So, who would have expected Pakistan to beat and humiliate South Africa in the first Test at Lahore? The hosts went on to register a win by 93 runs on Wednesday to open their WTC 2025-27 campaign in style. To get the better of the reigning champions is no mean task; what went against the Proteas was, their ability to handle spin in Pakistani/Asian conditions.
Noman Ali & Sajid Khan too Good for South Africa
Noman Ali, the left-arm spinner took 10 wickets in the match, and Sajid Khan returned with five. Salman Ali Agha picked one — that means 16 wickets by spinners in the entire match for PAK. That just raises one question — does this South African team have the ability to handle the spinners, more so Indian spinners in Indian conditions, as they are slated to face us in November?
Let’s start with Aiden Markram. Even though he failed vs PAK, he still averages 38.8 vs spin in general. In 45 innings, he has scored 1451 runs and has been dismissed 20 times. But then the problem is, in the two matches he has played in India, he has scored only 44 runs at an average of 11.
| Player | Runs vs Spin | Dismissals | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aiden Markram | 1451 | 20 | 38.8 |
| Ryan Rickelton | 402 | 8 | 50 |
| Wiaan Mulder | 475 | 10 | 47.5 |
| Tony de Zorzi | 416 | 10 | 41.6 |
| Tristan Stubbs | 299 | 5 | 60 |
| Dewald Brevis | 41 | 2 | 20 |
| Temba Bavuma | 1406 | 31 | 45 |
Real Test will Come Against India
Then Ryan Rickelton has been good so far, scoring 402 runs at an average of 50, but the real test will come in India, since the quality of opposition and spin would be way better. He has never been in India for Tests; Apart from PAK, he has played in Bangladesh where he averages only 20.
Wiaan Mulder‘s numbers seemed to be swelled, largely due to his 367 vs Zimbabwe, but his 17 & 0 in Lahore show the true picture. But for now, he has 475 runs at an average of 47.5, with 10 dismissals. He too has never played in India. Next up, Tony de Zorzi did put up a fight against PAK spinners and got a ton too, and for now he looks quite compact against spin.
SA Batters’ Numbers Inflated for Now
He has 416 runs in 16 innings at an average of 41.6. There have been 10 dismissals as well. Then, again. Tristan Stubbs has been excellent so far, with 299 runs in 17 innings and an average of 60, but against Pakistan he could only manage 10 runs. So, quality spin bowling is where he is lacking.
As for Dewald Brevis, he averages 20 in four innings. He is known as the successor to AB de Villiers, and that work will have to start in twin-Asia tours. Out of all of them, one player who can truly be judged is, Temba Bavuma, who has been around for a long time, and has toured India in the past as well.
In 84 innings vs spin, he has 1406 runs at an average of 45. Dismissals have been 31, and in India he averages 19 in four matches. He has scored 152 runs in all, and it has been a real struggle. In short, all these stats of South African batters are inflated to say the least, and if Pakistan series is a trailer, their failures could be much more apparent vs spin in India.
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