South Africa vs Pakistan | 1st Test | Centurion | Dec 26-30 | Pre-Match Discussion

[RidiculousMan]

I hope KG do well against SAF. He is good in his shots as he play with full interest. He can score a century

Still very early days. But he looks slightly better player of pace than Saud.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Squad Update:

The national Test squad practiced in Centurion ahead of the Boxing Day Test. Pakistani players practiced batting, bowling, and fielding.

The first Test between Pakistan and South Africa will start tomorrow at 10 AM local time.

 

[kron]

I hope KG do well against SAF. He is good in his shots as he play with full interest. He can score a century

Bhai when you and a couple of other posters keep saying kG do well vs saf I got confused lmao

I was like why must kg do well vs SAF??

And then dawned on me. Khurram ghulam lol.

Not kagiso rabada.

 

[jamie smith]

has pak announced playing XI for tommorows game??

Squad Update:

The national Test squad practiced in Centurion ahead of the Boxing Day Test. Pakistani players practiced batting, bowling, and fielding.

The first Test between Pakistan and South Africa will start tomorrow at 10 AM local time.

 

[IAJ]

The way SA murdered SL, I am truly scared of their test team.

The first innings score of 42 by SL in the first Test ruined their chances. They batted decently in second innings and in 2nd Test. If Pakistan can avoid a very low score they have an opportunity to surprise.

 

[BouncerGuy]

has pak announced playing XI for tommorows game??

Nope they have not... I think they will announce tomorrow at toss..

 

[Abid Z]

I agree.

You do realise there is a massive difference between bowling 4 overs a day every other day and bowling 20 overs a day where line and length is everything. He deserves a break and should get his rythme back to come back fitter and more consistent. He began spraying it around at 135kph in tests. Not good for anybody.

 

[Abid Z]

The first innings score of 42 by SL in the first Test ruined their chances. They batted decently in second innings and in 2nd Test. If Pakistan can avoid a very low score they have an opportunity to surprise.

If SL had managed to get the game regularly into day 4 and 5 they would have had a chance with their spinner. Their pace attack was nowhere near international standards despite having a good quick. South Africa face those kind of bowlers (parera) day in day out.

It’s a shame the batters could do better. Even India got demolished quite quickly.

Key thing is just to learn to drop anchor early on. Usually we are a playing with a walking wicket at the top.

 

[Aqib_mustafa]

If SL had managed to get the game regularly into day 4 and 5 they would have had a chance with their spinner. Their pace attack was nowhere near international standards despite having a good quick. South Africa face those kind of bowlers (parera) day in day out.

It’s a shame the batters could do better. Even India got demolished quite quickly.

Key thing is just to learn to drop anchor early on. Usually we are a playing with a walking wicket at the top.

I think pak has got their test side covered with noman ali i am confident he will trouble these south african batsmen and it will be game on.

 

[Abid Z]

I think pak has got their test side covered with noman ali i am confident he will trouble these south african batsmen and it will be game on.

I agree. But only if we can get him on a day 4 or 5 wearing pitch.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Babar Azam makes his return to the Test side as Pakistan reveal their playing XI for the first Test against South Africa

The visitors have dropped Abdullah Shafique as Mohammad Abbas prepares to make his return after three years with the team focused on securing a Boxing Day Test win to kick off the series strongly.

 

[khyberlion]

Abdullah Shafique dropped
Babar Azam is back
Mohammad Abbas is back

Probably the best squad they could have selected. Though I would have liked Mir Hamza over Abbas.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Abdullah Shafique dropped
Babar Azam is back
Mohammad Abbas is back

1st time ever a strongest 11 selected from a squad.

The bowlers will really need to learn to bowl well in these conditions tomorrow

 

[khyberlion]

Hope that's not the batting line up. Saud and Salman should be batting ahead of Rizwan.

 

[gazza619]

Probably the best squad they could have selected. Though I would have liked Mir Hamza over Abbas.

I agree would have been nice to get a left armer in there. Nevertheless good XI.

 

[gazza619]

I agree. But only if we can get him on a day 4 or 5 wearing pitch.

Both SA & Pakistan have a fragile batting line up and a good bowling attack. I highly doubt that the test match will go to day 5.

 

[RidiculousMan]

Babar Azam makes his return to the Test side as Pakistan reveal their playing XI for the first Test against South Africa

The visitors have dropped Abdullah Shafique as Mohammad Abbas prepares to make his return after three years with the team focused on securing a Boxing Day Test win to kick off the series strongly.

As expected. The battle was between Hamza and Abbas

 

[Aqib_mustafa]

As expected. The battle was between Hamza and Abbas

Why noman ali is not selected he was the main wicket taker vs england won pak series total injustice who will raise voice for him why because pitches wont suit or he is not in good books of pcb?

 

[RidiculousMan]

Why noman ali is not selected he was the main wicket taker vs england won pak series total injustice who will raise voice for him why because pitches wont suit or he is not in good books of pcb?

The pitch supports pacers. Centurion I believe had least turn out of all venues in South Africa. He might come for 2nd Test though

 

[angrypathan]

Why noman ali is not selected he was the main wicket taker vs england won pak series total injustice who will raise voice for him why because pitches wont suit or he is not in good books of pcb?

There’s no injustice, Noman and Sajid will be the first names on the sheet in the next home test. Pitches are pace bowling friendly and the team has been selected accordingly

 

[ikky47]

I reckon if we can win the toss score 300 in the first innings and bowl well we can win this, will be hard to chase anything 200+ in the 4th innings here. Lineup looks good on paper now need to peform well and see if we can pull of a surprise

 

[khyberlion]

I agree would have been nice to get a left armer in there. Nevertheless good XI.

Agreed. Would have been good to have a left armer.

 

[Zeshan547]

Agreed. Would have been good to have a left armer.

plus Hamza would be atleast 10Kph faster on average , and have other similar skill set plus left arm advantage, we would have all bases covered, but Abbas is not the worst choice given the expected conditions, so let's hope for the best.

 

[khyberlion]

plus Hamza would be atleast 10Kph faster on average , and have other similar skill set plus left arm advantage, we would have all bases covered, but Abbas is not the worst choice given the expected conditions, so let's hope for the best.

They both bowl similar pace tbh. Mir Hamza is probably a little quicker but not 10kph on average at all. However I would have taken more Hamza over Mohammed Abbas.

 

[Marooned]

There’s no injustice, Noman and Sajid will be the first names on the sheet in the next home test. Pitches are pace bowling friendly and the team has been selected accordingly

Common sense is alien concept in our fans.

 

[Amjid Javed]

SL bastmen struggled in last series as any time pressure built they decided to place loose shots, espcially trying to play drive shot to much. Our batsmen will have to show more application and discipline in this series to put big runs on the board

 

[Marooned]

plus Hamza would be atleast 10Kph faster on average , and have other similar skill set plus left arm advantage, we would have all bases covered, but Abbas is not the worst choice given the expected conditions, so let's hope for the best.

They are literally same pace.

 

[Abid Z]

I reckon if we can win the toss score 300 in the first innings and bowl well we can win this, will be hard to chase anything 200+ in the 4th innings here. Lineup looks good on paper now need to peform well and see if we can pull of a surprise

Love your optimism. And share it too infact. But just out of curiosity do check the sl and Indian recent tours. They have some quality players but I don’t think they crossed 300 once.

 

[RidiculousMan]

There’s no injustice, Noman and Sajid will be the first names on the sheet in the next home test. Pitches are pace bowling friendly and the team has been selected accordingly

Imagine if Pakistani fans were supporting Australian team with same mentality. They would criticize the hell out of board and management for dropping Hazlewood or Starc for one of home Tests

 

[RidiculousMan]

Love your optimism. And share it too infact. But just out of curiosity do check the sl and Indian recent tours. They have some quality players but I don’t think they crossed 300 once.

They never whitewashed South Africa in ODIs as well

 

[Aqib_mustafa]

They never whitewashed South Africa in ODIs as well

Ya bro people here are taking it easy it was a big thing to whitewash south africa i believe it was the first time any team has whitewashed sa in their home.

 

[Xoib]

Abbas was always getting picked in the XI once he was selected in the touring party I hope he has one good performance in him and gets to 100 wickets

 

[Abid Z]

They never whitewashed South Africa in ODIs as well

Yes. Wonderful. Never to be underestimated.

But a completely different format. Pakistan can win but they have to play out of their skins as a couple of key South Africans are missing.

 

[Human786]

SA confirm XI for the Boxing Day Test: Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Dane Paterson, Corbin Bosch !
4 pacers means heavily seam friendly pitch ... PAK should consider playing all 4 pace attack - 270 overs max the way weather forecast is looking atm !

as expected , no spinner for PAK with Jamal making the cut , weather for day 1 seems to be improving but rest looks indifferent , 270 to 330 likely overs possible .
Am surprised few posters here suggesting 11's without Naseem , what are you guys smoking - hummey bhi batao , hum bhi thodi Merry Xmas kar ley

 

[ikky47]

Love your optimism. And share it too infact. But just out of curiosity do check the sl and Indian recent tours. They have some quality players but I don’t think they crossed 300 once.

Yes neither team crossed passed 250 I don’t think so it will be very difficult, with a long batting line up if we can put together a few partnerships will be tough. Worst case scenario is we get bowled out for a sub 50 total like Sri Lanka did which can easily happen. Need the bowlers to step up no loose deliveries

 

[Mrjungshook]

I am getting some vibes from this series. Pakistan might help India to reach wtc final.

 

[Nasty Naz]

I am a bit surprised they went with Abbas over Hamza. Figured they would at least want one left hander to have a different look for the batsmen.

Good for Abbas though. Hopefully he has a big comeback.

 

[Rana]

So what’s the plan?

Rizwan at 5 and Saud at 6?

Who’s bright idea is this?