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

[hadi123]

So Pakistan won the warm up but still I'm sure us fans are expecting very little from our side. The first dilemma is the playing XI, and it's going to be hard to pick it, especially if you bear in mind that there is doubt over Mohammad Abbas' fitness. My XI would be as follows:

1) Imam-ul-Haq - his innings today cemented his spot in the team for the first game, I think he can do well, I don't think he is a nepotistic selection
2) Fakhar Zaman - Shan Masood may have done well in the warm up game but I feel Fakhar Zaman can be our x-factor, plus he done well last time he played a Test
3) Azhar Ali
4) Haris Sohail
5) Asad Shafiq - got a duck in the warm up game, he needs to perform here, people are starting to lose patience with him it seems.
6) Babar Azam
7) Sarfaraz Ahmed (C) (WK)
8) Faheem Ashraf - He has to play because of his batting, otherwise our tail starts with Sarfaraz
9) Mohammad Amir - he was the best bowler in the warm up game
10) Hasan Ali - I don't think we should risk Abbas, he's got a shoulder injury and that's not something we want to risk unless he's 100% fit, if he aggravates it that could have a serious long term problem.
11) Yasir Shah

Looking at the team and I find the balance very bad, but I can't think of any other better team, Faheem Ashraf really has to play because our batting is weak as it is. It's gonna be even more complicated if Abbas IS 100% fit as he definitely should start if he is, but who would he play in place of from the above?

Predicting a bad defeat for us because you only have 4 bowlers, with 2-3 part timers thrown in. No place for Shadab in this XI really as Yasir Shah is the superior bowler. Our only hope is if we bat first and somehow get a 300+ score.

 

[AliMurtaza]

If Abbas doesn't play, there is no chance in hell we can win even a single test. Unlike others here who believe Pak batting has to put up a good score, I believe we need 3 good pacers to win us the test match. If Pak batting scores 180-250 runs, we can win the test match if we have 2 good new ball bowlers to partner Abbas.

I wish Junaid had been selected for this series. As usual PP experts have hyped up Shinwari but I don't think he is ready for test cricket. Hassan Ali is a good when the ball is reverse swinging. Less said about Faheem, the better.

All we can hope is that Abbas is fit and Amir can provide decent support. I have no hope with either of the remaining fast bowlers. We can only compete in this series if our fast bowlers can bowl out SA for 250 or less each time.

 

[hadi123]

If Abbas doesn't play, there is no chance in hell we can win even a single test. Unlike others here who believe Pak batting has to put up a good score, I believe we need 3 good pacers to win us the test match. If Pak batting scores 180-250 runs, we can win the test match if we have 2 good new ball bowlers to partner Abbas.

I wish Junaid had been selected for this series. As usual PP experts have hyped up Shinwari but I don't think he is ready for test cricket. Hassan Ali is a good when the ball is reverse swinging. Less said about Faheem, the better.

All we can hope is that Abbas is fit and Amir can provide decent support. I have no hope with either of the remaining fast bowlers. We can only compete in this series if our fast bowlers can bowl out SA for 250 or less each time.

I think that Abbas may not be as big of a miss as we fear. When Amir and Hasan are on song, they are just as good as Abbas, if not better. The main issue is the balance of the team.

 

[Arsalan Pro]

If Abbas doesn't play, there is no chance in hell we can win even a single test. Unlike others here who believe Pak batting has to put up a good score, I believe we need 3 good pacers to win us the test match. If Pak batting scores 180-250 runs, we can win the test match if we have 2 good new ball bowlers to partner Abbas.

I wish Junaid had been selected for this series. As usual PP experts have hyped up Shinwari but I don't think he is ready for test cricket. Hassan Ali is a good when the ball is reverse swinging. Less said about Faheem, the better.

All we can hope is that Abbas is fit and Amir can provide decent support. I have no hope with either of the remaining fast bowlers. We can only compete in this series if our fast bowlers can bowl out SA for 250 or less each time.

Shinwari is not selected for the tour, you must have meant Shaheen.

 

[Arsalan Pro]

There is no chance Faheem would be the Fourth bowler as he isn't that good, he can only play as Fifth one. If Abbas remains unfit, both Shaheen and Hasan will play otherwise one of them.

 

[Arsalan Pro]

If all players are fit, my team would be:

Imam Ul Haq
Fakhar Zaman
Azhar Ali
Haris Sohail
Asad Shafiq
Babar Azam
Sarfraz Ahmed(C)(Wk)
Mohammad Amir
Yasir Shah
Hasan Ali
Mohammad Abbas

 

[hadi123]

I wish Junaid had been selected for this series. As usual PP experts have hyped up Shinwari but I don't think he is ready for test cricket. Hassan Ali is a good when the ball is reverse swinging. Less said about Faheem, the better.

Yeah, JK only played 2 matches in the FC QEA Trophy but he was phenomenal in those 2 matches. I do think he was being considered for the Test squad against NZ, I for sure would have picked him but then he got injured after the 1st ODI vs NZ, if you guys remember the Test squad was only named after the 2nd ODI and JK obviously was ruled out so I guess it's fair enough he wasn't picked, I wonder if he would have been picked had he not picked that injury up.

 

[hadi123]

There is no chance Faheem would be the Fourth bowler as he isn't that good, he can only play as Fifth one. If Abbas remains unfit, both Shaheen and Hasan will play otherwise one of them.

Yep that's exactly the problem regarding balance. I don't think Ashraf is good enough for 3rd seamer/4th bowler either but cos of his batting I would just pick him over Shaheen (assuming Abbas is unfit) as otherwise we will have a super long tail and that's really gonna be a disadvantage

 

[Arsalan Pro]

Yep that's exactly the problem regarding balance. I don't think Ashraf is good enough for 3rd seamer/4th bowler either but cos of his batting I would just pick him over Shaheen (assuming Abbas is unfit) as otherwise we will have a super long tail and that's really gonna be a disadvantage

I don't think we should compromise on what we are good bro, our bowling is great and we should stick with 4 bowlers no matter what. Also with the return of Amir, I think our tail is a little better as he has scored runs in Australia and England previously.

 

[PakPremi]

If all players are fit, my team would be:

Imam Ul Haq
Fakhar Zaman
Azhar Ali
Haris Sohail
Asad Shafiq
Babar Azam
Sarfraz Ahmed(C)(Wk)
Mohammad Amir
Yasir Shah
Hasan Ali
Mohammad Abbas

If all are fit this team would represent best chance for us to win but not sure if Abbas would have bowling form as I guess he has has not bowled much since his injury.

 

[Arsalan Pro]

If all are fit this team would represent best chance for us to win but not sure if Abbas would have bowling form as I guess he has has not bowled much since his injury.

It wouldn't take too long for Abbas to return to form especially on these pitches.

 

[aloo paratha]

My 11 would be:

Imam (one final chance)
Fakhar
Azhar
Haris
Shafiq
Babar
Sarfraz
Hasan
Amir
Shaheen
Abbas

In my opinion, we need to go with our 4 best pacers. Faheem's batting is nowhere near good enough to play south Africa, the guy will average below 15 if he plays. Haris and Azhar can chip in for spin bowling.

 

[GLORY OF '92]

Playing Yasir will be a big mistake.

 

[MMHS]

Centurion is a grave yard for spinners. Things might have changed, but previous record for spinners in last 20 years had been poor. Spinners average around 4.5 wickets/Test at 50. Warne's only Test ended with a figure of 0/89. Also, in SAF normally they start the season at Durban, followed by Cape Town and Tests at Highlands are played in later part of the season which should have assisted spinners more - still that stats for spinners and this year they have scheduled Boxing Day Test at Capital, I doubt, spinners will have any impact in this Test.

The only question is 6+4 or 5+2+3 combination. I personally always like 6+4, but may be the fitness of PAK pacers (without 70 overs workload from one spinner) is a big factor for the combination. Also, there is not enough middle order batsmen in squad, for which I do think 5-2-3 can be an option. If PAK is planning for a 5-2-3 combination, then Shadab & Fahim should have been given batting in both innings, which didn't happen therefore I think they will stick to 6+4 combination, and play 4 pacers. Yasir doesn't make the XI for Centurion, few overs of spin can be shared by Azhar & Haris.

My playing XI will be -

FZ/Masood, Imam
Azhar, Haris, Babar, Asad
Sarfraz
Amir, Hasan, Afridi, Abbas

If Abbas isn't fit enough, then no option but to play Fahim (rather than Yasir). If PAK indeed goes for a 5-2-3 combination, then only option is to make Azhar open with Imam (he'll play, probably all 3 Tests and needs to score just 1 fifty to open in next October as well). If Abbas isn't fir enough, I probably would prefer a 5-2-3 combination with both Shadab & Fahim in it.

 

[The Viper]

I have changed my stance. We can't afford to play two allrounders- must play best pacers. Sarfaraz is batting badly at the moment so we need as much batting support as possible.

 

[Amjid Javed]

4 pacers is the way to go with azhar/sohail acting as 5th bowler.

Babar needs to bat 5 as he will be wasted at 6 with our tail starting at 7.

 

[hadi123]

I don't think we should compromise on what we are good bro, our bowling is great and we should stick with 4 bowlers no matter what. Also with the return of Amir, I think our tail is a little better as he has scored runs in Australia and England previously.

Yes it is a huge problem. Maybe we could be brave and play Shadab over Yasir Shah (if he's fit) and therefore play a proper seamer over Ashraf as Shadab is a very capable batsman. I don't think Yasir Shah would do much in Centurion tbh. But yeah, I can't see Yasir Shah not being in the XI

 

[barah_admi]

So Pakistan won the warm up but still I'm sure us fans are expecting very little from our side. The first dilemma is the XI, and it's going to be hard to pick it, especially if you bear in mind that there is doubt over Mohammad Abbas' fitness. My XI would be as follows:

1) Imam-ul-Haq - his innings today cemented his spot in the team for the first game, I think he can do well, I don't think he is a nepotistic selection
2) Fakhar Zaman - Shan Masood may have done well in the warm up game but I feel Fakhar Zaman can be our x-factor, plus he done well last time he played a Test
3) Azhar Ali
4) Haris Sohail
5) Asad Shafiq - got a duck in the warm up game, he needs to perform here, people are starting to lose patience with him it seems.
6) Babar Azam
7) Sarfaraz Ahmed (C) (WK)
8) Faheem Ashraf - He has to play because of his batting, otherwise our tail starts with Sarfaraz
9) Mohammad Amir - he was the best bowler in the warm up game
10) Hasan Ali - I don't think we should risk Abbas, he's got a shoulder injury and that's not something we want to risk unless he's 100% fit, if he aggravates it that could have a serious long term problem.
11) Yasir Shah

Looking at the team and I find the balance very bad, but I can't think of any other better team, Faheem Ashraf really has to play because our batting is weak as it is. It's gonna be even more complicated if Abbas IS 100% fit as he definitely should start if he is, but who would he play in place of from the above?

Predicting a bad defeat for us because you only have 4 bowlers, with 2-3 part timers thrown in. No place for Shadab in this XI really as Yasir Shah is the superior bowler. Our only hope is if we bat first and somehow get a 300+ score.

I think there has to be space for Shadab in there somewhere...problem is, what happens with the batting? Risks need to be taken, to hell with media critics:

Imam
Fakhar
Azhar
Babar
Shafiq
Sarfraz
Shadab
Amir
Hasan/Abbas
Shaheen
Shah

 

[hadi123]

I think there has to be space for Shadab in there somewhere...problem is, what happens with the batting? Risks need to be taken, to hell with media critics:

Imam
Fakhar
Azhar
Babar
Shafiq
Sarfraz
Shadab
Amir
Hasan/Abbas
Shaheen
Shah

Would be risky to play both Shah and Shadab on a pitch where it won't support spinners much. And Sarfaraz at 6 is a very scary prospect.

 

[AliMurtaza]

Shinwari is not selected for the tour, you must have meant Shaheen.

Yes, meant Shaheen.

 

[AliMurtaza]

I think that Abbas may not be as big of a miss as we fear. When Amir and Hasan are on song, they are just as good as Abbas, if not better. The main issue is the balance of the team.

Hassan is not a new ball bowler, won't succeed in SA conditions.

 

[161]

I'd play Faheem as the 4th pacer in place of one our useless openers. Azhar and Fakhar can open.

Also this talk of dropping Yasir straight away is foolish. He should play the first test at least so we can assess if these notoriously weak against spin saffers can play him.

My XI

Fakhar
Azhar
Babar
Sohail
Asad
Sarfraz
Faheem
Amir
Yasir
Hasan/SSA
Abbas

 

[hadi123]

Hassan is not a new ball bowler, won't succeed in SA conditions.

Maybe play Shaheen over Hasan Ali then

 

[Abdullah]

We need to be fluid with the line up and decide the combo when we see the pitch.
If it is a bowl first pitch I would risk playing no spinner and possibly faheem as the number 8. ( If it feels like we can roll them in 2 good sessions)
If it is a bat first pitch and day u may just want to play 3 quicks and Yasir or u could go with the 5 2 1 3 to somehow muster up a 300 score, and take the game from there

 

[Oligochaetes]

If all players are fit, my team would be:

Imam Ul Haq
Fakhar Zaman
Azhar Ali
Haris Sohail
Asad Shafiq
Babar Azam
Sarfraz Ahmed(C)(Wk)
Mohammad Amir
Yasir Shah
Hasan Ali
Mohammad Abbas

This is the most likely team selection.

Any news about the South African quota system, How many white/color players can they select? With Philander out I reckon Pakistan have a great chance to win the first test. Without AB and Philander's rearguard, Saffer batting looks weak.

Not that Pakistan have a long batting line up, but the first test barring Philander is the best chance!

 

[ARK Rafay]

If Sarfraz bats at no.7 there is no point of playing Faheem or Shadab to strengthen the batting. If 7 players can't bat 8th won't win you the game with the bat.

 

[Da_Future_Knick]

Imam
Fakhar
Azhar
Haris
Babar
Shafiq
Sarfraz
Faheem
Amir
Shaheen
Abbas

Pretty sure this will be the 11, if Abbas is injured they’ll bring Hassan in.

 

[Arsalan Pro]

This is the most likely team selection.

Any news about the South African quota system, How many white/color players can they select? With Philander out I reckon Pakistan have a great chance to win the first test. Without AB and Philander's rearguard, Saffer batting looks weak.

Not that Pakistan have a long batting line up, but the first test barring Philander is the best chance!

Ideally they need to have 6 Non-white players out of which 2 must be Black Africans, but they can change it depending on the availability of players.

For this Test they will either go for 5 Non-white players, namely: Amla, Hamza, Bavuma, Maharaj and Rabada. Rabada and Bavuma being the Black Africans. In this case they will have to drop De Bruyn who scored a hundred last match for Hamza a debutant, who was previously safe due to Philander playing instead of a white player Oliver.

Or with 4 Non-white players which is unlikely: Amla, Bavuma, Maharaj and Rabada to retain De Bruyn.

 

[barah_admi]

Would be risky to play both Shah and Shadab on a pitch where it won't support spinners much. And Sarfaraz at 6 is a very scary prospect.

Pakistan's bowling strength in the last few years has been with their spinners and I don't see why someone like Shah can't be useful on a day 4 or 5 pitch, as long as the batsmen do their jobs. Speaking of which, Shadab has the ability to bat and do so well, so he can be very useful.

The problem of Sarfraz persists, regardless of where one puts him....

 

[PakPremi]

Pakistan's bowling strength in the last few years has been with their spinners and I don't see why someone like Shah can't be useful on a day 4 or 5 pitch, as long as the batsmen do their jobs. Speaking of which, Shadab has the ability to bat and do so well, so he can be very useful.

The problem of Sarfraz persists, regardless of where one puts him....

I would play Shadab this test as he is likely to score at least a 30 .Yasir batting is gone downhill big time.
As for Sarfraz don't forget it was Sarfraz's batting that helped us beat Australia and win the series.

 

[hadi123]

Pakistan's bowling strength in the last few years has been with their spinners and I don't see why someone like Shah can't be useful on a day 4 or 5 pitch, as long as the batsmen do their jobs. Speaking of which, Shadab has the ability to bat and do so well, so he can be very useful.

The problem of Sarfraz persists, regardless of where one puts him....

Let's not forget how Yasir Shah was in Australia i.e. absolutely useless

 

[hussain.r97]

Playing a spinner in Centurion will backfire badly. Spinner role can be filled by Haris Sohail and Azhar Ali. I would play this team:

Fakhar Zaman
Imam ul Haq
Azhar Ali
Haris Sohail
Asad Shafiq
Babar Azam
Sarfraz Ahmed+*
Mohammad Amir
Hasan Ali
Shaheen Shah Afridi
Mohammad Abbas

 

[yasir]

I hope following guys are fully fit and in playing 11:
Fakir Zaman
Shadab Khan
Faheem Ashraf
M Amir
M Abbas

We cannot play 6+4, that would be bad combination, Pakistan has to play 5+2+3...

I don’t have to reiterate importance of batting depth in west, forget about west, we have lost two series in two years at home, because of not playing with Faheem or Shadab in UAE...

 

[Sarwar89]

South Africans generally do not play leg spin that good.

1) Fakhar Zaman
2) Imam ul Haq
3) Azhar Ali
4) Harris Sohail
5) Asad Shafique
6) Babar azam
7) Sarfaraz
8) M. Amir
9) Yasir Shah
10) Hasan Ali
11) Mohammad Abbas. Or Shaheen
In case Abbas is unfit.

 

[Plumb]

Abbas being injured has really made me lose interest.... Wanted to see how he performs. I hope we give him rest even if he is 90% fit, shouldn't be rushing him to win a game.

Hopefully Amir comes to his senses and bowl well.

 

[ILcricket]

I think hosts must go for 5 bowling options as Steyn in a 4 man attack is a huge risk . For visitors , not facing Philander & Ngidi is a huge plus .
Just checked forecast & it seems thunderstorms are expected which is bad news .

 

[shaz619]

Shan Masood to start, the massacre I can't begin to imagine

 

[Brilliance]

Fakhar.
Azhar.
Haris.
Babar.
Shafiq.
Sarfaraz.
Shadab.
Fahim.
Hassan.
Amir.
Shaheen.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Probable XI :

Fakhar
Imam
Azhar
Haris
Babar
Asad
Sarfaraz
Abbas/Faheem
Shaheen
Amir
Hassan.

 

[ILcricket]

Abbas is out of 1st Test . I pointed this out when he got injured that shoulder injuries are very tricky for pacers & many posters made fun of it asking for source . Visitors must play 5 bowling options .

 

[Pete Rose]

Probable XI :

Fakhar
Imam
Azhar
Haris
Babar
Asad
Sarfaraz
Abbas/Faheem
Shaheen
Amir
Hassan.

I cannot see them not playing Yasir.

 

[Brilliance]

I cannot see them not playing Yasir.

Shadab will make batting stronger though Yasir is a lot better bowler. Goes down to how the management thinks the pitch will play. If they think it'll assist spin then Yasir is first choice. If there's lots of grass then Shadab should be in.

 

[Suleiman]

Shan with his classical English technique will be key for us more than Yasir as this is a graveyard for spinners.

 

[Pete Rose]

Shadab will make batting stronger though Yasir is a lot better bowler. Goes down to how the management thinks the pitch will play. If they think it'll assist spin then Yasir is first choice. If there's lots of grass then Shadab should be in.

Yes, mickey will be tempted to cover spin with Shadab or Azhar/Haris. But I think Yasir has bowled far to well especially against New Zealand to be discarded.

The central argument is always along the lines of: "well why do you need yasir, if the game isnt going to go 4 or 5 days". The answer to that is to strengthen your batting and not necessarily swap a spinner with a pacer or a spinning all-rounder.

 

[Pete Rose]

Shan with his classical English technique will be key for us

Not sure if sarcasm.

 

[yasir]

Yes, mickey will be tempted to cover spin with Shadab or Azhar/Haris. But I think Yasir has bowled far to well especially against New Zealand to be discarded.

The central argument is always along the lines of: "well why do you need yasir, if the game isnt going to go 4 or 5 days". The answer to that is to strengthen your batting and not necessarily swap a spinner with a pacer or a spinning all-rounder.

I am not convinced if Yasir is far better bower than Shadab. We have never played Shadab in UAE, to know the true gulf between them. We lost series from NZ after 50 years by debut spinners, that tells you level of spin expertises needed...Even in UAE, Yasir does not do anything even in UAE, only works in day 4/5 with lot of rough, in those roughs we have never played Shadab, who spins ball more than Yasir and has far better googlie...

There is a saying “tests are won by first innings runs”, with Shadab, Fahim and Amir, chances of good first innings total are far higher than our current tail, where 6 down means 10 down that too in 5 overs, not to mention at home and in first innings, things cannot be worse than that, this is exactly how we lost two series in two years...

Mickey is far better than 200M Pakistani, all TV experts and fan base does not get basics of modern test cricket... He is trying to build allrounders but media fan does not let him

 

[yasir]

Some key decisions for Pakistan think tank:

Azhar to open:

When Azhar started to open in our last western tours that provided more stability at top, we were more consistent in seeing off new ball and hence able to capitalize by later order better.

Secondly Azhar is blocker, which is best suited for opening rather than one down in west.

This also allows us to play 5+2+3, which is another key to success in west.

Fakir vs Imam:

This is again a tough call, mainly because of patchiest status of Imam. Imam has done nothing this year, except one 70 odd runs against IRE... He does score here and there against club level aides before series to give his uncle leverage

Fakir is far better batsmen and investment for Pakistan. These six innings in not only for this test series but for future as well...

What was the result of giving Imam lollipop innings in UAE (4 test), things can never get easier than that, and he delivered series win for NZ...

5+3+2 Vs 6+4:

This is one of the more important one, 6+4 is not working in uae even, if used to work with YK in uae, because he could play really long innings and was best after Bradman in playing fourth innings. Now we have to go back and foucins on winning in first innings at home, in west that was the only way possible....

Oval test was an example, Amir and YK scores 100 runs with 8th wicket to take the lead over 200 and setup the match. If we had tail like ours, we would have 120 runs lead rather 220 and would have left the match open...This was series decider test, one of f our best series performance in last decade2-2 against England in England.

Two test matches we won this year in west were because of tail (allrounders), both Ireland and lord test was not possible to win without Shadab and Faheem providing those extra 100 run cusion... Where as in uae we lost test after bowling opposition out at 150, how can you do that at home ??

Modern day test tail depth is very vital. It serves two purposes not one. Keep opposition bowlers in the field for long, that is not for one match but entire series, tail has to bat 30/40 overs, not like ours who bat for literally 5 overs, at home no way you can win any matches with that kind of tail.

I think Mickey is well aware of this fundamental strategic shift needed for team to break into top 3/4, but rest of the Pakistan don’t get it... Lee’s hope Mickey is allowed to lay down his strategy, which is important for future of our test team.

Yasir Vs Shadab:

Pakistanis are blind sided by Yasir doing so good in UAE, well when you loose home series to two debutant spinners, what that tells you of spin expertise needs to knock off opposition?

As I said before, we don’t know the true gulf between the two, since we have never played Shadab in uae, Yasir ball only spins on day 4/5, let’s play Shadab in uae for few tests (along side Yasir) and see where he stands. In uae, you can pick a guy from crowd and he can bowl, but we will not let Shadab play in uae, that May burst the bubble for some...Bilal Asif did very little, he is going to go for chucking again in not so distant future...

Shadab spins the ball more and has very potent googlie, that can yield wickets in first innings. His batting will allow us to add 50/100 extra runs to bottom line, which is key for winning tests. We are not going to take the match to day 4/5 with 6+4, what’s the point of playing Yasir??

You got to score big in first innings, that is easiest time to bat and takes game forward, Pakistan cannot afford too many specialist bowlers, message needs to be send to them, you got to bat if want permanent seat in playing 11, time has changed, tail batting is winning series after series in recent time, we cannot be left behind like we did with fielding. This is another major cultural hole we need to fill. Our bowlers think it’s not there job to bat, they just go and throw away wickets without any sense of responsibilities, like we used to do for 60 years, fielding is not something we need to do... This is again a cultural problem that must change.

 

[indianpanacea]

For me team shall be
Azhar
Fakhar
Haris
Asad
Rizwan...( I think he is very good against pace)
Babar
Sarfaraz
Amir
Hassan
Afridi
Abbas...
No all-rounders... It is just waste of time in test cricket..
This is the best 11 Pakistan could through for test.. No Yasir jus because venue is graveyard for spinners

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

Anyone - real update on Abbas situation for first test?

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Shan Masood to start, the massacre I can't begin to imagine

Yeah but the alternative is an out of sorts Imam. Anyway Supersport Park should be the best batting wicket on this tour so its better to play him here than either at cape Town or at the Wanderers(fastest pitch in the world currently)

 

[yasir]

Yeah but the alternative is an out of sorts Imam. Anyway Supersport Park should be the best batting wicket on this tour so its better to play him here than either at cape Town or at the Wanderers(fastest pitch in the world currently)

I did not realize that we are not playing first test in Wanderers, last time 47 all out finishes as off on second day of the series... it’s good that SA realize that and being a good host this time around, giving us some time to settle In

 

[a_tahir]

Pakistan lost by an innings in the SuperSport stadium with Sa's debut bowler Kyle Abbott taking 7/29.
So by looking at that, the best place to start the tour for pakistan would have been Cape Town as they only lost by 4 wickets on that ground.

 

[Syed1]

Could be innings defeat coming up.


If Fakhar plays and plays well, Azhar performs and Amir+Hasan pick up wickets then we might win.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Fakhar should play at 6 instead of opening. Rabada and Steyn will not make mistakes. They will expose his technique.

 

[ads101]

Given the warm up match I'd go with

1. Masood
2. Imam
3. Azhar
4. Asad
5. Haris
6. Babar
7. Sarfraz
8. Amir
9. Yasir
10. Hasan
11. Shaheen

Imam and Shan got some scores, and Shan's been in decent form. I don't see the point playing Fakhar as I don't see him excelling as an opener here, nor does it seem worth it after the practice game. His aggressive nature is just going to be curbed here, might as well let him focus on the world cup. The openers job will be pretty much to play as long as possible, blunting the ball for the rest of the team.

Azhar and Asad are trying to become our next YK and Misbah pair, so bat them together at 3 and 4. Asad could benefit from the extra responsibility, and together they can stop a collapse. While we lost the last test, that partnership was a big positive and hopefully can do the same in SA.

At 5 or 6 where it should be easier hopefully Haris and Babar can do most of the bulk scoring once the platform is set, and get used to batting together.

 

[babajee]

Fakhar should play at 6 instead of opening. Rabada and Steyn will not make mistakes. They will expose his technique.

But his technique is excellent.

 

[a_tahir]

Is Abbas playing in the match??

 

[a_tahir]

According to Pakistani news channels, he isn't playing. Also Shadab Khan is not playing either

 

[Mamoon]

Could be innings defeat coming up.


If Fakhar plays and plays well, Azhar performs and Amir+Hasan pick up wickets then we might win.

So if our players don’t play well, we will lose. Amazing insight.

 

[a_tahir]

It's even tougher now.
Sa have Rabada,Steyn,Olivier
Pak has Amir that's it
Who else do we have?
Even Amir is not in good form
Shaheen is new and didn't pick wickets in the tour match.
Hasan imo has been inconsistent
Abbas is out of the first test.
Before it was unlikely that pakistan would win but now it is beyond unlikely.

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

If only we still had someone like M Irfan here. A fit Irfan could have wreaked havoc here.

Not sure how Hasan and Amir will do here. Should assist Shaheen but he is too inexperienced.

 

[PakPremi]

]

Shadab is also out through injury. So likely team would be
Imam
Fakhar/Shan
Azhar
Haris
Asad
Babar
Sarfraz
Amir
Yasir
Hasan
Shaheen
Good team on paper let's see how they would perform. I think they can compete if they do not have slef suicidal tendencies. Hasan and Yasir need to do justice to their batting capabilities to help our fragile batting line up.

 

[Zeeraq]

Steyn has Pakistan in his sights as he guns for long-awaited record

PRETORIA: Firebrand fast bowler Dale Steyn will seek to become South Africa’s greatest wicket-taker in tests when they take on Pakistan in the first match of a three-game series at Centurion Park in Pretoria on Wednesday.

Steyn is level with former all-rounder Shaun Pollock on 421 test wickets and, having played only six tests in the last three years due to injury, has been left tantalisingly close to capturing the outright top spot on the list for some time.

With injuries to seamers Vernon Philander and Lungi Ngidi, Steyn is likely to be given the new ball against Pakistan along with Kagiso Rabada on what is expected to be a lively wicket in Pretoria.

He will test the visiting batsman having returned to his express pace of old in recent limited-overs contests, where he impressed against Australia last month.

Captain Faf du Plessis told reporters this week that Steyn was the country’s greatest fast bowler and suggested that while the 2019 Cricket World Cup might be his limited-overs swansong, he still had a good few years of test cricket in him.

"Test matches are what really drive me to perform," Steyn recently told South African online publication Sport24. "If I can carry on playing test cricket for as long as possible that will be great.

"There is a plenty of T20 cricket going on at the moment because that is where the money is at but I think that people will always know that test cricket is the real deal. I love the red-ball game."

The loss of Philander in particular will add extra workload for Steyn, who is by far the most experienced seamer in the team, though the world’s leading test bowler, Rabada, could be the main threat.

Coach Ottis Gibson and Du Plessis will have to decide whether to play three seamers, with Duanne Olivier in line for a sixth test appearance, and spinner Keshav Maharaj, allowing them to field an extra batsman, or hand a first cap to Dane Paterson.

The latter option would give the team a long tail with Rabada having to bat at number seven, a role he has never played before.

There was a welcome return to form for stalwart stroke-maker Hashim Amla in domestic four-day cricket this week, with just a single half-century in his last 12 test innings having raised some questions about the future of the 35-year-old.

His excellent record against Pakistan, with two hundreds and eight half-centuries in 21 innings, should give him confidence, as will his runs in Pretoria where he averages 75.58 after 18 visits to the crease.

Pakistan, who have won only one test series out of 10 at home and away against South Africa, will have been buoyed up by their three-day run-out against an Invitational XI in the build-up to the first test, where Azhar Ali and Babar Azam made hundreds.

They have been well beaten on their previous two visits to Pretoria though, losing by seven wickets in 2007 and an innings and 18 runs five years ago.

Leading fast bowler Mohammad Abbas has also been rated as having only a 50 percent chance of playing in the test as he recovers from a shoulder injury picked up in October.

Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/new...s-as-he-guns-for-long-awaited-record-11058316

 

[last_knight]

Imam
Fakhar
Azhar
Haris
Shafiq
Babar
Sarfaraz
Faheem
Amir
Hassan
Shaheen

Can't afford Yasir/Shadab conceding 70s just for the sake of playing a specialist spinner.

 

[Markhor]

Just be competitive.

Try to get 250 on the board.

 

[Abdullah719]

Mohammad Abbas and Shadab Khan unfit - Pakistan's bowling lineup for 1st Test against South Africa?

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Fakhar Zaman is fit for the 1st Test<br>Mohammad Abbas will not be risked for the 1st Test<br>Shadab Khan is not fit for the 1st Test but will be ready for the 2nd Test<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SAvPAK?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SAvPAK</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1076908163847372808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Ami]

Amir
Yasir
Hasan
Afridi

 

[ahmadharis1]

Mohammad Amir
Hasan Ali
Shaheen Afridi
Yasir Shah

 

[Brilliance]

Shadab not playing ist test is a loss.

 

[Arsalan Pro]

Mohammad Amir
Shaheen Afridi
Hasan Ali
Yasir Shah

 

[Brilliance]

Fahim
Yasir
Amir
Hassan
Shaheen

 

[Nfc120]

Yaar faheem ashraf is a must. He could play 3rd seamer role, but he will only be used as a 4th seamer. Played decently in the warm up

 

[Arsalan Pro]

Fahim
Yasir
Amir
Hassan
Shaheen

Which batsman would you leave out?

 

[Fahdi]

Big blow for Pakistan this. I thought we would be going with the same sort of combination as we did in England. With Abbas not playing our bowling will suffer and we will miss Shadab's batting.

 

[The Viper]

Amir
Hasan
Shaheen
Yasir

No space for Faheem as we need our best four bowlers that are fit.

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

I have a different taken - first test go ultra defense. 5 bowlers - of which two are allrounders. And fill the team with batsmen. I also do not find any place for Amir in the team - regardless of side match performance.

Batting
Fakhar
Imam
Shan
Azher
Babar
Sarfaraz
All Rounders
Haris
Fahim
Bowling
Yasir
Hasan
Shaheen

 

[a_tahir]

Faheem
S Afridi
Amir
Hasan

Remember what happened to Yasir in Australia.
He had the worst bowling figures for a bowler that has bowled over 10 overs.
he had the highest economy.

 

[Brilliance]

Which batsman would you leave out?

I'd open with Azhar. His record as an opener is superior.

1 Fakhar
2 Azhar
3 Haris
4 Babar
5 Shafiq
6 Sarfaraz
7 Fahim
8 Yasir
9 Amir
10 Hassan
11 Shaheen

 

[Hasan123]

Shadab isn't a test class spinner as of yet so he won't be a big loss. Abbas being out is a big blow. Amir,Hasan,and Shaheen should be the 3 seamers .

 

[Ahsanax]

My choice will be to open with Azhar and Imam and play Faheem as a fourth seamer.