Watch cricket video highlights of Pakistan tour of South Africa 2024. 1st Test between South Africa and Pakistan. Venue of the match will be Centurion.
Copyright – Third Party Reference Inline Linking Embedded Video from Youtube
Report
According to one source, the Highveld has had heavy rains in the run-up to this Test match, making it “difficult” to prepare the ground at SuperSport Park. The surface was quite green after two days out, which is consistent with its reputation. Centurion is the hardest wicket for hitters to hit since it is the most seamer-friendly in the nation. Days two and three are often good for scoring runs, but with above clouds, batsmen will “know that your work is going to be cut out for you and you’re going to have to work hard for your runs.
“despite Bavuma’s claim that he has “never played on a flat Centurion wicket.” Thunderstorms are predicted for the first morning and afternoon, as well as the second and third afternoons, which might possibly disrupt the game. Although they would still have Salman Agha at their disposal, Pakistan may follow South Africa’s example and go all-pace, leaving Noman Ali with no room. Therefore, Abbas, Aamer Jamal, and Khurram Shahzad are probably going to work alongside Naseem Shah, the 21-year-old attack commander, in the seam department.
Wiaan Mulder (broken finger) and Keshav Maharaj (groin strain) both passed fitness tests prior to the game, although they are not yet considered match-fit. South Africa decided on a 7-4 split and entered the match without a frontline spinner or spin-bowling all-rounder Senuran Muthusamy. Kagiso Rabada, Dane Paterson, and Marco Jansen will all share bowling responsibilities with Corbin Bosch, who frequently bowls above 140 kph, when he makes his debut at home. Tristan Stubbs has moved to No. 4, while Ryan Rickelton has been kept at No. 3.
For 34-year-old Mohammad Abbas, who has been absent from the national team for three years, seemingly without cause, it’s now or never. Abbas got 90 wickets at 23.02 in 25 Test matches between April 2017 and August 2021, however despite his impressive performance on the county circuit, he was benched in favor of younger quicks. He has had four successful seasons at Hampshire, taking 180 wickets at a rate of 19.26. In 2022 and 2023, he was in the top 10 wicket-takers, while in 2024, he was just outside the top 10.
He has rightfully earned a comeback and is tied for second place in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy in terms of wickets taken this season. He will look to make an impact. In Test cricket, Abbas is just 10 wickets away from reaching 100. If he does, he would become the 20th bowler from Pakistan to do so. This year, Aiden Markram seems to have struggled in all forms, but his biggest problems have been in the format he captained. Although his test form has showed indications of improvement.
He only has one score over 30 from 18 T20Is in 2024, and one fifty from six ODIs hasn’t helped his chances either. Markram, who struck fifties in Providence and Gqeberha after scoring a century in the New Year’s Test, is also someone Bavuma claims he “leans a lot on” for strategy and motivating younger players. Above all, Markram appreciates the ongoing support of his teammates, especially Bavuma, who claims to “empathize” with his situation but adds that “that’s what makes elite sport tough.” You must figure out how to overcome such obstacles. And the gratification is usually found when you cross over to the other side.
Although there is another Boxing Day test, this one is also significant. South Africa will go to the World Test Championship (WTC) final if they win at SuperSport Park. More importantly, they will keep a country on edge for another week if Pakistan wins. If they lose, they will keep outside dreams of reaching Lord’s alive (so remote that they also demand an over-rate penalty for South Africa). Since South Africa just needs to win one of the next two Test matches to advance to the WTC final, they really have some breathing room.
They will like their chances against a squad that hasn’t won a Test outside of Asia since defeating the West Indies in August 2021 and hasn’t won a Test in this nation in over 18 years, despite the Highveld being prone to rain. Despite all the turmoil around them, Pakistan is a squad that might take advantage of the peculiar effects that pressure has on individuals, particularly South African players. Before arriving in South Africa, they passed through a succession of coaches, administrators, and selectors.
Two weeks prior to the series’ commencement, their Test coach quit, and they were already there. The two teams were focused on an ODI match that serves as a build-up to the Champions Trophy, so there hasn’t been any of the Melbourne antics in the lead-up to this Boxing Day Test. In that match, which Pakistan won 3-0, ten players from South Africa and seven from Pakistan’s Test teams participated. They are undoubtedly in the lead if momentum is a factor. In particular.
South Africa’s batting was ruined, and in the first ODI, three of their top four players—Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, and Tristan Stubbs—were dismissed by Salman Agha’s offspin. Although the circumstances at SuperSport Park are unlikely to be favorable for him, Temba Bavuma feels that the mental wounds will be easy to overcome. “Whether it’s easy, whether it’s hard, we’ve got to find a way to do it,” he stated. “Whatever, I don’t know, trauma that was there, you know, guys will have to deal with it.”
Additionally, Bavuma was quick to point out that the Test space is different since South Africa has greater consistency and concentration there, with the immediate objective of winning the WTC final. On the other hand, Pakistan, who have won three straight ODI series and are preparing to defend the Champions Trophy at home, may be considered the opposite. The sides may have slightly different goals going into this game based on their present performance, but it won’t lessen the significance of the moment. There is a lot on the line in this Boxing Day Test, which is happening concurrently with another Boxing Day Test. This is the largest it gets.
