Why didn’t Pakistan play any spinners against South Africa in the 1st Test?

[Aqib_mustafa]

I mean, if you look at the Australia-India series, spinners are playing. I know conditions are different in South Africa, but we all know South African batters struggle against spin.

I am 100% sure that if Noman Ali had played, Pakistan would have won easily. He would have taken the wickets of Rabada and Jansen. Even in the ODI series, Sufiyan cleaned up the South African tail. Pakistan missed a big trick here.

Guys, please discuss.

 

[Abid Z]

Sufiyan is not yet test level.
Nauman was 50/50. I don’t think even the management knew how ordinary the pace bowling would be in the first innings.
Not bowling more of salman or Saim was criminal

 

[Aqib_mustafa]

Sufiyan is not yet test level.
Nauman was 50/50. I don’t think even the management knew how ordinary the pace bowling would be in the first innings.
Not bowling more of salman or Saim was criminal

But rizwan was the one who knew the weakness of sa batsmen brought sufiyan he cleaned up their tail how come rizwan didn't tell shan to bring spinners and cleaned up their tail.

 

[Abid Z]

Realistically there was a 50/50 chance of bowling about 5-10 overs of spin in the first and second innings. Shan bowled Saim, he got a wicket in first innings. But with 4 seamers operating on a newish pitch I guess they felt pace offers more.

In the second innings the seam bowlers bowled 2 good balls per over (except Abbas) but the other balls went for runs. There was some reverse, carry and erratic bounce. I guess they all felt an edge will come and it did, just too late.

With spin you do need runs to defend and I guess they never felt they had enough runs. They certainly would have talked about it at lunch on the 2nd innings but I suppose they felt Naseem and Jamal offered better chances of getting that last wicket. They were wrong completely. Almost everybody knows especially from the Karachi test v England in 2000 that teams can chase down low scores with 1’s and 2’s. But if You can attack with spin you force them to go over the top that induces mistakes too. I just think in the heat of the moment you don’t always make the best choices. I’m sure Shan is thinking about that.

 

[Junaids]

No spinner would get a bowl at Centurion!

 

[RidiculousMan]

There was no need for a solo spinner. If needed then Pakistan had Saim and Salman which were good enough to bowl few overs - like Saim did in the first innings.

Pakistani batting failed like usual.

 

[Abid Z]

No spinner would get a bowl at Centurion!

I think you’d be surprised. I can see Salman bowling a few.

 

[sweep_shot]

I think one spinner should always play regardless of pitch. It can speed up over rate too.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

I think one spinner should always play regardless of pitch. It can speed up over rate too.

Pakistan team doesn't believe in its spinners. Besides top guns were at home.

 

[Aqib_mustafa]

Pakistan team doesn't believe in its spinners. Besides top guns were at home.

Your spinners won you a series vs strong england team why wouldn't pak believe in his spinners sajid khan is bigger test player than babar in my eyes he is a superstar

 

[Abid Z]

Your spinners won you a series vs strong england team why wouldn't pak believe in his spinners sajid khan is bigger test player than babar in my eyes he is a superstar

Because the team management don’t believe South African wickets spin enough to bring in a full time spinner.

Part of the reason for that is that most matches end in 3-4 days. But where matches go the distance spinners are quite effective.

Jayasuria in last series did ok once the batters put a total up.
Graeme Swann has been ok. Maharaj is fine. They do exist but just not preferred. Ashwin was dropped by India. I guess it depends on the pitch.

Capetown is fast.

 

[umerz]

The selection of a spinner for Pakistan at Centurion would have been more justifiable with a more established fast bowling contingent. The return of Abbas after a four-year hiatus, coupled with the relative inexperience of Naseem Shah and Khurram Shahzad at Test level, presented a significant challenge.

 

[shamaan]

They didnt require a spinner for that test match.

 

[batandballbattle]

Centurion does plenty for seamers so you don't really need a specialist spinner. The Cape town pitch can slow up and grip more so Noman may feature in the 2nd test.

 

[W63L35]

In last 10 years, this is how visiting spinners have performed in South Africa. Notice the averages:

 

[jnaveen1980]

In last 10 years, this is how visiting spinners have performed in South Africa. Notice the averages:

View attachment 149122

Their pitches are designed in such a way that there is no grip for all 5 days. Ashwin has done a piece on how they control the wearing of the pitch. ALl pitches wear. But how many days it takes can be controlled. As per his analysis SA pitches will wear only on 8th day to offer some grip. Durban pitch is the only one that grips. But they don't host matches for India at Durban in the last 10 years or so. But this tactic works only for Subcontinent teams. Even that didn't work all the time.

 

[Kianig89]

Good point , specialist spinner always offer a balance in attack and gives a breather to pace battery. But the problem was who to drop and play Noman.
Pakistan were ultra attacking with 4 pacers considering Jamal also, however Noman is no slouch averages 27 with ball and 20 with bat.

Whereas the specialist batsman and captain Shan averages 29, swapping Noman with Shan will be a smart bet.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Good point , specialist spinner always offer a balance in attack and gives a breather to pace battery. But the problem was who to drop and play Noman.
Pakistan were ultra attacking with 4 pacers considering Jamal also, however Noman is no slouch averages 27 with ball and 20 with bat.

Whereas the specialist batsman and captain Shan averages 29, swapping Noman with Shan will be a smart bet.

Isn't shan a medium pacer?

 

[Snowflake]

Only a top class spinner would warrant a place in the side on this deck. Unfortunately, we don’t have a top class spinner

 

[Kianig89]

Isn't shan a medium pacer?

Whatever he is, he is trash won only 2 games out of 9 and lost 7 his W/L ratio is worst than Bangladesh captains

 

[jnaveen1980]

Whatever he is, he is trash won only 2 games out of 9 and lost 7 his W/L ratio is worst than Bangladesh captains

yea he did okay in AUstralia. But should have been axed after Bangladesh debacle. You cannot justify a series whitewash by BD.

 

[Major]

now the land of spinners. Plus you only play a spinner if you have a world class spinner that can spin on a track that is not for spinners like Yasir Shah at Lords.

 

[mominsaigol]

now the land of spinners. Plus you only play a spinner if you have a world class spinner that can spin on a track that is not for spinners like Yasir Shah at Lords.

Yup ran away when I asked to prove the 2015 claim. Proper liar and coward

 

[Farabi]

1 spinner should always be in the attack. Nauman Ali should have played first test.

 

[khyberlion]

Your spinners won you a series vs strong england team why wouldn't pak believe in his spinners sajid khan is bigger test player than babar in my eyes he is a superstar

Sajid Khan the superstar was outbowled by Salman agha in Australia. This is not a spinners pitch hence no spinner was played.

 

[Barragan]

You had Salman Agha as a very good option against two left handers

Simply poor captaincy from shan

The guy isn't even a good captain

Btw, it was Saim who got the break through in the 1st innings

 

[Aqib_mustafa]

Only a top class spinner would warrant a place in the side on this deck. Unfortunately, we don’t have a top class spinner

Ya as if noman and sajid are playing ludo they are highest quality spinners you guys will never appreciate great talent.

 

[Aqib_mustafa]

Isn't shan a medium pacer?

Dont you think had pak played spinners they would have won the match easily since south africa cant play spin as evident in odis?