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Pakistan vs South Africa | 2nd Test | Rawalpindi | October 20-24 | Pre-Match Discussion

BouncerGuy

BouncerGuy

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With a 93-run win in Lahore, Pakistan take a 1-0 lead into the second Test, brimming with confidence. Noman Ali’s ten-wicket haul, backed by Shaheen and Sajid’s incisive spells, exposed South Africa’s vulnerability against spin and reverse swing alike.

As the teams head into the second clash, all eyes are on whether Pakistan can carry the momentum and seal the series, or if
South Africa can regroup and hit back. Pitch conditions, team tweaks, and mental resilience will be key.

Who’s your pick to step up this time?​
 
Pakistan batsmen need to show more patience with the bat. They have superior skills against spin-bowling as compared to the South Africans but you have to respect the pitch and the conditions. These are the type of pitches where starting is always tough but once you get used to the slowness of the pitch batting becomes easier. You gotta grind and dig in instead of playing stupid, reckless cricket.
 
My proposed changes, although we know pak doesn’t like to change ‘winning combination’

Batting:
KG has to come in and AS has to sit out.
I won’t change 4-7 though to accommodate KG. So the question is, can KG play at 3?

Bowling:
2 spinners, Sajid still plays
1 pacer: Shaheen
1 fast bowling all-rounder: bowls a few overs and brings in some batting depth
 
All sa is to hope for bat first and put up 250 atelast both times.on top of it they have to hope for 167 collapses stuff. They are looking like fish out of water .
 
Obaidd said:
My proposed changes, although we know pak doesn’t like to change ‘winning combination’

Batting:
KG has to come in and AS has to sit out.
I won’t change 4-7 though to accommodate KG. So the question is, can KG play at 3?

Bowling:
2 spinners, Sajid still plays
1 pacer: Shaheen
1 fast bowling all-rounder: bowls a few overs and brings in some batting depth
Click to expand...
It seems like the bowling all rounder could be Amir Jamal or Asif Afridi
 
It’s refreshing as a Pakistani fan to go into a final test with a series lead.

Looking forward to another match defining performances from RizBar.
 
Energy said:
Worst scheduling- but expected from the rotten nutjobs. Only 1 out of 10 days has fallen on a weekend.
Click to expand...

I had to double check to see as I couldn't believe it initially. This test starts on a Monday, like why?

Couldn't even watch the first test because only one day was on Sunday so I was expecting something better but nope.
 
Usman Chadda said:
Our batting sucks. Need to address that.
Click to expand...
It's actually not that bad, or well even if it is, they didnt do poorly this time around.

They all collectively scored 384 which is monumental given the conditons.

Excluding Abdullah Shafique and Maybe Saud Shakeel who bumbled every innings and were poor in the field

Pakistan genuinely outbatted, Outbowled and out fielded SA in this match and dominated them from all fronts.
 
mominsaigol said:
It's actually not that bad, or well even if it is, they didnt do poorly this time around.

They all collectively scored 384 which is monumental given the conditons.

Excluding Abdullah Shafique and Maybe Saud Shakeel who bumbled every innings and were poor in the field

Pakistan genuinely outbatted, Outbowled and out fielded SA in this match and dominated them from all fronts.
Click to expand...
Bro what's your playing 11 do you want to see 3 spinners asif afridi making his debut how about that?
 
Again toss will decide the outcome of the match if maharaj plays SA will be strengthen in the bowling department
 
CricVet said:
Khurram for Hassan (this useless bowler has some connections to get selected repeatedly). Abrar for Sajid.

However, the nutcase PCB selectors won't do it.
Click to expand...
Are you for real sajid is a match winner he will play asif afridi should play in place of hassan ali
 
Win the toss, win the match.

The team that wins the toss will win the match.

South Africa would be desperately hoping to win the toss as their reputation as the World Test Champions is on the line.
 
If SA selects Maharaj , why not dish out a road and seal it 1-0 , surely PCB has to act sensibly. Turning pitches are a lottery specially as the toss makes it
 
mominsaigol said:
It's actually not that bad, or well even if it is, they didnt do poorly this time around.

They all collectively scored 384 which is monumental given the conditons.

Excluding Abdullah Shafique and Maybe Saud Shakeel who bumbled every innings and were poor in the field

Pakistan genuinely outbatted, Outbowled and out fielded SA in this match and dominated them from all fronts.
Click to expand...
We collapsed thrice in two innings.

It’s a brittle batting line-up, and South Africa can take advantage of that in Rawalpindi. There needs to be a realization for there to be improvement.

Our second innings has been deplorable since a long time, even on flat tracks.
 
Two things surely abrar comes in for hasan. Secondly surely saffers will bring mahraj and jenson back i actually make a phatta wicketj get a draw
 
Buffet said:
Hope to see SA batting first.
Click to expand...

With some application, SA could still have challenged the total and they had some momentum behind them after Pak folded in the 2nd innings. The pitches are not minefields like other parts of asia where it’s all crazy from ball one. Winning the toss wont guarantee victory.
 
shaz619 said:
With some application, SA could still have challenged the total and they had some momentum behind them after Pak folded in the 2nd innings. The pitches are not minefields like other parts of asia where it’s all crazy from ball one. Winning the toss wont guarantee victory.
Click to expand...
Bating is just not there to survive on spinning tracks even if it's not a minefield. Only hope is to bat first to get best conditions to bat. No guarantee , but more chance to win that way.
 
Play Abrar or Faisal Akram in place of Hasan Ali. One fast bowler is enough. Adding a mystery or unorthodox spinner will make it even more complex for them to deal with on these tracks. Too bad Saim is horribly out of form he could even been handful and added batting depth as I am most concerned about our batting.
 
jamie smith fan said:
Tbf hassan bowled very well.
Doesnt deserve to be dropped for a fast bowler
Click to expand...
We will find out in the next match if he plays. Khurram as a test bowler sounds far more promising than this guy who just happen to lose his plot when things go south pretty consistently. He is an amazingly inconsistent bowler.
 
If Pakistan has to go with 2 pacers and 2-spinners policy, then Shaheen+Khurram and Sajid noman should be there..

Khurram is far more superior bowler than Hassan atm in red ball, especially.
 
BouncerGuy said:
If Pakistan has to go with 2 pacers and 2-spinners policy, then Shaheen+Khurram and Sajid noman should be there..

Khurram is far more superior bowler than Hassan atm in red ball, especially.
Click to expand...
Their is virtually no point in having to play 2 pacers on this pitch. Pacers are useless until day 4-5 where reverse comes into the mix and even then

A) Shaheen is logically the only person skilled enough to perform reverse

B) Spin is still more deadly by default

C) I believe the pacers collectively bowled a total of 22 overs the entire match, I repeat not innings, THE ENTIRE MATCH ACROSS BOTH SESSIONS.

thats an avg of 11 overs per innings 🤣🤣.

Pretty sure Shaheen alone can cover that, if he cant then he shouldn't be playing test cricket.

Better to have 3 spinners(abrar, Sajid and noman) + 1 shaheen.
 
mominsaigol said:
Their is virtually no point in having to play 2 pacers on this pitch. Pacers are useless until day 4-5 where reverse comes into the mix and even then

A) Shaheen is logically the only person skilled enough to perform reverse

B) Spin is still more deadly by default

C) I believe the pacers collectively bowled a total of 22 overs the entire match, I repeat not innings, THE ENTIRE MATCH ACROSS BOTH SESSIONS.

thats an avg of 11 overs per innings 🤣🤣.

Pretty sure Shaheen alone can cover that, if he cant then he shouldn't be playing test cricket.

Better to have 3 spinners(abrar, Sajid and noman) + 1 shaheen.
Click to expand...
Yeah, that is why I said (IF)

On spin-friendly tracks, there is no need for 2 pacers, but we know PCB and its shenanigans.
 
Buffet said:
Bating is just not there to survive on spinning tracks even if it's not a minefield. Only hope is to bat first to get best conditions to bat. No guarantee , but more chance to win that way.
Click to expand...

They did good for their inexperienced line up however, getting close to 200 on Day 4 should raise alarm bells on Pak’s end and they can’t afford to lose it with the bat & rely on the spinners to bail them out every time. Makram didn’t get going either & he was the most experienced batter they had. SA’s balance was spot on & yeah, had they won the toss they’d have done much better I guess.
 
mominsaigol said:
Their is virtually no point in having to play 2 pacers on this pitch. Pacers are useless until day 4-5 where reverse comes into the mix and even then

A) Shaheen is logically the only person skilled enough to perform reverse

B) Spin is still more deadly by default

C) I believe the pacers collectively bowled a total of 22 overs the entire match, I repeat not innings, THE ENTIRE MATCH ACROSS BOTH SESSIONS.

thats an avg of 11 overs per innings 🤣🤣.

Pretty sure Shaheen alone can cover that, if he cant then he shouldn't be playing test cricket.

Better to have 3 spinners(abrar, Sajid and noman) + 1 shaheen.
Click to expand...

In both innings Shaheen bowled <10 overs, a big part of that was because Hassan Ali was there. He also gets more of a breather that way compared to if he was the sole pacer. On the whole I completely see where you’re coming from & it could be a very positive move. But believe me, if Shaheen was the only pacer, he’d begin to bowl defensively & in a very restrained manner.

There is one solution however, you can still fit in a 3rd specialist spinner if our 2nd pacer is a pace bowling A/R in either Fahim or Jamal? Their job would be to hold an end and allow Shaheen to be used in bursts where he is able to keep his pace in the high 130’s without worrying about injury or his workload.
 
Test starts from Monday , just saw this on Twitter , if true , what is happening ?

 
Last edited by a moderator:
BouncerGuy said:
Could be true... PCB is taking no risk I think...

But what about Maharaj and other spinners from Saffers?? They are gonna love this pitch too... our batters are ready to face them???
Click to expand...
Bro atleast admit is way better than what clown ramiz and babar were dishing out flat roads where teams outbatted pakistan atleast aqib want's to take the best route for pakistan which is a dry spinning pitch which has given pakistan success way better than ramiz babar era.
 
I really hope we lose the toss and are forced to field first. I want to see how we cope when we have to bat last.
 
BouncerGuy said:
If Pakistan has to go with 2 pacers and 2-spinners policy, then Shaheen+Khurram and Sajid noman should be there..

Khurram is far more superior bowler than Hassan atm in red ball, especially.
Click to expand...
I think the logic Khurram is more a new ball bowler and Hasan reversed swing.
 
DeadlyVenom said:
I think the logic Khurram is more a new ball bowler and Hasan reversed swing.
Click to expand...
Hassan's swing was toothless. At that pace, he is getting out nobody until the batter is blind.

Khurram is more accurate and I think he can bowl better than hassan.. Khurram has earned his spot and has been grinding in domestic and county for a long time now..
 
BouncerGuy said:
Hassan's swing was toothless. At that pace, he is getting out nobody until the batter is blind.

Khurram is more accurate and I think he can bowl better than hassan.. Khurram has earned his spot and has been grinding in domestic and county for a long time now..
Click to expand...
I agree. He should be first pick in test. Even over Shaheen.
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
Pakistan batsmen need to show more patience with the bat. They have superior skills against spin-bowling as compared to the South Africans but you have to respect the pitch and the conditions. These are the type of pitches where starting is always tough but once you get used to the slowness of the pitch batting becomes easier. You gotta grind and dig in instead of playing stupid, reckless cricket.
Click to expand...
Spot on!

Although that fast start to the innings approach did work for Rizwan, Agha and Brevis.
 
BouncerGuy said:
Could be true... PCB is taking no risk I think...

But what about Maharaj and other spinners from Saffers?? They are gonna love this pitch too... our batters are ready to face them???
Click to expand...
BG : Rabada , Maharaj , Muthu & Harmer are going to play for sure barring illness . If SAF play Jansen for Stubbs , it would be great as he can certainly bat at 7 .
Using these fans today [ I presume ] is a overkill with 3 more days to go & it could mean that even a more vicious pitch is at hand than Lahore & it certainly narrows the home advantage imo - more so if SAF have the 5 bowling options I mentioned .
 
Toss is the key here , If pakistan lose the toss and with maharaj back , it will be very difficult for pakistan to win the game
 
Who’s the one bowler who can bat at 8? The answer to that question should determine who should play alongside Nauman, Sajid and Shaheen.
 
As per reports,

Aaqib Javed, Director High Performance and national selector, is slated to arrive in Rawalpindi on Friday. He'll be there to inspect the spin-focused pitch being prepared for the second and final Test between Pakistan and South Africa, which starts on October 20 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Sources indicate the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) pitch in-charge has been working for three days to ensure the surface favors spin bowling.
 
BouncerGuy said:
Could be true... PCB is taking no risk I think...

But what about Maharaj and other spinners from Saffers?? They are gonna love this pitch too... our batters are ready to face them???
Click to expand...
This is stupidity, lol. Just make a normal, slow turner like the previous pitch.

Saffers clearly can't bat on that.

This might become a lottery pitch and might backfire on Pakistan's own batting lineup.
 
The Bald Eagle said:
As per reports,

Aaqib Javed, Director High Performance and national selector, is slated to arrive in Rawalpindi on Friday. He'll be there to inspect the spin-focused pitch being prepared for the second and final Test between Pakistan and South Africa, which starts on October 20 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Sources indicate the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) pitch in-charge has been working for three days to ensure the surface favors spin bowling.
Click to expand...
No series is complete without boss man 😎
 
RidiculousMan said:
No series is complete without boss man 😎
Click to expand...
Bro i wonder what stopped clown ramiz and babar making these spin pitches we were all told by these 2 we can't make spin tracks all that nonsense which ramiz raja said how come aqib came right away proved how to make spin tracks and made pakistan formidable at home with spin tracks.
 
Ravichandran Ashwin shared his thoughts on the outside-off-stump lines bowled by spinners in Lahore:

"In the Pakistan–South Africa Test match, the visiting spinners Pranilan Subbarayan, Simon Harmer, and Senuran Muthusamy made some basic mistakes by consistently bowling outside the off stump. That line doesn’t work on subcontinental pitches, especially on the first day. You can bowl one or two deliveries in that channel of course but your standard line has to be much tighter than what you would use overseas."

"The main difference abroad is the bounce. There, you can experiment with your line a bit more. When you bowl outside off a batter might nick one to point while cutting or you might find the edge when he goes for a drive but in India or Pakistan that doesn’t happen. The bounce is lower and if you keep bowling outside off stump you’ll simply get punished."

"Visiting spinners do adapt eventually but by the time they understand the conditions the series is usually over. Learning is one thing but putting that learning into practice is another."

"I’ve spoken to several spinners who come to play in the IPL and they often ask what adjustments they need to make in India. My advice is simple: focus on hitting the stumps and learn to generate side spin but many of them struggle with that because it requires a different grip and a slightly altered release. It takes time and patience to get it right and most importantly you have to overcome your insecurities."
 
PcB and their baffoons overdoing it , damn it you are 1-0 so why make a mess of it. The real question is what to make up of Hassan Ali, should a pacer replace him? Khurram Or a spinner comes in ?? Abrar or an allrounder replace him ? Jamal or KG??
 
Human786 said:
Test starts from Monday , just saw this on Twitter , if true , what is happening ?

Click to expand...
The temperatures during match days are going to be high , just keeping the pitch uncovered during day time would have sufficed leading upto the game . Why the fans , any clue cricket Pundits of PP ?
 
Aqib_mustafa said:
Bro atleast admit is way better than what clown ramiz and babar were dishing out flat roads where teams outbatted pakistan atleast aqib want's to take the best route for pakistan which is a dry spinning pitch which has given pakistan success way better than ramiz babar era.
Click to expand...
certainly Aqib .. Ramiz the idiot would have killed Test cricket , more specifically the bowlers , by asking the kind of pitches he did ! I wonder if there are groundsmen / curators who want to prepare pitches with live green grass [ 6 to 8 mm ] at least for domestic games ?
 
I would select this team

1) Imam ul Haq
2) Shan Masood
3) Babar Azam
4) Saud Shakeel
5) Mohd Rizwan
6) Salman Ali Agha
7) Aamir Jamal
8) Nauman Ali
9) Sajid Khan
10) Shaheen Afridi
11) Abrar Ahmed
 
Where are the big strong guys of the new gen?

Shoaib
Waqar
Umar gul
Wahab riaz

These guys were well built units

Where are these type of guys? Build I mean

From Pakistan. In test cricket

Get guys who get steep bounce. Forget pace. 130 to 140 with bounce is plenty pace.
 
Savak said:
I would select this team

1) Imam ul Haq
2) Shan Masood
3) Babar Azam
4) Saud Shakeel
5) Mohd Rizwan
6) Salman Ali Agha
7) Aamir Jamal
8) Nauman Ali
9) Sajid Khan
10) Shaheen Afridi
11) Abrar Ahmed
Click to expand...
Makes no sense. Dropping a batsman to play an extra bowler on a rank turner?

Better get KG in for AS. Jamal can come in only for Hasan.
 
Human786 said:
The temperatures during match days are going to be high , just keeping the pitch uncovered during day time would have sufficed leading upto the game . Why the fans , any clue cricket Pundits of PP ?
Click to expand...
Its a way to remove any moisture from the pitch.

Pakistan has adopted a spin strategy in test like they did during misbah era in uae. Now pakistani wickets are flat surfaces, so to make them spin wickets they use these fans to dry it up, get the wicket to break and have spin from day 1 and hell on day 4
 
Let's hope the fans are just to compensate for Pindi's colder climate incomparison to Lahore, and not to dish out another lottery pitch. They did use industrial fans last year against England too, but the pitches were alot like what we got in the first test in Lahore.
 
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