It never rains but it pours, goes the saying. South Africa, who have been the winners in Tests for years, were beaten by Pakistan in the first Test in Abu Dhabi. Now the Proteas are also in trouble in the second Test as world No. 1 bowler Dale Steyn may not play because of an injury. The world No. 1 batsman Hashim Amla has already left for South Africa to attend the birth of his second child.
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The absence of world No. 1 batsman and bowler could be a blow to South Africa (Photo: AFP)[/caption]
However, AB de Villiers says the team is ready to salvage the loss in the first Test.
The top-ranked South Africa are not going to lose their first rank even if Pakistan beat them in the second Test, too. But having defeated by a side who was recently beaten by a team like Zimbabwe is something really disturbing for the Proteas. That’s why visitors will make their best to come back in the next Test, going to start from Oct 23.
Talking to the media at Dubai’s Global Cricket Academy, South Africa wicket-keeper batsman AB de Villiers conceded that Pakistan played well in the Abu Dhabi Test, and added that his team suffered defeat because of a few mistakes.
It was an unexpected defeat as the team had been unbeaten for a quite a long time, he said. He hoped that South Africa would not be an easy side in the second Test and would level the series.
AB de Villiers said that Pakistan Test debutant Zulfiqar Babar gave tough time to visiting batsmen. However, he said they had watched Babar’s videos and prepared a strategy to tackle him in the upcoming Test.
He said Dale Steyn was not injured and was completely fit. Due to tightness in his right hamstring, Steyn had to shorten his practice session on Sunday and was also absent on Monday.
South Africa’s team manager Mohammed Moosajee that the management need 24 hours to determine Steyn’s injury and a final decision in this regard will be taken tomorrow.
[caption id="attachment_2402" align="alignright" width="300"]
The absence of world No. 1 batsman and bowler could be a blow to South Africa (Photo: AFP)[/caption]However, AB de Villiers says the team is ready to salvage the loss in the first Test.
The top-ranked South Africa are not going to lose their first rank even if Pakistan beat them in the second Test, too. But having defeated by a side who was recently beaten by a team like Zimbabwe is something really disturbing for the Proteas. That’s why visitors will make their best to come back in the next Test, going to start from Oct 23.
Talking to the media at Dubai’s Global Cricket Academy, South Africa wicket-keeper batsman AB de Villiers conceded that Pakistan played well in the Abu Dhabi Test, and added that his team suffered defeat because of a few mistakes.
It was an unexpected defeat as the team had been unbeaten for a quite a long time, he said. He hoped that South Africa would not be an easy side in the second Test and would level the series.
AB de Villiers said that Pakistan Test debutant Zulfiqar Babar gave tough time to visiting batsmen. However, he said they had watched Babar’s videos and prepared a strategy to tackle him in the upcoming Test.
He said Dale Steyn was not injured and was completely fit. Due to tightness in his right hamstring, Steyn had to shorten his practice session on Sunday and was also absent on Monday.
South Africa’s team manager Mohammed Moosajee that the management need 24 hours to determine Steyn’s injury and a final decision in this regard will be taken tomorrow.
Target: 332 runs