Yousuf's wife has a surgery on the 12th so he is basically ruled out of the test match.

Bad news for Pakistan is that that flukey, edgy Farhat is now a certainty for the first Test.

quote:

Originally posted by Jonatho Darrow:

quote:

Originally posted by Mr Watermelon:

quote:

FFS Pollock and Kemp arent even in the test squad!

Eh? Pollock not in the Test squad? That interesting. Obviously they are resting him for the World Cup? Still seems a very strange decision. You dont rest one of your best players from a Test match.

Um????

Unchanged squad.

From Cricinfo...

1. GC Smith (captain)
2. JH Kallis (vice-captain)
3. PR Adams
4. HM Amla
5. MV Boucher (wicketkeeper)
6. AB de Villiers
7. HH Gibbs
8. AJ Hall
9. PL Harris
10. M Morkel
11. A Nel
12. M Ntini
13. AG Prince
14. JA Rudolph
15. DW Steyn

Pollockless

quote:

Originally posted by DJ_Smerk:

quote:

Originally posted by Jonatho Darrow:

quote:

Originally posted by Mr Watermelon:

quote:

FFS Pollock and Kemp arent even in the test squad!

Eh? Pollock not in the Test squad? That interesting. Obviously they are resting him for the World Cup? Still seems a very strange decision. You dont rest one of your best players from a Test match.

Um????

Unchanged squad.

From Cricinfo...

1. GC Smith (captain)
2. JH Kallis (vice-captain)
3. PR Adams
4. HM Amla
5. MV Boucher (wicketkeeper)
6. AB de Villiers
7. HH Gibbs
8. AJ Hall
9. PL Harris
10. M Morkel
11. A Nel
12. M Ntini
13. AG Prince
14. JA Rudolph
15. DW Steyn

Pollockless

Cricinfo are also claiming Boje is in the side.

Squad Graeme Smith (Capt), Jacques Kallis, Paul Adams, Hashim Amla, Nicky Boje, Mark Boucher (wk), AB de Villiers, Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Hall, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Shaun Pollock, Ashwell Prince, Jacques Rudolph, Dale Steyn, Paul Harris

quote:

Originally posted by DJ_Smerk:

quote:

Originally posted by DJ_Smerk:

quote:

Originally posted by Jonatho Darrow:

quote:

Originally posted by Mr Watermelon:

quote:

FFS Pollock and Kemp arent even in the test squad!

Eh? Pollock not in the Test squad? That interesting. Obviously they are resting him for the World Cup? Still seems a very strange decision. You dont rest one of your best players from a Test match.

Um????

Unchanged squad.

From Cricinfo...

1. GC Smith (captain)
2. JH Kallis (vice-captain)
3. PR Adams
4. HM Amla
5. MV Boucher (wicketkeeper)
6. AB de Villiers
7. HH Gibbs
8. AJ Hall
9. PL Harris
10. M Morkel
11. A Nel
12. M Ntini
13. AG Prince
14. JA Rudolph
15. DW Steyn

Pollockless

Cricinfo are also claiming Boje is in the side.

Squad Graeme Smith (Capt), Jacques Kallis, Paul Adams, Hashim Amla, Nicky Boje, Mark Boucher (wk), AB de Villiers, Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Hall, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Shaun Pollock, Ashwell Prince, Jacques Rudolph, Dale Steyn, Paul Harris

AHH i see the mistake. Its a 16 man squad, Morning is in for Boje. They forgot Pollock on the other list obviously?

quote:

Originally posted by naj:
Why do Pak never start a series smoothly FFS, Waqar resign as bowling coach, Yousaf not playing test match due to his wife's operation(and his father died two weeks ago), Inzi did not bat in the side game despite being in the team (another injury ?)

Yea it always happens on the away tours. I remember before the tour of IND in 05 Shabbir, Shoaib and Gul failed to prove their fitness. Then in WI literally half the team was ruled out for the Barbados test match. Against SL Shoaib, Rana and Yousuf were not able to play at Colombo and then off course we all know what happened in ENG where the entire bowling attack plus Younis and Malik were ruled out for the lords test.
This all happened before a single ball was bowled in any of these series.

From the S African point of view it might be a good idea to rest Ntini for at least 1 test match. May be if they are up 1 nil then i would rest him for the 2nd test.

Where is his practice match taking place?

Yousuf may miss the entire series so he won't get the chance to dispel the FTB label. With Gul also a doubt for the first test and Waqar out and Mushy in as bowling coach Pakistan are going to suffer an ever bigger thrashing.

An easy 3-0 win for South Africa.

South Africa's win against India at Newlands will give them a lot of belief. 2-0 to South Africa, imo.

quote:

Originally posted by Kam:
Yousuf may miss the entire series so he won't get the chance to dispel the FTB label. With Gul also a doubt for the first test and Waqar out and Mushy in as bowling coach Pakistan are going to suffer an ever bigger thrashing.

An easy 3-0 win for South Africa.

Why is Gul a doubt for the 1st test?

SA's batting line-up isn't as solid as their wins reflect. So I thought an attack of Gul and Asif would have been deadly.

Should be interesting to see how Asif performs without pharmacological assistance.

Gul has some sort of ankle injury. He's only bowled 3 overs in the RoSA innings.

quote:

Originally posted by Batesy:
Gul has some sort of ankle injury. He's only bowled 3 overs in the RoSA innings.

Oh no.

Reminds me of Munaf and how India had to go through the entire tour without its main strike bowler!!

quote:

Originally posted by Moist Pudding:
Should be interesting to see how Asif performs without pharmacological assistance.

Yes Bliks. Any news about WADA's CAS case though? I see that Wada's threat died very quickly. Or will it take time?

It is also quite interesting to note that Nazir has taken 3 wickets while Asif has got just 1 and that too after bowling 23 overs.

Nazir ends up with 5 and has now booked his ticket for the 1st test match.
So now the question is who will replace Umar Gul if he is unfit for the 1st test?...it should be Rana but looking at the scorecard it seems as if they have M Sami ahead of Rana.

The first test is at Centurian.

What kind of pitch do they have there?

quote:

Originally posted by *Chandan*:
The first test is at Centurian.

What kind of pitch do they have there?

My guess is that it will be bouncy, pacy and grassy.... nothing like this Kimberly pitch.

yep, but favours strokeplay.

So do I

guess you must have a strong bottom hand

So how did this match end yesterday?

quote:

Originally posted by *Chandan*:
So how did this match end yesterday?

RRSA were dismissed for 383 with Nazir ending up with 5 wickets then PAK batted for 20 overs and scored 96/2....Inzi never showed up.

Inzi is saving himself for big matches. He is already enough experienced, and thus does not need any practice etc.