CRICKET: SA vs Pakistan

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Fiekus

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So the Pakistanis seem to be a better all round team than the Indians. They have an awsome attack, even without Shoaib. That Mohammad Asim is the most exciting young fast bowler on the scene at the mo, drug scandal or not. In 6 tests he has already taken 30 wickets. Then there's the batters. Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf (last year ave 99) and the great Inzi.

Against SA A at the mo they are 401/3 at stumps on day 1 with both openers retiring. Ok so the SA A team is not the best one out there because of domestic games taking place.

I'd like to know:

1) Who do you guys think will make the SA team? I think Amla will go and Boeta or JP will get a chance. The bowlers will be the same but Johan Botha may be added to the squad. Our bowlers need a rest tho, so perhaps Polly or Ntini will be rested for one of the tests?
2) what are your predictions for the 3 tests and 5 one dayers? I am fairly confident that SA will clinch the one dayers and if I had to make a prediction.... :confused: I'll give it to SA 4-1, provided there's no rain! The tests I'm not so confident. :confused:
3) Do you forsee Smith carrying on with his regained batting form, or will he become Asif's bunny in this series? What about Prince? Did he just have a great year or is he finally maturing as a cricketer? And AB?? Will he settle down and put a value on his wicket, instead of just throwing it away each time?

Can't wait for the 11th!
 
I've certaintly lost alittle faith in the SA team. There used to be a time when any touring side that came here (except OZ.. lol) would have no chance. Thats how i felt about the SA team. SA was very good at home, they used to be able to roll over all visiting teams (except OZ... lol).. i just reapeated myself... lol

Anyway, i dont have that same confidence with them.

The one dayers, they are fine.
The tests are being played quite poorly by SA. And thats not the way i like to see them.

As for the Pakis, who nose how they will play.

What i do know is that SA will win the one dayers. Tests,well, dont really know what this disjointed test team (SA that is) will do.

Amla can go, maybe bring him back in a year or 2, still needs a bit of maturity.

Prince is a good test player, keep him there (for test only, he aint a one day player)

Smithy will be fine. i have no issues with him.
 
...another cricket thread...:D.........prepares for some postwhoring :)..........Pakistans Moahmmed Yufuf is gonna be a force to reckon with, atm he is unstoppable......
 
The same team has been retained to play against Pakistan. There should be worries though. Pakistan are a more stronger team than India IMO. Reason being that they have an in form batting lineup unlike the Indians who have a batting lineup that looks good on paper but crap in practice.

Our biggest problem is the top order and usually we'll be 3 down before a good total has been posted. Smith is back to form but how long that will last who knows. AB still doesn't learn to play his shots. He really needs some domestic games to get back to the game.

As for our bowlers, that's the biggest problem. Harris has been a great find and I think he'll be the Ashley Giles of the team. Not a big wicket taker but will tie the opposition down whilst an attacking bowler bowls in the other end. He will provide variation for the team. If we play on another flat track then it'll be really difficult for SA to bowl Pak out.

Anyhow hope we can do well...
 
I don't think Amla is going anywhere. The selectors are treating him in the same fashion as Kallis at the atart of his carreer - about 97 seasons before he made any runs because they could see the promise in the lad. Amla did not disappoint in the 3rd Indian test, and started to show some confidence. Morally, too, he will show up the Pakistanis.

Our bowlers are going to need some rest ahead of the world cup. Even though a test series against Pakistan is way more important than a 4 week hit and giggle money spinner, I think they will rest the pace men as much as possible. Imagine Ntini getting a stress fracture in the 3rd test!

As for Smith; he's a class player who is on the brink of something really great, like a tripple! Yes, he'll drop a duck here and there, but there's something in my water tells me that he's going to break his own South African record soon, and push on further. He's looking really relaxed suddenly. Did you pick up the stat that even with this latest protracted run of poor form where many many South Africans were calling for his head, he is the fastest South African to each 4000 test runs? He may even be on 5000 before the end of the year. As a captain, he is also beginning to show some promise.

Expect Bob Woolmer to pull some pressure calls out of the hat in the run up to the first test. That'll be good for a giggle
 
This from cricinfo.com:
After their resounding series win against India, the South African selectors have retained the same Test squad for the forthcoming three-Test series against Pakistan at home
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Suitegum said:
....Did you pick up the stat that even with this latest protracted run of poor form where many many South Africans were calling for his head, he is the fastest South African to each 4000 test runs? ...
Click to expand...
To put this in perspective; his last 100 was two years ago.
In that period he has scored only 715 runs at an average of 34 with only one Not out.

In other words, his recent slump has lasted 40% of his test career, and still he reaches 4000 test runs faster than any other South African before him.
 
Suitegum said:
To put this in perspective; his last 100 was two years ago.
In that period he has scored only 715 runs at an average of 34 with only one Not out.

In other words, his recent slump has lasted 40% of his test career, and still he reaches 4000 test runs faster than any other South African before him.
Click to expand...

Are you used to talking to yourself? :P

hehe...The reason why ppl want Smith out is because they never liked him in the first place. He's stat still speaks for himself and he's a good player but sometimes being captain and an opening batsmen is not an easy task. He's maturing and has shown that he can be a great captain with the performances in Durban and CT. Hope this carries on...
 
I hope the Pakis kick ass!!

They bad thing is no1 beats SA at home exept the Aussies, but I really think that Mr Woolmer wants to show his skills here and wants to take it to the SA team!!

SA is not doing well, they winning but they not playing to their full ability, The Pakis are going to exploit it, and you will really see how bad the SA team is.

Im no SA fan, never was. But the bad bad part of all this IMO is they goin to tear SA up so bad they not going to get over it for the world cup!!

Just my 2c.
 
I certaintly have lots of respect for uncle bob. Hes a much beter coach than mickey.

Problem is that uncle bob is coaching a erractic team. A team that plays according to what side of the bed they wake up on.
 
Boodles said:
I certaintly have lots of respect for uncle bob. Hes a much beter coach than mickey.

Problem is that uncle bob is coaching a erractic team. A team that plays according to what side of the bed they wake up on.
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I agree They used to be the most unpredictable team in international cricket, Bob found some level of consistancy and its working, have you seen all the stats!!:eek:

Yousaf scored 8 centuries in a row!
 
JK8 said:
I agree They used to be the most unpredictable team in international cricket, Bob found some level of consistancy and its working, have you seen all the stats!!:eek:

Yousaf scored 8 centuries in a row!
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Do you mean Yusuf, or Yousuf, by any chance?
 
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Suitegum said:
I don't think Amla is going anywhere. The selectors are treating him in the same fashion as Kallis at the atart of his carreer - about 97 seasons before he made any runs because they could see the promise in the lad.
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LMAO :D You right but then Jeremy Fredericks said something very true.. he asked why we don't bat Amla down the order till he regains his confidence and form. He cited Kallis and Ponting and Gibbs, among others, who played in the no.6 position for a long time. Yes Amla made his debut down the order but he was moved up to quick. We have the best no.3 in the world in Kallis, so what if Amla bats at 5 or 6 then when Kallis eventually retires, Amla moves up and makes the no.3 his own. Then someone else (JP??) comes in and bats at 5 or 6 till Amla goes. Ok they probably about the same age but you get the reasoning right?



Suitegum said:
Imagine Ntini getting a stress fracture in the 3rd test!
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:( Lets hope Ntini or Polly or even Kallis don't get injured before the WC!


Suitegum said:
As for Smith; he's a class player who is on the brink of something really great, like a tripple! Yes, he'll drop a duck here and there, but there's something in my water tells me that he's going to break his own South African record soon, and push on further.
Click to expand...

Agreed! He is one of those players, like Gayle or Gibbs that have it in them to break Lara's 400 record without breaking a sweat. The only problem is knowing which balls to leave. Smith pulling the first ball of the 3rd test 1st innings could have been disaster.

Just to get on to Kallis for a mo... do you guys think he will EVER score a double century?? Perhaps against Zim or Bangladesh but I think he will go down as the best test batsman SA has NOT to have scored a double. He can be so destructive and he is SOOOOO talented... remember the fastest test 50?
 
U mean the 50 against a weak Zim team?

Anyway.....He's never really been destructive. I've barely even seen him be aggressive and I've watched him since he started his career. Unfortunately he's game is based on defence so he will never be a Ponting or Lara.

Depending on the pitches I think they might drop a batsman and use Polly up the order. That way Polly and Ntini don't have to over exert themselves with the ball.
 
Kallis and Prince must up their scoring rate. Look at almost any team around the world and score at above 3.2/3.3 runs per over. Kallis and Prince score at about 2.3-2.7 and that's gonna be a problem. They don't rotate strike enough. Prince did well in the series but he's done well because we were under pressure. I don't think Prince has dominated any bowler against India instead choosing to grind out runs. The cricket that's played has changed now and places emphasis on a stead accumulation of runs and not grinding out the win.

If they don't speed up their scoring then we don't have a good chance on staying on top of Pak and take the initiative.
 
derekc said:
Kallis and Prince must up their scoring rate. Look at almost any team around the world and score at above 3.2/3.3 runs per over. Kallis and Prince score at about 2.3-2.7 and that's gonna be a problem. They don't rotate strike enough. Prince did well in the series but he's done well because we were under pressure. I don't think Prince has dominated any bowler against India instead choosing to grind out runs. The cricket that's played has changed now and places emphasis on a stead accumulation of runs and not grinding out the win.

If they don't speed up their scoring then we don't have a good chance on staying on top of Pak and take the initiative.
Click to expand...

I suggest they keep Prince as a backbone, like India has "the wall" in Dravid.
He kept SA in that second test, If it wasnt for him, SA might not have made it, I also think Pollys bowling at the end was a result of Princes steadfast innings.
They can drop Kallis, send him to singing school for all I care!:p
 
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