*Official* Pakistan v South Africa in UAE

[the big bambino]

I still remember flashes of that glorious summer in England when Mohammad Amir made the ball swing. I remember being so happy to see something like that. Not sure how I feel about him returning, but if he is still as good (and honest to boot), I guess cricket would only have gained something. Plus, him with him in the side, it will be three left arm pacers - him, Junaid and Irfan - in the same side. Ever happened before?

They once had Wasim, Jaffer and a bloke with some missing fingers.

 

[smash84]

they weren't this good

 

[the big bambino]

True but it was close. Junaid will have a longer career than Jaffer and Hafeez and Aamir should. Akram, Jaffer and Hafeez versus Aamir, Irfan and Junaid would be a good contest.

 

[smash84]

btw......IF Pakistan manage to win the second test and win the series 2-0, does it help to improve Pakistan's ranking? And does it bring down SA from 1 to 2?

 

[salman85]

i don't think the ranking will change.Pakistan will remain no.4 and South Africa will remain no.1

As far as fast bowlers go,the new ball pair has never been Pakistan's strength.I think the Pakistan bowling attack overall,is right up there with the best in the world because of the balance of a world class spinner (Ajmal), a superb fast bowler who gets ample movement late in the innings (Junaid), and a guy who gets very unsettling bounce (Irfan).The other teams miss some element in their bowling attack - for example, South Africa and Australia lack a world class spinner.England and Pakistan are probably the two teams in world cricket who possess a complete bowling attack.New Zealand have a very good new ball pair, but the overall potency of their bowling line declines the further you move forward into an innings IMO, which is one of the reasons why i don't think the overall quality of their attack belongs in the same category as Pakistan,Australia,England and South Africa.

 

[Agent Nationaux]

btw......IF Pakistan manage to win the second test and win the series 2-0, does it help to improve Pakistan's ranking? And does it bring down SA from 1 to 2?

Pak will be 4th postion if it's 1-0, 1-1 or 2-0. So we have already secured this (I think we have replaced Aus). RSA will still be 1 irrespective fo the result now.

 

[smash84]

didn't Pakistan drop to 6th after losing to Zimbos?

 

[Prince EWS]

didn't Pakistan drop to 6th after losing to Zimbos?

Yeah but 4-6 is relatively close and beating the conclusive #1 counts for a lot.

 

[smash84]

oh ok.....btw how come India are top 3? Over the last 2 years they have been whitewashed by Aus and Eng as well as losing to England at home

 

[smash84]

yes they beat Aus at home (and WI and NZ) but their losses seem much more heavy than their victories

 

[OverratedSanity]

yes they beat Aus at home (and WI and NZ) but their losses seem much more heavy than their victories

Lost only to good teams (I'm assuming Aus were ranked pretty high), beat lower ranked teams... And didn't lose to Zimbabwe. Pretty easy to see why they're 3rd tbh

 

[centurymaker]

didn't India white-wash australia this yr or was it 3-0?

 

[smash84]

yes they whitewashed aus at home (I mentioned that) but they also lost to England at home

 

[smash84]

and technically Pakistan didn't lose to Zimbabwe

 

[centurymaker]

it's because India was no.1 and had accumulated alot of points before their whitewashes, so didn't end up in as bad a state as many would have thought. And yeah losing to higher ranked teams doesn't hurt you as much (England last yr). On the other hand, losing even a single match against a minnow costs you around 10 points straight away (in a 2 test series).

Basically 1 defeat against a minnow is worse than 4-0 against a top nation

 

[centurymaker]

oh ok.....btw how come India are top 3? Over the last 2 years they have been whitewashed by Aus and Eng as well as losing to England at home

And don't forget that the other contenders haven't been able to take advantage of India's poor run. Australia lost the Ashes and now Pakistan are merely compensating for 3-0 earlier in the yr.

 

[Agent Nationaux]

Dale Steyn might not play due to an injury. I don't know if it's serious or ABCD was lying to make Pakistan feel easy and then suddenly unleashing Styen at the last moment.

 

[Prince EWS]

Dale Steyn might not play due to an injury. I don't know if it's serious or ABCD was lying to make Pakistan feel easy and then suddenly unleashing Styen at the last moment.

Steyn is legitimately injured. I have a feeling he'll probably play anyway but either way I don't think he'll be at his best.

Time to show Pakistan how to play Kallisball, IMO.

 

[Agent Nationaux]

Steyn is legitimately injured. I have a feeling he'll probably play anyway but either way I don't think he'll be at his best.

Time to show Pakistan how to play Kallisball, IMO.

The era of Kallisball is over. Kallis is now balls.

 

[centurymaker]

Steyn is legitimately injured. I have a feeling he'll probably play anyway but either way I don't think he'll be at his best.

Time to show Pakistan how to play Kallisball, IMO.

What a way to protect his UAE blemish (according to possible Detractors and I am not one haha ftr)