Pakistan’s bowling lineup in the Test series against South Africa
The first Test match between Pakistan and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 will start on November 12th at Dubai. For Pakistan it is yet another opportunity to come into some form and play their best as the World Cup is only three months away from starting.
Pakistan had one sorry and eventful year, which was filled with controversies, series losses and mismanagement of the board. Pakistan is without their lead pace attack in the form of Amir and Asif, and would have to come on top in every department to be
able put a decent show against the Proteas. Pakistan, in the recently held One day series against South Africa did put a good fight before falling in the last one day that resulted in the series loss.
How much Pakistani squad fires in the upcoming series remains to be seen. Pakistani side has a lot to prove and one expects them to give their level best. Pakistani side is filled with a mixture of young and old players and more than anything else they lack
serious fire power in their lead bowling attack.
As Pakistan in recent times has not played much good cricket, most of its players are in average form. Some of them have clicked in a few matches while others have not. A player who has performed well in some matches has been unable to do so in other matches.
They have also recalled number of players that have not played recently and it remains to be seen how their performance will turn out.
Umar Gul has been playing regularly for Pakistan and has this tendency of bowling a tight line and length, and can also pick important wickets in different spells. In the recent series against South Africa, Umar Gul played only one match in the one day series.
He went wicket less and was expensive with the figures of 0/34 from his 6.3 overs. Though, in present situation his worth would be more, as he is one of the most experienced and quality strike bowlers in the lineup.
In the absence of Asif and Aamir a lot would be on the shoulders of Umar Gul to lead the opening bowling and also provide guidance to the younger bowler, Wahab Riaz.
Speaking of Wahab Riaz he has the talent to restrict the batsmen and can provide wickets with his medium fast bowling for Pakistan. In the recent One day series against South Africa he managed 5 wickets in four games.
Wahab was impressive in the second and third ODI against South Africa but went for runs in 4th and 5th one day. He took 2 wickets in the second ODI with figures of 2/43 from his 10 overs.
In the third ODI he managed 1 wicket by giving 46 runs. Wahab can be handy in the middle over’s, provided he bowls with discipline. He has taken a 5 wicket haul in Test cricket when he took 5 wickets for 63 runs in the first innings against England at the
Oval. He can be effective for Pakistan and if he is properly guided by Umar Gul than he can be do the job in the middle over’s.
Mohammad Sami is one bowler who has been in and out of the Pakistani bowling line up for most of his career. In the absence of prime bowlers, Sami has been given yet another opportunity to show his mettle by some strong performances.
Sami played his last Test for Pakistan at the start of the year against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 in Sydney. He was quite effective in that match by taking 3/27 in first innings. For Pakistan the pace factor can be provided by Mohammad Sami who has been around for more
than 8 years.
If Sami clicks than it would be a huge advantage for Pakistan as he has the pace to knock the top order in opening spells. In the past he has been able to provide such spells, and conditions in Abu Dhabi would suit him.
But Sami, apart from Sydney Test and Twenty20 world cup 2010, has not played for Pakistan for years and can find things difficult in the middle. But technically he is the most experienced bowler in the lineup and if he clicks in the bowling department Pakistan
would certainly gain some advantage.
In the spin department Pakistan has Saeed Ajmal, who has become Pakistan’s specialist spin bowler for more than a year, he has the tendency to bowl tidy spells in the middle over’s. He also confuses the batsmen with his doosra and change in flight.
He can be quite lethal for Pakistan as in the past South African batsmen did find him difficult to play. For Pakistan’s sake Saeed Ajmal is one bowler that has the tendency to confuse the South African batsmen with his wonderful flight and variety.
His role will be vital if http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 wants to restrict South African batsmen in middle order from scoring runs. He has played 8 Test matches and has taken 30 wickets, which shows his unique talent.
In the One day series against South Africa at Abu Dhabi Saeed Ajmal played in the first 3 matches of the series. He was impressive in the first ODI with figures of 2/42 from his 10 overs.
In the next 2 matches he was expensive in his spells. If Pakistan has to succeed in the two match series against South Africa, their bowlers will have to play a major role in restricting the batsmen and in taking vital wickets during different sessions.
What bowling options will be picked up for the first Test it remains to be seen.
South Africa has some experienced and quality batsmen and they would certainly be hoping to exploit Pakistan’s bowling in absence of Amir and Asif. Pakistan does have a reasonable bowling attack and if they work as a unit and chip in with wickets at regular
intervals South Africa will find difficult to score.
Pakistan’s four main bowlers in the squad, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Sami and Wahab Riaz have reasonable skills to keep the Proteas away from scoring free runs. They all have sufficient variety in their bowling to dismiss a strong South African batting
lineup for a low score. Misbah ul-Haq will have to make sure that all his main bowlers bowl in the right areas and keep the batsmen in check all the time.
Tags: