Pakistan v South Africa, 2nd Test, Dubai South Africas resilience put to test : It was expected that South Africa wouldnt have it easy going into the first Test. The No. 1 ranking comes with high expectations to adjust quickly to conditions, no matter what they are. However, South Africa succumbing with more than a day to spare in Abu Dhabi was a surprise. The visitors had a warm-up game before the Test but were still undercooked, after months of inactivity as a Test unit. The five-day gap between Tests might still not be enough to figure out how to square the series, but South Africa have shown in the past that they have the resilience to bounce back in adversity. Pakistans clinical performance was not that much of a surprise either. They are a transformed team in the UAE, when compared to how they perform on away tours. Ask England. Pakistan trounced the former No.1 side 3-0 in early 2012 and their most recent win in Abu Dhabi was their fourth consecutive victory against a top-ranked team in the UAE. The result was received with much fanfare largely because of the gloom that followed that embarrassing defeat in Harare a month ago. The top order had looked wobbly, the middle order depended far too much on Misbah-ul-Haq and there were doubts over whether Pakistan had not only the hunger but the resources to succeed in Tests. That they turned it around so quickly has lifted the mood among their fans. South Africa will not be able to field their best XI, with their best batsman and only centurion from Abu Dhabi, Hashim Amla, flying home for the birth of his child. Dale Steyn has fitness concerns too, and though he wasnt at his best in Abu Dhabi, his participation remains critical. Spin remains their biggest chink: Robin Peterson or JP Duminy cannot run through sides like Saeed Ajmal can. South Africas seamers identified the correct lengths - a fuller one - to bowl on these pitches rather late in the first Test, when they had all of 40 to defend. They need to apply that more consistently to test Pakistan. Should South Africa lose, they will still retain their No.1 ranking but it will narrow the gap between them and England. Pakistan will finish the series at No. 4 irrespective of what happens in Dubai. A draw is enough to seal the series, 1-1 will also improve their ranking, but 2-0 will extinguish the demons of Zimbabwe.
Posted on: Wed, 23 Oct 2013 04:41:05 +0000