South Africa had a poor world cup earlier this year in the West Indies finishing fourth in the Super 8 stages of the cup before being ravaged in the semi final against eventual winners Australia. . Going in with the expectation they had is never easy but to play so badly was not expected and coach Mickey Arthur resigned from the post of head coach after the tournament.
New Coaches
After a tiresome search throughout the first few months of 2007 after the world cup it was chosen that the main staff would be as follows.
Head Coach Duncan Fletcher
Head Bowling Coaches Allan Donald and Wasim Akram
Head Batting Coach Gary Kirsten and Michael Slater
Head Fielding Coaches Jonty Rhodes and Alec Stewart
The South Africans seem to have revolutionized their coaching panel and more importantly they seem to be improving the selected squad and from what Duncan Fletcher in a press conference two days ago the new coaches and selectors will together be looking to bring in some fresh talent as well as whipping the more experienced players into shape.
In recent times South African coaches have been to soft on the players and after my spell in the England job I know Im going to have to be a real B*****d to the playersDuncan Fletcher
The Liternay
The side will be traveling to Pakistan to play 3 test matches and a 5 match ODI series. All the games are played over a period of under a month and from the 28 Days they are in Pakistan they are playing 20 days of cricket which in the heat and humidity is going to be very intense.
The players are going to need to be both physically and mentally strong, they will all need to be up for the challenge and willing to go through the pain barrierGary Kirsten on batting for a long time in Pakistan
TEST SERIES
1st Test 3rd-8th November 2007
2nd Test 10th-15th November 2007
3rd Test 17th-22nd November 2007
ODI SERIES
1st ODI 25th November 2007
2nd ODI 27th November 2007
3rd ODI 28th November 2007
4th ODI 29th November 2007
5th ODI 1st December 2007
After this intense series the player will have only 18 days at home before the West Indies arrive for a similar series to Pakistan with 3 Tests and 5 One Day games. Being on home soil against a weak West Indian line up the South Africans will want to capitalize early and make do of the home advantage.
Bowling to the West Indies is about lines and England showed that winning 3-1and taking 20 wickets in every game against them earlier this year. They may be flamboyant batsmen but will give their wickets away if we bowl consistentlyAllan Donald about Bowling to the West Indians
TEST SERIES
1st Test 19th December 2007
2nd Test 26th December 2007
3rd Test 2nd January 2008
ODI SERIES
1st ODI 11th January
2nd ODI 13th January
3rd ODI 14th January
4th ODI 16th January
5th ODI 18th January
This series against the West Indies will be just as packed playing 10 days cricket in the first 11 of the series. Overall they are playing 20 days cricket in only 27 days meaning the gap between the ODI and Test series is 4 days. This is a packed program and the South Africans are going to have to work hard against both Pakistan and West Indies.
The Casting
Sky Sports will be following the South Africans through their tour to Pakistan and then the home series against West Indies and hopefully on from there in their future tours. We will have such features as David Hughes the analyst with Red Zone, Dartfish, Hawkeye Beehives and other presentation. Nasser Hussain, Michael Atherton, Geoffry Boycott, Allan Border, Richie Benaud, Mark Nicholas, Ian Botham and Wasim Akram. The side will produce weather reports, pitch reports, the toss and other regular reports on how the game is going.
There will be guest stars and players to talk to us throughout the time including members of the audience (PlanetCricket).
The South African squad on paper is an incredibly strong one but it does have weaknesses. The consistency of the South African pace bowlers is an issue and the new bowling coaches Donald and Akram will be looking to sort out the issue of taking 20 wickets per game.
I have to say my thoughts are on the new arrival of S.Myburgh, I have seen him play on only the one occasion where he made 38 against an England A side for Northerns two years ago. He has good technique and is a bright star for the future of South African cricket.
The South Africans will depend hugely on Pollock who with the new ball will need to take plenty of wickets with the new ball against Pakistan. If Pollock does not succeed to take wickets then the pressure will shift to Ntini, Nel and Zondeki. Those three bowlers are not all capable of destroying teams and although Nel and Ntini are good bowlers they dont have that perfection that bowlers such as Pollock, McGrath, Akram and Vass in the past.
Kallis, the best batting all rounder in the world. A player capable of scoring as many runs as any other batsmen and taking wickets at a decent rate. If he fires Pakistan will find it hard to stop him with their ordinary bowling attack, the question is whether he will and im hoping, for the good of cricket he gets plenty of runs.
the spinners in this series are below average. South Africa have Boje and the unproven Harris. Harris is a left arm finger spinner and can get good turn on the ball. If he gets it in the right zones he could get plenty of wickets and prove useful to the South Africans future in world cricket.
1. G. Smith (C)
2. H. Gibbs
3. A. De Villiars
4. J. Kallis
5. J. Rudolph
6. H. Amla
7. M. Boucher
8. S. Pollock
9. P. Harris
10. A. Nel
11. M. Ntini
The South African side is a strong one on paper with Gibbs, Smith, De Villiars and Kallis all capable of making serious test runs. The middle order is just as strong batting down to 8 with the opening bowler and solid batsmen Pollock in that position. The Bowling attack is not a bad one with Nel, Ntini and Pollock the quicker bowlers all capable of early wickets. Kallis is there as a link bowler but thats not taking anything away from him. He is a class player and will be dangerous in the middle. Finally Harris, the debutant and left arm finger spinner will be very important to the South Africans in this game. He will have to bowl lots of overs and will be hoping to take wickets on the dusty turning pitches of Pakistan throughout this tour.
Pakistan
1. T. Umar
2. I. Farhat
3. Y. Khan
4. M. Yousef
5. I. Ul Haq (C)
6. Y. Hameed
7. K. Akmal
8. S. Akhtar
9. U. Gul
10. S. Ahmed
11. M. Asif
The Pakistani team has strength in the top order in similarity to the South Africans. Khan, Yousef and Inzaman will be the key to Pakistans success. There bowling attack is incredibly weak with Akhtar being the key paceman. If there bowlers are not firing then i can see South Africa scoring a lot of runs. Shahid Afridi is another issue and as he has not been selected due to 'injury'. Without him the middle order may have a bit of trouble scoring those extra runs.
SKY SPORTS PREDICTION WIN SOUTH AFRICA
Coming up will be the pre-match reviews including
Men To watch
Pitch Report
The Toss
The Starting Sides
Good morning here and welcome to the first test of this Test Series between Pakistan and South Africa. The two nations will both be looking to take control of the game early and with strong line ups this could be an awesome series. I am here in the box with Michael Atherton, Nasser Hussain and Wasim Akram. They will share their thoughts on how play could go early in the first test and most importantly todays game.So guys how do you think todays game will go?
Well Richie to be honest and I don?t like to say but my favourites in this test are South Africa. The Pakistanis are a good side on paper but have serious weaknesses. There fast bowling attack is incredibly weak and if they choose to go with Gul, Asif and Akhtar they will be really hoping for one of the first two bowler to really rise to the occasion. Against a very strong South African batting line up and on a pitch that usual does help the batsmen here in Rawalpindi.
Thankyou Wasim and I think I have to agree. On a flat hard pitch the key to getting early wickets will be back of a length accurate bowling. This will produce the pressure that is needed to get wickets on a track like this and I think in Ntini and Pollock South Africa have a vital ingredient to victory. On the other hand the South Africans have not performed well in recent times failing in both the regular and twenty20 world cups. Their ability to choke will come into play and although the Pakistan side is not the best they wont be easy to beat.
Well Richie I have to disagree with both Nasser and Wasim, the Pakistanis are a strong side and I believe Gul, Asif and Akhtar have the ability to take away the South African top order. I am surprised none of you have mentioned the fact that the Pakistanis are predicted not to play a spinner. Yound seam bowler Ahmed is ahead of the anyone in the spin attack and on a track like this 4 seamers may be regrettable
Well Thankyou all and before we leave just in one sentence the player who you are predicting to be man of the match, Athers first?
I have to say the class of Kallis could show through and I expect him to make runs and take wickets
Deffinatly Yousef Mohammed a class batsmen with the ability to make runs on any surface in the world
Smith, although not a popular guy Graeme is a class batsmen and captain and I predict him to make huge runs throughout the series and on todays batting pitch.
Well that?s it Thankyou guys and lets hope you enjoy the pitch inspection and then the toss after the break.
Hello and Im here for the pitch inspection and its looking like a flat hard pitch. Whichever side wins the toss is going to have to bat first and try to post a big score. There are a few cracks but there is going to be very little of the seam. The humidity in the air could get a dabble of movement in the air. The pitch is a dusty one and as the test progresses the pitch will get the grip and help the ball turn. This I expect will be the main source of wickets especially in the third and fourth innings. If the Pakistani?s do not choose to play with at least one spinner I think it would be both a surprising and regrettable choice. So the obvious decision here is to win the toss and bat, bat, bat. Thanks and back to the studio.
THE TOSS
Hello and im here for the toss with captains Inzaman Ul Haq and Graeme Smith. Graeme to call
(Tosses Coin)
Heads
Tails it is, so Inzaman what are going to do today ?
Well David I think we are going to bat first and really look to capitalize on the conditions. Our strengths our in our batting so I just hope we can put pressure on the South Africans early and try to get 450+
Thankyou and looking at the track I think it will take spin, are you playing a spinner in this first test?
No David we are not with Shahid Afridi injured I have to say the 4 choice seam attack seemed the best option. I understand their will be turn but we are confident our 4 seamers can produce 20 wickets themselves.
Thankyou Inzie and I wish you luck
(Inzaman Walks back to the pavilion)
Not happy Graeme?
Well on a track like this you are always going to want to bat first but if we can get some early wickets then the Pakistanis could be in trouble.
And Graeme are you playing Harris for todays game?
Yes we have selected him and I think looking at the pitch it is deffinatly the right decision. He has the ability to put the ball in the right places and I am just hoping he will be able to bowl well today.
well that?s all Graeme I think you better go rally the troops
Thankyou
(Smith Leaves)
So Pakistan to bat first against a strong South African bowling attack, we have a very good day of cricket in store and lets hope its as good as its been built up to be.
Teams For First Test
South Africa
1. G. Smith (C)
2. H. Gibbs
3. A. De Villiars
4. J. Kallis
5. J. Rudolph
6. S. Myburgh
7. M. Boucher
8. S. Pollock
9. P. Harris
10. A. Nel
11. M. Ntini
Well the South Africans have chosen a solid starting line up that involves two debutants. Bowling first is not going to be easy but on a turning track newbie Harris will be looking to get a good start to his test career. The side is a safe one otherwise batting down to 8 with Pollock the lowest and having 4 seamers and the one spinner. The other debutant is S.Myburgh who is a 23 year old coming from the academy. He has been working with Gary Kirsten and will be batting 6 on a good batting track.
Pakistan
1. T. Umar
2. I. Farhat
3. Y. Khan
4. M. Yousef
5. I. Ul Haq (C)
6. Y. Hameed
7. K. Akmal
8. S. Akhtar
9. U. Gul
10. S. Ahmed
11. M. Asif
Pakistan have as predicted opted for a 4 strong seam attack and deciding not to play any spinners. This is a huge surprise on a track that should grip, turn and bounce. The 4 strong seam attack is a huge risk with the unknown Ahmed having to probably bowl more than 20 overs an innings. Akhtar can be very innacurate and if Pakistan do not get a big first innings score there could be too much pressure on their bowlers.
if inzy's looking for 450+ he must really not rate the coach Duncan feletcher. anyway, io voted for pakistan in the poll so i wouldnt mind it going either way
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