South Africa finish Day 1 of first Test at 127/5 in response to Pakistan's total of 181

[MenInG]

What can only be described as a supreme test of Mickey Arthur and Sarfaraz Ahmed's skills is about to commence with the first Test of the 3-match series against South Africa.

South Africa hold the advantage due to their familiarity with home conditions whilst Pakistan have a bowling attack which can challenge any side. Mohammad Abba's absence could be a factor but then other other bowlers need to step up too.

So all to play for....

Conditions

While the temperatures in Centurion will remain warm in the first two days, the forecast suggests thunderstorms on the three remaining days of the Test. Styen suggested there was some 'spice' to the track.

Squads

South Africa: Faf du Plessis (c), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Theunis de Bruyn, Quinton de Kock (wk), Dean Elgar, Zubayr Hamza, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Duanne Olivier, Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn, Dane Paterson

Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Azhar Ali, Shan Masood, Haris Sohail, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Sarfraz Ahmed (c, wk), Mohammad Rizwan, Yasir Shah, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Amir, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi

 

[imshally81]

Hopefully.. Pakistan will show some fight....

 

[MeanAndGreen]

The Haris and Abbas injuries have really dampened my spirits.

I'm afraid this could get ugly ...

 

[Adnan_Ilyas]

i just read this - atleast Shan looks in good form though

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Showed this concern two weeks ago and unfortunately it has materialised. Such a bad news.

Send in Saad Ali or Saud Shakeel immediately to SA on 1st available flight.

Hurry up Inzi

 

[Nikhil_cric]

No worries. In these conditions, i don't think Shan Masood is much worse than Haris Sohail.

 

[Shafi]

Haris is becoming burden of the teeam by keep getting injury and poor performances.

 

[imshally81]

Pakistan have won the toss and bat first

 

[letme alone]

brave decision! although we will out in 100 runs.

 

[161]

We're batting first ... oh boy.

 

[Shafi]

Hopefully it will be last series or Shan, Imam, Sarfraz and Shafiq.
Lets see if we can score even 100.

 

[Adnan_Ilyas]

Come on boys lets pile on the runs

 

[MMHS]

When the squad was announced, I categorically wrote that the squad is unbalanced - it's tricked to make sure Imam plays 3 games - no middle order back-up in 16 men squad means, with 2 other openers making a come back - either they'll go with 2 regular openers in 6-4 combination or Imam opens with Azhar in 5-2-3 combination. Ul Haq needs to be sacked as early as possible, otherwise he'll destroy whatever chances PAK has in WC 2019.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Batting first is the right decsion. Batting last is much harder. Good fortune smiling on pakistan with the toss.

 

[NauV]

It's a big loss! Haris is arguably Pakistan's best player of pace bowling and a good backfoot player! Unfortunate!

Anyway, I hope Pakistan doesn't screw up the top order!

In my opinion, they need to open with Shan and Imam
move Asad and Babar to 4 and 5 and slot Fakhar at 6 . .

I think in the long term, Fakhar should slot in at number 6 for us anyway!

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

To me, Batting first does not appear to be the right decision. Doesn't allow time to size up a green pitch.

Best of luck though, Pakistan.

 

[Asif321]

Sudden injury to Harris
And stupid inzi has not even send a proper middle order batsmen with team
Should have saad or usman In squad before

 

[last_knight]

No worries. In these conditions, i don't think Shan Masood is much worse than Haris Sohail.

Rizwan

 

[Abdullah]

Batting first is the right decsion. Batting last is much harder. Good fortune smiling on pakistan with the toss.

Geezer, stop the trap talk.
No point bowling last if you get shot out for 100.
They need to bat properly for it to be a factor

 

[last_knight]

Why everyone say Shan when Rizwan is also there ? They can try him as well.

 

[Oligochaetes]

Batting first is a bold decision by the skippah! I hope the batters are ready... I hope Fakhar has a speedy start

 

[Abdullah]

Historically we have won away games after losing the toss where the oppo decides to bat and it becomes a good toss for us to lose as we do the damage in the first session

 

[161]

I would have replaced Haris with Faheem. Probably no worst than Imam or Shan with the bat and a very useful 5th bowler.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Azhar batting at 4 )

 

[Asif321]

Oh god 3 left hand opening batsmen playing
Asking for disaster ?
Rizwan should be playing rather than Shan
Inzi the selector exposed again not sending backup batsmen

 

[Abdul]

Haris is arguably Pakistan's best player of pace bowling.

No, he is not. Could be a blessing in disguise because the scaredy-cat mostly gets out after scoring 30 runs.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Geezer, stop the trap talk.
No point bowling last if you get shot out for 100.
They need to bat properly for it to be a factor

This is not cape Town or Wanderers track. Batting first is the best decision here.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

No Zubayr Hamza? Poor move by SA.

 

[Abdullah]

This is not cape Town or Wanderers track. Batting first is the best decision here.

My point still stands, they still need to bat properly and given they could hardly do it in the UAE....

 

[MMHS]

FZ should bat at 6 instead of opening or at 3. Top 3 lefti isn't a good idea and that pushes Azhar even lower - Shan, Imam, Azhar, Babar, Asad, FZ, Sarfraz should be the line up. From 6, Fakhar can hit some quick runs as well with tail at one end.

 

[Bilal7]

Azhar batting at 4 )

It's expected when there are three openers in the lineup. Might not be a bad decision to play Masood given that the first 20 overs will be the hardest time to bat here.

 

[imshally81]

I would have replaced Haris with Faheem. Probably no worst than Imam or Shan with the bat and a very useful 5th bowler.

Good idea.... But...

 

[Bilal7]

Masood is not Haris but he can do a decent job. All is not lost.

 

[ARK Rafay]

lol, selectors have selected 3 injured players (Shadab, Abbas, and Haris) Had Hassan been injured again. We would have a squad of 12 players

 

[MMHS]

No Zubayr Hamza? Poor move by SA.

Don't you think CSAF owes some apology from someone ranting on how racial quota will cost Td Bruyn a deserving spot?

 

[Nikhil_cric]

It's expected when there are three openers in the lineup. Might not be a bad decision to play Masood given that the first 20 overs will be the hardest time to bat here.

Play Azhar as opener and drop FZ to 6. Problem solved. Azhar can blunt the new ball and FZ can launch the counter attack.

 

[ARK Rafay]

I would have replaced Haris with Faheem. Probably no worst than Imam or Shan with the bat and a very useful 5th bowler.

Exactly and the way he bowled in practice match. I would back him to be our 2nd best bowler followed by Amir in the absence of Abbas

 

[imshally81]

Need fawad Alam in SA asap....

 

[GLORY OF '92]

Either we will be massacred or we will win. Not going to be close either way.

 

[warcry]

we will be bowling by tea today.

 

[Gullycricket]

So frustrated with Haris.Such potential but...

 

[Markhor]

Rubbish squad selection will be exposed. How can you not have a backup middle order batsman ? What a sorry looking batting lineup.

 

[Shafi]

we will be bowling by tea today.

Lets see if we even survive the morning session.

 

[Hitman]

Imam will score a century today.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Don't you think CSAF owes some apology from someone ranting on how racial quota will cost Td Bruyn a deserving spot?

I actually agree somewhat with Junaids on this to be fair. Both Theunis and Zubayr should play in my opinion. But that would mean Bavuma would have to miss out. So quota may have inflenced that after all.

 

[GLORY OF '92]

Markram and Elgar will hurt us. Excited for this to start but also very worried.

 

[MenInG]

Oh the wrist-slitters brigade is alive and kicking.

 

[Ozymandiasza]

Almost there... I'm quite excited.

 

[imshally81]

Oh the wrist-slitters brigade is alive and kicking.

Hahaha )

 

[Suleiman]

Believe it or not Shan is the only batsman in this entire line up other than Harris and Fakhar who carries himself with grace and a sense of calmness. Can’t scientifically prove if it’s a left hander thing, but you look at Lara and Gilchrist and see the same.

He’s been working on his heavy lifts, posted an Instagram pic of him reading Art of War by Sun Tzu, and has been hard at work. Wish him the best. Allah acha karey, not only him but for every player playing today regardless of whether we support their selection or not.

Janoobi Africa is ours.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Why the hell is Azhar batting at 4.

 

[shokz1408]

I'm assuming all out by 150

 

[Asif321]

Let’s see we need 300

 

[Asif321]

Damm it’s so green

 

[MMHS]

I actually agree somewhat with Junaids on this to be fair. Both Theunis and Zubayr should play in my opinion. But that would mean Bavuma would have to miss out. So quota may have inflenced that after all.

Definitely Hamza should have played - he has scored close to 1K FC runs in last 6 months at 65+ average.

 

[Suleiman]

Last time Steyn was a Mufasa now he is a Scar. Will get what’s coming to him.

 

[Markhor]

At least thunderstorms are forecast. Get a draw and getting Haris and Abbas back for the 2nd Test.

 

[Usman Chadda]

Look at the carry on that. C'mon Imam, will be a brilliant challenge for this lad and will make him into a much better player.

 

[amvbfm]

Unbalanced batting lineup selected from an unbalanced squad. Such a thing was bound to happen given the lack of a middle order backup batsman. Just don't see the sense in playing Azhar at 4 and Babar at 6 but then there aren't many permutations that will look good when you are playing three specialist openers in the side.

 

[MMHS]

Damm it’s so green

I think, it's a brilliant Test wicket, which should get faster on day 2, best for batting on Day 3 and spinners come on to play from Day 4. What PAK needs is to reach lunch 1 or max 2 down and post 250+ on 1st innings. Taking chance with Yasir has paid off with the toss - he is going to trouble SAF here.

 

[ARK Rafay]

S Ravi umpiring

 

[Swashbuckler]

Correct choice to bat first, Centurion in 4th innings becomes unplayable and I will back Pakistan to easily defend even 130 there against a fragile SA batting order. Expecting a 50/3 session, great day with all 3 top Asian teams taking on the southern hemisphere.

 

[NauV]

Sending FZ as an opener with Shan in the team and Haris out of hte team is the first mistake!

FZ could have added real value at number 6

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Rabada on now.

And first runs for Fakhar and Pakistan

 

[Markhor]

Imam is toast in this series given his short ball weakness.

 

[letme alone]

1 run remain 299

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Imam chooses to review

 

[Madplayer]

Imam gone. And he has taken a review which doesnt look good at all.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

I think it's out. Looks plumb.

 

[Madplayer]

Imam chooses to review

Pathetic review. Selfish.

 

[aukhan]

bhatija

 

[shah_1]

As expected

 

[Stalin]

That is plum

 

[Madplayer]

Can Pakistan reach 50?
Let the wrist slitting begin.

 

[aukhan]

Pathetic as usual.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Yup.

Pakistan 1-1

 

[Baigel]

Loving the reviews, atleast Pakistan will have a chance to bowl before tea today

 

[Asif321]

Chalo ji review also lost
Shan will be out in next 3 deliveries

 

[urnotserious]

Over or under 120?

 

[Swashbuckler]

Selfish review, can't afford such blunders in SENA.