Robin's Pakistan vs RSA Test Series Review

Okay, we lost 3-0 but personally do feel there were some positives. Let me go through what I feel were the positives first before the negatives Also feel we found out a lot regarding our team from this series. This is merely my opinion

Positives

1) Junaid Khan – I know he only played one test match, which he only took two wickets in, but he clearly should have had more, had luck been on his side. As far as I know, he is the future of Pakistan bowling and once Mohammad Amir is back, we should have a decent opening bowling attack again. Only two years guys, two years!

2) Asad Shafiq – Probably our best batsman on the tour and the third highest run scorer from both teams with 199 runs. A sublime hundred in a magnificent partnership with Younis Khan of 200+ and a fifty in a 100+ partnership with Misbah-Ul-Haq. His dream is to emulate MoYo, probably won’t be as good as him but he is definitely Pakistan’s batsman of the future Has a good strike rate in his innings and can manoeuvre the ball for singles also. What is impressive that he doesn’t get bogged down and doesn’t really struggle for runs. He has actually scored some vital runs for Pakistan in the past, against England in the UAE, Century against Sri Lanka It’s really important to know that he has that in him. One other also important point is that he is a century outside the sub continent now which he could always use as experience. I feel the century he scored in the second test was a vital century to Pakistan cricket for many reasons. He should be disappointed that he didn’t score more runs, the way he got out in the second innings of the second test was immature and a loss of concentration in the first test, second innings, both dismissals could easily have been avoided.

3) Younis Khan – possibly the only world class/near world class batsman left in Pakistan. Now that Inzi and MoYo have gone, he really has to carry the team sometimes himself. Scored a typical Younis century in the second test and was lonely fighter in the first innings of the third test. Apart from his average performance in the first test, he worked really hard in the rest of the innings he had but the SA bowling attack we just too good unfortunately.

4) Rahat Ali – Good find, bowls consistently between 130-140kph.He took 6 wickets in the third test. Too many loose deliveries though. Time will tell if he is good enough for test. Not long ago, Tanvir Ahmed took a 6 wickets on a flat UAE pitch against the saffers!

Negatives

1) Mohammad Hafeez – Hafeez revealed his true colours. After believing he was much better player since his return the team (well maybe he is) he is still unable to play the swinging delivery and his best scores of 95 and 32 over a ten year career outside the subcontinent remain. Didn’t do 1% of the job he was suppose to do this series – a big disappointment!

2) Pakistani middle order – just way too slow. Azhar Ali and Misbah are the main culprits. Azhar Ali faced 444 bowls, just around 20 less than Hashim Amla, but he scored 160 runs less than him. It explains the story I assume. Had plenty of starts but he didn’t cash in, maybe he was facing a too good of a bowling attack? As he has had good knocks before. Some of his dismissals were ridiculous though.

3) Sarfraz Ahmed – Wasn’t impressed at all. I’ve mentioned this before, he didn’t cling onto any half chances, well they were more than half chances actually. He doesn’t know how to hold a bat also. Don’t know why we dropped Adnan Akmal.

4) Umar Gul – big disappointment with the new ball. Has been a big disappointment since he has got the new ball responsibility to be honest. He was usually the third seamer behind Amir and Asif and chipped in with his fair share. Too many loose deliveries and rarely creates pressure.

Improvements Needed

1) Well from this tour, it is clear that Pakistan still need better openers. Nasir Jamshed is one for the future, I think he could turn out really good, but this series was way too early for him. We haven’t had a good opener since Saeed Anwar and it costs us a lost. The best teams have openers who are consistent and one of the best in their team, our opening position is one of our weaker. The likes of Smith, Cook are top quality players, probably the best in their teams and are backed up by good partners in Alviro, and Strauss until he retired.
It would have been interesting to see how the Pakistani innings would have been like if Hafeez had played just one decent knock, one we know what he is capable of, or Jamshed, because they are quick scorers and that is what our middle order feeds off in the sub continent, which is why Azhar and Misbah’s slowness hasn’t been highlight until now in tests, or hasn’t been one of the factor that has cost us until now.

2) Wicketkeeper BATSMAN. Note the second word. Kamran Akmal was good but cost us too much with his wicket keeping . Isn’t there anybody out there in first class cricket?

3) Fast bowler – We need somebody who could replace Umar Gul. Wahab Riaz had decent start until he went AWOL. He is back now and he might be a decent replacement. Deserves a chance anyway. Bowled near the 140kph and has given MOTM performances quite a few times in his short career so far.

Funny Facts
The top six highest run scorers in the series consisted of four Pakistani batsmen
Hashim Amla was the highest run scorer but he didn't score a hundred
Misbah Ul Haq had nothing to catch despite being Pakistan's first slipper