Injury-hit Pakistan Take on South Africa

Johannesburg: Pakistan will face top-ranked South Africa in the first Test at the Wanderers from Friday destabilised by the loss of rock-solid opener Taufeeq Umar.

Umar and regular partner Mohammad Hafeez had opened together in 18 consecutive Tests, a record for Pakistan, and the tourists were keen for the sequence to continue against South Africa's formidable fast bowling attack on a pitch likely to offer pace and bounce.

With Umar out, Nasir Jamshed is expected to make his Test debut after scoring half-centuries in the warm-up game against a South African Invitation XI which ended in a draw at East London on Monday.

Pakistan's batting could be the key to the three-match series after South Africa's bowlers swept aside the challenge of New Zealand in two Test matches earlier this month.

In Dale Steyn and Veron Philander, South Africa have the two leading bowlers on the International Cricket Council rankings, while fellow fast bowler Morne Morkel is ranked eighth.

Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, at number three, is the only Pakistan bowler in the top 10.

South Africa, meanwhile, have built a formidable record as they have climbed to the number one place in the rankings, winning their most recent five series, including away encounters against England and Australia.

Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander and batsman Hashim Amla were both passed fit after missing recent matches but left-arm spinner Robin Peterson remained a doubtful starter after splitting the webbing between fingers on his right hand.

South Africa captain Graeme Smith will become the first man to lead in 100 Test matches, an event which has dominated the build-up to the match.

Teams from:

South Africa: Graeme Smith (captain), Alviro Petersen, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers (wk), Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Robin Peterson, Imran Tahir, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel.

Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Nasir Jamshed, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Irfan, Ehsan Adil, Adbur Rehman, Haris Sohail, Faisal Iqbal, Tanvir Ahmed, Rahat Ali, Imran Farhat.

Stats & trivia

• Since 2010 Pakistan have won nine of their 16 Test matches and lost only two -- against the West Indies in Guyana in May 2011 and against Sri Lanka in Galle in June 2012.

Match facts
February 1-5, 2013
Start time 10:30 local (08:30 GMT, 13:30 Pak)