Did Pakistan's decision to avoid a specialist spinner cost them the 2024-25 Test series against South Africa?

[FearlessRoar]

Pakistan's likely defeat in the two-match Test series against South Africa can be linked to a few key reasons, with one of the biggest being their decision not to pick a specialist spinner in both Tests. While the pitches in Centurion and Newlands didn’t have the typical South African pace, they were still conditions where spin could have made a difference—especially with the spin-friendly surface at Newlands and the flatter wicket at Centurion.

In the first Test, even though Pakistan started strong, they couldn’t take advantage of key moments because they didn’t have a quality spinner. South Africa, on the other hand, included Keshav Maharaj in the second Test, and his experience proved useful on surfaces that began to favour spin as the match went on. While Maharaj hasn’t had the best record at Newlands, his inclusion gave South Africa an edge.

Despite having Noman Ali in the squad, Pakistan chose not to pick a specialist spinner like Sajid Khan and instead stuck with their seamers. This left them without a bowler who could break partnerships or maintain pressure when needed. Their seamers fought hard, but they struggled to finish off the tail or control set batsmen at crucial times. Without a spinner to exploit the pitch, especially in the later stages of the innings, Pakistan missed chances to get wickets.

In the final Test at Newlands, where the pitch was expected to offer more spin, Pakistan’s lack of a good spinner made it even harder to stop South Africa or get key wickets. With Pakistan likely to lose the second Test after already losing the first, their decision not to go for a specialist spinner has cost them in this series. This situation highlights how important it is to have a balanced bowling attack, especially on pitches that favour spin.

 

[GLORY OF '92]

No we won't win in Australia or SA for the next few decades guaranteed. Maybe a brand new generation in 20 or 30 years might have a hope

 

[Buffet]

No we won't win in Australia or SA for the next few decades guaranteed. Maybe a brand new generation in 20 or 30 years might have a hope

That's too pessimistic. In 10 years things can change when it comes to relative strenghs of teams. Also, you can have some inspired bowling to win short test series. With longer, it gets harder for sure, but 2 tests? You win one and draw another to take the series.

 

[jnaveen1980]

It is generally the least spinner friendly country apart from Durban. But can be used to plug one end. You can draw mistakes by boring them.

 

[Savak]

The selection of Jamal was a blatant defensive move. The captain does not have confidence in his bowling to give him a longer bowling stint but he's been selected to bolster the batting.

Noman would have presented a different challenge and was coming into the series in red hot form. Agha has already picked up 2 wickets

 

[mon858]

I am sure Nauman would have done better than 17 overs for 85 runs by A Jamal. Cannot win with such mindset of needing batting at number 8. You need 20 wickets first and if not getting wickets you need to dry runs from one end so others can attack or at least not let opposition get away with huge total. One of the poor decions by Aqib and Shan more out of fear than based on conditions. Even South Africa playing Maharaj here.

 

[GLORY OF '92]

That's too pessimistic. In 10 years things can change when it comes to relative strenghs of teams. Also, you can have some inspired bowling to win short test series. With longer, it gets harder for sure, but 2 tests? You win one and draw another to take the series.

I've seen every Pakistan Test since 1999. Trust me it's impossible.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Yes. It would make sense if Pakistan had a battery of high class pace bowlers, but they don't really have even one these days. Shaheen was top class but these days he's not even able to hit a consistent line or length when the ball is new.

 

[dravidthewall]

No bavuma is good player of spin too

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Centurion had a pace friendly wicket so dropping spinner there was a good call but in Cape Town they should have picked Noman Ali because the wicket has been turning since day one and will offer even more support as it gets rougher.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

I think if SA could waste a spot with Maharaj then why don't let Sajid Khan be the part of squad.

 

[jnaveen1980]

In the last 10 years at Newlands of the 268 wickets that fell 28 wickets went to spinners (including 2 of Salman Agha) 240 went to seamers. That is around 90% for seamers.

 

[jnaveen1980]

I think if SA could waste a spot with Maharaj then why don't let Sajid Khan be the part of squad.

Maharaj bowling average at this ground is 52.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Lat 10 years bowling performance of visitors at Newlands. Check how many spinners feature. Not many.

 

[Hellion]

No. They would have still lost.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

The selection of Jamal was a blatant defensive move. The captain does not have confidence in his bowling to give him a longer bowling stint but he's been selected to bolster the batting.

Noman would have presented a different challenge and was coming into the series in red hot form. Agha has already picked up 2 wickets

Seems like the problem is with the captain, not the player. Jamal with his pace atleast brings something different to the bowling and adds depth to the batting. What does Mir Hamza offer that makes him better or even that much different than Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Abbas?

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

I think its a big mistake because by the looks of it the pitch will break in the latter half of the test match and become helpful for spin-bowling. There are plenty of cracks in the pitch as it is. As the pitch deteriorates it will not only encourage spin but also offer variable bounce. Unless Pakistan get close to whatever monster total South Africa will put up they are cooked in this test match.

 

[Kianig89]

The rubbish batting we did in 1st test was our undoing add to it we left them off the hook from 99/8 to chase 150

 

[Major]

Nope.

South Africa isnt suited for spinners. Even if you want to play a spinner in South Africa, your spinner needs to be a very good one that can actually spin the ball like Yasir Shah. These low quality spinners that rely on drift and pitch would be useless here because a quality spinner can make an impact on these wickets which we dont have.

Pakistan should have played 1 of Abbas or Mir Hamza and 2-3 proper pacers thats it. An attach of Mir Hamza, Khurram Shezad and Abbas is like playing 3 Abbas at once. Plus AJ is crap aswell as he himself doesnt know where his ball will land.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

In the last 10 years at Newlands of the 268 wickets that fell 28 wickets went to spinners (including 2 of Salman Agha) 240 went to seamers. That is around 90% for seamers.

I imagine the seamers who got those wickets were fairly decent standard, not a selection of one trick ponies like Pakistan's current batch of pace bowlers.

 

[Aqib_mustafa]

I imagine the seamers who got those wickets were fairly decent standard, not a selection of one trick ponies like Pakistan's current batch of pace bowlers.

Well atleast pak are trying players have a look at australia their main pacers are playing god know for how long here in pak we are changing pacers every other tests how can pak expect them to be consistent.

 

[Farabi]

You don’t go far enough. There should always be 1 specialist spinner playing in all formats. There are no conditions suited enough to play 4 pacers.

Aus happily benches S Boland to play Lyon. Is Multan more pace friendly than Perth, MCG? If S Boland was in Pakistan, he would be our main pacer. But they still won’t field a 4 man pace attack.

Specialist spinner is a different challenge. It also helps team composition and strategy. Spinners can also carry a lot of workfload keeping pacers fresh.

It’s hard to imagine how Pakistan might not have won that last test had Nauman played.
The pitch was uneven and with Naiman’s variations and accuracy, SA’s tail would have had no clue.

SA batters are typically pathetic against quality spin. The last 2 tests Pak won were courtesy Kaneria and Mushtaq Ahmed.

 

[JaDed]

You don’t go far enough. There should always be 1 specialist spinner playing in all formats. There are no conditions suited enough to play 4 pacers.

Aus happily benches S Boland to play Lyon. Is Multan more pace friendly than Perth, MCG? If S Boland was in Pakistan, he would be our main pacer. But they still won’t field a 4 man pace attack.

Specialist spinner is a different challenge. It also helps team composition and strategy. Spinners can also carry a lot of workfload keeping pacers fresh.

It’s hard to imagine how Pakistan might not have won that last test had Nauman played.
The pitch was uneven and with Naiman’s variations and accuracy, SA’s tail would have had no clue.

SA batters are typically pathetic against quality spin. The last 2 tests Pak won were courtesy Kaneria and Mushtaq Ahmed.

Aus have a very organised cricket structure, they always get one spinner and 3 capable pacers to be extremely good, so they don’t have to get bits and specialists.
Test cricket is best with classical structure but for that to be there teams have to have that capability.

Having said that Aus does change it’s team structure in India to have an additional spinner.

 

[jnaveen1980]

I imagine the seamers who got those wickets were fairly decent standard, not a selection of one trick ponies like Pakistan's current batch of pace bowlers.

Pakistan's problem is sameness. It is like playing just one seamer.If you have variety you can make an impact.

 

[Farabi]

Aus have a very organised cricket structure, they always get one spinner and 3 capable pacers to be extremely good, so they don’t have to get bits and specialists.
Test cricket is best with classical structure but for that to be there teams have to have that capability.

Having said that Aus does change it’s team structure in India to have an additional spinner.

Yup! And Pakistan should try and emulate a “very organized cricket structure” rather than reinvent the wheel. Aus probably have done their research and analysis, rather than Pakistan where decisions are typically made on whims and myths.

Pakistan’s problem right now isn’t as much “bits and pieces” specialists. It’s that they are (wrongly) obsessed with 4 man specialist pace attack. They are looking at Jamal as a specialist pacer.

From workload POV, having a spinner rather than 4th pacer eases the workload on the other 3. I think Pakistan should also adopt 3 pacer, 1 spinner strategy in SENA and 2 pacer, 2 spinner strategy in ASIA.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Missing Noman Ali and Sajid Khan in this situation?

 

[saimayubera]

No.

Pakistan are simply not good enough.

Any combination Pak plays they would lose.

This is a team about to be whitewashed in SA for the 3rd consecutive time. That's 4 whitewashes this century in SA.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Aamer Jamal should have never played this game... Noman deserved a spot here... Spin still has something in this pitch.

 

[FearlessRoar]

These are perfect conditions for spinners to utilize the breeze, yet we didn't play with a single specialist spinner.

 

[Aqib_mustafa]

No.

Pakistan are simply not good enough.

Any combination Pak plays they would lose.

This is a team about to be whitewashed in SA for the 3rd consecutive time. That's 4 whitewashes this century in SA.

Are you indian every post you are Mocking pakistan is that what you come to post cant you add something meaningful?

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Just imagine if Salman Ali Agha could took 3 wickets then what Sajid don would have done.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

No.

Pakistan are simply not good enough.

Any combination Pak plays they would lose.

This is a team about to be whitewashed in SA for the 3rd consecutive time. That's 4 whitewashes this century in SA.

I agree Pakistan would probably still have lost, but playing a handful of one paced medium pacers was always a stupid decision. SA will have grown up on a diet of far superior pace bowling, at least spinners might have given them something to work out.

 

[Inswinging Yorker]

Pakistan's weak batting is the reason they will lose. Not playing a spinner has very little bearing to the massive defeat that is loading.