Preview 3rd Test: Pakistan vs South Africa at Centurion on February 22 (Friday). The match starts at 1.30pm Pst and 10.30am local time.
The Scenario
South Africa after winning the series now looking to whitewash Pakistan for the first time. Whitewash has never been a result of Pakistan-South Africa series, either Test or One Day. Having three or more matches. South Africa already celeberated the taste of series win. Pakistan team is getting criticized strongly by the home media and critics, specially the Pakistan openers are under several criticism.
Both the openers have a poor form in this series so far, they have completely failed to score runs in this series. Lets have a look at the performance of Pakistan openers; Muhammad Hafeez has scored 25 runs in this series so far while Nasir Jamshed has 51 runs including one half-century in the 2nd innings of 1st Test at Johannesburg. These two openers have to perform well if Pakistan wants to put a good total on the board.
Its have been almost all over for Pakistan as they have lost the series 2-0. South Africa will be looking to create history by whitewashing Pakistan on the other hand Pakistan will be playing to salvage pride. If Pakistan somehow manage to win the match, than it will be Morale boast for them ahead of their T20I & ODI series against South Africa.
Fear of Pacers
South African pacers have dominated in this Test series so far. Both the pace bowlers Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander have an outstanding series so far. All the Pakistan batsmens have difficulties to facing them. Pakistan have to discuss that how to handle these two. These two bowlers have outclassed Pakistan batsmens. Dale Steyn has taken 15 wickets in 2 matches while Vernon Philander has accounted 13 wickets. Steyn and Vernon Philander at the moment are sparehead of South Africa bowling. Both these pacers are at NO.1 and NO.2 respectively in ICC Test rankings for bowlers.
Team Changes
South Africa is aiming for a clean sweep It is likely there won’t be many changes. Morne Morkel has been ruled out of the 3rd Test due to injury therefore Kyle Abbott has been called as recover.
Pakistan are likely to make couple of changes If Junaid Khan get passed the fitness test then he will replace Tanvir Ahmad. Faisal Iqbal might play in the playing XI instead of Azhar Ali.
Conditions
The pith of Centurion is likely to help both Batsmens & Bowlers. Batsmens should be careful while playing strokes and bowlers will have to bowl at right areas. The nature of pitch is not fully known. And the recent matches at the Centurion were one-sided games. Pakistan have played only 1 Test at this venue which they lost by 7 wickets in 2007 against South Africa.
Stats and Trivia
Last time South Africa whitewashed a decent Test team was in 1998-99 when the team led by Hansie Cronje beat West Indies 5-0 in South Africa.
Muhammad Hafeez has scored 1,984 runs in Tests, and needs 16 more runs to achieve the 2,000 runs milestone while Azhar Ali has scored 1,911 runs, and needs 89 runs to achieve this milestone.
Interestingly South Africa have won 4 Test matches out of last 5 played at Centurion with an innings.
Preview BY Waqar Asghar
The Scenario
South Africa after winning the series now looking to whitewash Pakistan for the first time. Whitewash has never been a result of Pakistan-South Africa series, either Test or One Day. Having three or more matches. South Africa already celeberated the taste of series win. Pakistan team is getting criticized strongly by the home media and critics, specially the Pakistan openers are under several criticism.
Both the openers have a poor form in this series so far, they have completely failed to score runs in this series. Lets have a look at the performance of Pakistan openers; Muhammad Hafeez has scored 25 runs in this series so far while Nasir Jamshed has 51 runs including one half-century in the 2nd innings of 1st Test at Johannesburg. These two openers have to perform well if Pakistan wants to put a good total on the board.
Its have been almost all over for Pakistan as they have lost the series 2-0. South Africa will be looking to create history by whitewashing Pakistan on the other hand Pakistan will be playing to salvage pride. If Pakistan somehow manage to win the match, than it will be Morale boast for them ahead of their T20I & ODI series against South Africa.
Fear of Pacers
South African pacers have dominated in this Test series so far. Both the pace bowlers Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander have an outstanding series so far. All the Pakistan batsmens have difficulties to facing them. Pakistan have to discuss that how to handle these two. These two bowlers have outclassed Pakistan batsmens. Dale Steyn has taken 15 wickets in 2 matches while Vernon Philander has accounted 13 wickets. Steyn and Vernon Philander at the moment are sparehead of South Africa bowling. Both these pacers are at NO.1 and NO.2 respectively in ICC Test rankings for bowlers.
Team Changes
South Africa is aiming for a clean sweep It is likely there won’t be many changes. Morne Morkel has been ruled out of the 3rd Test due to injury therefore Kyle Abbott has been called as recover.
Pakistan are likely to make couple of changes If Junaid Khan get passed the fitness test then he will replace Tanvir Ahmad. Faisal Iqbal might play in the playing XI instead of Azhar Ali.
Conditions
The pith of Centurion is likely to help both Batsmens & Bowlers. Batsmens should be careful while playing strokes and bowlers will have to bowl at right areas. The nature of pitch is not fully known. And the recent matches at the Centurion were one-sided games. Pakistan have played only 1 Test at this venue which they lost by 7 wickets in 2007 against South Africa.
Stats and Trivia
Last time South Africa whitewashed a decent Test team was in 1998-99 when the team led by Hansie Cronje beat West Indies 5-0 in South Africa.
Muhammad Hafeez has scored 1,984 runs in Tests, and needs 16 more runs to achieve the 2,000 runs milestone while Azhar Ali has scored 1,911 runs, and needs 89 runs to achieve this milestone.
Interestingly South Africa have won 4 Test matches out of last 5 played at Centurion with an innings.
Preview BY Waqar Asghar
