South Africa vs Pakistan | 1st Test | Centurion | Dec 26-30, 2018 | Pre-Match Thread

[Mueez]

Damn, can’t wait for tomorrow...

Tbh, don’t have many hope from the team tomorrow and let’s hope for a good game!

:

 

[Saj]

Horrible memories of Pakistan's performances in Tests in South Africa and I don't expect much from this series.

 

[hadi123]

Horrible memories of Pakistan's performances in Tests in South Africa and I don't expect much from this series.

Look on the bright side, we'll start 2019 at rock bottom after our inevitable thrashing by South Africa, so the only way will be up

 

[Usman Chadda]

Will be difficult to get a result, since two days are expected to be washouts. Unless Pakistan decides to challenge that and loses this Test within three days

 

[ARK Rafay]

Will be difficult to get a result, since two days are expected to be washouts. Unless Pakistan decides to challenge that and loses this Test within three days

expect the unexpected

 

[Rayyman]

Imam
Fakhar
Azhar
Haris
Asad
Babar
Sarfraz*+
Faheem
Amir
Yasir
Hasan

 

[happydavy]

If Pakistan bats first and somehow manages to get to 200+ in first inning, then I would rate them favorites to win the match

 

[Saj]

Will be difficult to get a result, since two days are expected to be washouts. Unless Pakistan decides to challenge that and loses this Test within three days

With our batting, 2 days might be enough

 

[Amjid Javed]

Horrible memories of Pakistan's performances in Tests in South Africa and I don't expect much from this series.

3-0 thrashing like which means captain and cheif selector and a few other failures will get the chop.

 

[Nasty Naz]

Azhar Ali in SA: 22.16 AVG in 6 innings
Sarfraz Ahmed: 13.83 AVG in 6 innings
Asad Shafiq: 33.16 AVG in 6 innings (1 hundred)

Shafiq has been at least been respectable but yikes, ugly performance from Azhar and Sarfraz. I don't think the rest of the batsmen or bowlers (except Amir) have ever played in South Africa, including Haris who hasn't played an ODI game there either. I feel like Pakistan is better suited to playing away from UAE but these are going to totally alien conditions for most of the batsmen and every bowler (except Amir). Could get really ugly but who knows, Pakistan perform better when they're down and out.

For Pakistan to succeed, I think the openers will have to come up big and give some sort of decent platform for the middle order batsmen

 

[Abdullah]

Win the toss- bat first- muster 250 and its game on!!

 

[FreePalestine]

I don’t think the first test will go our way... Mhmd Abbas a big loss. Though never count Pak bowlers out.

On paper, their bowling should blow away our inexperienced batting line up, even without Philander and Ngidi. But we have a young batting side, I think, with a bit of potential, and this will be an interesting test of their abilities.

 

[QuickCrick]

I’m confident Shafiq and Babar will have good tours as long as the others stand and be counted then we’re in with a chance. Although both batting lineups look weak, I’m actually more worried about our bowling given how reliant we’ve been on Abbas. Can’t rely on an 18 year old to lead the attack! We really need Amir back to his best and Hassan to stay clear of injury and carry forward his form from NZ series to have any chance.

 

[SpiritOf1903]

2007 was a wasted opportunity.

Any UK channels showing ??

 

[QuickCrick]

2007 was a wasted opportunity.

Any UK channels showing ??

Sky sports cricket

 

[Mueez]

Everybody saying bat first, score 250+ score, but what I think is sensible is that Pakistan should stick to their game - they should bowl first and get them out cheaply as it will be a green pitch...

To bat first, imo, would be suicidal for Pakistan on a “green mamba”.

We would be looking at deficit of 150+ runs if we choose to bat first.

 

[BaankeJi]

If Pakistan bats first and somehow manages to get to 200+ in first inning, then I would rate them favorites to win the match

Yes. 200 will be a winning total.

 

[Abdullah]

Damn, can’t wait for tomorrow...

Tbh, don’t have many hope from the team tomorrow and let’s hope for a good game!

:

I can not wait either. Been eagerly awaiting especially this last whole week!!
I can't believe I'm so gassed for this given what the expectation level should be!!

 

[Mueez]

I can not wait either. Been eagerly awaiting especially this last whole week!!
I can't believe I'm so gassed for this given what the expectation level should be!!

Thats the jazba of true Pakistani fans, even if the team isn’t performing well, we still get excited and start day-dreaming about the best scenarios for Pakistan to win.

 

[coy0607]

Horrible memories of Pakistan's performances in Tests in South Africa and I don't expect much from this series.

anytime I think Pak in SA, the first thing that comes to mind is Taufeeq Umar's monster game.

Also, the Smith / Gibbs opening stand, and Azhar's centuries wayyy back

I expect this Pakistan team to go as far as Farkhar will take them

 

[PakSarZameen]

Will be difficult to get a result, since two days are expected to be washouts. Unless Pakistan decides to challenge that and loses this Test within three days

That's a blessing in disguise for us

 

[MachoKhan]

Is there anyway to watch it live on mobile? Apart from that smartcric site.

 

[Oligochaetes]

04 hours to go... ugh... start the game already!

 

[Mahee]

it is pakistan's series to lose

 

[TeamPak95]

It'd be the most Pakistan thing if they win this series (not that I'm being optimistic or anything). They'd learn to run before learning to crawl

 

[MenInG]

Former Proteas spinner PAT SYMCOX says Dale Steyn will need to keep his emotions in check on the cusp of becoming South Africa’s most successful Test wicket-taker.

The three-match Test series between South Africa and Pakistan promises to be a mouth-watering prospect. Both sides will look at their bowling and think that they have that base covered. It’s rather a question of whether they can put enough runs on the board. That is really what the series is going to come down to, and we are going to see which heroes are going to be born on the batting front.

The challenge for Pakistan, who were whitewashed the last time they toured South Africa, is to counter the fast bowling on bouncier pitches with lateral movement. Mickey Arthur would have talked long and hard about leaving the ball well in the channel, which you don’t often do in subcontinental conditions.

The first Test in every series is always on a knife’s edge, and whichever team gains the ascendancy early on during a three-match series is set to prosper. The one advantage Pakistan will be relying on is the presence of Arthur as their head coach. Having played in South Africa and coached the Proteas he will know the conditions, the wickets and the players. Owing to Arthur’s presence, there will be a big guiding hand there, but whether Pakistan have the wherewithal to see it through remains to be seen.

However, I never underestimate Pakistan, as they ooze flair and talent. The days are gone when they were poor fielders and made elementary mistakes. Under Arthur, who took over in 2016, Pakistan has become a tough side to beat and they have built momentum over the last couple of years. I believe Pakistan’s seventh-place standing on the ICC Test rankings belies their current ability.

On their day, I would suggest that they are better than their ranking suggests and have the potential to beat anyone. One a good day they boast enough talented batsmen to take a bowling attack apart and they certainly possess the bowlers to knock you over if you show any weaknesses. Similarly, South Africa’s bowling attack can blow Pakistan away.

Dale Steyn and Kagiso Rabada will do the bulk of the work and will get the lion’s share of the wickets. All eyes will be on the former to see when he breaks Shaun Pollock’s record for the most Test wickets taken by a Protea bowler. It will be an awesome achievement, as the Phalaborwa Express is clearly the best fast bowler South Africa has produced since readmission. It will be an absolute treat to witness him break the record in front of his home crowd in Centurion. I foresee the Steyn narrative capturing the imagination of the first Test match.

Steyn swings the ball away and is bowling at good pace at home. However, the question is: can he keep his emotions in check? There is no doubt that there will be plenty of emotions flying around because that is always the case when people are staring down records. As a player, you want to get it out of the way as quickly as possible because you don’t want it hanging over the team. Everyone knows that Dale needs that one wicket and it’s all-encompassing. My hope is that Steyn gets through the Test, breaks the record and escapes injury.

With Vernon Philander unavailable for the first Test owing to injury, Duanne Olivier is the third seamer. The leading wicket-taker in the inaugural Mzansi Super League is a great prospect, but he has had to wait in line. His performances with the ball have been pretty good – he has amassed 17 wickets in five Tests for South Africa – but he will still feel like an outsider looking in. He will feel as though every time he gets a chance for the Proteas he has to take wickets in order to stay in the starting XI.

For me, Ottis Gibson and Faf du Plessis need to recognise the pressure Olivier is under and manage the process by making him feel part of the team.

https://www.sacricketmag.com/steyn-must-stem-emotions-pat-symcox/

 

[MenInG]

Dean Elgar is thrilled at the prospect of having a Boxing Day Test on his home ground, at SuperSport Park Centurion.

The Standard Bank Proteas opener said that the occasion is one that is very special, given the time of year, and he and the rest of the South African team can't wait to turn out on the Highveld against Pakistan.

"It's an exciting time of year, and we have a good record of late at Centurion. The Boxing Day Test is something you watch it as a kid, so to have it on your home ground, in familiar conditions, is really special."

The occasion itself is a festive one, and Elgar anticipated plenty of merriment when Pakistan roll into town.

"Test matches up here are always well supported. The weather is usually good, and there is a decent pitch. So we all eagerly await the 26th," the opener added with relish.

Elgar also pointed out that teams from the sub-continent are yet to get to grips with the surfaces provided up north, which plays into the Proteas hands.

"A lot of subcontinent teams don't like playing here because of pace and bounce, so that is something we can exploit. We have a good record here, and we love playing here."

The squad that the Proteas have named sees a few changes, namely in the bowling line-up. The miserly Vernon Philander is missing, as too is Lungi Ngidi, who is nursing a knee injury.

"It is disappointing not to have Vern and Lungi,but it is a massive opportunity for the other guys," Elgar pointed out.

"Duanne Olivier has done very well in the MSL, and teams don't like the extra pace he has."

Injuries notwithstanding, the Proteas still have some potent firepower to call upon when the two teams collide. Kagiso Rabada's ability is world renowned, while Dale Steyn is on the verge of a national Test wickets record.

"He's one away, so I'm pretty sure he will get it during the 5 days," Elgar said of the swing merchant.

As for the visitors, they too have an excellent bowling line-up. On their day, they can be a handful, and Elgar cannot wait to get out in the middle.

"They do have a strong bowling unit, but their batting unit looks like something we can exploit. It should be a tough battle against their bowlers," the left-handed added.

https://m.facebook.com/notes/titans...-highveld-boxing-day-affair/2157628690924771/

 

[Shandarchowka]

Excited and all geared up for this! Hoping for some good hard fought test cricket!!

 

[Pakprideuk]

Can't wait!!

 

[Mamoon]

I will not be watching the game because I am traveling, but even if I wasn’t, I probably wouldn’t have watched because I am not interested in Pakistan cricket anymore.

However, I really hope Imam, Masood and Babar perform well. I don’t care about the others or the overall result of the match/series.