***Official*** Pakistan in South Africa

[Kriketer]

It's going to be close...its all upto Kaneria now. 2-3 early wickets could make the ending result interesting.

 

[Beleg]

SA shouldn't have too much problem knocking off the runs tommorow - one blitz from someone and the game's effectively over, Pakistan just don't have enough bowlers to exploit the wicket properly.

 

[Perm]

South Africa will be bitterly disappointed that they left Shahid Nazir and Mohammad Sami score as many runs as they did, makes their job much harder.

 

[shortpitched713]

Interesting that Nazir and Sami probably kept this game alive for us, but now they're in a position to lose it for us as well.

I'm not particularly hopeful for this match. Smith is looking quite ominous, and one good partnership would probably have us finished. Interesting that Inzi didn't give the ball to Sami today, but its not like we can just bowl Kaneria and Asif from both ends all day. If we had one of Shoaib, Gul, or even Shabbir I would give us a chance, but as it is I don't think we're going to be able to maintain the pressure from both ends.

 

[The Baconator]

Could be a very interesting day tomorrow, if Pakistan manage to get some early wickets. Don't reckon that'll be the case though, Smith, Kallis and Prince will knock them off without too much trouble.

 

[gunner]

no repeats of multan this time

 

[The Baconator]

Pitch upsets Woolmer

 

[Jono]

Bit late to complain about the pitch now.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Interesting that Nazir and Sami probably kept this game alive for us, but now they're in a position to lose it for us as well.

I'm not particularly hopeful for this match. Smith is looking quite ominous, and one good partnership would probably have us finished. Interesting that Inzi didn't give the ball to Sami today, but its not like we can just bowl Kaneria and Asif from both ends all day. If we had one of Shoaib, Gul, or even Shabbir I would give us a chance, but as it is I don't think we're going to be able to maintain the pressure from both ends.

Asif, Kaneria and Hafeez to bowl all day, for mine. Possibly Nazir. No Sami, please. I want to see a close competition.

 

[silentstriker]

I'm with Boycott. If you're going to critisize an action, or a pitch, do it before the game or when you're winning. Otherwise, it just looks like sour grapes.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

You can't criticize an action before a bowler bowls...

 

[silentstriker]

You can't criticize an action before a bowler bowls...

No, but you can do it when a test has been won. And you can do it before a series, unless the bowler was fine before the series started and just started messing up during the series.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

No, but you can do it when a test has been won. And you can do it before a series, unless the bowler was fine before the series started and just started messing up during the series.

But if you're not winning the Test, you simply can't criticize a bowler's action? So Brian Lara can never criticize a bowler's action?

 

[silentstriker]

But if you're not winning the Test, you simply can't criticize a bowler's action? So Brian Lara can never criticize a bowler's action?

Can't and shouldn't are different things. He can, and being Brian Lara, he can probably get away with it. But overall, it just looks like sour grapes.

 

[social]

TBF, Woolmer is between a rock and a hard place as he has only had 2 days to criticize the pitch AND they may still win the match

I'd say his comments are entirely reasonable

 

[silentstriker]

TBF, Woolmer is between a rock and a hard place as he has only had 2 days to criticize the pitch AND they may still win the match

I'd say his comments are entirely reasonable

If he had waited until he won before saying it, it wouldn't have been a problem. He may be right, but thats not the issue.

 

[Fiery]

If he had waited until he won before saying it, it wouldn't have been a problem. He may be right, but thats not the issue.

It's not a test-quality pitch. You only need to look at the patches of grass and motley, two-toned colour of it to see it was always going to be a shocker so fair enough of him to criticize it but it's the same for both teams. Newlands ground staff need a kick up the ass for it though tbh

 

[Isolator]

Cricket would be a lot better if there were more pitches like this. What does test-quality mean anyway? Just because there are no run-mountains being piled up doesn't mean the pitch is defective.

 

[Fiery]

Cricket would be a lot better if there were more pitches like this. What does test-quality mean anyway? Just because there are no run-mountains being piled up doesn't mean the pitch is defective.

2 1/2 day tests rip everyone off. It's nice to have them every now and then but ideally you want them to last longer than that and they inflate bowlers averages too much....(I'm a batsman)

 

[social]

It's not a test-quality pitch. You only need to look at the patches of grass and motley, two-toned colour of it to see it was always going to be a shocker so fair enough of him to criticize it but it's the same for both teams. Newlands ground staff need a kick up the ass for it though tbh

Not just the pitch, outfield is also extremely patchy - might be some form of disease in grass