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South Africa vs Pakistan | 2nd Test | Cape Town | Jan 3-7, 2019 | Pre-Match Thread

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I would actually go for:

1. Azhar Ali
2. Shan Masood (captain) ......I can't believe I wrote that!
3. Haris Sohail (or Fakhar Zaman if he is unfit)
4. Asad Shafiq
5. Babar Azam
6. Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
7. Shadab Khan
8. Faheem Ashraf
9. Mohammad Amir
10. Mohammad Abbas (or Hasan Ali if Abbas unfit)
11. Shaheen Shah Afridi

The batting is useless anyway, but my batsmen at numbers 7 and 8 should score runs against the old ball.

And by having 4 quick bowlers I allow Shaheen Shah and Mohammad Amir to bowl shorter, quicker spells.

I liked your captain choice. But its too early for a batsman who is making return to the the team .
The captain should be sarfraz. Only for this series.
And there is no place for asad in the team.
He should be shown the door now.
 
I would actually go for:

1. Azhar Ali
2. Shan Masood (captain) ......I can't believe I wrote that!
3. Haris Sohail (or Fakhar Zaman if he is unfit)
4. Asad Shafiq
5. Babar Azam
6. Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
7. Shadab Khan
8. Faheem Ashraf
9. Mohammad Amir
10. Mohammad Abbas (or Hasan Ali if Abbas unfit)
11. Shaheen Shah Afridi

The batting is useless anyway, but my batsmen at numbers 7 and 8 should score runs against the old ball.

And by having 4 quick bowlers I allow Shaheen Shah and Mohammad Amir to bowl shorter, quicker spells.

I agree with this, but I have no doubt we will see Sarfaraz captain the team. So, Shadab at 6 and Sarf at 7 and Riz sits out.
 
I would actually go for:

1. Azhar Ali
2. Shan Masood (captain) ......I can't believe I wrote that!
3. Haris Sohail (or Fakhar Zaman if he is unfit)
4. Asad Shafiq
5. Babar Azam
6. Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
7. Shadab Khan
8. Faheem Ashraf
9. Mohammad Amir
10. Mohammad Abbas (or Hasan Ali if Abbas unfit)
11. Shaheen Shah Afridi

The batting is useless anyway, but my batsmen at numbers 7 and 8 should score runs against the old ball.

And by having 4 quick bowlers I allow Shaheen Shah and Mohammad Amir to bowl shorter, quicker spells.

What's your take on Amir's lack of pace? Do you think it could be one of the factors that is making him less potent, as Smith said.
 
What's your take on Amir's lack of pace? Do you think it could be one of the factors that is making him less potent, as Smith said.

Too little rest because there was no fourth quick.

Shaheen Shah Afridi was the same.
 
Too little rest because there was no fourth quick.

Shaheen Shah Afridi was the same.

He bowled 16 overs per innings and skipped UAE to get rest.

SSA bowled more overs and was at least 6-7kph faster. South African pacers too bowled roughly same, if not more overs and were at least 7-8kph faster. In fact he was slowest across all bowlers throughout the test.

His line and length was good, imo needs more speed to become dangerous.
 
Proteas' Newlands record spells trouble for Pakistan

Cape Town - A look at South Africa's recent Test record at Newlands spells trouble for Pakistan ahead of the 2nd Test between the sides, starting on Thursday.

1-0 down in the three-match series following the Boxing Day Test at Centurion, Pakistan need a win Cape Town to keep their hopes alive.

A look at the Proteas' record at Newlands, though, suggests a long few days for coach Mickey Arthur's men.

South Africa have lost just ONE of their last 17 Test matches at Newlands.

That result came against Australia in 2014 when David Warner and skipper Michael Clarke made first-innings centuries to bat the Proteas out of the game and set up a commanding 245-run win.

You have to go back all the way to 2007 - 18 Test matches ago - to find the last time before that the Proteas lost at Newlands. Unsurprisingly, that result also came against the Aussies.

Since readmission, the Proteas have played a total of 32 Test matches at Newlands. They have won 22 of those (68.75%), have drawn 6 and have lost only 4 times at the venue.

All four of those losses came against Australia.

Pakistan, meanwhile, have played Test cricket at Newlands on just 3 occasions. They lost all of those matches.

Their biggest defeat at the venue came in 2003 when an opening stand of 368 between Graeme Smith (151) and Herschelle Gibbs (228) set up an innings-and-142-run win for the Proteas.

https://m.sport24.co.za/Cricket/Proteas/proteas-newlands-record-spells-trouble-for-pakistan-20190102
 
He bowled 16 overs per innings and skipped UAE to get rest.

SSA bowled more overs and was at least 6-7kph faster. South African pacers too bowled roughly same, if not more overs and were at least 7-8kph faster. In fact he was slowest across all bowlers throughout the test.

His line and length was good, imo needs more speed to become dangerous.

SSA is a quicker bowler than Amir, and his pace was down too.

I believe what Glenn McGrath has often said on radio commentary: if you fail to pick a fourth quick in Australia or South Africa, the remaining three all average around 7K slower than they would be.

Amir bowls 133 instead of 140.

SSA bowls 138K instead of 145 and that’s crucial!
 
With Philander back and Haris still out, I struggle to see how our batting will reach 250.
 
This pitch looks like a decent batting surface . I expect 350 would be a par score batting first .
 
Fans set to flock to PPC Newlands for New Year’s Test

CAPE TOWN – The attendance figure of the New Year’s Test between South Africa and Pakistan is already in excess of 48 000 as tickets are selling at a rollicking rate.

The latest figures show that close to 15,000 patrons will move through the turnstiles on Day 1 of the second Castle Lager Test between South Africa and Pakistan, whilst the provisional attendance figure for Friday is just under 11,000, while close to 12,000 spectators are expected to attend on Saturday 5th January.

The provisional attendance figure for the last two days is currently just under 12,000.

Nabeal Dean, chief executive officer of the Western Province Cricket Association said, “Journalists have for a long time speculated about our true ground capacity, the correct capacity of the ground is 20,100 spectators. That includes 3,250 spectators of the Western Province Cricket Club and 1,880 spectators who are members of suites, which leaves a total of 14,970 of regular seats and grass area tickets inside the stadium.

“This is an important perspective. The figures for the second Test underlines PPC Newlands’ status as the most popular test venue in South Africa and the healthy cricket culture of Cape Town,” Dien said.

Clifford Dodgen, stadium and operations manager of the Western Province Cricket Association, said he expects the numbers of the attendance figures to swell to closer to 55 000 before the start of the New Year’s Test.

“Spectators will obviously see how things develop on the first three days and it will have an impact on the attendance figure on days four and five,” he said.

Evan Flint, curator of PPC Newlands, said the excessive bounce that was a factor at SuperSport Park, will not be seen at Newlands but there will be pace on offer.

On day four and five there will be turn, which could benefit the spinners, Yasir Shah and Keshav Maharaj.

In 2018, the PPC Newlands Test between South Africa and India lasted four days, and that included a washed out day.

In 2015/2016, South Africa responded with 627 for seven declared to England’s 629 for six. England limped to 159 for six on the fifth and final day of the test at PPC Newlands.
 
I would actually go for:

1. Azhar Ali
2. Shan Masood (captain) ......I can't believe I wrote that!
3. Haris Sohail (or Fakhar Zaman if he is unfit)
4. Asad Shafiq
5. Babar Azam
6. Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
7. Shadab Khan
8. Faheem Ashraf
9. Mohammad Amir
10. Mohammad Abbas (or Hasan Ali if Abbas unfit)
11. Shaheen Shah Afridi

The batting is useless anyway, but my batsmen at numbers 7 and 8 should score runs against the old ball.

And by having 4 quick bowlers I allow Shaheen Shah and Mohammad Amir to bowl shorter, quicker spells.

Yea. It's our best bet. And prats to selectors and management for sending unfit players.
 
Looking at the pitch, spinners will come into play and now that Haris Sohail is out we can't trust on Shadab alone. Thus, Yasir will have to play again.

My Team would be:

Imam Ul Haq
Fakhar Zaman
Shan Masood
Azhar Ali
Babar Azam
Sarfraz Ahmed(C)(Wk)
Faheem Ashraf
Mohammad Amir
Yasir Shah
Shaheen Afridi
Mohammad Abbas
 
SSA is a quicker bowler than Amir, and his pace was down too.

I believe what Glenn McGrath has often said on radio commentary: if you fail to pick a fourth quick in Australia or South Africa, the remaining three all average around 7K slower than they would be.

Amir bowls 133 instead of 140.

SSA bowls 138K instead of 145 and that’s crucial!

I accept that however why do Australia and SA bowl 3 seamers in a 4 man bowling?

The only player from both of these sides who I see with their drop in pace is Cummins who seldomly hits above 145+ even though he is capable of bowl 150+ outswing. He usually operates in the low 140s instead.
 
I would actually go for:

1. Azhar Ali
2. Shan Masood (captain) ......I can't believe I wrote that!
3. Haris Sohail (or Fakhar Zaman if he is unfit)
4. Asad Shafiq
5. Babar Azam
6. Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
7. Shadab Khan
8. Faheem Ashraf
9. Mohammad Amir
10. Mohammad Abbas (or Hasan Ali if Abbas unfit)
11. Shaheen Shah Afridi

The batting is useless anyway, but my batsmen at numbers 7 and 8 should score runs against the old ball.

And by having 4 quick bowlers I allow Shaheen Shah and Mohammad Amir to bowl shorter, quicker spells.

Why would you drop a batsman who scored a fifty while other batsmen except for Babar and Shan struggled?
 
Pakistan to play the same batting lineup and three fast-bowlers + Yasir Shah for second Test vs SA

Sarfaraz Ahmed at a press conference today:

"The pitch looks very different to how it looked yesterday, the look has changed a lot. I think we will go with 3 fast bowlers and a spinner"

"We will play this match with our full 6 batsmen and we will try to have our batsmen score the runs because we know if we score runs, we have the bowlers to defend the runs"

"Mohammad Abbas is fit for the 2nd Test, Haris Sohail is ruled out of the series"

"If you look at the pitch, I think there's something there for Yasir Shah so hopefully he will get wickets here"

"I don't think you should compare Abbas and Philandar, Philander is playing since 10 years and Abbas has only played for 1.5 years. Abbas is starting his career but his bowling does look a bit like Philander"

"I think every fast bowler will enjoy these pitches"

"I am very hopeful that the batting will do well here, they are working hard in the nets and playing well so hopefully we will bounce back"

"We will go with the same batting lineup"

"When Asian teams come here, it's very challenging as we're used to playing on pitches with low bounce. But when we come to Australia, NZ, SA, all Asian players are struggling except for those who are good enough. The batting coach spoke to the batsmen and hopefully we will get better insha'Allah"

"Hashim bhai is a world class batsman, sometimes you need luck and he had that in the previous match. But everyone knows he is a world class player"

"Shaheen is a good prospect for Pakistan and the way he bowled at Centurion shows he has a bright future. If he continues playing like that, he will be the best bowler in Pakistan"

(Which bowler will be replaced by Abbas) "We will decide tomorrow"

"After a defeat, morale is low but sometimes you need to have a hard talk. After we did that, the players morale is high and hopefully we will do well insha'Allah"
 
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Is it necessary to disclose your team a day before the game? Doesn't it let out your team's strategy in a way?
 
Shafiq must have kompromat on everyone in the PCB, from the cleaner to the chief, and the media as well
 
Such a mediocre captain and even mediocre batsman. Pity we have to cope with this guy :facepalm:

We had a good opportunity to play Faheem and Shadab here instead of Shafiq/Fakhar/Imam and Yasir. We wasted it, as expected. Now onto the next defeat. :(
 
Excuses excuses excuses. .every time he talk. There is some excuse for batting which is very annoying
 
Keeping Yasir is a good move, but same batting line up?

Hopefully, Zaman is moved down to 6 and Babar to 5.
 
Is it necessary to disclose your team a day before the game? Doesn't it let out your team's strategy in a way?

Well I don't think the opposition has to make any plans and devise strategies for this pathetic team. They could reveal the playing XI a week in advance and it will not make a difference.
 
Hashim “bhai” looked in imperious form in the second innings. A hundred is on the cards in Cape Town.
 
So, this is going to be the XI.

Imam
Fakhar
Shan
Azhar
Babar
Asad
Sarfarz
Amir
Yasir
Abbas
Afridi
 
Regardless of how flat the pitch might be, this team will not score more than 220 in other innings

Philander is a best at Cape Town. Expect him to pick up a 6-7 fer
 
Shafiq scoring here and then failing in the third Test will be the most Shafiq thing to happen.
 
Looking at the pitch, spinners will come into play and now that Haris Sohail is out we can't trust on Shadab alone. Thus, Yasir will have to play again.

My Team would be:

Imam Ul Haq
Fakhar Zaman
Shan Masood
Azhar Ali
Babar Azam
Sarfraz Ahmed(C)(Wk)
Faheem Ashraf
Mohammad Amir
Yasir Shah
Shaheen Afridi
Mohammad Abbas

As Sarfraz has ruled out Faheem Ashraf and confirmed Asad Shafiq will play, he will now replace him in this team.
 
Well I don't think the opposition has to make any plans and devise strategies for this pathetic team. They could reveal the playing XI a week in advance and it will not make a difference.

People here were having unrealistic expectations of Rizwan replacing Sarfaraz and Shan being named captain and here we have Sarfu going for almost the same team.
 
Looks like they are going to bat if they win the toss plus if they lost this test they are going to play for repect as usually have been said in past. And we will start again first match cannot drop anyone second match we have to show faith third match we are going to play for respect and the cycle continues
 
Hashim “bhai” looked in imperious form in the second innings. A hundred is on the cards in Cape Town.

Pathetic to see our captain discussing South African batsman instead of addressing his own team or his own problems. I'm done with this hopeless bunch.
 
Pathetic to see our captain discussing South African batsman instead of addressing his own team or his own problems. I'm done with this hopeless bunch.

He discussed Amla because he was asked about him.

No one really bothered asking a pointed question about Asad Shafiq, in contrast.
 
Shafiq scoring here and then failing in the third Test will be the most Shafiq thing to happen.

He will score big in this match. The knives are out for him. He will perform so he can play the next match and the entire next series based on this upcoming performance.
 
Wouldnt it have been better for Pak to have played Fahim and Shabad from first test. We saw how they played against england at lords and won us the match.

The way FAKHAR PLAYED in the 1st test showed he need to play more 4 days game. Shan looked improved and should open with imam.

If the pitch is anything like first test expect same results we need dry surface to survive and win. If its any green like last time please dont bat first as we saw chasing becomes easier in the last inning as wicket losses its pace and bounce.
 
He discussed Amla because he was asked about him.

No one really bothered asking a pointed question about Asad Shafiq, in contrast.

Surprising to see that, to be honest. I'd have asked Mr. Sarfraz about his own form if I were the captain.
 
Fahim Ashraf must play!
Fahim Ashraf must play!
Fahim Ashraf must play!
Fahim Ashraf must play!
Fahim Ashraf must play!
Fahim Ashraf must play!

What I am trying to say is:
Fahim Ashraf must play!
 
Making sarfraz was a wrong move as a captain. Someone like Azhar should have been appointed captain.
 
Fahim Ashraf must play!
Fahim Ashraf must play!
Fahim Ashraf must play!
Fahim Ashraf must play!
Fahim Ashraf must play!
Fahim Ashraf must play!

What I am trying to say is:
Fahim Ashraf must play!

Good luck knocking some pretty basic common sense into a thick headed team management.
 
Reporter: What do you think of Hashim Amla’s form?

Sarfraz: Hashim “bhai” is a great player....

What we need is a captain who will respond by stating that he is not concerned with the opposition players, even if it is our favorite “bhai”.

This is the type of mindset and attitude that we need. However, it is not possible considering our rotten, mediocre cricket culture.

These “first of all I would like to think my seniors and [insert name] bhai for giving me confidence” type paindu cricketers have run our cricket into the ground.
 
why are people so against Sarfraz.People who want Asad, Yasir to be dropped need to get their heads examined. These two will play till they are in the squad.People who are not playing are alway better players for some people.
 
Making sarfraz was a wrong move as a captain. Someone like Azhar should have been appointed captain.

So remove one but the crap remains the same. Pull all 3 out, this mafia containing seniors + selectors.

They should get an oscar for their superb performances and depth planning. Carry an injured player and on the eve of the test announce he is ruled out of the tour. I followed team practice sessions till yesterday. When Haris did not practice then I knew they have planned this to save Shafiq

Ehsan Mani is Sheharyar Khan 2.0, more disinterested and joke of a chairman. Under his nose the players and selectors are 'managing' well to keep their places.
 
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Reporter: What do you think of Hashim Amla’s form?

Sarfraz: Hashim “bhai” is a great player....

What we need is a captain who will respond by stating that he is not concerned with the opposition players, even if it is our favorite “bhai”.

This is the type of mindset and attitude that we need. However, it is not possible considering our rotten, mediocre cricket culture.

These “first of all I would like to think my seniors and [insert name] bhai for giving me confidence” type paindu cricketers have run our cricket into the ground.

Exactly. Although I admire Hashim, there was no need for Sarfraz to actually say those lines. They're professional cricketers and not some random fans. Also makes me think if our team actually gets start struck when they come across some of the opposition players.
 
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Reporter: What do you think of Hashim Amla’s form?

Sarfraz: Hashim “bhai” is a great player....

What we need is a captain who will respond by stating that he is not concerned with the opposition players, even if it is our favorite “bhai”.

This is the type of mindset and attitude that we need. However, it is not possible considering our rotten, mediocre cricket culture.

These “first of all I would like to think my seniors and [insert name] bhai for giving me confidence” type paindu cricketers have run our cricket into the ground.

Sarfaraz does lack professionalism in press conferences.

He also struggles with his English so whenever he's responding to foreign reporters, his answers are a bit muddled and unclear.
 
Reporter: What do you think of Hashim Amla’s form?

Sarfraz: Hashim “bhai” is a great player....

What we need is a captain who will respond by stating that he is not concerned with the opposition players, even if it is our favorite “bhai”.

This is the type of mindset and attitude that we need. However, it is not possible considering our rotten, mediocre cricket culture.

These “first of all I would like to think my seniors and [insert name] bhai for giving me confidence” type paindu cricketers have run our cricket into the ground.

Thank*
 
why are people so against Sarfraz.People who want Asad, Yasir to be dropped need to get their heads examined. These two will play till they are in the squad.People who are not playing are alway better players for some people.

Most d&g posters here are paindu have unrealistic expectations from Pak team. They think they know better .
 
I just hope they judged the pitch correctly. Cape Town does offer something for the spinners but is there enough to justify playing a specialist spinner who has a poor record on bouncy wickets? The last match the bowlers did struggle somewhat due to fatigue, 3 quicks can manage only if Yasir bowls a good amount of overs otherwise it's better to have Faheem and Shadab.
 
I just hope they judged the pitch correctly. Cape Town does offer something for the spinners but is there enough to justify playing a specialist spinner who has a poor record on bouncy wickets? The last match the bowlers did struggle somewhat due to fatigue, 3 quicks can manage only if Yasir bowls a good amount of overs otherwise it's better to have Faheem and Shadab.

First our batsmen need to drag the match into 4th day for Yasir to come into play. I'm not sure about that.
 
I hope they change the batting order at least to have Babar come in at 5.
 
How can they miss their arguably best batsman Harris Sohail? Is he injured?
 
why are people so against Sarfraz.People who want Asad, Yasir to be dropped need to get their heads examined. These two will play till they are in the squad.People who are not playing are alway better players for some people.

People are against Sarfraz because he represents everything that is wrong with Pakistan cricket.

The fact that a mediocre, unfit cricketer with no communication skills, no personality and no star quality is the captain in all three formats shows how much we have regressed.
 
First our batsmen need to drag the match into 4th day for Yasir to come into play. I'm not sure about that.

The last time at Cape Town we almost pulled off a win with Saeed Ajmal taking 10 wickets in the match. If the wicket is on the slower side again Pak batsmen should be able to pile on the runs and Yasir will have a role to play. But in the recent interview Mickey mentioned that he has never seen so much grass on this wicket before in his life, so unless they take off quite a bit off grass this may be another 3 day match in which case Yasir is pointless. They are the ones looking at the pitch so they have the best idea but if they have misread the pitch the match may be over before it started.
 
Most d&g posters here are paindu have unrealistic expectations from Pak team. They think they know better .

Yeah way to generalise things. How much more patience can Pak fans bear with their captain who is unable to lead team for two years. He also behaves like angry kid in front of million of fans watching tv. Why behave like lion when your performance cannot roar? What's good about his captaincy when even this depleted SL side white wash us on our so called fortress? What's so good about this player that fans are not allowed to ask his removal?
 
People are against Sarfraz because he represents everything that is wrong with Pakistan cricket.

The fact that a mediocre, unfit cricketer with no communication skills, no personality and no star quality is the captain in all three formats shows how much we have regressed.

Did not realise Sarfraz would be acting in the remake of Godfather tomorrow.
You also forgot to add no clowning skills like Kohli or no degree, but we have one with MBA but we still hate him.
 
Yeah way to generalise things. How much more patience can Pak fans bear with their captain who is unable to lead team for two years. He also behaves like angry kid in front of million of fans watching tv. Why behave like lion when your performance cannot roar? What's good about his captaincy when even this depleted SL side white wash us on our so called fortress? What's so good about this player that fans are not allowed to ask his removal?
Do you honestly think fault lies with captaincy or our mediocre batting line up?. I agree on current batting form Sarfraz should lose his place if he does not score in this test match.
 
Likely XI after selector/senior mafia prevailed over coach Arthur

Fakhar
Imam
Shan
Azhar
Shafiq
Babar
Sarfraz
Yasir
Shaheen
Amir
Abbas

So only one change replacing a bowler and playing the rotting bat lineup that can't score total 100 runs even with 7 bats. Check how the seniors [Azhar, Shafiq] are cushioned with 3 youngsters shielding them from new bowl. Still they can't score jack. Yasir Shah will be nullified if its the same bouncy track as before. So they're playing with 3 bowlers.
 
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Making sarfraz was a wrong move as a captain. Someone like Azhar should have been appointed captain.

Rofl Azhar was/will be leading the same team. Azhar Ali captaincy is not past history, he made a mess of the team in 2016. Please make Azhar captain and see how miracles happen with all 3 seniors keeping their place in the team and team comes down to 9th place in tests which Azhar achieved with the odi team as well.
 
Shafiq scoring here and then failing in the third Test will be the most Shafiq thing to happen.

He has a habit of scoring when he's on the verge of being dropped only to fail in next few matches after that.
 
Do you honestly think fault lies with captaincy or our mediocre batting line up?. I agree on current batting form Sarfraz should lose his place if he does not score in this test match.

Look I have seen some of your posts where you are blindly defending Sarfraz. I used to be like you but I have learnt my lesson. There is no need to defend players blindly. They are representing Pakistan at highest level and they need to be up for all kinds of challenges. Sarfraz has been failing as a player ever since he took over captaincy. It's been two years. He should be lucky to reign for that long despite his poor performances. It took only one bad game for Moyo to be removed from captaincy and lose his place in the team. It took only one thrashing from WI champion t20 team for Hafeez to be removed from captaincy even though he was doing an excellent job as a captain. But Sarfraz keeps on escaping the axe. Its like he keeps getting another live every series yet he has shown zero improvement. We really should be looking for a new combination because this one is clearly not working.
 
Within the given squad, I think this is possible best XI for Cape Town. If PAK wins the toss, this will definitely be a close contest.

Cape Town is on sea level, much hotter and gusty wind of cape is blocked by the table mountain opposite to the ground - it’s the best ground in SAF for spinners. I don’t think Shadab is a Test quality spinner, hence picking him for batting depth isn’t a good idea for Newlands Test.

Batsmen pick themselves as there is no other option left. Playing Rizwan as specialist bat is never a good idea and I think Asad will do well here. Ideally, they should open with Azhar & Imam, play Shan at 3, Babar, Asad & FZ. I probably would say push Asad & FZ one slot lower & bring Sarfraz at five (or six), to allow him bat against 35+ overs old ball and ask him to go after from ball 1 - 20-30 whatever he scores is a bonus, otherwise putting him at 7 lengthening the tail and it almost makes the set batsman panicking (watching his batting).

I hope Abbas is fit for 50 overs work load, that’s the only way Amir & Shahin can be effective - either of them can take the workload of 35 overs max, that too spread over at least 4 days. And PAK’s tail MUST apply themselves; Abbas for Hasan mean Yasir comes at 9 now and he has been beyond acceptable with bat even for no. 10.

Finally - a loss by innings or by 1 run is same; Sarfraz must grow some balls and play attacking cricket. Only time in last Test, PAK was on top when Babar counter attacked and Shahin/Amir bowled absolute flat out on 2nd evening. I didn’t like Sarfraz’s body language - he didn’t give the expression at all that PAK actually was in the game till half of the 7th session.
 
Do you honestly think fault lies with captaincy or our mediocre batting line up?. I agree on current batting form Sarfraz should lose his place if he does not score in this test match.

You got to understand the basis of test cricket, first and foremost your position in the team should not be questionable, Captaincy is not rocket Science specially now a days, we have literally 6 highly paid coaches. Most teams made their tier 1 performer as Captain(that is going on for 140 years of test cricket), others are considered make shift or temp Captain. Wicket keepers are always make shift Captain, unless you are Gilly or MS...

Sarfraz is not tier1 WK in his time(far from it, he is #7/8 Keeper in the test cricket and I am very generous here) forget about Gilly and MS (who was India's best by country mile). So why we are wasting spot on useless Keeper Captain?? - What exactly he has done, CT, that was won by Hasan, Fakhir and Amir. They need to be appreciated and reward not Sarfraz, there is hardly ever a performance from Sarfraz in any format, yet Karachi Lobby is making him as if he is second coming of Miandad :facepalm:


Elongate the batting

As far as batting is concerned, we have to change the strategy fundamentally, we have to extend to elongate batting by couple of allrounders. We don't have Kohli/Pujara or Warner/Smith to keep on playing 6+4. Shadab and Faheem are better bowlers than second tier and better batsman than second tier batters. We need to invest in them to win matches...We have seen in ENG earlier last year, we won two test matches thanks to these guys, we would have lost both, if not for them...We would not have lost to NZ if either Faheem and Shadab were playing, both would have been even better...Not to mention last test match would have been different if we had these allrounders, that's exactly what happened in lords and Ireland, 100+ partnership from these two saved us...

If you get rid of useless Sarfraz and invest in real keeper and drop Shafiq (who has cost us many matches) and play Fakhir at 6 (Gilly's spot), we can have a much better outfit...Current one is disastrous, we cannot win at home forget about West :acp:
 
Do you honestly think fault lies with captaincy or our mediocre batting line up?. I agree on current batting form Sarfraz should lose his place if he does not score in this test match.
Also I agree with you that Sarf is not the only problem but he is part of the problem. There are other few players too that about time shown the door. We need to invest in young players with good techniques that can serve us in the future.
 
It (the team selection) won't make much difference. A phainta on cards :steyn

Hopefully we will see a good Azam vs SAfricans part II
 
You got to understand the basis of test cricket, first and foremost your position in the team should not be questionable, Captaincy is not rocket Science specially now a days, we have literally 6 highly paid coaches. Most teams made their tier 1 performer as Captain(that is going on for 140 years of test cricket), others are considered make shift or temp Captain. Wicket keepers are always make shift Captain, unless you are Gilly or MS...

Sarfraz is not tier1 WK in his time(far from it, he is #7/8 Keeper in the test cricket and I am very generous here) forget about Gilly and MS (who was India's best by country mile). So why we are wasting spot on useless Keeper Captain?? - What exactly he has done, CT, that was won by Hasan, Fakhir and Amir. They need to be appreciated and reward not Sarfraz, there is hardly ever a performance from Sarfraz in any format, yet Karachi Lobby is making him as if he is second coming of Miandad :facepalm:


Elongate the batting

As far as batting is concerned, we have to change the strategy fundamentally, we have to extend to elongate batting by couple of allrounders. We don't have Kohli/Pujara or Warner/Smith to keep on playing 6+4. Shadab and Faheem are better bowlers than second tier and better batsman than second tier batters. We need to invest in them to win matches...We have seen in ENG earlier last year, we won two test matches thanks to these guys, we would have lost both, if not for them...We would not have lost to NZ if either Faheem and Shadab were playing, both would have been even better...Not to mention last test match would have been different if we had these allrounders, that's exactly what happened in lords and Ireland, 100+ partnership from these two saved us...

If you get rid of useless Sarfraz and invest in real keeper and drop Shafiq (who has cost us many matches) and play Fakhir at 6 (Gilly's spot), we can have a much better outfit...Current one is disastrous, we cannot win at home forget about West :acp:

You know it was a bad investment when someone who has been with the team for 5 years starts failing like nonstop and cannot perform against better teams.
 

Thanks Abdullah, I was waiting for this. I think, it’s a picture taken at least 24 hours before toss (most likely 48), and the wicket looks closer to Mohali than Melbourne- Yasir is a must here. In fact Haris’s loss will hurt double fold because I think he could have been a good spin option. Shadab could have played but as 5th bowler - not sure which batsman to be dropped and Asad comes with a good record at Cape Town, I back him to do well again on this track.
 
The only reason I have been defending Sarfraz is that the posters are attacking him for everything and making stuff up like he did X y z wrongly. Obviously I have no connection with Sarfraz or anyone in the team to me all are our heroes who have given us good entertainment along with lots of tears. If Sarfraz, as he is showing currently, is on bad batting form then remove him till he comes back in form. Making false statements like his keeping is poor or even his on field captaincy is poor is nothing but personal agenda just because he does not look like Tom Cruise (for those that think he is good looking) is unfair. I have seen all the recent test matches and bar one or two decisions his captaincy along with his keeping has been top notch, but if he would not score runs then he needs to be sent to domestic. Rizwan would not average as much as Sarfraz is averaging, and apart from English keepers there is no one in world cricket who would be far better than in form Sarfraz. Howany centuries does Paine or Pants score ?
 
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Selection of squads need to be questioned with lack of opportunityfor young upcoming players in form. For that blames goes to all three Inzi, Mickey and Sarfraz.
 
Within the given squad, I think this is possible best XI for Cape Town. If PAK wins the toss, this will definitely be a close contest.

Cape Town is on sea level, much hotter and gusty wind of cape is blocked by the table mountain opposite to the ground - it’s the best ground in SAF for spinners. I don’t think Shadab is a Test quality spinner, hence picking him for batting depth isn’t a good idea for Newlands Test.

Batsmen pick themselves as there is no other option left. Playing Rizwan as specialist bat is never a good idea and I think Asad will do well here. Ideally, they should open with Azhar & Imam, play Shan at 3, Babar, Asad & FZ. I probably would say push Asad & FZ one slot lower & bring Sarfraz at five (or six), to allow him bat against 35+ overs old ball and ask him to go after from ball 1 - 20-30 whatever he scores is a bonus, otherwise putting him at 7 lengthening the tail and it almost makes the set batsman panicking (watching his batting).

I hope Abbas is fit for 50 overs work load, that’s the only way Amir & Shahin can be effective - either of them can take the workload of 35 overs max, that too spread over at least 4 days. And PAK’s tail MUST apply themselves; Abbas for Hasan mean Yasir comes at 9 now and he has been beyond acceptable with bat even for no. 10.

Finally - a loss by innings or by 1 run is same; Sarfraz must grow some balls and play attacking cricket. Only time in last Test, PAK was on top when Babar counter attacked and Shahin/Amir bowled absolute flat out on 2nd evening. I didn’t like Sarfraz’s body language - he didn’t give the expression at all that PAK actually was in the game till half of the 7th session.

Good balanced post instead of the usual doom and gloom, Gali gloch by many posters.
 
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