*Official* South Africa in Pakistan, 2021

[StephenZA]

Moot point as who knows when South Africa will next play a test but de Kock’s batting average since 2018 is one of the worst around for a keeper. Not Bairstow bad but it is getting there. Boucher said prior to this test that de Kock won’t captain again in tests, and on current form, he doesn’t even warrant selection.

de Kock is meant to be icing. He is the guy that comes in at 6/7 that can take a game away from the opposition. All the talk of putting him at 4, taking the gloves off him etc is more the desperation of selection trying to turn him into a banker batsmen, rather than what he is. He is being given roles and pressures that nobody ever thought he should or would have.

As long as we continue to select players that are just filler temporary players that will never be dependable long term batsmen the team is going to struggle. And the longer we continue to do it the longer SA will struggle. No test team will be competitive unless they can consistently be putting 350 to 450 scores on in the first innings. Current SA batting will just never do it consistently. It also puts SA bowling under more pressure, because they have to consistently try get the batsmen out of trouble and if they don't, quite often they get blamed.

 

[StephenZA]

And once again as good as Bavuma has looked, he falls short of actually finishing the job off.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Are there any batsmen in SA 1st class who could come in if/when Faf retires? Does Devon Conway have a younger brother?

 

[Fuller Pilch]

And that might be game over. It would be absolutely amazing for SA to win it now

 

[Pothas]

This is how these things are supposed to go.

 

[StephenZA]

Are there any batsmen in SA 1st class who could come in if/when Faf retires? Does Devon Conway have a younger brother?

We have a number young talented batsmen, that are not being selected. Simple. The SA selection is putting to much emphasis on 'experience' and not giving a chance to the young talent to actually gain experience at this level.

 

[StephenZA]

This is how these things are supposed to go.

All the talk of us chasing this was quite amusing to me. I know hype and hope is a thing, but lets be realistic here.

 

[StephenZA]

Hasan Ali has been excellent this match.

 

[Daemon]

And once again as good as Bavuma has looked, he falls short of actually finishing the job off.

Hey that's mean

 

[TT Boy]

Some incredible collapses from South Africa this series.

 

[StephenZA]

Hey that's mean

Unintended... but frustrated enough not to be sorry.

 

[nzfan]

Bugger.. It's all over now I guess. What a shame. It had started to look like it's going to be a classic chat but not to be. 370 is a lot of runs to be fair.

 

[StephenZA]

Some incredible collapses from South Africa these last many series.

FTFY

 

[Starfighter]

Hasan has ten in the match and now I'll head over to PakPassion to read about how terribly he's been bowling.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Credit to Hasan Ali. He might have some of the worst celebrations, but he's a quality bowler.

 

[TT Boy]

FTFY

They just showed a graphic and losing 5 for 50 is seemingly happening every test since 2019.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

They just showed a graphic and losing 5 for 50 is seemingly happening every test since 2019.

No doubt they'll develop batting starch in the next 12 months. NZ have still never beaten SA in a test series and they are coming here for 2 tests next SH summer. Surely this time!

 

[StephenZA]

Just to put this in perspective, I don't think that the second innings is the problem here. You don't want to be chasing more than 270 on a 5th day pitch on the subcontinent. Not often you will chase more than that. Getting bowled out for 200 in the 1st innings on what I would say is a 350 par pitch, is the problem. And SA scoring well below avg 1st inning scores is the consistent problem right now. I thought the bowlers have done well this game keeping Pak below 300 in both innings.

 

[TT Boy]

No wickets to spin is a minor victory I guess. Scoring 300 would be another.

 

[nzfan]

All wickets to pacers i.e Ali and Afridi? That is a mean feat on this deck.

Come on South Africa put a 50 run partnership now please.