Last week Pakistan faced whitewash (0-2) in South Africa Test series. Protease wrapping up the series inside four days of the second and final Test.
Pakistan’s total of 478 is the highest-ever follow-on score by a visiting team in South Africa, a vastly improved display after they had been bowled out for 194 in their first innings.
With a 2-0 win over Pakistan, South Africa team will go into the WTC final against Australia at Lord’s in June on the back of seven straight wins – the second most successful sequence in their history.
Not that it is anything new, Pakistan have played well in patches recently but also underperformed under pressure.
Pakistan’s cricket history is filled with moments of brilliance and resilience, but one glaring gap in its record is the inability to win a Test match in South Africa since 2006-07. Despite being a cricket powerhouse in many respects, Pakistan’s performance in South Africa has been lackluster.
When did Pakistan last 2in a Test series in South Africa?
The simple answer is: never. Pakistan’s inability to adapt to South African conditions, combined with South Africa’s cricketing strengths, has kept them winless series in the country. Even in matches where Pakistan had opportunities to seize the upper hand, a combination of poor decision-making and individual errors has resulted in missed chances.
Overall, Pakistan and South Africa played 30 Tests so far. Protease have a clear edge with 17 wins while Green shirts remain successful on six occasions.
In South Africa, Pakistan have toured the South Africa five times in 1994-95, 1997-98, 2002-03, 2006-07 and 2012-13 and have won two Tests.
The first victory came during the 1997-98 tour in the at Durban with contributions from Azhar Mahmood (132) and Shoaib Akhtar (5-43) in the first innings and Saeed Anwar (118) and Mushtaq Ahmed (6-78) in the second innings. Interestingly Mushtaq Ahmed took 9 wickets in the match on a Durban pitch which is considered to be the fastest pitch in SA and not spinner friendly.
The second victory came during the 2006-07 tour in Port Elizabeth due to a superlative team effort. Inzamam ul Haq led the team brilliantly with contributions from almost everyone. The main architects of the victory were Inzamam whose 92 helped Pakistan secure the first innings lead along Danish Kaneria (7 wickets in the match) and Younis Khan (45 and 67*) who steadied the tricky chase of 191 on a wearing 4th day pitch.
South African pitches are known for their bounce, pace, and seam movement, conditions that have traditionally troubled Pakistan’s batting lineup. Pakistan’s batsmen, who often excel in subcontinental conditions with low bounce and slower pitches, have struggled to adapt to South African surfaces. Matches at venues like Centurion and Johannesburg have been particularly challenging.
Over the years, Pakistan’s batting collapses have been a recurring theme in South Africa. For instance, during the 2018-19 tour, Pakistan’s highest score across the three-Test series was 294, and they were bowled out for under 200 four times.
Quality of South African Bowlers South Africa has consistently produced world-class fast bowlers. These bowlers have exploited Pakistan’s vulnerabilities on bouncy tracks, often dismantling the batting lineup with ease.
Pakistan’s fielding has often been subpar compared to South Africa’s. Dropped catches and missed opportunities have allowed South African batsmen to post big scores. Additionally, fitness levels, which are crucial for enduring the demands of Test cricket in challenging conditions, have been an issue for Pakistan.
South Africa’s dominance at home is not limited to Pakistan. The Proteas boast one of the best home records in Test cricket. Teams from the subcontinent, including India and Sri Lanka, have also struggled in South Africa, although India finally managed to win a Test series there in 2021-22.
Pakistan’s average batting score in South Africa is just 201.8 runs per innings, far below their performance in other countries.
While Pakistan has fielded some of the best bowlers in cricket history, including Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar, Saqlain Mushtaq and Yasir Shah, their bowlers have often lacked support from the fielders and batsmen.
South Africa’s batsmen have thrived against Pakistan, with Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, and Graeme Smith regularly scoring heavily against them.
Pakistan’s teams have often been criticized for lacking the mental toughness required to succeed in challenging overseas conditions.
Inadequate preparation tours and limited experience in domestic cricket leagues in these countries have contributed to Pakistan’s struggles.
For Pakistan to break their losing streak in South Africa and Australia, several steps are necessary like:
The management should schedule more practice matches ahead of Test series.
Encouraging young players to participate in domestic leagues in South Africa and Australia to gain experience.
Adopting modern fitness regimes and emphasizing fielding drills to match the standards of top teams. Introducing sports psychologists to help players handle pressure situations better.
Developing pitches in Pakistan that mimic the conditions in South Africa and Australia to prepare players for overseas tours.
Appoint captains and coaching staff who understand the nuances of playing in challenging conditions.
Pakistan’s inability to win a Test in South Africa highlight the need for systemic changes. While the talent pool in Pakistan remains rich, transforming that talent into consistent performances overseas requires a concerted effort from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), team management, and players themselves. By addressing the fundamental issues and adopting a forward-thinking approach, Pakistan can hope to rewrite history and secure memorable victories in these challenging cricketing nations.
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