South Africa reach 51/2 in chase of 277-run target at stumps on Day 3 of the first Test against Pakistan

[RedwoodOriginal]

Down the line teams will come fully prepared with a lot of spinners in their own side. Then toss will decide the match. If Pakistan loses a couple of tosses and loses the series then there will be some revisit to the strategy. This strategy relies on just one bowler. I don't rate Sajid Khan guy. He just enjoys the presence of noman at other end. If Noman is handled Pakistan will be running out of options

The thing about Noman is that he isn't really doing anything out of the box. He just bowls really slow and keeps hitting the right areas with consistency and discipline. The pitch does the rest. That's just skillful bowling, and something every team will struggle with no matter how many videos they watch. He bowls really long spells too so he doesn't give you much respite. Here, the quality of the other team's spin attack and their ability to play spin will play a big role. Last year, England won the toss on a very similar type of pitch in Rawalpindi in the deciding test, and Pakistan still beat them. Sajid was man of the series.

I think most of the top SENA teams will find it difficult here. New Zealand may have the highest probability of doing well because they have had some very good results in Asia in recent years.

 

[jnaveen1980]

The thing about Noman is that he isn't really doing anything out of the box. He just bowls really slow and keeps hitting the right areas with consistency and discipline. The pitch does the rest. That's just skillful bowling, and something every team will struggle with no matter how many videos they watch. He bowls really long spells too so he doesn't give you much respite. Here, the quality of the other team's spin attack and their ability to play spin will also matter. Last year, England won the toss on a very similar type of pitch in Rawalpindi in the deciding test, and Pakistan still beat them. Sajid was man of the series.

I think most of the top SENA teams will find it difficult here. New Zealand may have the highest probability of doing well because they have had some very good results in Asia in recent years.

NZ has a lot of lefties. That is an instant advantage.

 

[gazza619]

wow Already SA batting? seems like unplayable surface. I think left handers are better bet against Pakistan. If i were toruing side i would load the side with left handers.

It was poor batting by Pakistan

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

NZ has a lot of lefties. That is an instant advantage.

Yeah and Santner will greatly enjoy bowling on these surfaces too. He is great at varying his pace and bowling accurately. Ajaz Patel has bowled some terrific spells in India, Sri Lanka and UAE aswell.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Team with more lefties will be a problem for pakistan. NOman averages 19 against right handers 32 against left handers. Same way Sajid averages 10 against right handers. But 30 against left handers.

You can cut the stats into left right etc it's all good information but ultimately you have to pick your XI first and then worry about how the opposition stacks up theirs and Noman definitely and Sajid (probably , I am not too sold on him but the rest are dire) are our two best Test bowlers.

Pakistan at this point do not have enough bench strength to chop and change based on the opposition.

But I would like the strategy refined a bit so pacers come into the equation for sure.

 

[kron]

most fans want it too. Long term, it will become soul-destroying to see spinner bowl over and over again and again.

We are playing SA, NZ and SL at home. i will be intrigued if they try this against SL, perhaps they will introduce more seam friendly pitches for that series.

Think the stupid balls make a difference too.

India has SG balls. I am hoping they alter it a bit to make it seam more for longer periods.

Perhaps pak can work on the kookaburra balls to make the seam more pronounced. Think they use kookaburra afaik.

 

[kron]

Yeah and Santner will greatly enjoy bowling on these surfaces too. He is great at varying his pace and bowling accurately. Ajaz Patel has bowled some terrific spells in India, Sri Lanka and UAE aswell.

They got smashed in Lanka tbh

It’s just kohli and rohit making them look like freaking Warne and Murali last time when India lost.

If we had played any domestic player instead of those 2 clowns we would have won that series.

I refuse to believe santner and Ajaz are that good. They are nothing special.

 

[jnaveen1980]

They got smashed in Lanka tbh

It’s just kohli and rohit making them look like freaking Warne and Murali last time when India lost.

If we had played any domestic player instead of those 2 clowns we would have won that series.

I refuse to believe santner and Ajaz are that good. They are nothing special.

Santner is not exactly a great test bowler. He was picked purely for a specific pitch. But Kohli getting bowled by a rank full toss cannot be blamed on pitch though.

 

[kron]

Santner is not exactly a great test bowler. He was picked purely for a specific pitch. But Kohli getting bowled by a rank full toss cannot be blamed on pitch though.

No axar
No shami
No jurel

Reason why we lost
Could have even played Padikkal for useless rohit

 

[jnaveen1980]

Pakistan can drop Hasan Ali or Shaheen and pick Mohammad nawaz.

 

[mominsaigol]

Do you know why I quote Rana post because he brings Rizwan the T20 batsman and same way I bring Agha the T20 batsman/ captain.

Tum bich m Jane kha se aa gye.

No one knows why you do anything. You're a unique specimen. I have never met someone so brain dead.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

They got smashed in Lanka tbh

It’s just kohli and rohit making them look like freaking Warne and Murali last time when India lost.

If we had played any domestic player instead of those 2 clowns we would have won that series.

I refuse to believe santner and Ajaz are that good. They are nothing special.

You have a point. Sri Lanka kinda destroyed them in one match, and won the other one comfortably too. They lost a test in Bangladesh as well. But New Zealand are a very smart and professional team that are generally good at assessing conditions and make very few mistakes. Against teams like Pakistan, who have a propensity to self-destruct they are always in with a chance just by playing normal cricket and not making embarrassing mistakes. That's how they beat Pakistan in UAE too. There was no reason for Pakistan to lose a series in UAE to a New Zealand team with a spin-attack of Ajaz Patel, Ish Sodhi and Will Somerville, but they did.

 

[Amjid Javed]

The lahore pitch has been pretty decent, quite a few batsmen have got starts and then got out to daft shots.

The last 2 tests vs England, 2 vs WI the ball was spinning square from day 1. Its not the case here.

Pakistan lame batting 2nd effort was self inflicted.

 

[AZulfi]

Australian pitches have changed significantly since 2024. Before Australian pitches were known for being flat and bouncy. I think bounce is a defining characteristic of Australia that is always there.

English pitches are not bad either esp. those in London provided batsmen have the right temperament and technique and are prepared to apply themselves.

Asian teams usually do well at Lords and The Oval.

 

[zahid01]

That’s what India did in 90s

We won almost all home games and got smashed away from home.

It’s not fun. Yea you win a lot at home but it affects your ability to win overseas

Aussies make the fairest pitches albeit on the bouncy side

This is my point india has moved out of this desperate plan they are making more sporting wickets cricket is a contest this doctoring of pitches is in my view close to cheating i am a die hard pakistan fan but I don't agree with the direction we have taken i am sorry if some of you guys don't agree with game is all about opinion

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

English pitches are not bad either esp. those in London provided batsmen have the right temperament and technique and are prepared to apply themselves.

Asian teams usually do well at Lords and The Oval.

England pitches have started much flatter since Bazball. In previous years, they produced some quality test cricket in the world, but that has changed now.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

This Subrayen guy is not test-level. I think even Markram could have bowled a more useful spell than him...surprised why he didn't bowl himself. South Africa would be very happy to have Maharaj coming back in the next match in place of him.

 

[Nasty Naz]

Another batting collapse from Pakistan and it just seems like they got a lead of 250+ and decided to reckless afterwards with the thought that 250 is more than enough. So many wickets trying to hit big when it wasn't required or players like Shaheen/Nauman playing reverse sweeps when they lack the ability to execute it. Even Saud trying to hit a six when that is not his game at all.

The target should be more than good enough but still, Pakistan throwing wickets away was quite disappointing. Why even give the opposition a sniff of a chance when you don't have and there was no need to try to hit big shots when there is still so much time in the game.

 

[Savak]

Rickleton and Zorze will give a rude shock to Pakistan. Both these batters now know how to deal with Nauman and Sajid.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Pakistan's fielding has improved considerably in recent months. Noticed this in the Asia Cup too, and the fielding has largely been top-notch in this test too barring the Abdullah Shafique drop at short-leg yesterday.