‘Pakistan will not win a Test on this tour’
“South Africa will want to continue pressurising Pakistan – they will ensure the track is lively in Cape Town. Not so much bounce, but certainly swing and seam.” -Photo by AFP
Can Pakistan bounce back from their 211-run hammering at the hands of the mighty South Africans in the first Test?
South African commentator Mike Haysman certainly does not believe so and says Misbah-ul-Haq’s men are already accounted for.
Pakistan will obviously be looking to prove otherwise, but it seems former players and experts are unanimous in expressing reservations about their chances. To add to their misery, Haysman believes the pitch at Newlands, Cape Town, will be of a similar nature to the one in Johannesburg.
Haysman has cited Pakistan’s lack of preparation to play in South African conditions as the biggest and most obvious reason for their capitulation.
“Nothing surprised me and yet again Pakistan’s application and planning was questionable. Their preparation to bat against that [South Africa's] attack and technique was not good enough,” Haysman said in an interview with SuperSport.
Pakistan have a long lay-off before the second Test starts and will play a two-day practice game against a Western Province Invitational XI in Cape Town on February 10 and 11.
“We will try and get more practice in around the new ball. If you can get through the new ball then I think we can score runs in South African conditions. It is about applying yourself and getting good starts,” Misbah told reporters.
Pakistan’s second innings total of 268 on Monday gave the tourists some reason to be cheerful off the back of their record Test low of 49 in their first effort with the bat.
Haysman, too, believes Pakistan can do better in the second Test but has warned the South Africans will be even more lethal on the Newlands surface.
“South Africa will want to continue pressure Pakistan…they will ensure the track is lively in Cape Town. Not so much bounce, but certainly swing and seam.”
But the South African added that realistically ‘Pakistan had no chance of winning a Test’ on this tour.
Pakistan coach Dav Whatmore, however, urged his players to be positive in the face of the South African attack.
Asked whether the team would carry forward any psychological scars from the first innings capitulation on day two, Whatmore said the players have accepted the circumstances and have moved on.
“I would like to think it does not do too much psychological damage,” he said.
“You try to look at the facts and not get too emotional about it.”
I miss 92 world cup Pakistan team.
There was a time when a number of pakistani batsmen used to play county cricket which gave them ample chances to learn playing in swinging conditions. But now there is no one and thats why even the best batsman like younis looks to be a tail-ender. I see only one person able to negate south african bowlers and that is Nasir Jamshed.
Pakistan can only do better if they play positively. They should score runs and not go in to the shell. Open with Azhar Ali and Jamshed as Hafiz has the least ability to score in swinging conditions. Irfan must be included as his inclusion can give South Africa.something to think about. Said Ajmal should be replaced with Rehman too.
Australia was bowled out for 47 and New Zealand for 45 just a few months ago, both teams fell victim to South African bowling in South Africa. On a lighter note, Pakistan outscored Australia by 2 and New Zealand by 4 runs. It is not that Australian and Kiwi batsmen were also new to swing pace and bounce like the Pakistani team is, it is just the stupendous quality of bowling superior mental conditioning of the SA attack that helped them achieve these incredible bowling figures. If we had Asif and Amir in our team we would have seen SA batsman not cross 100 on this pitch as well … guaranteed!!
My friend cricket is game of uncertainty.We know that our players are used to play swing and bounce.You should also know that we are fighter.If our player specially seniors play to their potential then they can prove you wrong.Pakistani batsmen have to play positive cricket.Shots selection are very important.They should try to play each ball at its merit.Loose ball should be punished.Match Temperment and ability to stay at the wicket is also important.I urged Misbah to learn rotate the strike instead of blocking every ball.Go green and prove pundit wrong. you have the ability face the situation with courage.
I agree – In test series this will be a 3-0 debacle.
Bring Afridi back to test team
Mohammad yousaf is the best batsman in the world , but unfortunately Pakistan cricket board does not understand about cricket the only capable yousaf can still perform at any level of cricket .
I agree, and don’t forget Abdul-Razzaq. Both of these players can be asset for Pakistan Test Team. We need people with talent and experience.
ok- we were all out for 49. Pk have done quite well in last few series. 1 failure doesn’t mean we need to change everything
kindly let us know on what basis you people did not show our comments.
On the day, even 8 batsmen would have struggled the way SA bowled. Its unlikely that PK will win a match, but they need to show that at least they can put up a bit of resistance. Its not the loss thats hurts, its the matter in which its done. 49 is not a score for a team that we had higher hopes on.
There is an old japanese saying, ” All battles are won or lost before a single bullet is fired” It is all in the mind first and foremost. Look at the body language and in the eyes of S. African and Australian players when they play. They feel superior, which makes them do the right things to even turn a losing game around. When we perform badly, the general attitude since the days of mullah Inzi seems to be that to fix any problem, is to take two inshallahs and call the doctor in the morning. We have heard
ad nauseum about coaching, swing and bounce abroad. Remember the tour of England of 1962 . Team led by Javed Burki. They said at the time that it is the best team yet to tour England. ( Saleem Altaf, Majid Khan, Asif Iqbal , Intikhab, Mushtaq and Hanif Mohammed etc, etc. and look at the hammering they got. That was 50 years ago, and they are still trying to figure out how to handle swing and bounce. Do you still think our team will learn any time soon?? Keep dreaming .
Ah , Coaching- Did any of you who have played cricket ever see a coach? In other countries, they start coaching at age 10 in all sports at school level all the way up. Our players first see a coach when they are already in the national side. It is too late, you cannot teach an old dog new tricks.
Mr. Ahmed needs to do his homework in the right earnest because, except for Hanif and his brother Mushtaq, none of the other players were even in the Test team.at that time. Moreover, why are we forgetting the supposedly strong team of the early 70s who was blown away by the Australians, especially the YOYO (swing) bowler, Bob Massey? Now, let’s be real; once in a while such things are bound to happen to most teams. So, we should move forward and renew our pledge to improve on our bad performances……right?
What a pessimist you are !!! Have you ever heard of the saying … if you dont have anything good to say then stay quiet? One loss and all of a sudden this much negativity? I am a die hard fan and will always “believe” !!! I am sure Pakistan cricket and can do without your kind of fans. Peace.
Mike Haysman is originally an Australian, now residing in South Africa.