Proteas media says Dubai pitch still has hopes for 'beleaguered' team's fast bowlers

The South African media has assured their country's fast bowlers not to fear about the prospect of toiling with minimal reward under the hot desert sun in Dubai in the second Test against Pakistan if they can hit their straps effectively and determinedly from the beginning.

According to Sport24, although there is every likelihood that the surface will, over the course of the contest as a whole, be a challenging one for the quicker South African men and also assist Pakistan's spin department, suitably durable speedsters like Morne Morkel are capable of thriving at the venue

The report mentioned that statistics also show that the relatively new international ground in Dubai does favour results given that the maiden Test, coincidentally also between Pakistan and South Africa, ended in a draw, a fact which shows that there is clearly no guarantee this Test will just peter out into a dull stalemate.

The trend in Dubai is generally for low first-knock totals at the ground, which would suit the South Africans in their quest to success because history also shows that teams thrive to a far greater degree in their second turn at the crease in Dubai, especially between days two and four when the pitch often appears to play beautifully for batsmen.

The report also said that the last Test match at the stadium is a case in point as even though England was beaten by Pakistan to complete a 3-0 sweep, but both teams posted fewer than 150 runs in the first innings.