***Official*** Pakistan in South Africa

[Fusion]

Can't really see the problem with putting a little competition into the mix with your number one wicketkeeper. Akmal has pretty much been uncontested for the role for a couple of years now. Putting some pressure on him can surely only bring out the best if he is really the man worth of the number one spot.

Have to agree with you. Akmal has now had a prolonged bad spell behind the wicket, as well as with the bat. This is International Cricket, so competition is always going to be tough. He needs to find his form or be left out. I admire the guy immensely. I'll be hoping that he does find his form, but we can't wait on that happening indefinitely either.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Still better than Sami. Who esle could we have brought in? Niazi?

Rana Naved has basically only ever looked good bowling with a red ball in England. Probably says more about the conditions there than his ability.

In Tests since the start of 2005, Mohammad Sami has outbowled Rana Naved, though both have been stunningly useless.

Sami - 10 matches, 25 wickets @ 51.92, 3.72 econ, 83.6 SR
Naved - 7 matches, 13 wickets @ 61.23, 4.08 econ, 90 SR

One has been more useless than the other though...

 

[gunner]

akmal deserves his spot for another 5 years just for his karachi 100

had we capitulated there at 39-6 the consequences would have been worse than post world cup 2003

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

akmal deserves his spot for another 5 years just for his karachi 100

had we capitulated there at 39-6 the consequences would have been worse than post world cup 2003

Worst selection policy ever.

 

[Fusion]

akmal deserves his spot for another 5 years just for his karachi 100

had we capitulated there at 39-6 the consequences would have been worse than post world cup 2003

One of the gutsiest Pakistani innings I ever saw for sure. But can't live on past form alone. I'm not calling for Akmal's removal here, but there is no harm in having a back-up to light a fire under him. If he could pull out Pakistan from the depths of despair in Karachi, I'm sure it's in him to handle a little competition.

 

[PhoenixFire]

Not sure whether my good man AB de Villiers is really up to opening the innings in Tests to be honest, I'd much rather have Gibbs opening, he might be unreliable, but to have AB to strengthen the middle order would counter that.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Not sure whether my good man AB de Villiers is really up to opening the innings in Tests to be honest, I'd much rather have Gibbs opening, he might be unreliable, but to have AB to strengthen the middle order would counter that.

I heard/read that de Villiers was being groomed to take over from Boucher with the gloves in due time. ie he was being groomed with the bat and settled into the South Africa setup.
If that's the case, I really don't see the point in him opening the batting, as you'd surely prefer your wicketkeeper to come in down the order.

Regarding Gibbs, I think he's been sorted by international bowlers. And as such, I don't think he would fare much better against the new ball than he is against the older ball. I say sack Amla and bring in a specialist opener to sort out the top of the order.

 

[TT Boy]

I heard/read that de Villiers was being groomed to take over from Boucher with the gloves in due time. ie he was being groomed with the bat and settled into the South Africa setup.
If that's the case, I really don't see the point in him opening the batting, as you'd surely prefer your wicketkeeper to come in down the order.

Regarding Gibbs, I think he's been sorted by international bowlers. And as such, I don't think he would fare much better against the new ball than he is against the older ball. I say sack Amla and bring in a specialist opener to sort out the top of the order.

All well and good but who might that be, Boeta, Johan Botha? AB is a specialist opener and there’s not too many of them in franchise cricket. A couple that spring to mind are ironically wicket keeping opening batsman.

Also talk of AB taking Boucher’s place, all well and good but Mark is only 30 so AB’s got a long wait until the number six or seven position is available it would seem.

However, In regard to Gibbs don’t think his been found out because his getting out in every manner possible, the off stump or bowled weakness has hardly been exploited. All Gibbs is currently doing his gifting his wicket away with nice wafts or getting poor umpiring decisions. More a mental problem than technical currently though I don't fancy him much against Mohammed Asif.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

All well and good but who might that be, Boeta, Johan Botha? AB is a specialist opener and there’s not too many of them in franchise cricket. A couple that spring to mind are ironically wicket keeping opening batsman.

Fair point. How's Puttick? Haven't seen him bat, but he's a fair domestic record.

However, In regard to Gibbs don’t think his been found out because his getting out in every manner possible, the off stump or bowled weakness has hardly been exploited. All Gibbs is currently doing his gifting his wicket away with nice wafts or getting poor umpiring decisions. More a mental problem than technical currently though I don't fancy him much against Mohammed Asif.

Recent failures opening the batting:

6 v New Zealand - bowled.
2 v New Zealand - edged to second slip.
19 v Sri Lanka bowled.
0 v Sri Lanka - lbw.
0 v India - lbw.
0 v India - driving outside offstump, caught slip.

 

[TT Boy]

Fair point. How's Puttick? Haven't seen him bat, but he's a fair domestic record.

Recent failures opening the batting:

6 v New Zealand - bowled.
2 v New Zealand - edged to second slip.
19 v Sri Lanka bowled.
0 v Sri Lanka - lbw.
0 v India - lbw.
0 v India - driving outside offstump, caught slip.

His average has fallen dramatically in recent years, averaged fifty in first class cricket not so long ago and was on the fringes of the side but poor form has put an end to that. Really can't say if he is much cop, only saw him in a couple of one day games.

Fair do’s with the Gibbs dismissal, I said it earlier this year that he should be axed or found at number five, never again as opener, his lost it.

 

[TT Boy]

Few days old but I thought this was rather interesting, Mushtaq reappointed as assistant coach...

http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/pakistan/content/story/274580.html

Also I wonder if Bob will call upon Jonty Rhodes for the series, helped them out recently and South Africa only use Rhodes in the one day format it would seem.

 

[marc71178]

I heard/read that de Villiers was being groomed to take over from Boucher with the gloves in due time. ie he was being groomed with the bat and settled into the South Africa setup.
If that's the case, I really don't see the point in him opening the batting, as you'd surely prefer your wicketkeeper to come in down the order.

Didn't seem to hurt Stewart that much...

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Didn't seem to hurt Stewart that much...

But it did affect his batting. He averaged 36.81 as wicketkeeper-opener and 45.98 otherwise.

 

[marc71178]

But it did affect his batting. He averaged 36.81 as wicketkeeper-opener and 45.98 otherwise.

That doesn't make sense - he started keeping having had a lot of experience of batting (at the top order)

His average when keeping was very respectable indeed - and I bet if South Africans were offered a long term future of AB keeping and averaging mid to high 30s, they'd take it.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

That doesn't make sense - he started keeping having had a lot of experience of batting (at the top order)

His average when keeping was very respectable indeed - and I bet if South Africans were offered a long term future of AB keeping and averaging mid to high 30s, they'd take it.

What doesn't make sense? That he averaged 9 runs less when performing the dual role?

 

[nightprowler10]

I remember aussie tragic coming up with a list of wicket keepers and their batting averages as keeper's and as pure batsmen. Almost all of them had a drop in averages while keeping in a match. I believe the only exception was Andy Flower.

Too lazy to find that post now.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

For Stewart it's about a 12-run drop off between wicketkeeping and not wicketkeeping overall.

 

[TT Boy]

Good start by Pakistan to the tour, 106 without loss at lunch. With both Farhat and Hafeez scoring half centuries.

 

[adharcric]

Good stuff from Hafeez and Farhat, let's just hope they aren't doing it on a flat track.

 

[nightprowler10]

Hafeez smacks 33 runs off the last 12 to bring up his 100. WTF?!