Pakistan tour of SA, Dec 19 - Feb 2

[Durhamfootman]

hopefully Abbas will be drafted straight back in, assuming he's fit. If SA have any sense they'll set the second test pitch up as a slow turner

[mikesiva]

Let's look at the top seven over Tests in 2018, including this one, and series against Sri Lanka, Australia and India....

Markram 10 Tests, 762 runs @ ave of 33.60
Elgar 10 Tests, 661 runs @ ave of 36.72
Amla 10 Tests, 510 runs @ ave of 26.84
de Bruyn 7 Tests (total), 273 runs @ ave of 21
du Plessis 10 Tests, 463 runs @ ave of 24.36
Bavuma 5 Tests, 295 runs @ ave of 42.14
de Kock 10 Tests, 392 runs @ ave of 21.77

Amla's 35, du Plessis's 34, and Elgar's 31. What's going to be of greater concern to the SA selectors will be how and when to replace this older trio...especially since both Amla and du Plessis averaged in the 20s in 2018. They will be worried that two of the younger players, de Bruyn and de Kock, are averaging only 21 in 2018.

[mikesiva]

Philander in. Maharaj out.

Abbas in. Hassan Ali out.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Big Vern back for SA, but for Maharaj. Maybe they can't face dropping Steyn.

Abbas returns for Pakistan. Hasan makes way.

[mikesiva]

Fakhar out to Steyn for one.

Imam out to Philander for eight.

Olivier again! Azhar out for two.

Rabada gets in on the act. Assad out for 20.

Olivier again! Babar out for two.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Olivier in the spotlight again.

Good to bowl first at Cape Town I guess. May get flatter later- a la Stokes and Bairstow.

[mikesiva]

Rabada gets his second wicket. Shan out for 44.

Sarfraz plays a captain's innings. That's his half century!

Olivier again! Sarfraz out for 56.

Olivier gets his fourth wicket! Yasir out for five.

Old man Steyn gets his second wicket! Abbas out for a duck!

Steyn gets his third wicket.

Pakistan 177 all out.

Olivier 4-48
Steyn 3-48
Rabada 2-35
Philander 1-36

[andy]

Cant see Sarfraz staying on as captain, but also can't see who will replace him.... Faheem Ashraf should be playing too, this PAK line up is far too fragile

[Durhamfootman]

poor start for Pakistan

[andy]

50 partnershio for Elgar and Markram

[mikesiva]

Amir gets the wicket of Elgar for 20.

Markham gets his half century!

[andy]

SA close on 123-2, Masood gets Markram for 78 just before the close

[mikesiva]

Abbas strikes! Amla out for 24.

Afridi strikes and de bruyne is out for 13.

[Arthur Crabtree]

De Bruyn's Test career still failing to thrive.

But only has 12 fc tons in 100 innings, even though an average of 46.

[mikesiva]

And de bruyne test average has slipped down to 21.

Now du Plessis gets his half century!

Bavuma gets his half century!