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Pollock dropped for First Test

The Outsider

By The Outsider
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The Outsider Newbie

The Outsider

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Admist the euphoria of our Twenty20 triumph and the upcoming series against Australia, the coming clash between Pakistan and South Africa seems to have not got much mention. The first test starts on October 1 in a two test series and Pakistan will be looking to avenge their defeat in South Africa. One of the tests is at Karach, where Pakistan have been pretty much impossible to beat over the years. I reckon a 1-0 scroeline in favour of Pakistan as the outcome. Meanwhile, South Africa have dropped Pollock for the first test. The right move, IMO. He does not have the pace to cause much trouble on placid wickets and with the depth in fast bowling South Africa have, the correct move for the future as well :

Shaun Pollock has been dropped from South Africa's squad for the first Test against Pakistan at Karachi, three days before the match is due to begin. South Africa feel Pollock may not be as effective on pitches in the subcontinent as he once was and are keen to try out younger, quicker bowlers such as Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn. This is the first time in his 107-Test career that Pollock has been dropped for any reason other than injury and unsurprisingly, he admitted to being both surprised and disappointed. "Obviously Mickey [Arthur, coach] had a discussion with me yesterday. We were looking to play 13 players in this warm-up match, and then were told 12 were allowed. Mickey told me I am not playing in this match because I am not playing the first Test as we are going with different options. "I am surprised to have been eliminated already. When I was chosen for the squad, I thought I had a good chance to play." As recently as the turn of the year, Pollock won a man-of-the-series award against India and in his last five Tests has taken 21 wickets. But he revealed that Arthur had spoken to him a few months ago about the shape of his future role on subcontinent tours; with South Africa due to tour Bangladesh and India in March next year as well, this could be a harbinger of things to come. "Mickey feels I have a role to play especially in South Africa where pitches are more conducive," Pollock said. "But I don't think my job on flat subcontinent wickets is over. I know I can perform. Then it's up to selectors to take me for tours ahead. "I have a good record in Pakistan and if the opportunity arises for the second Test, I will take it. It's disappointing, but you have to move on." Pollock's record in the subcontinent is impressive. In 17 Tests in the subcontinent, he has taken 60 wickets. In Pakistan, he has taken 18 wickets in five Tests and helped script a memorable win in Faisalabad in 1997-98. If not on the field, then Pollock will at least be happy to play a role off it. "For sure I have a role with the younger pace bowlers. I have experience in these conditions and even if I am not part of the team, it doesn't mean I can't be helpful for others with my experience. Any tips I might have I will pass on," Pollock said. Pollock was also quick to reject the notion that he might be nearing the end of his career, or looking to switch to the Indian Cricket League. The ICL had made him an offer five months ago: "Am I taking Mohammad Yousuf's contract?" he joked. "They approached me and I was not interested then and am not interested now. "I will take it season by season now as far as my career goes. I never look too far ahead. I've done well in recent series against India and Pakistan and feel I can contribute more to South Africa."
http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/pakvrsa/content/current/story/312907.html
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apocalypse Newbie

apocalypse

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Pollock can be back since Morkel is injured

An injury to Morne Morkel during South Africa's opening tour match might re-open the door for Shaun Pollock to play in the first Test against Pakistan, starting from Monday in Karachi. Morkel, who so impressed during the Twenty20 World Cup, only bowled two overs on the final day of the tour game, before going off with an injury to his left foot. Mickey Arthur, South Africa's coach, said that though an official prognosis from the team physiotherapist is pending, Morkel is a worry. "Morne picked up a niggle on his landing foot today and it is a little worry because he is an integral part of our plans. He will have a fitness test tomorrow [sunday] before we take any further decisions," Arthur said, before adding "Polly [Pollock] might come back into it." The decision to drop Pollock, South Africa's leading Test wicket-taker and most experienced bowler in subcontinent conditions, was a surprising one, not least to the man himself. It was the first time in his career that he was dropped for any reason other than injury, South Africa deciding it was time to move forward and assess fresher talent. But as Arthur was keen to point out, the decision is not the end of the road for Pollock. "It is a new era in a sense. We are blessed with a lot of depth in our fast bowling and it's time we had a look at the younger guys. We have a tough season ahead of us next year [series against India, England and Australia away] and we need to have a settled squad in place by then. So we need to see if the younger ones are good enough. "We've got six good seamers on the scene and any can play at any time. We can rest one guy without damaging the team as we have variety. But at the same time, Pollock is an integral part of our squad and who knows, he might come back into it on Monday." Pakistan has named two specialist spinners in their Test squad and murmurs from the National Stadium suggest a spinning surface may be prepared. Rizwan Ahmed, the legspinning allrounder, picked up seven wickets against the South Africans in the tour game, but at considerable cost, and wasn't the threat that a Danish Kaneria is expected to be. Arthur was confident, however, that his side would cope. "Our batsmen are used to playing spin now," he said. "We played Anil Kumble and Danish on spinning wickets in South Africa and handled them fairly well and I am confident that our batsmen have the equipment and technique to handle that threat."
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