Pakistan trail by 2 runs in their second innings, finishing Day 2 of the First Test against South Africa at 88/3

[BouncerGuy]

South Africa had a successful Day 1. They bowled out Pakistan for 211 after winning the toss. Pakistan's aggressive batting led to quick dismissals, with Paterson and Bosch claiming most of the wickets. Markram remains unbeaten on 47, ready to build his score tomorrow.

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[BouncerGuy]

Pakistan should be looking to bundle them out before Tea.. Markram is looking dangerous now.

 

[Mainul]

How good is Abbas and Naseem?

 

[jamie smith]

if they 2 more wickets before sa reach 100 then pak will be back in the game

 

[BouncerGuy]

How good is Abbas and Naseem?

Abbas's pace is the only problem. Naseem bowled ok but not that effective imo

 

[jamie smith]

Abbas's pace is the only problem. Naseem bowled ok but not that effective imo

abbas is drawing edges but they are not carrying to slip cordon

 

[shehz]

abbas is drawing edges but they are not carrying to slip cordon

I have a desi todka for that: Simply ask the slip fielders to take a few steps forward—problem solved.

 

[jamie smith]

we all know that but the maNagement is clueless

I have a desi todka for that: Simply ask the slip fielders to take a few steps forward—problem solved.

 

[SpiritOf1903]

Poys need early wickets!

 

[jamie smith]

did u mean boys??

Poys need early wickets!

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Hopefully with the pitch being rolled today, it will play nicely at least for the first hour and allow Saffers to accumulate runs in a risk free manner.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Nice over from Naseem

 

[Marooned]

Should have bowled khurram with Naseem at start.

Now abbas is going to help everyone settle in nicely.

 

[Marooned]

Decent over from abbas as well

 

[RidiculousMan]

0 control on ball by Naseem

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Naseem averaging 73 in SENA

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Abbas is beating the edge.

He was getting into a rhythm last night too.

Hopefully some tight overs.

 

[Shafi]

Nasim should go back to do more ads. He was never good to start with and will never be a good bowler. All hype with no talent.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Nice effort ball at 126 kph

 

[TheSultan]

Bowling attack is “toothless”. What kind of nonsense is this.

 

[Kianig89]

Nice trundling views at Centurion

 

[mominsaigol]

Bowling attack is “toothless”. What kind of nonsense is this.

Pakistan isn't a test and t20 side. Just an odi side. England series was a fluke because it really was just KG, Saud, Sajid + Noman facing eng. Everyone else was useless

Now in sa, KG and Said didn't kick off. Kg did but only half century. Noman isn't here and pacers are useless.

 

[Shafi]

Half of this team members are just rubbish. Parchi captain along with Zimbabar, drama queen, Nasim should be no where near the team. Why persist with useless Nasim. This guy is just useless bowler.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Empty ground. The only reason you got crowds yesterday was because it was Boxing Day.

CSA doing the right thing by prioritising SA20 and white ball cricket. Their critics aren't the ones paying the bills.

 

[TheSultan]

Abbas is a joke and Naseem might needs a jump start. Why are these guys even playing if they put in zero effort

 

[TheSultan]

Naseem is so floaty. Hit the damn pitch

 

[Hellion]

Naseem doesn't have the heart, height or the athleticism to be a champion fast bowler.

 

[Shafi]

Our players should go back to movies. All these fake acting.

 

[Shafi]

Naseem doesn't have the heart, height or the athleticism to be a champion fast bowler.

This guy doesn't have mind in the game either. All he cares about ads.

 

[Aami]

Naseem.Shah is useless ...all hype

 

[ethan hunt]

Shan masood must be pretty dumb. Open with your best bowler Khurram. Rubbish.

 

[Farabi]

Empty ground. The only reason you got crowds yesterday was because it was Boxing Day.

CSA doing the right thing by prioritising SA20 and white ball cricket. Their critics aren't the ones paying the bills.

Explain what you mean by prioritizing? Like marketing ads?
Do you see crowd here on non-india tours in SA tests?

 

[TheSultan]

Why is Naseem smiling after a leave as if he’s beaten the batsman?

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Explain what you mean by prioritizing? Like marketing ads?
Do you see crowd here on non-india tours in SA tests?

Cutting down on number of Tests played at home . Keeping their best players in the SA 20 instead of sending them to NZ for Tests.

Even when India tours , it's the white ball formats that get bigger crowds.

 

[jamie smith]

innings loss incoming

 

[Human786]

a 100 run lead would be real handy ...

 

[jamie smith]

tons loading for bavuma and markram

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Wicket will probably start seaming again anytime now once the roller's effects wear off

 

[Nikhil_cric]

a 100 run lead would be real handy ...

Handy? It's KO for PAK if that happens

 

[mominsaigol]

Can I ask why shan didn't decide to play noman Ali? Even if sa is not suited for spinners he's still a smart bowler?

These 3 pacers are useless

 

[jamie smith]

a 100 run lead would be real handy ...

they will gat a 200 run lead

 

[Shafi]

They will give ball to Khurram when batsmen settle. So much politics.

 

[Human786]

Khurram - not starting today is surprising ....

 

[jamie smith]

bavuma will be out next over

 

[Ali T]

Mo Abbas looking good!

 

[Human786]

32 in 8 overs today ...

 

[boomboomcheema]

Game slipping away from Pakistan these two erasing the deficet very quickly.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

It's easy to blame the players but this is the extent of their abilities and they are the best we have.

Aqib can't turn every track worldwide into a spinning track, we can only rely on that for home games against non Asian teams.

But for the most part these are the best bowlers in Pakistan and they are putting their hands up to play test cricket while others are "resting".

 

[jamie smith]

jamal down on pace

 

[jamie smith]

why is jamal bowling so slow??

 

[angrypathan]

why is jamal bowling so slow??

Just easing in, 134kph that last one

 

[Nikhil_cric]

It's easy to blame the players but this is the extent of their abilities and they are the best we have.

Aqib can't turn every track worldwide into a spinning track, we can only rely on that for home games against non Asian teams.

But for the most part these are the best bowlers in Pakistan and they are putting their hands up to play test cricket while others are "resting".

True. The real truth is that there is zero incentive to play Test cricket , bowling 18 overs a day , especially if you are not in the Big 3.

And to be honest , I don't think Shaheen would have made much difference either

 

[Abid Z]

Wow Abbas bowled at 128kph. Effort ball I think. Can’t wait to see him break the 130kph speed barrier. Will be a monumental achievement

 

[Asad T]

why is jamal bowling so slow??

was his first over, let's see now that he is warm

 

[gazza619]

Like the fielders chanting..abbass bhai…abbass bhai..allah ke naam pe abbass bhai..aik wicket abbass bhai

 

[Asad T]

Wow Abbas bowled at 128kph. Effort ball I think. Can’t wait to see him break the 130kph speed barrier. Will be a monumental achievement

and back to 123

 

[Shafi]

SL/BD has better bowlers than us

 

[jamie smith]

was his first over, let's see now that he is warm

129 kph from abbas

 

[Farabi]

It's easy to blame the players but this is the extent of their abilities and they are the best we have.

Aqib can't turn every track worldwide into a spinning track, we can only rely on that for home games against non Asian teams.

But for the most part these are the best bowlers in Pakistan and they are putting their hands up to play test cricket while others are "resting".

It's not all doom and gloom. Mir Hamza and Amir Jamal played 5 Tests in Australia with a combined average of 21 but haven’t featured since. After his strong performance against Australia, Hamza only played one more Test and was dropped. The focus on pace is why Naseem Shah plays while Hamza warms the bench, and Amir Jamal shouldn't be the 4th pacer. Mohammad Abbas, with 95 wickets at 23, was also dropped.

Why not pick Nauman Ali? Pakistan's recent Test wins in South Africa were thanks to spinners like Mushtaq Ahmed and Dinesh Kaneria – wrong tactics only hurt the team.

 

[jamie smith]

jamal is so wayward

 

[Nikhil_cric]

How is it that these guys are trundling and still can't bowl on one side of the pitch?

 

[jamie smith]

jamals pace has regressed massively

 

[Human786]

cricbuzz just now : No real pace from any of the Pakistani bowlers this morning, both batters have looked very comfortable and runs have come at a fair clip

 

[PakPremi]

Babar level captaincy in sleep mode waiting for something to happen, andusing bowlers on pre-planned quota. Why would you not bowl your best bowler Khurum, allowing SA easy rid to level the score.

 

[Shafi]

Can't expect better from a team who can get whitewashed by Bangladesh in their home ground. How long should we persist with Shan, Babar, Shafiq, Nasim, Rizwan.......

 

[Human786]

jamals pace has regressed massively

was he the 4th bowling option for his batting ability ?

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Well that's the game, done and dusted

 

[jamie smith]

Babar level captaincy in sleep mode waiting for something to happen, andusing bowlers on pre-planned quota. Why would you not bowl your best bowler Khurum, allowing SA easy rid to level the score.

maybe khurram is injured

 

[Nikhil_cric]

PAK were 127/4 at the same stage.

 

[Asad T]

jamals pace has regressed massively

Yeah, he got injured when he played county, so perhaps not the same after

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

South Africa already got this in the bag, one dimensional bowling attack is costing Pakistan.

Two of these three are new all bowlers. Naseem has been pedestrian.

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

PAK were 127/4 at the same stage.

SouthAfrica has batting till number 9. Jansen can make 20 odd for sure.

 

[Abid Z]

How is it that these guys are trundling and still can't bowl on one side of the pitch?

It’s a ploy. Mind games that Pakistani bowlers have mastered now. The batsman thinks they will bowl off stump line because there are 4 slip fielders but they actually bowl short on leg stump to encourage a 6 where the field is vacant. Have to admire the genius

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Pitch has eased up considerably and the bowling has no bite. Double whammy for Pakistan.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Naseem needs to learn the wobble ball and hit that money line and length. Relying on swing alone is just stupid . Doesn't work in Test cricket unless you are DW Steyn

 

[Farabi]

True. The real truth is that there is zero incentive to play Test cricket , bowling 18 overs a day , especially if you are not in the Big 3.

And to be honest , I don't think Shaheen would have made much difference either

Both Rauf and Shaheen could have been highly effective here, as shown during the recent Australia ODI series in similar conditions.

Shaheen, even at 17 on his first tour, performed admirably. He’s also inform - he and dominated South Africa during that white-ball series for the most part. His new reverse-swing skills would have been invaluable, and his height and extra bounce would have made a significant impact in these conditions. My opinion.

Huge misses

 

[The cricket enthusiast]

Yeah, he got injured when he played county, so perhaps not the same after

Why only Pakistani bowlers regressed after injury ?

 

[BouncerGuy]

This is not good from Pakistam... Really need to take wickets.

 

[Abid Z]

Pitch has eased up considerably and the bowling has no bite. Double whammy for Pakistan.

So the least they should do is keep it top of off stump. Even at 125kph that’s challenging for batsmen but they are just spraying it around.

 

[SpiritOf1903]

Game is drifting!

Wicket, boys, wickets!