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Pakistan Tour of South Africa 2018/19
- Thread starter Gomez656
- Start date
Gomez656
U19 Cricketer
https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-ne...s-pakistan-gear-up-for-south-africa-challenge
For the first time since South Africa's readmission, Centurion will be a host to a Boxing Day match when the first of the three Tests against Pakistan kicks off. The last time Pakistan were at the SuperSport Park, they were trounced by an innings and 18 runs as the Graeme Smith-led South Africa completed a 3-0 whitewash over the visitors. For Pakistan, their batting woes headlined the series. After eight years, not much has changed.
Pakistan's batting troubles in away series are well-documented. And the seam-friendly conditions in South Africa amplify them - something which is underscored by the fact that Pakistan's batting average of 20.77 here is the worst. And, in the backdrop of multiple batting collapses against New Zealand just some weeks ago that saw them lose their second home series in the UAE in approximately a year, there aren't too many expectations from their batsmen.
Sarfraz Ahmed, however, wants to bat first on a wicket which had a lot of green on it 48 hours before the toss. The desire stems from the history of the Centurion surface becoming difficult to bat on in the fourth innings. But, it also has to do with Pakistan's abysmal record while chasing of late. On as many as six occasions since 2016, they have given away their all ten wickets to oppositions while chasing. But, it is not like Pakistan do well when they bat first. In their last five matches, on the placid UAE pitches, Pakistan's batting collapsed thrice in the first innings. One can only imagine what would unfold when this abysmal form is coupled with the seam-friendly conditions.
So, it is quite literally a catch-22 situation for Sarfraz.
South African batsmen have also been having their share of troubles. In their last Test outing which was in an away series against Sri Lanka, Hashim Amla, Aiden Markram, and Dean Elgar averaged 10, 10, and 12.25 respectively. Pakistan pacers and Yasir Shah certainly have an opportunity to make the most of the trio's lack of scores. But, again, for Pakistan to get their only third win in South Africa, their batsmen need to step up and post big scores so their bowlers have something to play with.
Rain is forecasted on the last three days of the match, but this does promise to be an exciting series as both sides don't really like drawing matches. Before entering this series, South Africa has played nine matches this year and haven't drawn any. Pakistan, playing eight matches so far this year, and drew only one.
When: December 26, 2018, 10:00 AM Local time
Where: SuperSport Park, Centurion
What to expect: Ferocious bounce, sharp pace, and booming swing for the bowlers. A lot of chin music for the batsmen.
Team news:
Pakistan
It is confirmed that Mohammad Abbas will be missing out on the Centurion Test due to a shoulder injury. It is the same injury which saw him miss the final Test of the three-match series against New Zealand earlier this month. Shadab Khan is also unavailable as he continues to nurse a groin injury. Shan Masood will sit out as Imam ul Haq and Fakhar Zaman, who scored 94 and 66 on his Test debut, will open.
Probable XI: Fakhar Zaman, Imam ul Haq, Azhar Ali, Haris Sohail, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Sarfraz Ahmed (c&wk), Hasan Ali, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Amir, Shaheen Shah Afridi
South Africa
Dale Steyn and Kagiso Rabada have added responsibilities as a hairline fracture in the thumb has ruled Vernon Philander out of the Boxing Day Test. Lungi Ngidi had already been deemed unfit for the Pakistan series after picking up a knee injury. Though, South Africa called up uncapped pacer Dane Paterson as Ngidi's replacement, but it will be Duanne Oliver who will join the duo. Zubayr Hamza, 23-year-old batsman, is another uncapped player named in the 13-man squad for the first Test.
Probable XI: Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Theunis de Bruyn, Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis (c), Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock (wk), Keshav Maharaj, Dale Styen, Kagiso Rabada, Duanne Oliver
What they said:
"These honours are great things to achieve and I'll be highly honoured. But when I do, I'll get back to the end of my mark and try and take another one. That's the plan," Steyn on being one wicket away from becoming highest wicket-taker in Tests for South Africa.
"He took 200 wickets in 33 Tests and we know South Africa haven't played a top-quality legspinner in three years. So we have an advantage, we have Yasir Shah, and hopefully they will struggle against him," Sarfraz Ahmed introduces the leggie as his trump card for the series.
For the first time since South Africa's readmission, Centurion will be a host to a Boxing Day match when the first of the three Tests against Pakistan kicks off. The last time Pakistan were at the SuperSport Park, they were trounced by an innings and 18 runs as the Graeme Smith-led South Africa completed a 3-0 whitewash over the visitors. For Pakistan, their batting woes headlined the series. After eight years, not much has changed.
Pakistan's batting troubles in away series are well-documented. And the seam-friendly conditions in South Africa amplify them - something which is underscored by the fact that Pakistan's batting average of 20.77 here is the worst. And, in the backdrop of multiple batting collapses against New Zealand just some weeks ago that saw them lose their second home series in the UAE in approximately a year, there aren't too many expectations from their batsmen.
Sarfraz Ahmed, however, wants to bat first on a wicket which had a lot of green on it 48 hours before the toss. The desire stems from the history of the Centurion surface becoming difficult to bat on in the fourth innings. But, it also has to do with Pakistan's abysmal record while chasing of late. On as many as six occasions since 2016, they have given away their all ten wickets to oppositions while chasing. But, it is not like Pakistan do well when they bat first. In their last five matches, on the placid UAE pitches, Pakistan's batting collapsed thrice in the first innings. One can only imagine what would unfold when this abysmal form is coupled with the seam-friendly conditions.
So, it is quite literally a catch-22 situation for Sarfraz.
South African batsmen have also been having their share of troubles. In their last Test outing which was in an away series against Sri Lanka, Hashim Amla, Aiden Markram, and Dean Elgar averaged 10, 10, and 12.25 respectively. Pakistan pacers and Yasir Shah certainly have an opportunity to make the most of the trio's lack of scores. But, again, for Pakistan to get their only third win in South Africa, their batsmen need to step up and post big scores so their bowlers have something to play with.
Rain is forecasted on the last three days of the match, but this does promise to be an exciting series as both sides don't really like drawing matches. Before entering this series, South Africa has played nine matches this year and haven't drawn any. Pakistan, playing eight matches so far this year, and drew only one.
When: December 26, 2018, 10:00 AM Local time
Where: SuperSport Park, Centurion
What to expect: Ferocious bounce, sharp pace, and booming swing for the bowlers. A lot of chin music for the batsmen.
Team news:
Pakistan
It is confirmed that Mohammad Abbas will be missing out on the Centurion Test due to a shoulder injury. It is the same injury which saw him miss the final Test of the three-match series against New Zealand earlier this month. Shadab Khan is also unavailable as he continues to nurse a groin injury. Shan Masood will sit out as Imam ul Haq and Fakhar Zaman, who scored 94 and 66 on his Test debut, will open.
Probable XI: Fakhar Zaman, Imam ul Haq, Azhar Ali, Haris Sohail, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Sarfraz Ahmed (c&wk), Hasan Ali, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Amir, Shaheen Shah Afridi
South Africa
Dale Steyn and Kagiso Rabada have added responsibilities as a hairline fracture in the thumb has ruled Vernon Philander out of the Boxing Day Test. Lungi Ngidi had already been deemed unfit for the Pakistan series after picking up a knee injury. Though, South Africa called up uncapped pacer Dane Paterson as Ngidi's replacement, but it will be Duanne Oliver who will join the duo. Zubayr Hamza, 23-year-old batsman, is another uncapped player named in the 13-man squad for the first Test.
Probable XI: Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Theunis de Bruyn, Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis (c), Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock (wk), Keshav Maharaj, Dale Styen, Kagiso Rabada, Duanne Oliver
What they said:
"These honours are great things to achieve and I'll be highly honoured. But when I do, I'll get back to the end of my mark and try and take another one. That's the plan," Steyn on being one wicket away from becoming highest wicket-taker in Tests for South Africa.
"He took 200 wickets in 33 Tests and we know South Africa haven't played a top-quality legspinner in three years. So we have an advantage, we have Yasir Shah, and hopefully they will struggle against him," Sarfraz Ahmed introduces the leggie as his trump card for the series.
SeamUp
International Coach
Like music to the ears - 'I feel like I'm 23' - Dale Steyn - ESPNcricinfo
trundler
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No. It's better.
Black_Warrior
Cricketer Of The Year
The World XI tour to Pakistan last year had 5-6 South African players. Graeme Smith at that time had said he can see South Africa touring Pakistan very soon, mentioning how Pakistan was one of the first teams to tour South Africa in 92.
PCB should have had these talks right then instead of wasting time on India and Australia. Trust PCB to always waste opportunities
Black_Warrior
Cricketer Of The Year
Pak is ranked 7 in Tests, just lost a home series to New Zealand and have a terrible record in South Africa. And I'm still ****ing excited for tomorrow. This is also one of the last 3 match Test series Pakistan will be playing for the foreseeable future
Black_Warrior
Cricketer Of The Year
I'm over it now. I fell for it in the past but it's been two years now and Pakistan have a horrendous Test record under him, and are also a pretty poor ODI side. A lot of the things he says are not based in fact or evidence and when he makes these claims in overseas press conferences, very few of the foreign media are aware of Pak's recent cricket to call him out on those.
For example he said Pak now bat better overseas than in UAE - this has absolutely no basis in evidence. You could possibly make this case for Misbah's team but they were also pretty solid in UAE. For this current team, neither their ODI nor Test performances overseas will suggest they bat better overseas.
Then he cleverly tried to use the T20 success to mask ODI failings and remarked how Pak are a strong LO side. In ODIs, they lost 0-5 in New Zealand, got hammered in Asia Cup and failed to beat New Zealand in the ODI series in UAE. Pakistan are a great T20 side. That's it. It does not translate to ODI.
Black_Warrior
Cricketer Of The Year
Any word on the pitch? According to Twitter there was a heavy layer of grass yesterday but expect some of it to be removed for today
News24 seems to suggest that faf indicated temba will bat 4 and theunis 6.
Dale reckons it will be quick while faf said he is unsure how it will play.
Black_Warrior
Cricketer Of The Year
The test against India earlier had movement but was a tad on the slower side.
Black_Warrior
Cricketer Of The Year
Now apparently Haris is out with a knee injury.
SeamUp
International Coach
Not sure why they would do that to Theunis after scoring a hundred batting 3
Black_Warrior
Cricketer Of The Year
Haris Sohail out, Shan Masood in. The series starting off on the wrong note for Pakistan as Haris had proved himself as a strong middle order batsman
Black_Warrior
Cricketer Of The Year
No Asian team have ever won or drawn a Test match at the Centurion
Black_Warrior
Cricketer Of The Year
Pak win the toss and batting first