Ricky Ponting has suggested that Billy Stanlake can become one of the great Test bowlers and it appears new Australia coach Justin Langer is of the same mind

David Hopps16-May-2018Australian fast bowler Billy Stanlake has been withdrawn from his deal with Yorkshire for the Vitality T20 Blast as he switches his focus to proving that he has a future at Test level.The late change of heart, determined by Cricket Australia and Stanlake’s representatives following Justin Langer’s appointment as head coach, leaves Yorkshire high and dry only a month before the start of the T20 season.It will only heighten the feeling within county cricket that with the game in such flux, and the cricket calendar so crowded, agreements with overseas players can no longer be relied upon.Stanlake, who is centrally contracted by Cricket Australia, sustained a fractured finger playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL and only began bowling in the nets again last Friday.But fitness was not an issue for the abandonment of his Yorkshire deal. He has been named in Australia’s squad for five ODIs and one T20 in England from June 13-27, which represents Langer’s first assignment.Langer, it appears, also believes that Stanlake has potential in the red-ball format and the player is also eager to prove his worth in the longer form of the game.Ricky Ponting, the former Australia captain, certainly thinks so, suggesting in February that he “could be one of the all-time great fast bowlers.”So far his injury record has precluded him from making much of an impact – he has managed only two first-class games, the last of them in November 2015, afflicted by serious back injuries and, more uncommonly, an infected toe which came close to amputation.He will now concentrate on a full pre-season with the Queensland Bulls, with an eye on potential Sheffield Shield involvement later in the year.Martyn Moxon, Yorkshire’s director of cricket, was in disconsolate mood when he said: “Cricket Australia got in touch on Friday and have decided on a different strategy for Billy Stanlake.”Now the new Australia coach is in place, they want him to play some different cricket to T20 during the period he was due to be with us. Consequently, they’ve pulled him out of our deal, which is obviously very disappointing for us. We’re not the only county, it would appear, who has been affected by this.”We’ll assess the situation as to whether we go for a replacement or not. We may choose to stick with our own players.”Stanlake was set to play a minimum of 12 matches for Yorkshire, missing the opening two because of Australia commitments but then due to play right through to final group match against Nottinghamshire at Headingley on August 17.

Will Jacks shone once more and Connor Brown just missed out on his first List A century as Glamorgan fell to defeat at Kia Oval

ECB Reporters Network06-Jun-2018
ScorecardA crowd of almost 5,000 at the Kia Oval were given another glimpse of Will Jacks’ immense potential as the 19-year-old struck a brilliant 80 from 57 balls as Surrey eased to a five-wicket Royal London One-Day cup victory against the South Group’s bottom side Glamorgan.Sadly for Surrey, however, their fourth win of the competition did not earn them a quarter-final berth because Essex Eagles beat Kent Spitfires at Chelmsford to go through to the knockout stage alongside Kent and top-of-the-group Hampshire.Like Jacks, it was also a bittersweet day for another youngster, 21-year-old Glamorgan batsman Connor Brown, who earlier hit a six and nine fours to reach 98 from 136 balls in just his third List A appearance before being caught in the last over.But Glamorgan’s 50-over total of 266 for 8 was never going to be enough after Jacks and Jason Roy plundered 77 in only 8.3 overs for the second wicket to take full advantage of the initial ten-over Powerplay following the early dismissal of an out-of-form Mark Stoneman.Jacks, who also scored 121 against Gloucestershire earlier in the competition, reached his fifty from a mere 30 balls and pulled Timm van der Gugten powerfully for successive sixes in the eighth over of Surrey’s reply. With Roy also swinging Carey over deep square leg for six, it was only when off spinner Andrew Salter was introduced that Surrey’s cavalier progress was slowed.Salter bowled Roy for 23 with his second ball, when brought on for the tenth over, to leave Surrey 84 for 2, and then he also ended Jacks’ sparkling knock when the tall opener yorked himself as he advanced to drive. Jacks had hit 12 fours, besides those two huge sixes of Van der Gugten.From 125 for 3, it was left to Surrey captain Rory Burns and the classy Ben Foakes to steady Surrey with a fourth wicket stand of 79 in 14 overs.Both got out when victory was all but assured, Burns for a 69-ball 68, caught at long on off David Lloyd’s off breaks, and Foakes held at mid wicket off Carey for 30.Ollie Pope and Sam Curran, in an unbroken sixth wicket stand of 51, completed the win with 9.2 overs to spare.Rikki Clarke, with a deserved 3 for 49, was the most successful bowler in a disciplined Surrey attack in which Morne Morkel looked a class apart while taking 2 for 39 from his ten overs. Tom Curran had a rare off day as he was taken for 80 from his ten-over allocation.Glamorgan lost their first two wickets without a run on the board, as openers Nick Selman and Aneurin Donald fell to Morkel and Sam Curran respectively to the third and tenth balls of the match.Glamorgan’s recovery was launched by Brown and Colin Ingram, the captain, who put on 85 in 18 overs for the third wicket but Ingram then aimed a reverse sweep at off spinner Batty – perhaps an error of judgement on the left-hander’s part at that stage of the innings – and was lbw for 44.Ingram had faced 59 balls, hitting sixes off both Batty and Tom Curran, but his dismissal was quickly followed by that of Lloyd, who was caught at long leg in the 25th over when Morkel returned for a quick second burst.Brown was fortunate to squeeze a searing Sam Curran yorker off the toe of his bat just past Foakes for four to go to his half-century but he and his fellow youngster, the 20-year-old Kiran Carlson, added 65 to give Glamorgan the chance to post some sort of defendable total.Carlson was leg-before to the accurate Clarke for 33 but Brown, accelerating, pulled Sam Curran for six and then swatted Morkel over mid off for four to go into the 80s.Graham Wagg proved to be just the man Glamorgan needed to join Brown, swinging three legside sixes in a violent 18-ball 35 before he skied Clarke to extra cover.Brown, needing just two for his first List A hundred, selflessly swung the second ball of the final over, bowled by Clarke, to deep midwicket.

The left-arm spinner grabbed six wickets in the second innings after Jayasuriya’s hundred, as Sri Lanka A clinched the three-match series 1-0

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Jul-2018Malinda Pushpakumara’s six-wicket haul blew away Bangladesh A by an innings and 38 runs within three days in Sylhet. Sri Lanka A finished 1-0 winners in the three-match series after the first two matches were drawn.Left-arm spinner Pushpakumara finished with nine wickets but it was his second-innings haul that wrecked Bangladesh, who were bowled out for 107 on the third morning. They started the day on 57 for 1, trailing by 88 runs, but lost Mizanur Rahman in the second over of the day. Soumya Sarkar too fell soon after, stumped for 28, leaving the side 61 for 3. The other batsmen didn’t offer much resistance as Bangladesh lost their last eight wickets for 49 runs.Shehan Jayasuriya was the Man of the Match for his 142 off 155 balls, which had 15 fours and four sixes in Sri Lanka’s first-innings 312. Bangladesh had been bowled out for 167 on the first day.Jayasuriya also took five wickets in the game with his off-breaks.

He is likely to remain at home to tend to his wife’s illness, which means Shakib Al Hasan will take over captaincy duties

Mohammad Isam11-Jul-2018Mashrafe Mortaza is unlikely to travel to the West Indies for the ODI series that begins on July 22, since his wife is ill. Bangladesh’s selectors, however, will wait until Friday, the day before the ODI specialists’ departure from Dhaka, to name his replacement.”Mashrafe’s involvement in the ODI series is in doubt,” chief selector Minhajul Abedin told ESPNcricinfo. “I spoke to him last night. His wife is really sick. I don’t think he will be able to go to the West Indies.”If her condition improves, however, Mashrafe could fly out, especially given the length of time remaining before the series-opener. If he stays at home, Shakib Al Hasan will take over the ODI captaincy.Shafiul Islam, meanwhile, suffered an ankle injury during Tuesday’s training session. The injury is likely to rule him out of the second Test, which begins on Thursday in Jamaica. Bangladesh’s squad only contains four fast bowlers in all, which means they will be unable to make any changes to the pace attack that featured in the innings defeat in Antigua, should they stick with three quicks.

Shai Hope’s blistering 88 powered Tridents to 185, before Reifer snared five wickets, including three in his last over, as Barbados opened their CPL campaign with a win

The Report by Peter Della Penna13-Aug-2018Raymon Reifer prepares to bowl•Randy Brookes/CPL T20/Getty Images

After missing the playoffs in back-to-back seasons, Barbados Tridents got their CPL 2018 campaign off to a winning start by easily defending the highest-ever CPL total made in Guyana, in a 30-run win over the Amazon Warriors. At a ground where the average first-innings score in the CPL has been 126, Tridents overcame a shaky start of 11 for 2 to post 185 for 4, following a brilliant 88 off 45 balls by Shai Hope, before Raymon Reifer’s five-wicket haul derailed the Amazon Warriors chase.Tri-dented in the PowerplayTridents’ opening combo of Martin Guptill and Dwayne Smith were both dismissed in the first two overs, and there was little to indicate that a record total was imminent. Rayad Emrit emulated his Trinidad pal Dwayne Bravo’s incredible effort 24 hours earlier, with a one-handed catch to claim Guptill at mid-off. Smith fell at the end of the next over, driving Chris Green’s offspin to extra cover, and Tridents were reduced to 11 for 2 in two overs.Hope-ful partnershipHope and Steven Smith came together to steer the Tridents back into the match with a 105-run stand for the third wicket. Smith played the classy shots early, including a delightful straight drive off Green for four, to keep the scoreboard moving. However, the partnership could have been halved had Hope been runout on 31, with the score 64 for 2, in the last ball of the ninth over. Smith turned down a run to backward point as Hope hared from the non-striker’s end, but Sherfane Rutherford’s rushed throw missed the stumps after Hope had given up getting back in.The 24-year-old turned belligerent at the end of the 11th over, heaving Imran Tahir against the turn over long-on and straight down the ground for consecutive sixes. It spurred Smith to come out of his shell at the start of the 12th over, guiding a pair of cuts behind point for four off Keemo Paul, as Tridents produced 20 runs in a four-ball sequence across the two overs. Hope ended the 12th over by gliding two to third man to bring up a 30-ball half-century. He then took Sohail Tanvir apart for two sixes over long-on and a four through extra cover in the 13th over to bring up the 100-run partnership, putting Tridents in a commanding position with seven overs left.Pooran powerThe departure of Smith, who played around a straight ball from Tahir, allowed Hope to take the innings into high gear with Nicholas Pooran. Hope’s six assault continued off Paul in the 18th, driving over the extra cover boundary for the shot of the innings. But he fell two balls later, just 12 short of what would have been his maiden CPL ton.Pooran took the opportunity to remind everyone of his devastating ball-striking ability by swatting 21 runs off the final over, bowled by Paul, to put the chase out of reach for the host side. He began with a flat six over long-off, before collecting a scampered two. The third ball was smashed magnificently into the second-tier over long-off, and nearly landed on the roof. It took him to 38, six more than his best innings from a lackluster 2017 campaign. A helicopter whip for six over long-on two balls later showed Pooran’s style to match his strength, and he finished unbeaten on 45 off 27 balls.Reifer madnessDespite the fall of Chadwick Walton at the end of the second over, the Warriors had progressed confidently to reach 40 for 1 in the fifth over of the chase, when Reifer started to ruin the host side’s pursuit with his canny left-arm medium pace. Extra bounce resulted in a top-edged pull by Luke Ronchi that landed in Ashley Nurse’s hands at midwicket, before Shimron Hetmyer fell next ball, yanking Reifer to one of the two men out on the boundary during the Powerplay, Guptill covering good ground at deep midwicket to put Reifer on a hat-trick.Rutherford joined captain Shoaib Malik for an 84-run stand as Warriors kept themselves in the hunt. Legspinner Imran Khan didn’t bowl a single over on the night, with dew making it difficult for spinners to grip the ball. But Tridents captain Jason Holder’s gamble to bring back Nurse to bowl offspin in the 16th over paid off. One ball after Malik smashed him for six over long-on, the Guyana captain misjudged the length while trying to guide Nurse with an open face to third man, and wound up chopping onto his stumps for 38.As the required run rate continued to climb following Malik’s departure, Reifer exploited the breach with three wickets in the 19th to kill off the chase. With 39 required off the last two overs to win, Green scythed a Reifer full toss behind point for four, but perished off the next ball, with a tame drive to Holder at extra cover. Jason Mohammed sliced Reifer to the cover sweeper two balls later, before a slower bouncer next ball to Rutherford resulted in a gloved catch to Pooran to put Reifer on a hat-trick for the second time in the night. Reifer once again didn’t get the hat-trick, Paul this time punching a full toss down the ground for a single, but the efforts were enough to bag the Man-of-the-Match award.

Handscomb is set to take Carey’s place behind the stumps, while Renshaw is on track for selection after having missed the first match with a hamstring strain

Varun Shetty06-Sep-2018Australia A vice-captain Alex Carey is set to miss the second unofficial Test against India A starting Saturday as he has returned home for the birth of his child. Peter Handscomb will keep wicket in his place. Meanwhile, opening batsman Matt Renshaw is on track for selection for the second Test, having missed the first with a hamstring strain.Carey had an impressive outing behind the stumps during the first match in Bengaluru, and although his two catches in the game don’t tell that story, Carey was reliable on a low and slow pitch, particularly as it deteriorated on the last day.With Australia likely to rotate the squad around to bring in two spinners – Ashton Agar and Mitchell Swepson – Handscomb’s job as stand-in keeper will be particularly challenging. While Handscomb is no stranger to wicketkeeping, having done the job for Victoria, Melbourne Stars and Yorkshire before, it has largely been restricted to limited-overs cricket.According to ESPNcricinfo’s records, Handscomb last started a first-class match as designated wicketkeeper in December 2015, when he kept for Victoria in Melbourne during the Sheffield Shield.Handscomb has kept in India before, in an ODI in Indore last year, but the rigours of a four-day game will be markedly different.It will also add extra pressure in what will be Handscomb’s final push for a spot in the senior Test squad for their series against Pakistan in the UAE next month. Handscomb’s last first-class century came in February this year, but in the seven innings since – including two in the Johannesburg Test against South Africa – Handscomb has managed to get into double-figures on only one occasion. Handscomb had a poor quadrangular series last month as well, managing only four runs in two innings, and is on something of a remodelling phase, having admitted that bowlers had worked him out.Handscomb still remains a strong contender for Test selection, particularly for his skills against spin. With the additional responsibility of wicketkeeping, he could be pushed down the order, presumably to No. 6 where his said skills will be more prominently on display. It could allow him both time and freedom to get himself in, unlike in Bengaluru where in both innings at No. 4, he was at the centre of middle-order collapses. Should that be the case, Queensland’s Marnus Labuschagne could be pushed up the order. Labuschagne, who had stayed back with the Test squad for the first Test as a reserve for the injured Renshaw, will now remain with the squad for the second game as well.Australia A squad for the second Test: Usman Khawaja, Matthew Renshaw, Kurtis Patterson, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (capt), Peter Handscomb (wk), Marnus Labuschagne, Ashton Agar, Brendan Doggett, Jon Holland, Michael Neser, Joel Paris, Mitchell Swepson, Chris Tremain

The batsman was found guilty of breaching the ruling on his four-month suspension

Umar Farooq02-Nov-2018The PCB has extended Ahmed Shehzad’s ban by six weeks after the batsman was found guilty of breaching the ruling on his four-month suspension. His original ban was supposed to end on November 10, but will now run until December 22. That forces him to miss the entirety of the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, where he was to play for Sui Southern Gas Cooperation after his contract was terminated by HBL.Shehzad was charged with two violations of the PCB’s anti-doping rules after he tested positive for a banned substance in July. He underwent a random dope test conducted during the Pakistan Cup domestic tournament earlier this year, and was handed a four-month ban. That barred him completely from playing any level of cricket during that period. It is that clause that he has been found in violation of on this occasion, after he played club cricket for PCB-accredited Muslim Gymkhana on multiple occasions, and even promoted his playing activity on social media.He was subsequently issued a show-cause notice, to which he responded with an apology, citing the whole affair an error of judgment. “This is due to my only having played these games at club level, but I can assure you I would never willfully breach the rule as prescribed,” he said. “Had I been aware that this was a violation, I would never have played cricket at any level.”The PCB dismissed his explanation, finding it unsatisfactory and called him for a personal hearing to explain himself. It was understood that he played nine games in breach of his ban, and though the games were friendlies, they were still officially played by two clubs affiliated with the PCB. They took into account that Shehzad was an experienced international cricketer, who had played over 150 international games for Pakistan, and had undergone several lectures on anti-corruption and anti-doping, and therefore should have been fully aware of what counted as a breach.”This instant decision [to extend his ban] will serve as a constructive lesson not only to Ahmad Shahzad but to other cricketers that strict adherence to applicable rules and regulations is mandatory. A new period of ineligibility of six weeks is imposed on Ahmed Shahzad which shall commence from November 11, 2018,” the PCB said in their verdict.Extending Shehzad’s ban, which was due to end later this week, also rules him out of any involvement in the ongoing series against New Zealand, should Pakistan have recalled him. Long viewed as one of Pakistan’s brightest batting prospects, the 26-year old has struggled to live up to his billing, and found himself drop down the pecking order in all three formats in recent years. He last played for Pakistan in the two T20Is against Scotland in July, but hasn’t played an ODI for over a year. His last Test came in the West Indies in May 2017.

The left-arm spinner’s 4 for 15 helped the Rocks bowl Blitz out for 140 before du Plessis steered them home with his 39-ball 54

The Report by Hemant Brar25-Nov-2018Bjorn Fortuin’s four-wicket haul and Faf du Plessis’ half-century helped Paarl Rocks register their first win of the Mzansi Super League. Their victory also halted Cape Town Blitz’s unbeaten streak of four matches, though Blitz still hold the pole position with 18 points.Batting first, Blitz made a breezy start courtesy Quinton de Kock’s 16-ball 31. But left-arm spinner Fortuin eked out the top four batsmen in quick succession and Blitz could never recover after that. Despite some sloppy ground fielding, they managed just 57 from the last ten overs and were bowled out for 140.Du Plessis then steered the Rocks through their chase with a 39-ball 54. He received good support from Vaughn van Jaarsveld and Mangaliso Mosehle as the Rocks notched up the winning runs in 18.5 overs, with five wickets in hand.However, it was not a straightforward victory. Michael Klinger had suffered a back injury during Blitz’s innings and wasn’t available to bat. Then Dale Steyn rattled the Rocks by removing Henry Davids and Aiden Markram in space of three balls, the short ball doing the trick on both occasions. Davids tried to slash him over point but ended up hitting it towards third man where George Linde completed a tumbling catch. Markram was hurried on to the pull, with Hussain Talat accepting a dolly at midwicket.Du Plessis and van Jaarsveld steadied the innings and took the side past 50 in the eighth over. They added 67 for the third wicket before van Jaarsveld reverse-swept Linde straight to Asif Ali at short third man.David Wiese started with a boundary but with 47 needed from 48, he fell to Dane Piedt for a run-a-ball 11. Du Plessis, however, held firm at the other end, finding boundaries at regular intervals to keep required-rate under control. He along with Mosehle played percentage cricket, dealing in singles and doubles to bring the equation down to 16 runs from 18 balls.Du Plessis brought up his half-century off 37 balls in the 18th over of the innings before being caught at deep square leg off a high full-toss from Malusi Siboto. Murray Brown, the field umpire, sought the third umpire Clifford Isaacs’s help to check for the no-ball but some miscommunication led to Murray signalling no-ball. Isaacs, in the end, had to come on to the field to tell him he hadn’t deemed it a no-ball.Du Plessis had to walk off, but Mosehle and Fortuin hit a boundary each to wrap up the game without further hiccups.Earlier, in a surprise move, the Rocks opened their bowling with Markram. De Kock began where he had left off last night and smashed the part-time offspinner for two fours and a six in the bowler’s second over. However, in the next over – the fourth of the innings – de Kock’s march was cut short by Fortuin. The wicketkeeper-batsman slog swept Fortuin for a six, but while trying to repeat the shot two balls later ended up top-edging to du Plessis at midwicket.Andile Phehlukwayo, who was sent in at No. 3, maintained the scoring rate with a couple of sixes over long-on, before Fortuin struck again to dismiss him for a 16-ball 24.In his next over, Fortuin removed Janneman Malan and Farhaan Behardien to peg Blitz further back. Malan, who had scored 57 and 66 in his last two innings, struggled to get his timing right and ended with a stuttering 29 off 31, while Behardien chipped a length ball to van Jaarsveld at extra-cover as Blitz slipped from 82 for 1 to 92 for 4.Dane Paterson and Wiese varied their pace intelligently to make things difficult for middle and lower order. Paterson picked up 3 for 24 as the Blitz batsmen tried to get some quick runs. Blitz managed to put up a challenging total, but as it panned out, that didn’t prove enough.

The Bangladesh coach admitted to misreading the pitch before the match, which affected team balance, but put the daunting target in front of them down to the first-innings batting

Mohammad Isam05-Nov-2018After collapsing to 143 all out, which was largely down to some loose batting outside the off-stump, and conceding a massive first-innings lead in the process on the second day, Bangladesh seemed to make more of an effort to leave balls outside off on Monday in Sylhet. For a shot-a-minute batting pair that is reflective of the larger mindset of a batting unit still suffering from limited-overs hangover, it was a discernible change.Liton tightening up his outside off play, in particular, must be encouraging for a Bangladesh team looking to minimise damage in a chase of 321. Liton left 10 out of the 38 balls he faced, having left just four out of 25 in the first innings.Against the disciplined fast bowling of Kyle Jarvis and Tendai Chatara, it was the sort of batting that coach Steve Rhodes wanted to see so desperately. Even so, Liton and Imrul have done it for just 61 balls, and have all of the fourth day to negotiate with similar discipline.Rhodes said that the remaining 295 runs, particularly with 10 wickets in hand, are attainable. “It is wonderful to get through tonight,” he said. “We have a little platform. The ball is a bit older. We have got 10 wickets in hand. The boys are happy. The captain is happy. He did a good job out there today in marshalling the troops. He said some nice things about what we need to do. We are in a positive frame of mind, but we also know we have a big challenge on our hands.”Today, Liton [Das] and Imrul [Kayes] showed that they were very capable against two bowlers who did very well in the first innings. If you can get through those bowlers, there are definitely ways of scoring those runs. We are looking at a couple of very good partnerships. If we can achieve it, we can win the game. Chasing a score that is the highest score in the game is very difficult, but it is achievable.”Rhodes said that the pitch doesn’t have too many demons, which may make batting easier than it is usually on the fourth day. “The good thing is, it is not a raging turner. It is not turning every ball. The odd ball turns. As long as you don’t let that worry you too much, you can certainly play against spin on that wicket,” he said.Rhodes, however, admitted that they had misread the surface in the days leading up to the game, believing that it would turn a lot more than it did. “The wicket surprised us a little bit. The ends were extremely dry leading up to the Test. The middle was little bit more together, but it got drier and drier as the first day neared. We felt that there would be a lot of spin but it hasn’t happened.”I believe against Sri Lanka in Chittagong, there was a similar situation when everyone thought it would spin but it didn’t. It is spinning, but infrequently. Generally, you should be able to score off most deliveries.”Reading wickets is not easy. Sometimes, even with lots of experience, you can get it slightly wrong. We thought this wicket would turn a lot more, so we probably misread it slightly.”Misreading the pitch also led to Bangladesh choosing a third spinner, leaving Abu Jayed as the lone fast bowler. Rhodes said that the line-up lost balance because of this decision, but that it was the batsmen’s performance in the first innings that put them in a difficult situation.”I am desperate to get a couple of quicker bowlers to play for Bangladesh. It would be great for them then to be able to go overseas and have some experience from playing here. We were desperate to do it as a side, but as it turned out, when it came to the final call, it really came down to the wicket.”We felt that the best chance was to go with the one pace bowler and three spinners. It wasn’t a balanced side. It wasn’t a balanced attack. You could argue it was a 50-50 call; thankfully, we have taken 20 wickets. The reason we are in a slight hole is because of our first innings batting. We need to put it right.”

South Africa could include two debutants, in Pieter Malan and Zubayr Hamza, while Pakistan are mulling whether to play allrounder Faheem Ashraf

The Preview by Liam Brickhill10-Jan-2019

Big Picture

Many a team has arrived in South Africa with historic visions of breaching the fortress, only to end up battered and bruised at the wrong end of a series defeat. Seven in a row have now tried and failed to better South Africa at home, which is a home winning streak as hot as any in the hosts’ history. Although captain Faf du Plessis will have to sit out the third Test, he has spoken of South Africa’s desire to maintain their intensity and complete a clean sweep despite this series already being won.The end goal is the world No. 1 ranking, and while a 3-0 win won’t quite get them there, it will raise South Africa to second and add further context to the Tests against Sri Lanka in February, as well as England’s trip to the Caribbean as the teams behind India in the rankings jostle for position.For Pakistan, the third Test offers one final shot at shoring up some of the problems that have haunted their tour before focus shifts with the change of format in the second half of their trip. Out-bowled by a South African pace group that is quickly becoming legendary, outlasted by batsmen who haven’t flinched despite receiving a battering of their own on two spicy tracks at Centurion and Newlands, Pakistan have multiple issues to confront.Alas, those in the touring party who have been to the Wanderers before will not have any happy red-ball memories of the place, and the challenges confronting a brittle top order are unlikely to get any easier. Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed were all witnesses to Dale Steyn’s devastating 6 for 8 here in 2013, when Pakistan slipped to the nadir of 49 all out.If injury battles have at times dimmed the fire in Steyn’s eyes in the interim, his return to full fitness lends an air of ominous foreboding to Pakistan’s trip to Johannesburg. Now, of course, South Africa also have the world No. 1 Test bowler to call on in Kagiso Rabada, while Vernon Philander will also be a menace at a ground at which he averages just 15.08. It won’t win them the series, but if Pakistan are able to rouse themselves and stand up to the challenge South Africa’s pace attack will once again present, such success would be a timely boon ahead of the ODIs.Dale Steyn claimed a four-wicket haul•AFP

Form guide

South AfricaWWLLW (completed matches, most recent first)
Pakistan LLLWL

In the spotlight

As a group, Pakistan’s batting has failed on this tour, but Shan Masood‘s individual performances have provided some light in the gloom. Tall and elegant, Masood’s soft hands and quick reading of South Africa’s lengths have helped him to survive and prosper, going from an accidental starter to Pakistan’s unlikely star. Back in his usual opening slot, the job won’t get any easier for Masood in Jo’burg, but if he is able to replicate his success Pakistan will have a much better chance of giving their bowling attack the cushion of a few more runs.Zubayr Hamza will likely become the 100th Test cap for South Africa since readmission (though he could be the 101st if Pieter Malan slots in for Aiden Markram). Hamza’s ability to absorb pressure and score big – attributes which have been enhanced by the excellent work of his franchise coaches Ashwell Prince and Faiek Davids – has got him this far and he seems an ideal candidate for a middle order always on the look-out for grit. The pressure of a Test debut will be an entirely new feeling for Hamza, but he has an excellent opportunity to stake his claim.

Team news

With du Plessis suspended, and a couple of South Africa’s top order nursing some bruises of their own, there will be a few changes to the hosts’ line-up. There are two possible debutants in the squad in Malan and Hamza, though Malan will play only if Markram fails a fitness test on Thursday. Du Plessis insisted that his pace attack would be fresh and ready to go after an extra couple of days off due to the early finish in Cape Town, and conditions will decide whether South Africa stick with their seamers or adjust the balance with the addition of Keshav Maharaj’s left-arm spin.South Africa: 1 Dean Elgar (capt), 2 Aiden Markram/Pieter Malan, 3 Hashim Amla, 4 Theunis de Bruyn, 5 Temba Bavuma, 6 Zubayr Hamza, 7 Quinton de Kock (wk), 8 Vernon Philander, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Dale Steyn, 11 Duanne Olivier/Keshav MaharajPakistan are also likely to ring some changes, and allrounder Faheem Ashraf could get a look-in. If he is included, it may be for Fakhar Zaman, who was shunted down to No. 6 in the second innings of the Newlands Test and hasn’t enjoyed conditions. A fully fit Shadab Khan would also give Pakistan the option of playing a fifth bowler – something that was missing from Newlands. Pakistan may also look to rest Shaheen Shah Afridi, who looked a little tired after back-to-back Tests.Pakistan: 1 Imam-ul-Haq, 2 Shan Masood, 3 Azhar Ali, 4 Asad Shafiq, 5 Babar Azam, 6 Sarfraz Ahmed (capt/wk), 7 Shadab Khan/Yasir Shah, 8 Faheem Ashraf, 9 Mohammad Amir, 10 Mohammad Abbas, 11 Shaheen Shah Afridi/Hasan Ali

Pitch and conditions

The conditions at the Wanderers made headlines for all the wrong reasons during India’s visit last year, and given the potential ramifications for another poor pitch rating, the curator may look to err on the side of caution. The tracks here during the Mzansi Super League were sometimes a little dry, and in the last first-class game played at the Wanderers, first-innings runs were important. At this time of year, afternoon thunderstorms are always a possibility.

Stats and trivia

• Pakistan have never won a Test at the Wanderers, but did draw here in 1998 – though rain washing out the fourth day helped.
• Pakistan’s 49 all out on their last trip is the lowest score in their Test history.
• Masood is the leading run-scorer on either side in this series, with 189 runs at 47.25.
• Philander picked up a career-best 6 for 21 at the last Test played at the Wanderers against Australia last year.

Quotes

“We also have a mission to win not just these three Test matches, but the next two we play against Sri Lanka as well.”
“I think it’s a much better surface than the other two. Yes, this does have grass and a few cracks, but I think they will widen a lot later than Centurion and Cape Town.”