*Official* South Africa in Pakistan

[nightprowler10]

I get the feeling Amla would be suitable on our pitches.

 

[Perm]

Not sure about van Wyk in Tests TBH, though he's one of several options.

He must be getting on a bit now too.

He's 28, just a couple of years younger than Boucher, so I can't really see him getting much of a chance at Test level. Has the makings to be a good ODI batsman though, superb record in the shorter form of the game.

 

[Richard]

It's never failed to baffle me how he's never got a decent ODI chance, when the likes of Gibbs and de Villiers have (not without some justification, but nonetheless perhaps a bit less than the runs they got) had almost unwavering faith.

 

[aussie]

Would be brilliant stuff if the springbooks would unleash Steyn & Morkel together although its unlikely to happen.

 

[Pup Clarke]

Brilliant for Pakistan ya mean.

 

[TT Boy]

Pakistan didn’t find Dale so ‘brilliant’ at Cape Town earlier this year...
Steyn took the openers, got the captain, Pakistan were rolled out for nothing and they lost the test match. Also considering most of the Pakistani batsman in that series were bounced out or struggled royally with accurate short pitch bowling (I say accurate which discounts Andre Nel, for his variety of short is either wide and four), I can’t see how they would find Morne Morkel a bundle of laughs.

 

[TT Boy]

Would be brilliant stuff if the springbooks would unleash Steyn & Morkel together although its unlikely to happen.

Steyn unless his injured will play, whilst Morkel given his performances in the last six month would be extremely unlucky not to feature.

 

[Pup Clarke]

Well Pollock, Ntini and Harris are probably certainties, Kallis will probably be 3rd change so that leaves Nel, Steyn and Morkel to fight for one place. Will be very interesting to see who gets it. . I have a gut feeling that Nel might miss out.

 

[TT Boy]

If the wickets are anything like what we have seen in Pakistan in recent years, South Africa will need all the bowlers they can get.

However, Pakistan have Mohammed Asif and he has the number of AB, Gibbs, Amla and Boeta, so the extra batsman (preferably someone who is left handed) might be needed.

 

[Pup Clarke]

JP Duminy or Gulam Bodi?

 

[shortpitched713]

Would love to see Saqlain get a recall but I somehow doubt it will happen.

This is the Pakistan team I'd like to see for the 1st test...

Hafeez
Hameed
Younis
Yousuf
Inzamam
Malik
Akmal
Saqlain
Gul
Asif
Kaneria

As long as we're talking about the team we'd like to see, this is the team I'd like to see for the first Test:

Abdul Razzaq (I'd like for him to morph into a Test quality opener who can give us ten good overs per innings)
Imran Farhat
Younis Khan
Mohammad Yousuf* (I'd like for him to be captain, most under appreciated player in the Pakistan setup)
Inzamam-ul-Haq
Shahid Afridi
Kamran Akmal+ (I'd like for him to be able to hold a catch)
Shoaib Akhtar (I'd like for him to become a team man with a brain)
Umar Gul (Perfect human being)
Danish Kaneria
Mohammad Asif

I know, I'm living in cloud cuckoo land.

 

[nightprowler10]

Umar Gul (Perfect human being)

 

[pup11]

Shouldn't Morne Van Wyk be in the South African squad too?
I also think its about time Makhaya Ntini improves on his average bowling record in the sub-continent, its a really important series for South Africa as they haven't won a test-series outside South Africa for a long time (barring a series win in Bangladesh).

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Abdul Razzaq (I'd like for him to morph into a Test quality opener who can give us ten good overs per innings)

High hopes, given that he's technically retired.
And that he's only opened twice in 77 Test innings, scoring 22 and 1.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

I also think its about time Makhaya Ntini improves on his average bowling record in the sub-continent

It goes without saying, but he'll need to greatly improve on the rhythm he's displayed over recent months. He looks to be seriously off the boil for the most part. It's hard to see why though, because he's virtually never unfit.

 

[shortpitched713]

High hopes, given that he's technically retired.
And that he's only opened twice in 77 Test innings, scoring 22 and 1.

Not at all serious with that one, although if he could do that it would bring some nice balance to the team. Hes a good bowler though, and a big loss for the Pakistan Test team.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Not at all serious with that one, although if he could do that it would bring some nice balance to the team. Hes a good bowler though, and a big loss for the Pakistan Test team.

Used to be a good bowler. Hasn't actually been much good for a few years now.

 

[Richard]

High hopes, given that he's technically retired.
And that he's only opened twice in 77 Test innings, scoring 22 and 1.

And Michael Holding's reaction when first Knight dropped him then Caddick bowled him was the best IMO:
"But Beefy I have to say I am not surprised, not that Nick Knight has dropped that catch but that Abdur Razzaq has edged that ball into the slip cordon, he should not be opening the batting"
"Well Pakistan are one down, but it is a needless sacrifice. Abdur Razzaq should not be out there. He should not be opening the batting"

Was madness that they opened with him, and they only did it because Salim Elahi, the specialst opener picked at Lord's, had scored a pair.

 

[Richard]

If the wickets are anything like what we have seen in Pakistan in recent years, South Africa will need all the bowlers they can get.

Never mind the recent years, been like that since time immemorial virtually. Still, you can pick seven bowlers and it won't make things much easier.

However, Pakistan have Mohammed Asif and he has the number of AB, Gibbs, Amla and Boeta, so the extra batsman (preferably someone who is left handed) might be needed.

Asif has the number of most batsmen, really. Nonetheless, he hasn't played at home all that much yet.

 

[TT Boy]

As posted in the English domestic thread…

According to SuperSport, Neil McKenzie not Herschelle Gibbs is Graeme Smith’s new test partner. Although, McKenzie does have competition, the same man he battled some years ago for a place in South Africa’s middle order, Boeta Dippenaar. Surprising news if this does happen for McKenzie isn’t a recognized opener but a number four by trade.

SuperSport also states that Shaun Pollock is likely to be ‘rested’, with the rationale being Pakistani wickets are no longer suited for his type of bowling. If this does occur it nigh on confirms that Pollock will probably retire from test cricket in the near future. Shaun recently said that he doesn’t see himself playing test cricket for much longer and the West Indian series at home could be his last as a test player for South Africa. If Pollock is indeed ‘rested‘, Morne Morkel is seemingly going to be his replacement.

Squad is selected on Thursday, so it would be fascinating to see if SuperSport are correct.