The axing of Doolan, who scored just five runs and a duck in the first Test, means Australia fielded a Test team without a Tasmanian player for the first time in 15 months.

Explaining the preference for all-rounder Glenn Maxwell in Abu Dhabi, Lehmann said it was  ‘‘a tough call on Alex’’.

‘‘We think Glenn’s got a bit of x-factor about him and plays spin quite well so we’ve decided to go down that path.

‘‘Alex has been good in a few Test matches for us. He struggled in the first Test match as we know but at the end of the day we’ve got to pick a side that we think is going to get 20 wickets and be proactive in our scoring and give us a chance to win the game.’’

Maxwell’s impressive record in the UAE in short forms of the game made the off-spinner an attractive proposition for Australia’s bowling stocks which struggled to take wickets in Dubai.

Left-arm quick Mitchell Starc also came in for left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe, who made his debut in last week’s 221-run defeat.

Captain Michael Clarke, who had earlier launched a solid defence of Doolan, opted to put Maxwell in at No.3 as a direct replacement, ahead of himself and Steve Smith, as Australia seeks to avoid a first series defeat to Pakistan since 1994.

Doolan, who turns 29 next month, was axed after four starts at first drop, having scored 191 runs at 23.87.

His top score of 89 came in the second innings of an impressive debut match in a tough series against South Africa but since then has a top score of 37 and four single-figure innings.

The Third Ashes Test at Old Trafford on August 1 last year was the last time Australia fielded a side without a Tasmanian player.

Jackson Bird played the fourth Test and James Faulkner debuted in the fifth, before George Bailey played in the 5-0 home clean sweep of England with fellow Launceston product Doolan featuring in the three-match series in South Africa and last week’s opener against Pakistan.

The disappointment for Tasmanian cricket fans comes a day after Faulkner, who was 12th man throughout the home Ashes series, was left out of the Australian one-day squad for the upcoming series against South Africa.

With spinner Xavier Doherty also overlooked for the pace-friendly WACA conditions, Bailey is the only Tasmanian in that squad.