What can the 2021 Pakistan team learn from from the 2003 side that beat South Africa?

[Loralai]

Our first test series victory against South Africa came in 2003. That was a good series between two fairly strong teams (when compared to the state of both teams now). Pakistan were lucky to hold onto their series lead in the second test and ended up taking the series 1-0. I remember watching both tests and really enjoying the quality of cricket. For a few weeks, our future looked positive.

So what can we learn from the 2003 series win? A few things.

1. Pakistan needs their batsmen to perform. Look at the 2003 series and there were good contributions from a range of batsmen although Taufiq Umar stood out. Now if we are honest we only have one batsman of quality (Babar) and if he fails we will collapse.

2. Pakistan need a solid performance from their spinner. Danish and Shoaib Malik both enjoyed success in the Test that Pakistan won (against a reasonably decent SA batting line up). We will need a similar performance from Yasir Shah here - but is he able to produce a quality performance given he has been so unimpressive in recent games?

 

[Savak]

There is no Shoaib Akhtar, he was firing rockets at 155-157 km/hr that series, in the first test, he got crucial breakthroughs, important wickets at the top which allowed Kaneria to take care of the tail

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Nothing. Like [MENTION=2501]Savak[/MENTION] said, there is no tearaway quick to get through the top order. Also, Malik was chucking in SA's first innings and he triggered a collapse .

 

[Markhor]

Nothing, both Pakistan and South Africa now would get thrashed by their 2003 counterparts.

Taufiq Umar was quality and never should've been discarded. Asim Kamal was a nuggety middle-order batsman, still remember that 99 vividly. Inzamam and Yousuf in their primes. And let's not even talk about the bowling.

That was a great era of competitive Test cricket where Australia aside, I felt everybody else had a chance against each other home and away. Now the gap between the top four and everyone else has made Tests too predictable.

 

[Savak]

That SA side tho was much superior to the current one. This time, both teams are evenly matched overall, SA have a better pace dept but Pakistan should have better spinners

 

[Saj]

People mocked Taufeeq Umar and Imran Farhat as openers but in that Lahore Test they scored 273 runs between them.

Also the spin trio was Mushy, Kaneria and Malik who back then could spin the ball.

On top of that you had Yousuf, Asim Kamal, Shoaib Akhtar and Moin Khan.

There is no comparison between that team and the current lot.