"There are no real demons in this wicket if you apply yourself" : Dean Elgar

[Firebat]

After a 14-wicket day in the 1st Test, South Africa opener Dean Elgar (who top scored for South Africa with a 58) believes that there are no such 'demons' in the Karachi pitch. According to Elgar, all these demons are in the batsmen’s minds and if a player applies themselves well then they can overcome them.

Quinton de Kock’s South Africa won the toss and opted to bat first on the opening day of the 1st Test in Karachi, on Tuesday. However, the South African bowlers helped the visitors bounce back after they reduced Pakistan to 33 for the loss of four wickets at Stumps, Day 1.

"I had a feeling the wicket would be slow and low as the ball got softer and the day went on, but I didn’t think it would be a 14-wicket day. There were a few very soft dismissals in both innings. If you apply yourself there are no real demons in the wicket,” Elgar told reporters.

Besides the dismissals of the two Pakistan openers and nightwatchman Shaheen Shah Afridi, South Africa also claimed the most important wicket of captain Babar Azam.

"If we can emulate the way we started with the ball (on the second morning) and do that in the first hour, we will build pressure and have chances come our way. Our fast bowlers will bring the intensity, it’s something they pride themselves on and is something we can control as a bowling unit,” he added.

"Sometimes test cricket can get the better of you and you get caught up in the moment. We have to respect that," Elgar said.

https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/cr...-karachi-wicket-dean-elgar-1762984-2021-01-26

 

[Firebat]

Quite damning for batsmen of both sides. Clearly not a series for batting quality.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Technically and mentally the batting has been poor by both sides so far. Pakistan middle order will need to apply themselves better on day 2 and some how dig pakistan out of a huge hole.

 

[MenInG]

58 for Dean could well be a match-winning innings!

 

[Amjid Javed]

58 for Dean could well be a match-winning innings!

Weve seen before in karachi lower scores in 1st inns then some big ones in 2nd inns.

 

[Osman]

No demons in this wicket - can someone please put this on record and have it played over and over again through headphones to our pathetic bunch.

 

[Saj]

The quality of batting on Day 1 was abysmal.

In fact some of the dismissals were nothing short of embarrassing.

There was a distinct lack of technique and patience.

 

[omairsiddiqui]

This Test is following a similar pattern to what many Karachi Tests have followed in the past. Low first-innings scores for both sides, then a massive third innings and the team batting fourth folds for around 250-300. Azhar, Fawad, Rizwan and Faheem better dig in for big scores on Day 2 or the Proteas will pile on the runs when the wicket is best for batting (Day 3).

 

[Shoaibbtt]

This Test is following a similar pattern to what many Karachi Tests have followed in the past. Low first-innings scores for both sides, then a massive third innings and the team batting fourth folds for around 250-300. Azhar, Fawad, Rizwan and Faheem better dig in for big scores on Day 2 or the Proteas will pile on the runs when the wicket is best for batting (Day 3).

Well Day 2 is just as good as Day 3, the most important thing to note is that the last session of the day you can expect reverse swing which is where Rabada and co will be lethal. Just look at this morning only a few deliveries swung as per the commentary, this is a ground that our current batsmen at the crease know inside out. InshAllah i expect big things from them tomorrow and my duas are with them.

 

[Saj]

I wouldn't fancy Pakistan to chase anything above 150 in the 4th innings.

This looks like a pretty nervous batting line-up.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

All hopes rest on the King of Karachi, Fawad Alam.

 

[mastimasti]

This is a good point by Elgar, the pitch is not quite a mine field. Yes there is some turn and yet the ball is keeping low but if batsmen played on the front foot and time their shots accordingly, they can and should be getting 250 runs or more.

 

[chacha kashmiri]

Says the only experienced batsmen along with azhar ali
For the youngsters and debutants etc it's not something they would expect in sunny karachi especially considering the runs being scored in domestic cricket

 

[giri26]

Not only was some daft shots played, SA gifted two wickets via runouts as well. The shot QDK played especially was really bad considering the circumstances.

 

[ak619]

Well Day 2 is just as good as Day 3, the most important thing to note is that the last session of the day you can expect reverse swing which is where Rabada and co will be lethal. Just look at this morning only a few deliveries swung as per the commentary, this is a ground that our current batsmen at the crease know inside out. InshAllah i expect big things from them tomorrow and my duas are with them.

I don't think we can expect much reverse swing anymore with all the COVID restrictions of not using sweat and saliva on the ball.

 

[Shoaibbtt]

I don't think we can expect much reverse swing anymore with all the COVID restrictions of not using sweat and saliva on the ball.

Hassan Ali did use saliva on the ball from what i saw or i could be wrong

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Pakistan would do really well if they get to 200 from where they are after Day 1.

Azhar, Fawad and Rizwan need to pull through something with something special required from Fahim and Hassan.

 

[Caved12]

There are always demons in wickets where Pakistan bat. Both teams just could not bat on a pitch where scoring runs should not be much of a problem if your apply yourself. SA is not a great side anymore and beating them in home conditions should not be that tough, but we have gone to minnow level now in every format of this game and we will always find ways to lose games from comfortable situations. Rizwan is the only hope now , but he has been scoring runs in every test series, so about time when the law of averages might kick in for him in this series. Hope I am wrong.

 

[shamaan]

Gutsy knock by fawad and good counter attacking knock by fahim has put them in a commanding position

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Quite damning for batsmen of both sides. Clearly not a series for batting quality.

No demons in this wicket - can someone please put this on record and have it played over and over again through headphones to our pathetic bunch.

There are always demons in wickets where Pakistan bat. Both teams just could not bat on a pitch where scoring runs should not be much of a problem if your apply yourself. SA is not a great side anymore and beating them in home conditions should not be that tough, but we have gone to minnow level now in every format of this game and we will always find ways to lose games from comfortable situations. Rizwan is the only hope now , but he has been scoring runs in every test series, so about time when the law of averages might kick in for him in this series. Hope I am wrong.

Quoting from cricviz:

“Our PitchViz measure (evaluating conditions using ball-tracking data) suggests the pitch in Karachi became more difficult for batting on day two (6/10) compared to day one (5/10). The primary reason for this was the Bounce Inconsistency rising from 4/10 to 6/10. For the first two sessions on day one the Bounce Inconsistency rating hovered around 3/10 but leapt to 7/10 in the evening session but on day two the Bounce Inconsistency remained at 7 throughout the day. On day two the model assessed that Pakistan should’ve scored 244 for 8 across the day. Their day score of 275 for 4 reflects the fact that they batted well but also that South Africa caught badly - dropping three chances.”

————
Let’s appreciate how well Pakistan batted - by all measures, we faced the toughest periods to bat on this pitch (twice as uneven as it was for SA) but batted twice as well.

The only real hidden demons on this pitch were brought out by South Africa’s terrible batting and running between the wickets.

Pakistan, and in particular Azhar, Fawad, and Faheem, have my full respect.

 

[HappyWarsFan]

Quoting from cricviz:

“Our PitchViz measure (evaluating conditions using ball-tracking data) suggests the pitch in Karachi became more difficult for batting on day two (6/10) compared to day one (5/10). The primary reason for this was the Bounce Inconsistency rising from 4/10 to 6/10. For the first two sessions on day one the Bounce Inconsistency rating hovered around 3/10 but leapt to 7/10 in the evening session but on day two the Bounce Inconsistency remained at 7 throughout the day. On day two the model assessed that Pakistan should’ve scored 244 for 8 across the day. Their day score of 275 for 4 reflects the fact that they batted well but also that South Africa caught badly - dropping three chances.”

————
Let’s appreciate how well Pakistan batted - by all measures, we faced the toughest periods to bat on this pitch (twice as uneven as it was for SA) but batted twice as well.

The only real hidden demons on this pitch were brought out by South Africa’s terrible batting and running between the wickets.

Pakistan, and in particular Azhar, Fawad, and Faheem, have my full respect.

Hopefully this means that when SA bat it will be easier for our spinners to run through them and dismiss them for under 200.