South Africa vs Pakistan | 2nd Test | Cape Town | January 03 - 07 | Pre-Match Discussion

[FearlessRoar]

With South Africa sealing a thrilling two-wicket win in the first Test at Centurion, the focus now shifts to the second and final Test at Cape Town's iconic Newlands Stadium. The Proteas have already secured their spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final, but a series win against Pakistan remains high on their agenda. For Pakistan, the match presents an opportunity to salvage pride and avoid a whitewash in the two-match series.

South Africa will take confidence from their gritty lower-order contributions, particularly the Rabada-Jansen partnership, which saw them home in Centurion. Temba Bavuma's leadership and Aiden Markram's resilience will once again be critical for the hosts, while bowlers like Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen will look to replicate their impactful performances.

Pakistan, on the other hand, will aim to turn individual brilliance into collective success. Mohammad Abbas, fresh from a sensational six-wicket haul, will spearhead the bowling attack, while Saud Shakeel and Babar Azam will need to lead with the bat. Pakistan's challenge lies in batting consistency and converting starts into substantial partnerships to put pressure on South Africa.

With Cape Town's seam-friendly conditions, another gripping contest is on the cards as both teams aim to finish the series on a high.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Warning:

All posters please take note of the following guidelines for match threads on PakPassion:

1. No personal insults at other posters, players, officials, coaching staffs etc.

2. No making fun of player's, official's, coaching staff's names.

3. Do not add any references to media, their social media or post any pictures or screenshots from other sports websites.

4. Stick to commenting on this match. There is no need to bring other countries into the match discussion as there are plenty of other threads where those discussions can be added.

 

[sweep_shot]

Test #1 was box office. Really good game.

2nd Test will be great too hopefully.

 

[Ab Fan]

Pakistan will definitely win. I am looking forward to a Pakistan vs Bangladesh WTC Final.

 

[Xoib]

No way we are competing in both games even India didn’t compete in both games last time in South Africa this was our match to find the elusive win and it’s going to be a usual 2-0 for us

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

Cape Town usually has something for the spinners.

Will SA bring in Maharaj and will Pak bring in Nauman Ali?

I would rather have Nauman Ali than Aamir Jamal as the bowling allrounder. If it's a green mamba then Mir Hamza deserves a go.

Considering Hamza's luck he will be ignored again and saved for the phatta wickets in Asia.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Team bowling first will win.

 

[RidiculousMan]

No hopes for this team as long as Shan is captain.

 

[Cover Drive Six]

This South African bowling attack is quite average, and their batting is just okay. I feel Pakistan is a better team than South Africa but was a bit unlucky in the first Test. Pakistan should win the second Test if they make some changes to the team.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

South African captain like Faf and Bavuma are very weird in their toss decisions.

Since April 2015, Saffers have won 20 and lost 4 Tests at home while batting first.

They have won 9 and lost 7 Tests at home while batting second.

Yet they have chosen , on many occasions, to bowl first on winning the toss.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

They only had a chance in Centurion. Cape Town has more bounce and pace on the wicket so don't expect any miracles for Pakistan there.

 

[khyberlion]

Mir Hamza should come in for Naseem shah. Unfortunate we can't replace Shan and Babar. Both deserve the boot too.

 

[u0sama]

Golden opportunity wasted to win 2 nil, this SA side is very much beatable

 

[jnaveen1980]

They only had a chance in Centurion. Cape Town has more bounce and pace on the wicket so don't expect any miracles for Pakistan there.

It is another field first ground if it is going to be typical spicy Newlands wicket. Will be a low scoring affair.

 

[mominsaigol]

Pakistan should do it's best to win one test. This sa side isn't that strong from a batting perspective.

They haven't won a single test in sa since God knows when. Winning one test will be seen as a moral victory.

 

[Mrjungshook]

Just got done with work. Indianapolis is throwing ice on my face due to harsh winter weather here. But i just want to reach home for this match.
Hope India gives a good fight and particularly Rohit and Kohli score runs and wish kohli scores a hundred even if it's in a draw or losing cause. I just want to see his celebration towards those newspaper companies who made clown on his face.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Pakistan must go with all 4 genuine pacers in Cape Town as it have more bounce and pace on wicket... Amer Jamal is not lo0king effecting as a genuine fast bowler.

 

[Abid Z]

Need Mir Hamza in alongside Abbas. I think Pak have played in capetown in one of the ODI’s so the ground is familiar. Khurram might have a niggle. I expect Pak to win this one. Jamal had not played any matches so was bound to be a little rusty as was Khurram. It’s quite a gamble to go in with either or both of them.

 

[sweep_shot]

Pakistan should do it's best to win one test. This sa side isn't that strong from a batting perspective.

They haven't won a single test in sa since God knows when. Winning one test will be seen as a moral victory.

Last time Pakistan won a test in SA was in 2007 I believe. Inzamam was the captain.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

I wonder what Rauf would have done on these pitches

 

[Justcrazy]

pakistan as a batting unit need to get 300 , that can win the game for them.

 

[sweep_shot]

pakistan as a batting unit need to get 300 , that can win the game for them.

Agree.

That should be enough to win a Test in South Africa because Pakistan have a great bowling attack.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Pakistan needs to bat well. Bowling has done more than they could have. Naseem needs to be replaced with Hamza. Aamer Jamal has been a disappointment as well but I think Shan is gonna keep him.

As far as I can think Shan might end up going unchanged.

 

[mango_bite77]

Is Khurram injured again ? He gets injured after every test match he plays

 

[Kianig89]

Barring a couple of players rest of the team is on slide SA favourites to win

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Abbas bowled 17-18 overs on the trot in the 2nd innings.

Pakistan should rest him

 

[kron]

Agree.

That should be enough to win a Test in South Africa because Pakistan have a great bowling attack.

They have a great bowling attack? Since when?

 

[kron]

This South African bowling attack is quite average, and their batting is just okay. I feel Pakistan is a better team than South Africa but was a bit unlucky in the first Test. Pakistan should win the second Test if they make some changes to the team.

Not full strength saffer attack.

Burger
Jansen
Nortje/coetze
Rabada

That is a beast attack and can compete with any past great saffer attack. Infacr I would say it's their second best ever attack. It's batting that let's them down. If they had say abd qdk and Elgar plus rvd they would be a top 2 team easily.

 

[hur rizvi]

Naseem out hamza in
For WI series Shan should be dropped

 

[Ted123]

I still can’t believe how Pakistan lost that game vs SA after putting them 8 down.

 

[PakPremi]

Replace Naseem with Hamza. Cannot blame Jamal, bowled for one over when the total was within reach and Rabada was given hitting practise by Naseem. Saim and Agha need to bowl lot of overs too as SA are not to too cool with slow bowling.

 

[gibsyhesperis]

I wonder what Rauf would have done on these pitches

Nothing, because he is overrated and would break down if asked to bowl more than ten overs....

 

[mango_bite77]

Naseem should be dropped till he works on his weaknesses in domestic. Pathetic red ball bowler.

 

[aboveandbeyond]

Agree.

That should be enough to win a Test in South Africa because Pakistan have a great bowling attack.

Pakistan lack what Bangladesh have. A Grnuine fast bowler to compliment the medium pacers. Specially against the tail enders.

 

[Rana]

I wonder what Rauf would have done on these pitches

Nothing

Just hand the initiative to SA batters

 

[DeadlyVenom]

This South African bowling attack is quite average, and their batting is just okay. I feel Pakistan is a better team than South Africa but was a bit unlucky in the first Test. Pakistan should win the second Test if they make some changes to the team.

Pakistan have lost a series at home against Bangladesh and away from Asia haven't won a match in years.

You are giving us way to much credit.

 

[gibsyhesperis]

The issue is the batting (as ever with Pakistan).
Saud is the only player who looks the part (though Saim may come good -- he's the type of player who will always be hit and miss, which is fine).
Not sure what they can do (if anything) about the rest of the batting for the second Test

 

[TeymurBlake]

They need to play like a old fashioned test.

No need to rush things. Just be patient.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

India won a Test in Cape Town early this year.

Considering that Abbas is a "Bumrah level bowler" and is backed a supporting cast that is better than what Bumrah has, anything other than a dominant PAK win should be a disappointment for fans.

 

[Mobashir]

Mir Hamza should come in for Naseem shah. Unfortunate we can't replace Shan and Babar. Both deserve the boot too.

Babar scored a very important fifty in the second innings and that gave us a chance to win the match.

In these conditions, even a fifty is a very good score.

 

[Rana]

They need to play like a old fashioned test.

No need to rush things. Just be patient.

Well, if the track is anywhere close to the first Test, I don’t think you can play old fashioned cricket even if you wanted to.

SA nearly flunked the first Test by going into this crawling to the race line mode, they ran away with it as soon as one guy put his foot on the pedal.

It’s pretty much momentum surfaces, you either get on a roll with the bat or the ball.

 

[emranabbas]

We need a bowler who can maintain discipline. Naseem is currently the weakest link and needs to gain more experience in domestic cricket.

 

[Xoib]

India won a Test in Cape Town early this year.

Considering that Abbas is a "Bumrah level bowler" and is backed a supporting cast that is better than what Bumrah has, anything other than a dominant PAK win should be a disappointment for fans.

Abbas is not even the same ball park as Bumrah if this is not troll post then I don’t know what you are smoking

 

[Bewal Express]

They need to play like a old fashioned test.

No need to rush things. Just be patient.

We don't have the talent to go helter skelter. The shots by Saud and KG in the 1st innings and Shaan, Babar and Agha in the 2nd innings showed a lack of understanding of context and what is a good score

 

[Bewal Express]

Abbas is not even the same ball park as Bumrah if this is not troll post then I don’t know what you are smoking

If we accept Bumrahs action is clean

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Abbas is not even the same ball park as Bumrah if this is not troll post then I don’t know what you are smoking

PAK posters themselves were suggesting as much.

 

[Bewal Express]

This is the weakest SA team since the end of isolation and we couldn't beat them.

 

[TeymurBlake]

We don't have the talent to go helter skelter. The shots by Saud and KG in the 1st innings and Shaan, Babar and Agha in the 2nd innings showed a lack of understanding of context and what is a good score

You have a point.

However, if you at the recklessness approach from Pakistan batters, they pretty much played into the hands of South Africa.

Despite getting fifty, Babar struggled to find fluidity. Absorbing pressure & releasing it smartly shouldn't not be too much to ask.

However for the Pakistani batters, it is.

 

[Devadwal]

Abbas is not even the same ball park as Bumrah if this is not troll post then I don’t know what you are smoking

@Major @DeadlyVenom they said 'Abbas is a Bumrah level bowler '

You can ask them more detailed analysis about this claim.

 

[Rana]

@Major @DeadlyVenom they said 'Abbas is a Bumrah level bowler '

You can ask them more detailed analysis about this claim.

Oh na Kar yar

 

[shamaan]

Mir Hamza should replace Naseem.

 

[Xoib]

@Major @DeadlyVenom they said 'Abbas is a Bumrah level bowler '

You can ask them more detailed analysis about this claim.

Then they are most likely or have no clue about this game
Bumrah is already top 20 pacers in history and can challenge a top 5 place if he sustains this for 100 more wickets Abbas is a good bowler who will be remembered with the likes of Terry Alderman , Angus Fraser , Ryan Haris

 

[khyberlion]

Babar scored a very important fifty in the second innings and that gave us a chance to win the match.

In these conditions, even a fifty is a very good score.

He was all at sea and he has been for a while while. His dismissal was shocking which ultimately cost us the game. It's criminal to get out to that delivery when the game was in balance.

 

[Kianig89]

Saim
Shan
Babar
KG
Saud
Rizwan
Jamal
Noman
Abbas
Khurram
Hamza

 

[Bewal Express]

Saim
Shan
Babar
KG
Saud
Rizwan
Jamal
Noman
Abbas
Khurram
Hamza

That bowling is too slow if Cape Town is dry.

 

[Xoib]

Naseem is surely playing barring injury he’s the only one whose capable of 140 plus spells either it’s a same team or Jamal goes for Nauman or
hamza

 

[Nasty Naz]

Pakistan managed to lose the first Test when SA best bowler and of the best Test bowlers in Rabada only picked up 2 wickets. Don't think that'll happen again and I worry that we might see Rabada steamroll our batting lineup.

 

[Abid Z]

Pakistan will win the 2nd test. IF

1) There is a good bowling partner for Abbas. He’s undropable now with his 2nd innings performance. 1st innings was rubbish but can excuse coming back after a long time away.

Who will partner him though. 1 of Mir hamza or Nauman maybe both. Hmm either way need to hold up an end and not leak runs.

2) the middle order clicks. Pretty 50’s are not enough. There needs to be a more solid effort.

My guess is it will happen and Mir hamza-abbas will do well.

A good score by a Pak batsman is round the corner.

 

[MMHS]

If PAK bats first, I’m almost certain they’ll win the Test at Newlands. If SAF bats first, probably it’ll be a closer game.

Most Asian captains make a blunder on 1st morning of bowling first looking at the grass in AUS & SAF tracks but that’s a trap actually. Unlike English or Kiwi wickets, AUS/SAF tracks are faster and has much more bounce, ball moves less as well - these tracks often becomes faster & bouncier on Day 2 till 3rd morning and if the Test goes full distance, day five is often the toughest to bat for the uneven bounce & cracks on the track, even spinners come in to play big time on 4th innings. Whereas English/Kiwi tracks are softer and often flattens out by day 3 - spinners never come into play there.

Unless PAK collapses inside 2 sessions on day 1, batting first they’re going to be competitive. Anything around 300 in first innings by either side should win the Test on a typical Newlands track.

My money is for Pakistan here. I’ll play Hamza also, but not sure whom to drop - Naseem should be better at Newlands while Abbas definitely won’t be as good as last Test.

 

[Devadwal]

If PAK bats first, I’m almost certain they’ll win the Test at Newlands. If SAF bats first, probably it’ll be a closer game.

Most Asian captains make a blunder on 1st morning of bowling first looking at the grass in AUS & SAF tracks but that’s a trap actually. Unlike English or Kiwi wickets, AUS/SAF tracks are faster and has much more bounce, ball moves less as well - these tracks often becomes faster & bouncier on Day 2 till 3rd morning and if the Test goes full distance, day five is often the toughest to bat for the uneven bounce & cracks on the track, even spinners come in to play big time on 4th innings. Whereas English/Kiwi tracks are softer and often flattens out by day 3 - spinners never come into play there.

Unless PAK collapses inside 2 sessions on day 1, batting first they’re going to be competitive. Anything around 300 in first innings by either side should win the Test on a typical Newlands track.

My money is for Pakistan here. I’ll play Hamza also, but not sure whom to drop - Naseem should be better at Newlands while Abbas definitely won’t be as good as last Test.

Pakistan bat first or 2nd doesn't matter here .they will lost the match anyways .

Pakistan can all out under 150 on a greenish pitches so they always catching up in the game.

 

[BouncerGuy]

The only change i want is shan masood left out. Simple.

 

[jnaveen1980]

If the pitch is typical Newlands pitch, team that bats first will be destroyed.

 

[Devadwal]

The only change i want is shan masood left out. Simple.

You're praying for same wish as indian fan's but unfortunately Both wishes cannot be fulfilled due to Shan & Rohit are captain of pakistan and Indian team respectively.

 

[BouncerGuy]

You're praying for same wish as indian fan's but unfortunately Both wishes cannot be fulfilled due to Shan & Rohit are captain of pakistan and Indian team respectively.

We share the same pain brother...

 

[mominsaigol]

The only change i want is shan masood left out. Simple.

Pakistan test team will remain a joke until fc players are selected and poised to compete.

Even home roads, the benefit of fc cricket is that players iron out their technique and you don't get rubbish players like rizwan, Babar, Shan, Usman Khan and others who are technically deficient.

 

[Buffet]

Missed a cracking 1st test.

Hope to see another one here.

 

[Xoib]

Pakistan managed to lose the first Test when SA best bowler and of the best Test bowlers in Rabada only picked up 2 wickets. Don't think that'll happen again and I worry that we might see Rabada steamroll our batting lineup.

This is actually a good point it’s very rare that Rabada misses out on a haul atleast once in a home series it’s not like he’s bowling badly it’s just he was little unlucky and others got wickets before him a 5/6 for 30 by Rabada may doom us early in the test

 

[kron]

Missed a cracking 1st test.

Hope to see another one here.

Very riveting test
Great performance from both teams. Hope to see a great game in test 2.

 

[RidiculousMan]

Bench Naseem for Noman

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

This is the weakest SA team since the end of isolation and we couldn't beat them.

Were you really expecting Pakistan to beat them? Pakistan batting line up is mediocre at best, and their pace bowling was led by a veteran who turned out to be better than all the young guns put together.

 

[Aqib_mustafa]

Were you really expecting Pakistan to beat them? Pakistan batting line up is mediocre at best, and their pace bowling was led by a veteran who turned out to be better than all the young guns put together.

Mediocre team dont beat so called bazzball pak thrashed them saud shakeel is already legend in making pak has actually good batting lineup for tests now all averages in 40 so mediocre is sa batting who in their home barely beat pakistan.

 

[Bewal Express]

Were you really expecting Pakistan to beat them? Pakistan batting line up is mediocre at best, and their pace bowling was led by a veteran who turned out to be better than all the young guns put together.

We never had a better chance as weak as we are. I look at the Saffer batting and I see little or no quality, I see their bowling and it's ok. I see our batting and as poor as it performs, to be more talented.

 

[TheSultan]

It’s so funny to read Abbas is the “spearhead”!

I know he got 6 wickets, but regardless, if this pitch doesn’t have variable bounce, he’ll be cannon fodder.

Just take his performance as a bonus and move on from him.

 

[Xoib]

It’s so funny to read Abbas is the “spearhead”!

I know he got 6 wickets, but regardless, if this pitch doesn’t have variable bounce, he’ll be cannon fodder.

Just take his performance as a bonus and move on from him.

Ok Abbas may not be a spearhead but what else we have the so called fast spearhead would rather bowl 4 overs to Tamim Iqbal in a third class T 20 league then work hard to win a test match for Pakistan.

I will take a Single Abbas over these 100 fake spearheads

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Ok Abbas may not be a spearhead but what else we have the so called fast spearhead would rather bowl 4 overs to Tamim Iqbal in a third class T 20 league then work hard to win a test match for Pakistan.

I will take a Single Abbas over these 100 fake spearheads

Agree. it is frankly embarrassing that a medium pace bowler who has been sidelined for four years comes back in and outshines all of the new superstar bowlers Pak is producing. Naseem Shah couldn't even be relied on to knock over the tail when almost 50 runs were required to save the game for SA with only 2 wickets left standing. What sort of fast bowler is that?

 

[Xoib]

Agree. it is frankly embarrassing that a medium pace bowler who has been sidelined for four years comes back in and outshines all of the new superstar bowlers Pak is producing. Naseem Shah couldn't even be relied on to knock over the tail when almost 50 runs were required to save the game for SA with only 2 wickets left standing. What sort of fast bowler is that?

Our pace stocks in red ball are arguably the worst in the world conceding 600 runs to Bangladesh on home shows how garbage our test pacers are and agree with your point a 35 year old 75 mph merchant out in the wilderness for 4 years comes back and is head and shoulders the best pacer by far is a great reference to see where are test pace bowling is right now

 

[FearlessRoar]

Pakistan practice ahead of the second Test against South Africa

The national Test squad worked on their batting, bowling, and fielding for three hours, gearing up for the final encounter of the two-match Test series starting on January 3.

 

[TheSultan]

Our pace stocks in red ball are arguably the worst in the world conceding 600 runs to Bangladesh on home shows how garbage our test pacers are and agree with your point a 35 year old 75 mph merchant out in the wilderness for 4 years comes back and is head and shoulders the best pacer by far is a great reference to see where are test pace bowling is right now

This is a simplistic take. Abbas was toothless in the first innings and only got that one wicket because of low bounce. Khurram was much more penetrating than him in both innings.

Naseem was also good in spurts in the first innings.

Abbas was like a spinner on the final day taking advantage of the pitch breaking up. That’s fine, horses for courses for particular moments in the match.

But he is no leader of the attack or spearhead.

He’s an embarrassing slow coach. I don’t say we need 145+ bowlers but at least maintain a minimum standard of 130k. His effort balls were 128K.

Abbas obviously has the ability to surprise with his relative innocuous appearance. But it’s only good for surprises like the first test. This is exactly why he fizzled in part 1 of his career. People got used to him and if you remember the last tour to South Africa, he was a toothless embarassment.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

This is a simplistic take. Abbas was toothless in the first innings and only got that one wicket because of low bounce. Khurram was much more penetrating than him in both innings.

Naseem was also good in spurts in the first innings.

Abbas was like a spinner on the final day taking advantage of the pitch breaking up. That’s fine, horses for courses for particular moments in the match.

But he is no leader of the attack or spearhead.

He’s an embarrassing slow coach. I don’t say we need 145+ bowlers but at least maintain a minimum standard of 130k. His effort balls were 128K.

Abbas obviously has the ability to surprise with his relative innocuous appearance. But it’s only good for surprises like the first test. This is exactly why he fizzled in part 1 of his career. People got used to him and if you remember the last tour to South Africa, he was a toothless embarassment.

I don't think these comments are in any way saying Abbas is the answer to Pakistan's pace bowling problems. We are saying it is an embarrassment that as an old timer he showed more penetration than the new up and coming fast bowlers who couldn't knock over a tail on a pitch which didn't last 4 days.

 

[Bewal Express]

Our bowling is in a bad way. We have an overweight, unfit and underwhelming "fast bowier", we have a 75mph, 40 year old that is OK on green, uneven wickets, we have a left arm guy that is barely county level and then we have Jamal, a guy that looks like he hasn't bowled in a year.

 

[Xoib]

This is a simplistic take. Abbas was toothless in the first innings and only got that one wicket because of low bounce. Khurram was much more penetrating than him in both innings.

Naseem was also good in spurts in the first innings.

Abbas was like a spinner on the final day taking advantage of the pitch breaking up. That’s fine, horses for courses for particular moments in the match.

But he is no leader of the attack or spearhead.

He’s an embarrassing slow coach. I don’t say we need 145+ bowlers but at least maintain a minimum standard of 130k. His effort balls were 128K.

Abbas obviously has the ability to surprise with his relative innocuous appearance. But it’s only good for surprises like the first test. This is exactly why he fizzled in part 1 of his career. People got used to him and if you remember the last tour to South Africa, he was a toothless embarassment.

It’s all fine and dandy to want phast bowlers but are phast bowlers don’t want to play red ball and when they play they concede 800 runs . Abbas is only existing in this set up because the so called pacers are not up to the mark . I would love for Khurram and Naseem to pick 8 wickets each and win the Cape Town test but honest to god do you see 1 % chance of that happening when you have a pace attack that is capable of winning you games then for sure get rid of Abbas but right now Abbas is there because the rest are so incompetent