing Day Test and other cricket matches being held around the country, Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said in a statement.

In a security-related move late in 2015, the MCG erected a new perimeter fence about 20 to 25 metres (65 to 80 feet) away from the stadium where spectators queue to pass through security before entering the ground.

Teams (fmm): Australia: Steve Smith (captain). David Warner, Matt Renshaw, Usman Khawaja. Peter IIandscomb, Nic M addinson. Matthew Wade, Mit ch Sta rc, Josh I Iazlewood, Nathan 1 yon, Jackson Bi rd, Chadd Sayers.

Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq(captain), Azhar Ali,Sami Aslam. Sharjeel Khan. Younis Khan, Asad Shaliq, Babar Azam, Sarfraz Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Yasir Shah. Mohammad Nawaz. Mohammad Amir. Wahab Riaz. Rahat Ali, Sohail Khan. I mran Khan.

Umpires: Sundaram Ravi (India) and Ian Gould (England).

TV umpire: Richard lilingworth (lingland).

Match referec: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri l anka).

-Agencies