Pakistan’s top batsmen struggle against South Africa
Over the years, Pakistani batsmen in general, have always struggled against top notch South African bowling attacks. It is the way Proteas bowl as they come hard on their opponents and the quality of their bowling attacks, since their re-admission to international
cricket in 1991.
South Africa has always been proud of their World class bowling resources as they have housed some great fast bowlers like, Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Makhaya-Ntini-c73953. These bowlers have rattled the top orders of the oppositions around the
World at will, especially Pakistan.
In addition, the bowlers are fully supported in the field as South Africans are sharp in the field. They have always boasted some of the best fielders in cricket. Jonty Rhodes, Herschelle http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Gibbs-c60021 and AB Devilliers have always given their team an extra wicket
taking option in the field.
Who can forget that famous run out of Inzamam, when he was punishing the South Africans in the 1992 World cup, and Jonty Rhodes flew in the air to break the stumps and changed the match in his team’s favour?
To everyone’s surprise, many of the top quality Pakistan batsmen have not scored a single century against the South Africans in Test match cricket. To name a few, the list includes Inzamam, Mohammad Yousuf, Ijaz Ahmed and Aamer Sohail.
In the current generation, only Imran Farhat, Taufeeq Umar and Younis Khan have scored Test hundreds against them. Khan and Taufeeq are the only batsmen in the current lot, to have a Test average of over 40 against them.
Later this month, Pakistan will be playing the upcoming series against South Africa, including 2 T20s, 5 One-day internationals and 2 Test matches in U.A.E. Conditions will be like that oin the Subcontinent so it will be a big opportunity for some of the
batsmen to bury their woes against the Proteas bowling attacks.
The batting line-up has been struggling in the last year or so as they have played some of their Test matches without their key players. In the current crop of willowers, the team from the Subcontinent will be looking up to the likes of Younis and Umar to
carry their batting hopes.
Yousuf the best batsman in Pakistan team has proved himself against a similar opposition and this might be his last chance to redeem himself against Graeme Smith’s men and he will be really looking forward to this series to improve his record against them.
Yousuf has been ruled out of the limited overs series, but the team management is hopeful that he will be coming back in the Test series.
Bettor.com takes a look at the Test record of the Top 3 batsmen from the current squad of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 against the giants from Africa, which will be touring the deserts of Middle East to counter their nemesis.
Mohammad Yousuf
In all, Yousuf has played 7 matches against them, scoring 357 runs at a modest average of 29.75 with the best of 83. In his hunt for runs, he has only managed 3 scores of fifty plus. Surprisingly, he is yet to score a ton against South Africa. Only time
will tell, this can be his last appearance against the Afrikaans, and if Pakistan wants to put up a good show, then the star batsman has to prove his worth against the top quality attack.
Taufeeq Umar
The left hand opening batsman has the best average among his colleagues. In 4 matches he has played, he has gathered 593 runs at an average of 74 with the best of 135. His quest for runs includes 2 centuries. The Lahore opener is making a comeback after
four years as he has been included in the squad to face his favourite opposition. He will be crucial to his team’s cause.
Younis http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Khan-c71319
Younis is fearless as he doesn’t bother about any opposition that comes his way. The right hander is not afraid to take on the very best in the World. As a result, he has a terrific record against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757. In his 7 appearances, he has amassed 570 runs
at an average of almost 44 with a best of 130, including 2 hundreds. The one-down batsman is also making a comeback in the team after 9 months, so he would like prove himself as a top quality willower.
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