The bald details of the Third Test at Roseau state that Pakistan beat the West Indies by 101 runs, the Man of the Match being Roston Chase. Yet Pakistan may as well have been playing Merthyr Tydfil Seconds such was the intense focus on just two individuals.
In a match when the two finest Pakistani batsmen of the past decade both departed Test cricket, the result of the game was of secondary importance. Not to proud skipper Misbah ul-Haq or the venerable run machine, Younis Khan, of course. To them, a victory and series win would signify job done.
There have been a lot of jobs done in recent years. In the last four years, Pakistan have lost just three series – in Sri Lanka, Australia and New Zealand – out of fourteen, and it’s a shame that much of their success has come under the radar. The dominance of India on and off the pitch, and the UK media’s obsession with the Ashes at the exclusion of all other cricket, have contributed, and then there has been the enforced ban on internationals on home soil as a result of a bunch of idiotic terrorists.
Then there was the ignominy of seeing their former captain and two of his young protégés sent to jail for match-fixing which put the whole nation in the global sporting doghouse. Ironically it was that crime which enabled Misbah in 2010 to finally meet his destiny and lead the side his talents had long merited.
He retires just a few weeks short of his 43rd birthday having led Pakistan to more victories than anyone before him, having been rejected many years ago for being too old! What seemed to count against him, despite prolific seasons in domestic cricket, was that he didn’t make his first-class debut until the age of 24. He was picked back in 2001 to play in Auckland, making little impact in a win fashioned largely by a second innings century by a certain Younis Khan and the bowling of Mohammad Sami and Saqlain Mushtaq.
Only four more appearances came in the next six years but he came good with the bat against India in late 2007. In his first 19 Tests, he averaged a mediocre 33 but since assuming the captaincy his average has leapt to 51. He hasn’t smashed loads of centuries but those invaluable 50s have come in mighty handy. Furthermore it’s been his nous and experience as leader which have dragged Pakistani cricket from the gutter to challengers in all forms of cricket. He was no slouch in limited overs either, although it was a shame his final innings should end with such an ugly slog sweep.
Younis’s career also finished with a mistimed sweep but he leaves with just about every Pakistan Test batting record to his name. Earlier in the series he became the first man from his country to reach 10,000 Test runs, although his last three-figure score was his 175 not out at the SCG in January. He was one of the very few players in the world to have converted most of his 50s into hundreds. His world-class average of 52 is superior to that of giants such as Border, Ponting, Gavaskar and Richards.
While his career wasn’t without controversy, occasional ill-discipline and disputes with officials and management, it is telling that Younis Khan commands considerable respect not only in Pakistan but across the cricketing world. He may not boast the swashbuckling charisma of Javed Miandad, the weight (in more ways than one) of Inzamam, the political smarm of Imran Khan or the ego of Shahid Afridi but Younis has been a shining example for any youngster looking to bat with traditional virtues such as patience, shot selection and cool-headedness. Maybe too inward-looking to be a successful skipper, Younis has nevertheless been the rock in Pakistan’s middle-order. His partnerships with Misbah were so vital to the team’s rise up the Test rankings. OK, so he was hardly a giant of the 50- or 20-over game, but Pakistan’s batting will surely suffer in his absence. With Misbah gone, too, the hole begins to resemble a deep crater.
But that is not their problem. It’s the PCB’s. Instead we should celebrate the massive contributions to Pakistan cricket made by this pair of batsmen over the past two decades.
Showing posts with label Younis Khan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Younis Khan. Show all posts
Monday, 15 May 2017
Saturday, 7 January 2017
Smith and Warner lead Aussies to another Pakistan Whitewash
In Test cricket, fortunes can change quickly. Last winter, Australia beat the West Indies and New Zealand before coming a cropper at home to South Africa in November. Meanwhile, Pakistan briefly topped the ICC rankings after the England tour, maintained the momentum with a 2-1 series success over the Windies in the desert but lost it all again in New Zealand.
So there was a lot at stake in the Australia-Pakistan encounters over the past month or so. Would the Aussie pacemen make the most of quick pitches or could the Pakistani veteran batsmen galvanise the tourists? The answer was neither. It was very much a series for the batsmen. In the three matches, there were ten centuries and no fewer than eight individuals averaged more than 50. With the ball, only Josh Hazelwood averaged under 25, while his 15-wicket aggregate took him past the century for his career so far.
The series caught light on the last day of the Brisbane opener. After Steve Smith declared 489 ahead, a crushing defeat for Pakistan was the likely outcome. However, Azhar Ali and Younis Khan weren’t to be cowed, then Asad Shafiq brilliantly shepherded the tail past 300, past 400,… Could a new world record be achieved? Not on this occasion, but the amazing effort took Pakistan to 450, just 39 short.
Only two sides had ever scored more in the fourth innings, and all sorts of records were broken at The Gabba. One which did hold was Australia’s long unbeaten sequence, now extended to 28.
At the MCG, Pakistan again passed 400, helped by an unbeaten 205 from opener Azhar Ali. However, David Warner’s run-a-ball 144, Steve Smith’s third consecutive Boxing Day Test century, Khawaja’s 97 and a late blast from Mitchell Starc established another handsome first innings lead. There was to be no repeat of the Gabba fightback as Starc and spinner Nathan Lyon nabbed seven cheap wickets to pull off an innings victory.
On to Sydney at the start of 2017. And what a star it was for David Warner. His century before lunch on day one was the first in Test cricket for more than 30 years, even outshining Matt Renshaw’s substantial debut hundred and Peter Handscomb’s second in three games. In response, Younis Khan’s 175 not out was his 34th three-figure score, keeping Pakistan in with a shout. A fourth day batting blitz set up another huge target and, despite a series-best 38 from skipper Misbah and a quick 72 not out from Sarfraz, it proved far too much.
And so Australia could enjoy a fourth successive 3-0 whitewash at home to Pakistan. Question marks have been raised against Misbah’s captaincy. Understandable given the series result and his own mediocre form. Nevertheless, he has been magnificent for his country in recent years. If he chooses to retire at 42, nobody would blame him. On the other hand, it would be unfair to hound him out based on one lost series in a land where they haven’t won for decades.
The Aussies can reflect proudly on a great all-round display, with runs down the order and wickets well distributed across the attack. Smith and Warner are at the top of their game, and it was an encouraging series for new boys Renshaw and Handscomb. If they can hang on to their bowlers longer than South Africa, they may yet in the next 18 months challenge India for the ceremonial mace.
So there was a lot at stake in the Australia-Pakistan encounters over the past month or so. Would the Aussie pacemen make the most of quick pitches or could the Pakistani veteran batsmen galvanise the tourists? The answer was neither. It was very much a series for the batsmen. In the three matches, there were ten centuries and no fewer than eight individuals averaged more than 50. With the ball, only Josh Hazelwood averaged under 25, while his 15-wicket aggregate took him past the century for his career so far.
The series caught light on the last day of the Brisbane opener. After Steve Smith declared 489 ahead, a crushing defeat for Pakistan was the likely outcome. However, Azhar Ali and Younis Khan weren’t to be cowed, then Asad Shafiq brilliantly shepherded the tail past 300, past 400,… Could a new world record be achieved? Not on this occasion, but the amazing effort took Pakistan to 450, just 39 short.
Only two sides had ever scored more in the fourth innings, and all sorts of records were broken at The Gabba. One which did hold was Australia’s long unbeaten sequence, now extended to 28.
At the MCG, Pakistan again passed 400, helped by an unbeaten 205 from opener Azhar Ali. However, David Warner’s run-a-ball 144, Steve Smith’s third consecutive Boxing Day Test century, Khawaja’s 97 and a late blast from Mitchell Starc established another handsome first innings lead. There was to be no repeat of the Gabba fightback as Starc and spinner Nathan Lyon nabbed seven cheap wickets to pull off an innings victory.
On to Sydney at the start of 2017. And what a star it was for David Warner. His century before lunch on day one was the first in Test cricket for more than 30 years, even outshining Matt Renshaw’s substantial debut hundred and Peter Handscomb’s second in three games. In response, Younis Khan’s 175 not out was his 34th three-figure score, keeping Pakistan in with a shout. A fourth day batting blitz set up another huge target and, despite a series-best 38 from skipper Misbah and a quick 72 not out from Sarfraz, it proved far too much.
And so Australia could enjoy a fourth successive 3-0 whitewash at home to Pakistan. Question marks have been raised against Misbah’s captaincy. Understandable given the series result and his own mediocre form. Nevertheless, he has been magnificent for his country in recent years. If he chooses to retire at 42, nobody would blame him. On the other hand, it would be unfair to hound him out based on one lost series in a land where they haven’t won for decades.
The Aussies can reflect proudly on a great all-round display, with runs down the order and wickets well distributed across the attack. Smith and Warner are at the top of their game, and it was an encouraging series for new boys Renshaw and Handscomb. If they can hang on to their bowlers longer than South Africa, they may yet in the next 18 months challenge India for the ceremonial mace.
Wednesday, 24 August 2016
Pakistan on top of the world
Congratulations to Pakistan for assuming the official number one spot in Test cricket. The ICC rankings havet been around for only 13 years but I can’t recall a time when the nation were so prominent that they could have been unofficial Test worldbeaters, not even in the days of Imran Khan, Zaheer Abbas , Waqar Younis or Wasim Akram, Those pesky Aussies or West Indians were usually that bit more successful. Maybe in the late Eighties when Viv’s Caribbean cavaliers were losing their lustre and prior to Steve Waugh’s star men were coming together.
Mind you, I used the word ‘prominent’ rather than ‘dominant’ deliberately. Pakistan seemed to have risen up the rankings so far under the radar as to be flying at sea level. It wouldn’t have happened without Australia’s spectacular collapses against Sri Lanka, or the waterlogged outfield fiasco this week in Trinidad, where India were expected to put the Windies to the sword yet again. Nor of course had England dismissed Younis Khan much earlier in the Oval Test the other week and not allowed Pakistan to draw the series.
All ifs and buts. Just three points separate the top four nations so it could be all change come the winter, but let’s allow Pakistan the time to enjoy holding the ceremonial mace, because they have deserved it. The doubters point to the side’s inability to win in Australia or South Africa. But then ALL of Pakistan’s series are away; they haven’t been allowed to host a series for six years, and through no fault of the PCB.
That is also partly the reason they have played only six series in two years, while England, Australia et al are all cricketed out. Yet of those six, Pakistan have won four and drawn two, defeating England, Australia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh while giving the New Zealanders a run for their money in the desert.
So how have they achieved this historic rise? After the humiliation of the sordid match-fixing affair which led the captain and star bowlers to be not only banned but imprisoned, it looked hard to see Pakistan covering for years. However, Misbah-ul-Haq’s promotion to skipper has been the masterstroke. While his fellow batsmen have struggled for consistency, he and Younis have kept the runs flowing while their blend of seamers and spinners have done plenty of damage with the ball.
In the last eight series, spanning 22 matches, Younis has not averaged less than 48, and his career Test average remains stubbornly above 53. He is also a rarity in that he converts more than half his fifties into centuries and, as England re-discovered this month, is not averse to turning mere centuries into doubles. He is now 38, but his leader is more than three years his senior.
Misbah’s Test career started not long after Younis’s, but he has played a mere 65 matches. Apart from a sensational series against India in 2007, his batting seems to have improved since assuming the captaincy, and is always reliable. He managed just the one century in England this summer but what a vital one it was.
Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq and ‘keeper Sarfraz Ahmed often chip in, too, while the likes of Junaid Khan, Sohail Khan and Wahab Riaz have often stuck to their guns with pace and skill. Losing their ace slowie Saeed Ajmal to the bent elbow police (probably with justification) must have been a blow but they merely introduced another enthusiastic 30-something spinner in Yasir Shah.
Misbah and the PCB have made some great strategic decisions, and Misbah knows how to win. He has even been brave enough to drop the veteran opener Mohammad Hafeez for the Oval, and of course they won with ease.
I don’t know how much importance the fan back home attach to the number one Test status. After all, they languish a paltry ninth in ODIs and not much better in T20 internationals, where New Zealand currently rule the roost. However, I hope it really does mean something because it is quite an achievement. India are either second or third in all formats so their old rivals should revel in being ahead in the five-day game.
Personally I look forward to seeing Pakistan play England in the fifth one-dayer in Cardiff next month. It’ll be the first time I’ve watched a Pakistani side in the flesh since Imran’s team came to Chelmsford twenty-five decades ago and Saeed Anwar stroked a sublime hundred. It would be nice to see Misbah’s team of youth and experience give England an exciting contest, hopefully to decide the series.
Mind you, I used the word ‘prominent’ rather than ‘dominant’ deliberately. Pakistan seemed to have risen up the rankings so far under the radar as to be flying at sea level. It wouldn’t have happened without Australia’s spectacular collapses against Sri Lanka, or the waterlogged outfield fiasco this week in Trinidad, where India were expected to put the Windies to the sword yet again. Nor of course had England dismissed Younis Khan much earlier in the Oval Test the other week and not allowed Pakistan to draw the series.
All ifs and buts. Just three points separate the top four nations so it could be all change come the winter, but let’s allow Pakistan the time to enjoy holding the ceremonial mace, because they have deserved it. The doubters point to the side’s inability to win in Australia or South Africa. But then ALL of Pakistan’s series are away; they haven’t been allowed to host a series for six years, and through no fault of the PCB.
That is also partly the reason they have played only six series in two years, while England, Australia et al are all cricketed out. Yet of those six, Pakistan have won four and drawn two, defeating England, Australia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh while giving the New Zealanders a run for their money in the desert.
So how have they achieved this historic rise? After the humiliation of the sordid match-fixing affair which led the captain and star bowlers to be not only banned but imprisoned, it looked hard to see Pakistan covering for years. However, Misbah-ul-Haq’s promotion to skipper has been the masterstroke. While his fellow batsmen have struggled for consistency, he and Younis have kept the runs flowing while their blend of seamers and spinners have done plenty of damage with the ball.
In the last eight series, spanning 22 matches, Younis has not averaged less than 48, and his career Test average remains stubbornly above 53. He is also a rarity in that he converts more than half his fifties into centuries and, as England re-discovered this month, is not averse to turning mere centuries into doubles. He is now 38, but his leader is more than three years his senior.
Misbah’s Test career started not long after Younis’s, but he has played a mere 65 matches. Apart from a sensational series against India in 2007, his batting seems to have improved since assuming the captaincy, and is always reliable. He managed just the one century in England this summer but what a vital one it was.
Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq and ‘keeper Sarfraz Ahmed often chip in, too, while the likes of Junaid Khan, Sohail Khan and Wahab Riaz have often stuck to their guns with pace and skill. Losing their ace slowie Saeed Ajmal to the bent elbow police (probably with justification) must have been a blow but they merely introduced another enthusiastic 30-something spinner in Yasir Shah.
Misbah and the PCB have made some great strategic decisions, and Misbah knows how to win. He has even been brave enough to drop the veteran opener Mohammad Hafeez for the Oval, and of course they won with ease.
I don’t know how much importance the fan back home attach to the number one Test status. After all, they languish a paltry ninth in ODIs and not much better in T20 internationals, where New Zealand currently rule the roost. However, I hope it really does mean something because it is quite an achievement. India are either second or third in all formats so their old rivals should revel in being ahead in the five-day game.
Personally I look forward to seeing Pakistan play England in the fifth one-dayer in Cardiff next month. It’ll be the first time I’ve watched a Pakistani side in the flesh since Imran’s team came to Chelmsford twenty-five decades ago and Saeed Anwar stroked a sublime hundred. It would be nice to see Misbah’s team of youth and experience give England an exciting contest, hopefully to decide the series.
Tuesday, 27 October 2015
Pakistan in the driving seat
Last week, England felt cheated of victory by bad light. This time in Dubai they were barely six overs from securing a very unlikely draw before Pakistan’s attacking field yielded the final wicket. Both matches have provided exciting finales, but it was the second which gave us consistently good cricket.
After a shaky start on the first morning, Pakistan’s middle-order did their job. Something you can’t say of England’s! Captain Misbah ul-Haq shared stands of 93 with Younis Khan and 104 with Asad Shafiq before Moeen Ali and Mark Wood kept the total below 400. England’s reply was a very staccato affair. Ali and Bell struggled again, then Alastair Cook and the redoubtable Joe Root put on 113, playing the pace of man-of-the-match Wahab Riaz and spin of Yasir Shah with much-needed patience.
However, once Root nicked to the ‘keeper, the last six wickets tumbled for only 36 runs. Pakistan’s second innings again survived two early departures. This time, Younis showed why he remains one of the best Test batsmen of his generation, progressing to his 31st century and passing 9,000 runs. Misbah’s late-flowering career continued with another fine display, scoring 87, while Shafiq provided more sterling support. The declaration left England a day and a half to achieve a world record target or, barely more likely, bat for a draw.
They really needed Cook on his A-game but the heat and dust had taken its toll. Bell scratched around for 48, Root passed 50 yet again, but Bairstow, Stokes and the hapless Jos Buttler failed miserably. An early end looked inevitable, but Adil Rashid is no pushover with the bat. Bowling figures of 2-191 were poor, but his application against Shah and Babar put his colleagues to shame. Broad tried to hit out, falling to a brilliant fast yorker, but Wood stuck it out for two hours, a great effort. Rashid’s innings lasted twice as long for 61. The number of runs wasn’t important; the number of overs survived was. However, with the finishing line in sight, the Yorkshireman chose the wrong ball to drive past the close cordon and was caught by Babar.
It was one of the longest second innings ending in defeat ever played in Asia, demonstrating that with the right amount of skill and sense of when to play and when to leave, Pakistan can be kept at bay in the UAE. Unfortunately for England, only Root, Rashid and tailender Wood had what was needed.
Pakistan now have the added incentive of winning the final Test, not only to take the series but also to advance to second in the ICC rankings. Not bad for a side unable to play on home pitches. However, they will need some fine young blood to succeed Younis (aged 37) and Misbah (41) if they are to hold on to that status for any length of time.
As for England, selection for the 3rd Test and, arguably more importantly, the South Africa tour, must be tricky. It was interesting to watch a Sky TV discussion yesterday in which nobody could agree on what should happen next. Ali has not proved a capable partner for Cook, Buttler can’t bat at all, and Stokes, Bell and Bairstow are all struggling. Replacement options are few. Bairstow could take the gloves from Buttler, although his ‘keeping is not as good. Ali could drop back down the order to give Hales his chance, and James Taylor deserves a position at, say, five or six in place of Stokes. Titanic, rearranging and deckchairs spring to mind! The type of pitch in Sharjah will be crucial. I can’t believe it won’t be spin-friendly, in which case both Rashid and Ali will play. However fine they are with the willow, they are nowhere near as potent as Pakistan’s slow bowlers, and Pakistan must be favourites for another series win.
After a shaky start on the first morning, Pakistan’s middle-order did their job. Something you can’t say of England’s! Captain Misbah ul-Haq shared stands of 93 with Younis Khan and 104 with Asad Shafiq before Moeen Ali and Mark Wood kept the total below 400. England’s reply was a very staccato affair. Ali and Bell struggled again, then Alastair Cook and the redoubtable Joe Root put on 113, playing the pace of man-of-the-match Wahab Riaz and spin of Yasir Shah with much-needed patience.
However, once Root nicked to the ‘keeper, the last six wickets tumbled for only 36 runs. Pakistan’s second innings again survived two early departures. This time, Younis showed why he remains one of the best Test batsmen of his generation, progressing to his 31st century and passing 9,000 runs. Misbah’s late-flowering career continued with another fine display, scoring 87, while Shafiq provided more sterling support. The declaration left England a day and a half to achieve a world record target or, barely more likely, bat for a draw.
They really needed Cook on his A-game but the heat and dust had taken its toll. Bell scratched around for 48, Root passed 50 yet again, but Bairstow, Stokes and the hapless Jos Buttler failed miserably. An early end looked inevitable, but Adil Rashid is no pushover with the bat. Bowling figures of 2-191 were poor, but his application against Shah and Babar put his colleagues to shame. Broad tried to hit out, falling to a brilliant fast yorker, but Wood stuck it out for two hours, a great effort. Rashid’s innings lasted twice as long for 61. The number of runs wasn’t important; the number of overs survived was. However, with the finishing line in sight, the Yorkshireman chose the wrong ball to drive past the close cordon and was caught by Babar.
It was one of the longest second innings ending in defeat ever played in Asia, demonstrating that with the right amount of skill and sense of when to play and when to leave, Pakistan can be kept at bay in the UAE. Unfortunately for England, only Root, Rashid and tailender Wood had what was needed.
Pakistan now have the added incentive of winning the final Test, not only to take the series but also to advance to second in the ICC rankings. Not bad for a side unable to play on home pitches. However, they will need some fine young blood to succeed Younis (aged 37) and Misbah (41) if they are to hold on to that status for any length of time.
As for England, selection for the 3rd Test and, arguably more importantly, the South Africa tour, must be tricky. It was interesting to watch a Sky TV discussion yesterday in which nobody could agree on what should happen next. Ali has not proved a capable partner for Cook, Buttler can’t bat at all, and Stokes, Bell and Bairstow are all struggling. Replacement options are few. Bairstow could take the gloves from Buttler, although his ‘keeping is not as good. Ali could drop back down the order to give Hales his chance, and James Taylor deserves a position at, say, five or six in place of Stokes. Titanic, rearranging and deckchairs spring to mind! The type of pitch in Sharjah will be crucial. I can’t believe it won’t be spin-friendly, in which case both Rashid and Ali will play. However fine they are with the willow, they are nowhere near as potent as Pakistan’s slow bowlers, and Pakistan must be favourites for another series win.
Tuesday, 7 July 2015
Pakistan pack a Punch
Pakistan have not only enjoyed an exciting series win in Sri Lanka but, largely under the radar, attained the status of number three in the ICC Test rankings. Once the home nation levelled the series at Colombo, you would be forgiven for thinking that Pakistan would have folded in the Pallekele finale. Indeed, when Angelo Mathews stuck around to extend Sri Lanka’s lead to 376, the visitors were in unknown territory in relation to their target.
But Pakistan have Younis Khan. He and Azhar Ali have been in fantastic form in the past few years. Their avalanche of runs, with the added contribution of skipper Misbah-ul-Haq, simply swept the Aussies away in the UAE last year. They then drew 1-1 with New Zealand and the centuries continued to stack up in the series victory over Bangladesh. Azhar Ali and Mohammed Hafeez both passed 200 in an innings and the opposition bowlers must have grown tired of facing them.
Nevertheless, Pakistan were struggling at 13-2 before opener Shan Masood was joined by Younis. With almost two days remaining, they could easily have dug in to grind out the runs. They didn’t, and by stumps on the fourth day, they were 230-2, both batsmen having reached three figures. Surely they couldn’t pull off Pakistan’s highest ever run chase?
Shan was stumped off Kaushal on 125 but Misbah’s arrival made no difference to the momentum. Younis Khan moved serenely on to 171 and Misbah clinched the match and the series with a six. What a game, what a series and what a load of records were achieved on that final day!
It was Younis’ seventh hundred in the past year, and the highest fourth innings score by a Pakistani in their history. He is unusual in that when he hits 50, more often than not he proceeds all the way to 100. Furthermore, only once before have two Pakistan batsmen hit hundreds in a fourth innings of a Test
So far I’ve only mentioned the batsmen, yet it was a bowler who was named Player of the Series, and deservedly so. Junaid Khan and Wahab Riaz get most of the plaudits and Saeed Ajmal is twirling for Worcestershire instead of for Pakistan. So it may be a surprise that, in three matches, it was Yasir Shah who claimed an impressive 24 wickets. That included a 7-76, 6-96 and 5-78, and he not only took more wickets than anybody else, but had the lowest average and economy rate.
Still without a home series, it’s great to see Pakistan up there, with New Zealand threatening the big two, Australia and South Africa. Test cricket is not all about the Ashes and batting isn’t solely the reserve of Cook, Smith, Clarke and Root. Younis Khan deserves to be considered amongst the modern greats alongside Kallis, Ponting, Chanderpaul and Tendulkar, and Misbah as one of the leading captains.
But Pakistan have Younis Khan. He and Azhar Ali have been in fantastic form in the past few years. Their avalanche of runs, with the added contribution of skipper Misbah-ul-Haq, simply swept the Aussies away in the UAE last year. They then drew 1-1 with New Zealand and the centuries continued to stack up in the series victory over Bangladesh. Azhar Ali and Mohammed Hafeez both passed 200 in an innings and the opposition bowlers must have grown tired of facing them.
Nevertheless, Pakistan were struggling at 13-2 before opener Shan Masood was joined by Younis. With almost two days remaining, they could easily have dug in to grind out the runs. They didn’t, and by stumps on the fourth day, they were 230-2, both batsmen having reached three figures. Surely they couldn’t pull off Pakistan’s highest ever run chase?
Shan was stumped off Kaushal on 125 but Misbah’s arrival made no difference to the momentum. Younis Khan moved serenely on to 171 and Misbah clinched the match and the series with a six. What a game, what a series and what a load of records were achieved on that final day!
It was Younis’ seventh hundred in the past year, and the highest fourth innings score by a Pakistani in their history. He is unusual in that when he hits 50, more often than not he proceeds all the way to 100. Furthermore, only once before have two Pakistan batsmen hit hundreds in a fourth innings of a Test
So far I’ve only mentioned the batsmen, yet it was a bowler who was named Player of the Series, and deservedly so. Junaid Khan and Wahab Riaz get most of the plaudits and Saeed Ajmal is twirling for Worcestershire instead of for Pakistan. So it may be a surprise that, in three matches, it was Yasir Shah who claimed an impressive 24 wickets. That included a 7-76, 6-96 and 5-78, and he not only took more wickets than anybody else, but had the lowest average and economy rate.
Still without a home series, it’s great to see Pakistan up there, with New Zealand threatening the big two, Australia and South Africa. Test cricket is not all about the Ashes and batting isn’t solely the reserve of Cook, Smith, Clarke and Root. Younis Khan deserves to be considered amongst the modern greats alongside Kallis, Ponting, Chanderpaul and Tendulkar, and Misbah as one of the leading captains.
Wednesday, 31 December 2014
2014 Cricket Review: Tests
In 2014, Test cricket has been a roller coaster ride. England went from Ashes meltdown to redemption of sorts at home to India, the only top Test nation not to win a single series all year. Australia also defeated India and South Africa but, even without Smith and Kallis, the latter remained number one in the ICC rankings. New Zealand have won a record five Tests but now need to prove their new-found winning formula against the top three. All credit, though to the Aussies for coming through the grieving period after Phil Hughes' tragic death.
So who were the individual stars of 2014? In all first-class cricket, Chris Rogers was the only batsman to aggregate more than 2,000 runs and the world's top wicket-takers were Bangladeshi spinner Taijul Islam (89) and ever-reliable Michael Hogan (88). However, at the highest level, my pick of the openers were David Warner and young West Indian Kraigg Brathwaite. The abrasive Aussie smashed six centuries and 1,136 runs while Brathwaite's average in five matches is an excellent 77.88.
The middle-order is typically competitive. Brendon McCullum, Steve Smith and Kane Williamson enjoyed great years but for consistency, my next batsmen are Kumar Sangakkara and Younus Khan. The Sri Lankan out scored all other Test players with 1,493 runs at more than 71. The Pakistan veteran finished with a similar average and produced a purple patch this autumn, grabbing more than 700 runs in four matches against Australia and New Zealand in the UAE.
Next up are Joe Root and Angelo Mathews. In a topsy-turvy year for England, the Yorkshireman demonstrated his value many times and the batting line-up will surely be built around him for many years to come. His average for 2014 was a stupendous 97. With the Sri Lanka big three looking shaky, Mathews has stepped up to the mark, not only as captain but also as someone who can deliver big scores, not just useful 50 not outs. Only team-mate Sanga scored more Test runs and Angelo's average of 87.80 is mighty impressive. He also gets the captaincy.
MS Dhoni retires from Tests with loads of plaudits but Pakistan's Sarfraz Ahmed edges him and Brad Haddin to the wicketkeeper berth. A better batsman than Akmal, he is also improving his glovework.
My team boasts four specialist bowlers alongside part-timers Mathews and Root. Rangana Herath's tally of 60 wickets was easily the most in 2014, claiming no fewer than six five-fors. Apart from his problems with the arm inspectors, Saeed Ajmal took only 17 at 44 apiece, so three pacemen complete my XI. Dale Steyn continued to take wickets (39) and with a sub-20 average. James Anderson boasted one more scalp, averaging an impressive 22 but star 'quick' has to be Mitch Johnson. His year ended in a bout of daft 'verbals' with Kohli but it began with such pace, bounce and venom that England didn't just suffer an Ashes whitewash but also lost two of their three finest players of recent times, Swann, Pietersen and Trott.
So, to sum up, here is my Test Eleven for 2014:-
Warner (Aust), Brathwaite (WI), Younis Khan (Pak), Sangakkara (SL), Root (Eng), Mathews (SL, *), Sarfraz Ahmed (Pak,+), Johnson (Aust), Steyn (SA), Anderson (Eng), Herath (SL).
ODIS and T20s to follow....
So who were the individual stars of 2014? In all first-class cricket, Chris Rogers was the only batsman to aggregate more than 2,000 runs and the world's top wicket-takers were Bangladeshi spinner Taijul Islam (89) and ever-reliable Michael Hogan (88). However, at the highest level, my pick of the openers were David Warner and young West Indian Kraigg Brathwaite. The abrasive Aussie smashed six centuries and 1,136 runs while Brathwaite's average in five matches is an excellent 77.88.
The middle-order is typically competitive. Brendon McCullum, Steve Smith and Kane Williamson enjoyed great years but for consistency, my next batsmen are Kumar Sangakkara and Younus Khan. The Sri Lankan out scored all other Test players with 1,493 runs at more than 71. The Pakistan veteran finished with a similar average and produced a purple patch this autumn, grabbing more than 700 runs in four matches against Australia and New Zealand in the UAE.
Next up are Joe Root and Angelo Mathews. In a topsy-turvy year for England, the Yorkshireman demonstrated his value many times and the batting line-up will surely be built around him for many years to come. His average for 2014 was a stupendous 97. With the Sri Lanka big three looking shaky, Mathews has stepped up to the mark, not only as captain but also as someone who can deliver big scores, not just useful 50 not outs. Only team-mate Sanga scored more Test runs and Angelo's average of 87.80 is mighty impressive. He also gets the captaincy.
MS Dhoni retires from Tests with loads of plaudits but Pakistan's Sarfraz Ahmed edges him and Brad Haddin to the wicketkeeper berth. A better batsman than Akmal, he is also improving his glovework.
My team boasts four specialist bowlers alongside part-timers Mathews and Root. Rangana Herath's tally of 60 wickets was easily the most in 2014, claiming no fewer than six five-fors. Apart from his problems with the arm inspectors, Saeed Ajmal took only 17 at 44 apiece, so three pacemen complete my XI. Dale Steyn continued to take wickets (39) and with a sub-20 average. James Anderson boasted one more scalp, averaging an impressive 22 but star 'quick' has to be Mitch Johnson. His year ended in a bout of daft 'verbals' with Kohli but it began with such pace, bounce and venom that England didn't just suffer an Ashes whitewash but also lost two of their three finest players of recent times, Swann, Pietersen and Trott.
So, to sum up, here is my Test Eleven for 2014:-
Warner (Aust), Brathwaite (WI), Younis Khan (Pak), Sangakkara (SL), Root (Eng), Mathews (SL, *), Sarfraz Ahmed (Pak,+), Johnson (Aust), Steyn (SA), Anderson (Eng), Herath (SL).
ODIS and T20s to follow....
Tuesday, 4 November 2014
Pakistan triumphant!
After last week's soggy defeat to Pakistan, I expected more of a fight by Australia. So what happened? They suffered a third heaviest drubbing in their entire Test history. Michael Clarke's men were beaten in every single department and the numerical margin of 356 runs tells only half the story.
I don't know how much of this was down to poor performances by the tourists but Pakistan seemed to have been playing with a new-found spirit and confidence they have so often been lacking. All that pent-up frustration was taken out on the number two side in the world in extraordinary fashion. This was epitomised by Misbah-ul-Haq. The skipper, well into his 41st year, has long had a reputation of being a solid, snore-inducing Test batsman, with s atrike rate barely above 40. So how did the spirit of a young Shahid Afridi suddenly occupy his body on the fourth day?
True, he was looking to rack up quick runs to set an impossible final innings target but he went on to equal the world record for a Test century, reaching three figures in 57 balls, including five sixes. Remember this was no makeshift bowling attack but one featuring Johnson, Starc and Siddle. With partner Azhar Ali also making 100 not out, the lead extended to a ludicrous 603! The more amazing statistic is that those two had also each scored hundreds in the first innings, a feat last achieved by a Pakistan batsman - just a week earlier! That was Younis Khan, who proceeded to follow that by striking 213 in the first innings of this match, sharing two stands of more than 180 in the process. Being dismissed second time out for a mere 46 must have seemed a miserable anticlimax were it not for the blazing antics of Misbah immediately afterwards.
But it's not batsmen who win matches on their own. Pakistan still had to take twenty wickets again but their spin attack once more made Nathan Lyon and part-timers Smith, Clarke and Maxwell look woefully inadequate on the Abu Dhabi wicket. In the match Lyon took 1-202 in 55 overs while Zulfiqar Babar finished with 7-214, Yasir Shah 5-91 and Mohammad Hafeez 3-51, while the seamers also chipped in with a few. Pakistan didn't even need their second innings fireworks as their first innings total proved more than enough to outstrip Australia's two efforts.
Chris Rogers was the only complete failure but only David Warner, Mitch Marsh and Steve Smith passed 50 at least once. Brad Haddin's winces were probably the result of his damaged shoulder but they could easily have been the response to seeing a once-formidable outfit taken to the cleaners so emphatically.
In addition to claiming a first series win over Australia for decades, Pakistan leap up to third in the ICC rankings. The Aussies remain one place ahead but a glance further down the table sees India stumbling to six, a whisker ahead of New Zealand. How quickly fortunes can change. Can Clarke and Cricket Australia comfort themselves with the notion of the World Cup being a whole new ball game? Perhaps. But if Pakistan and the mighty Misbah can bring the spirit of UAE with them Down Under next year, Saeed Ajmal or not, they could have a genuine chance of success in the 50-over tournament.
I don't know how much of this was down to poor performances by the tourists but Pakistan seemed to have been playing with a new-found spirit and confidence they have so often been lacking. All that pent-up frustration was taken out on the number two side in the world in extraordinary fashion. This was epitomised by Misbah-ul-Haq. The skipper, well into his 41st year, has long had a reputation of being a solid, snore-inducing Test batsman, with s atrike rate barely above 40. So how did the spirit of a young Shahid Afridi suddenly occupy his body on the fourth day?
True, he was looking to rack up quick runs to set an impossible final innings target but he went on to equal the world record for a Test century, reaching three figures in 57 balls, including five sixes. Remember this was no makeshift bowling attack but one featuring Johnson, Starc and Siddle. With partner Azhar Ali also making 100 not out, the lead extended to a ludicrous 603! The more amazing statistic is that those two had also each scored hundreds in the first innings, a feat last achieved by a Pakistan batsman - just a week earlier! That was Younis Khan, who proceeded to follow that by striking 213 in the first innings of this match, sharing two stands of more than 180 in the process. Being dismissed second time out for a mere 46 must have seemed a miserable anticlimax were it not for the blazing antics of Misbah immediately afterwards.
But it's not batsmen who win matches on their own. Pakistan still had to take twenty wickets again but their spin attack once more made Nathan Lyon and part-timers Smith, Clarke and Maxwell look woefully inadequate on the Abu Dhabi wicket. In the match Lyon took 1-202 in 55 overs while Zulfiqar Babar finished with 7-214, Yasir Shah 5-91 and Mohammad Hafeez 3-51, while the seamers also chipped in with a few. Pakistan didn't even need their second innings fireworks as their first innings total proved more than enough to outstrip Australia's two efforts.
Chris Rogers was the only complete failure but only David Warner, Mitch Marsh and Steve Smith passed 50 at least once. Brad Haddin's winces were probably the result of his damaged shoulder but they could easily have been the response to seeing a once-formidable outfit taken to the cleaners so emphatically.
In addition to claiming a first series win over Australia for decades, Pakistan leap up to third in the ICC rankings. The Aussies remain one place ahead but a glance further down the table sees India stumbling to six, a whisker ahead of New Zealand. How quickly fortunes can change. Can Clarke and Cricket Australia comfort themselves with the notion of the World Cup being a whole new ball game? Perhaps. But if Pakistan and the mighty Misbah can bring the spirit of UAE with them Down Under next year, Saeed Ajmal or not, they could have a genuine chance of success in the 50-over tournament.
Sunday, 26 October 2014
Pakistan off to a flyer in Dubai
There's been a lot of water under the bridge - and a lot of prison time served - since the last time Pakistan met Australia in a Test match. That came at Headingley when a side captained by Salman Butt and featuring other fine, upstanding cricketers like Danish Keneria, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir upset Ricky Ponting's tourists by three wickets. That was Pakistan's first win against these opponents since November 1995 and ended a sequence of thirteen consecutive defeats.
This week, Misbah-ul-Haq's men came to their adopted cricketing home of Dubai to face the number two side in the world - and enjoyed a convincing 221-run victory. Maybe it was the debut of someone called Imran Khan which evoked the spirit of probably Pakistan's greatest ever captain and all-rounder, but it was a useful combination of batting and bowling which did for an out-of-sorts Australia.
Michael Clarke had a miserable time on his return to the big time but Mitchell Johnson and David Warner did at least show some fight. Johnson and Siddle removed both Pakistan's openers for seven and Azhar Ali and Younis Khan had to knuckle down and rebuild the innings. Fortunately for them, they succeeded, laying the foundations for Misbah and Asad Shafiq to consolidate and then Sarfraz Ahmed to biff a run-a-ball century. Lyon and Smith took a pasting but credit to Johnson. His first-innings figures of 31-18-39-3 were astonishing for a strike bowler.
David Warner scored his ninth Test hundred in response but nobody else reached 40 as the Aussies subsided to 303 all out, 151 runs behind. Pakistan compounded their misery by declaring on 286-2 after Ahmed Shehzad and then Younis Khan reached three figures, the latter for the second time in the match. Zulfiqar Babar (aged 35 yet in only his third Test) and new boy Yasir Shah spun their side to victory on the final day, with only Smith and Johnson making 50. What Saeed Ajmal would have done we'll never know but Australia's spin duo of Steve O'Keefe (another debutant) and Nathan Lyon certainly struggled to extract the same from the pitch as the Pakistani twosome.
Clarke and Alex Doolan contributed only ten runs from their four attempts while Mitchell Marsh's red-ball debut in the green cap didn't exactly set the world alight. The Aussies need to restore their form in Tests quickly if they are to topple South Africa from their perch. Meanwhile, it's looking good for Misbah-ul-Haq. Another win next week would give them three in a row against Australia for the first time in more than three decades, in the era of Imran, Abdul Qadir, Zaheer Abbas and Javed Miandad. It will also mean a first series win since crushing England in the Middle East three years ago. Misbah is 40 now but, with Younis Khan's solid middle-order batting, he has done well to bring Pakistani cricket back into the fold. This may be a Test series but a defeat of Australia will bring renewed confidence going into the winter and the 2015 World Cup.
This week, Misbah-ul-Haq's men came to their adopted cricketing home of Dubai to face the number two side in the world - and enjoyed a convincing 221-run victory. Maybe it was the debut of someone called Imran Khan which evoked the spirit of probably Pakistan's greatest ever captain and all-rounder, but it was a useful combination of batting and bowling which did for an out-of-sorts Australia.
Michael Clarke had a miserable time on his return to the big time but Mitchell Johnson and David Warner did at least show some fight. Johnson and Siddle removed both Pakistan's openers for seven and Azhar Ali and Younis Khan had to knuckle down and rebuild the innings. Fortunately for them, they succeeded, laying the foundations for Misbah and Asad Shafiq to consolidate and then Sarfraz Ahmed to biff a run-a-ball century. Lyon and Smith took a pasting but credit to Johnson. His first-innings figures of 31-18-39-3 were astonishing for a strike bowler.
David Warner scored his ninth Test hundred in response but nobody else reached 40 as the Aussies subsided to 303 all out, 151 runs behind. Pakistan compounded their misery by declaring on 286-2 after Ahmed Shehzad and then Younis Khan reached three figures, the latter for the second time in the match. Zulfiqar Babar (aged 35 yet in only his third Test) and new boy Yasir Shah spun their side to victory on the final day, with only Smith and Johnson making 50. What Saeed Ajmal would have done we'll never know but Australia's spin duo of Steve O'Keefe (another debutant) and Nathan Lyon certainly struggled to extract the same from the pitch as the Pakistani twosome.
Clarke and Alex Doolan contributed only ten runs from their four attempts while Mitchell Marsh's red-ball debut in the green cap didn't exactly set the world alight. The Aussies need to restore their form in Tests quickly if they are to topple South Africa from their perch. Meanwhile, it's looking good for Misbah-ul-Haq. Another win next week would give them three in a row against Australia for the first time in more than three decades, in the era of Imran, Abdul Qadir, Zaheer Abbas and Javed Miandad. It will also mean a first series win since crushing England in the Middle East three years ago. Misbah is 40 now but, with Younis Khan's solid middle-order batting, he has done well to bring Pakistani cricket back into the fold. This may be a Test series but a defeat of Australia will bring renewed confidence going into the winter and the 2015 World Cup.
Saturday, 12 October 2013
Can Pakistan still 'own' the UAE?
It's only two Tests but the imminent contest between Pakistan and South Africa is deservedly attracting some attention. The Proteas don't play many series so any opportunity to watch Steyn, Smith et al should be relished. At the same time, Pakistan have plenty of talent, from the young guns and world-class spinners to veteran batsmen. The familiar refrain is that you never know 'which Pakistan will turn up' but on their adopted 'home' territory they have a pretty impressive record.
Twelve matches: six wins, four draws and two defeats read the statistics since 2002. Early that year, Pakistan got off to a great start by thrashing Carl Hooper's Windies at Sharjah. If it was a spinner's paradise, the results didn't reflect it. Centuries from Yousuf Youhana and Rashid Latif set up a 170-run victory, further abetted by wickets from Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar rather than star slowies Danish Kaneria (before his fall from grace) and Saqlain Mushtaq. It was an even bigger winning margin a week later with Younis, Waqar and Shoaib again calling the shots, along with a rare Test century from a young opener called Shahid Afridi.
However, Pakistan's next Test in the Middle East resulted in humiliating defeat at the hands of Australia who bowled out Waqar Younis' side for less than 60 - twice! In under two days! To make matters worse, Matthew Hayden outscored twenty-two Pakistani innings on his own while Shane Warne returned match figures of 8-24. The following week, Steve Waugh's all-conquering Aussies wrapped up another innings victory, Glenn McGrath and Warne being far too good for a side which included Misbah-ul-Haq, then an inexperienced international aged only (!) 28.
It was several years before Test cricket returned to the UAE following the security issues which have now robbed Pakistan of home advantage for four years. Three years ago, South Africa came to Dubai and swept to 307-2 before Umar Gul and the spinners pulled them back into the match. The second half of the game was dominated by batsmen with unbeaten centuries from Amla and Kallis then that man Younis Khan again so a draw was the predictable outcome. It was the same result at Abu Dhabi although this time the runs were mostly scored early on. AB De Villiers made 278 not out, still a career best, although Younis failed.
In 2011, Pakistan edged a three-Test series against Sri Lanka, clinching the second by nine wickets thanks largely to eight wickets from Saeed Ajmal. The same bowler added seven more victims at Sharjah and shared the player of the series award with Sangakkara. Oh, and Younis Khan struck a first-innings 122. Then in 2012 came the series that England would prefer to forget. Yes, that was one of the most spin-dominated Test series for years. Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman cleaned up, even if Swann and Panesar also put on a show in the concluding two fixtures. In the finale, Azhar Ali and - guess who? - Younis Khan shared a double-century stand which demonstrated that runs were actually possible.
Younis and Taufeeq Umar have each played in every Test played in the UAE and the former needs just 83 more runs to reach the 1000 mark. With the ball, Saeed Ajmal has 45 wickets to his name at only 23.73 apiece, so it will be interesting to see if Abdur Rehman (33 at 30) is preferred this time around. Will the pitches turn? If so, will Graeme Smith and his Saffer batsmen have the upper hand? It could be a fascinating showdown, but unless the pitches are prepared specifically for spin, South Africa could well inflict the first desert defeats for Pakistan for eleven years.
Twelve matches: six wins, four draws and two defeats read the statistics since 2002. Early that year, Pakistan got off to a great start by thrashing Carl Hooper's Windies at Sharjah. If it was a spinner's paradise, the results didn't reflect it. Centuries from Yousuf Youhana and Rashid Latif set up a 170-run victory, further abetted by wickets from Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar rather than star slowies Danish Kaneria (before his fall from grace) and Saqlain Mushtaq. It was an even bigger winning margin a week later with Younis, Waqar and Shoaib again calling the shots, along with a rare Test century from a young opener called Shahid Afridi.
However, Pakistan's next Test in the Middle East resulted in humiliating defeat at the hands of Australia who bowled out Waqar Younis' side for less than 60 - twice! In under two days! To make matters worse, Matthew Hayden outscored twenty-two Pakistani innings on his own while Shane Warne returned match figures of 8-24. The following week, Steve Waugh's all-conquering Aussies wrapped up another innings victory, Glenn McGrath and Warne being far too good for a side which included Misbah-ul-Haq, then an inexperienced international aged only (!) 28.
It was several years before Test cricket returned to the UAE following the security issues which have now robbed Pakistan of home advantage for four years. Three years ago, South Africa came to Dubai and swept to 307-2 before Umar Gul and the spinners pulled them back into the match. The second half of the game was dominated by batsmen with unbeaten centuries from Amla and Kallis then that man Younis Khan again so a draw was the predictable outcome. It was the same result at Abu Dhabi although this time the runs were mostly scored early on. AB De Villiers made 278 not out, still a career best, although Younis failed.
In 2011, Pakistan edged a three-Test series against Sri Lanka, clinching the second by nine wickets thanks largely to eight wickets from Saeed Ajmal. The same bowler added seven more victims at Sharjah and shared the player of the series award with Sangakkara. Oh, and Younis Khan struck a first-innings 122. Then in 2012 came the series that England would prefer to forget. Yes, that was one of the most spin-dominated Test series for years. Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman cleaned up, even if Swann and Panesar also put on a show in the concluding two fixtures. In the finale, Azhar Ali and - guess who? - Younis Khan shared a double-century stand which demonstrated that runs were actually possible.
Younis and Taufeeq Umar have each played in every Test played in the UAE and the former needs just 83 more runs to reach the 1000 mark. With the ball, Saeed Ajmal has 45 wickets to his name at only 23.73 apiece, so it will be interesting to see if Abdur Rehman (33 at 30) is preferred this time around. Will the pitches turn? If so, will Graeme Smith and his Saffer batsmen have the upper hand? It could be a fascinating showdown, but unless the pitches are prepared specifically for spin, South Africa could well inflict the first desert defeats for Pakistan for eleven years.
Friday, 1 February 2013
Can Pakistan win in South Africa?
It's now six years and six matches since Pakistan last registered a Test victory over South Africa. Maybe Mohammad Hafeez's 4-wicket burst has dented the newly-inflated egos of Graeme Smith's men but that could merely spur on the world-class pace trio of Steyn, Philander and Morkel to rip through the visitors' batting. Pakistan can take comfort in the fact that they have avoided defeat in the last three fixtures between the countries, yet then again the Saffers were on top on each occasion and it was left to the likes of Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq to bat for survival.
The first ever Test between the two teams was in 1995, in Jo'burg. South Africa were clear winners on that occasion, with Fanie de Villiers in fine all-round form. In October 2007, Pakistan played host to three Tests, drawing two and losing the third by only 53 runs despite a healthy first-innings lead. This time it was a Shaun Pollock 'five-for' which proved decisive. Four months later, it was back to SA where honours were even. The opening draw was notable for Pat Symcox scoring a century batting at ten. At Durban, centuries from Azhar Mahmood and Saeed Anwar, plus excellent bowling from Shoaib Akhtar and Mushtaq Ahmed secured a narrow win. However, at Port Elizabeth the wheels well and truly came off as Allan Donald and De Villiers each claimed eight cheap wickets en route to a 259-run rout.
2002-3 saw a thumping 2-0 home triumph for South Africa. In the second game, Smith and Herschelle Gibbs shared a 369-run opening stand at more than five an over and thereafter Waqar Younis' men were never in the contest. Later that year, Pakistan enjoyed their first home success against SA, beating a strong side led by a 22 year-old Smith in Lahore. This was followed by a close-run draw which could have gone either way. In January 2007, Akhtar and Danish Kaneria skittled the home side at Port Elizabeth for 124 and Younis Khan and Kamran Akmal steered Inzy's side to a five-wicket victory. However, this was top-and-tailed by South African successes, and Jacques Kallis was the PLayer of the Series. Pakistan's Second Test delight has had to keep them going ever since.
No Pakistani batsman has scored more against SA than Younis Khan (750 in 10 Tests) but of the bowlers in today's game, Umar Gul's 12 wickets (at more than 50 apiece!) is way below the tallies of Kaneria, Mushtaq and Younis. Curiously, neither Kallis, Steyn nor Morkel have enjoyed playing Pakistan. However, Kallis has revelled against them with the bat, striking six centuries in 16 appearances, amassing 1,522 runs at 66. He top-scored again today with 50 but you wouldn't bet against Smith, Amla and another De Villiers (AB) reversing fortunes as the Wanderers opener progresses. They are now world number ones, full of confidence and playing at home against an experienced but creaking team. Losing isn't an option for them, but how Misbah-ul-Huq, in his 39th year, would love to make it win number four.
The first ever Test between the two teams was in 1995, in Jo'burg. South Africa were clear winners on that occasion, with Fanie de Villiers in fine all-round form. In October 2007, Pakistan played host to three Tests, drawing two and losing the third by only 53 runs despite a healthy first-innings lead. This time it was a Shaun Pollock 'five-for' which proved decisive. Four months later, it was back to SA where honours were even. The opening draw was notable for Pat Symcox scoring a century batting at ten. At Durban, centuries from Azhar Mahmood and Saeed Anwar, plus excellent bowling from Shoaib Akhtar and Mushtaq Ahmed secured a narrow win. However, at Port Elizabeth the wheels well and truly came off as Allan Donald and De Villiers each claimed eight cheap wickets en route to a 259-run rout.
2002-3 saw a thumping 2-0 home triumph for South Africa. In the second game, Smith and Herschelle Gibbs shared a 369-run opening stand at more than five an over and thereafter Waqar Younis' men were never in the contest. Later that year, Pakistan enjoyed their first home success against SA, beating a strong side led by a 22 year-old Smith in Lahore. This was followed by a close-run draw which could have gone either way. In January 2007, Akhtar and Danish Kaneria skittled the home side at Port Elizabeth for 124 and Younis Khan and Kamran Akmal steered Inzy's side to a five-wicket victory. However, this was top-and-tailed by South African successes, and Jacques Kallis was the PLayer of the Series. Pakistan's Second Test delight has had to keep them going ever since.
No Pakistani batsman has scored more against SA than Younis Khan (750 in 10 Tests) but of the bowlers in today's game, Umar Gul's 12 wickets (at more than 50 apiece!) is way below the tallies of Kaneria, Mushtaq and Younis. Curiously, neither Kallis, Steyn nor Morkel have enjoyed playing Pakistan. However, Kallis has revelled against them with the bat, striking six centuries in 16 appearances, amassing 1,522 runs at 66. He top-scored again today with 50 but you wouldn't bet against Smith, Amla and another De Villiers (AB) reversing fortunes as the Wanderers opener progresses. They are now world number ones, full of confidence and playing at home against an experienced but creaking team. Losing isn't an option for them, but how Misbah-ul-Huq, in his 39th year, would love to make it win number four.
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