Pakistan’s cricketers have arrived in South Africa for one of their most challenging tours for many a year. South Africa, under the tutelage of the redoubtable Gary Kirsten, has developed into the best side in the world. After a successful tour of Australia, they routed New Zealand in the Test matches only to be upset in the ODIs by a side that never gives up. New Zealand may have been hurt by the ugly captaincy controversy and it showed in their batting performances, but they bounced back convincingly to win the first two ODIs.
Pakistan have just one match to acclimatize themselves for a testing three Test series followed by two T20 and five ODIs. This is a far cry from the old days where a tour would consist of a lengthy ship journey and several matches against regional teams before the Tests. The South African Invitational eleven lacks the blazing speed and swerve of the Test side, so our batsmen might find themselves thrown in at the deep end when they walk in against the pace of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel, backed up by the canny wicket taking seamer Vern Philander and the experienced Jacques Kallis.
South Africa is widely credited with having the best bowling attack in cricket, but Pakistan can match them with Umar Gul, Junaid Khan and the steepling Mohammad Irfan. Gul and especially Junaid are in good form, but it could be the towering Irfan who could be a handful. With the high bounce from the good length spot, he would be difficult to get away. This could force the batsmen to take undue risks with the other bowlers. And it takes only five or six good balls or batsmen’s mistakes to destroy an innings. But Pakistan’s ace in the depth would almost certainly be the ‘doosra demon’ Saeed Ajmal.
Ajmal has such great control over his off breaks, the straight one and the doosra, that he leaves the best batsmen in the world groping at thin air. The bowling resources of both sides should be about even depending upon which side takes better advantage of the prevailing conditions at a given moment.
It would be in the batting that South Africa could have the edge. They have some outstandingly consistent batsmen, led by Kallis, Amla, de Villiers, Faf du Plessis, Peterson, Smith, a lineup that is definitely the best at the moment. Whether they can handle the vagaries of the Pakistan bowling attack better than Pakistan can handle theirs, is what the series could hinge on. Led by the steady Misbah ul Haq and ably supported by Azhar Ali, Younus Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Nasir Jamshed and Taufeeq Umar, the Pakistan lineup is not short on experience. At least two batsmen need to strike a rich vein of form.
Nasir Jamshed has all the abilities required of a top batsman and should he continue where he left off in India, he could play a pivotal role at the top of the order. The middle order has Misbah and Younus, two veterans whose reflexes and nerve will be thoroughly tested by the South African quickies.
South Africa lacks a class spinner, with Imran Tahir having been badly mauled by the Aussies. So the edge for Pakistan could be in the spin department with Ajmal and the capable Rehman.
But it could be in the bits and pieces where the South Africans might prevail. They would be holding on to a vastly higher percentage of their catches and hitting the stumps in run out attempts much more regularly than the Pakistanis.
So, if the home team has to dismiss ten batsmen while the visitors have to remove thirteen, it could be the crucial advantage. The better fielding side would also save thirty or so runs in the field. It is no wonder that every team in international cricket works so hard at its fielding.
Should Pakistan maintain their composure and put a premium on their wickets, this could be a barn burner of a series. Misbah’s captaincy and calm under pressure will surely be tested and should he pass the trial by fire, Pakistan should give a good account of themselves. May the better team win.
Djokovic, Azarenka victors again
The first Grand Slam of the New Year went into the finals weekend, with the usual suspects, Djokovic, Murray, Federer and Ferrer duly making their way into the semifinals. Djokovic was much too good for Ferrer while Murray overwhelmed a slightly jaded Federer. Djokovic was as consistent as Ferrer, but also possessed the weapons that Ferrer lacked. Hard as Ferrer fought, Djokovic would rally with him and then choose the right ball to put away. It was no contest. In the second semifinal Federer looked a little tired after his five set win over Tsonga. Murray served much better, moving Federer wide in the deuce court and then hitting cross court. In the end Murray won the serving duel, with Federer fading in the fifth set.
The five sets that Murray played against Federer proved to be his undoing in the final. Djokovic had romped over the diminutive Ferrer in no time and his legs were fresh. Murray imposed his solid error free baseline game on Djokovic, winning the first set in the tie break and having Djokovic ranting and raving early in the second. But when Djokovic fought off a love 40 situation early in the second set, the tide turned. Djokovic became more agressive, attcked the net and ran Murray ragged, until Murray started having hamstring twinges and blisters on the toes. After that it was only a matter of time for the Serb to run away with his third straight Australian Open, with a four set win. For Murray, it was a case of missed opportunities. Had he gotten the break in the second set, the momentum would have remained his and possibly the title.
In the women’s event, the big surprise was the emergence of Sloane Stephens – the young American girl who upset Serena Williams to make her first Grand Slam semi final. Daughter of an American professional footballer, Stephens displayed a solid baseline defence allied with winners which she hit with a good margin for error. Serena won the first set but then wrenched her back, making Stephens’ job much easier. She dropped serve early in the third set but broke Serena twice to defeat her idol.
Stephens was outplayed by Victoria Azarenka in the semis while Li Na of China stopped Maria Sharapova’s record breaking run with a facile win. Li Na was superb in the final, winning the first set with a blistering array of ground strokes. In the middle of the second set, Li Na had a bad fall that knocked her cold for a few seconds. She also lost a bit of her mobility due to the ankle injury and from there Azarenka was the only winner.
So, last year’s winners repeated at this first Major of 2013. The court suits both to a tee, being fast and with a consistent bounce. It remians to be seen if they can continue their supremacy on the clay court circuit this summer. Though Nadal’s hard court career seems to be over, but he is scheduled to be back in February and will no doubt be aiming for yet another French Open title.
Pakistan’s most daunting challenge
