South Africa Watch

Rabada banned for two test matches. Serves him right. You can't go round screaming in batters faces and shoulder barging opposition players. He needs to cool it down massively if he is going to survive international cricket. He's such a good bowler it's scary, but this fiery temper is what will let him down ultimately.

Lungi Ngidi I've been very impressed with, both with his ability with ball in hand but also with his attitude and approach to the opposition. That stairwell incident was a good example. When Rabada was looking to get involved, Ngidi was passive, holding towels for De Kock and Markram.

Who do we reckon will come in for Rabada? You'd like to think that Morne Morkel will have first refusal, but the way they dropped him for this test match nothing would really suprise me.

sloandog wrote: ↑Wed Mar 14, 2018 10:25 am

Rabada banned for two test matches. Serves him right. You can't go round screaming in batters faces and shoulder barging opposition players. He needs to cool it down massively if he is going to survive international cricket. He's such a good bowler it's scary, but this fiery temper is what will let him down ultimately.

I think the ICC goes over the top sometimes. Maybe Kohli gets preferential treatment where others' would get banned, but I haven't seen him do anything that is heinous either. Of course I don't watch everything. I think the ICC needs to give a certain amount of leeway here. If you take all the fire and emotion out of the game, its going to deaden it for spectators. The NHL allows full on brawls for Heaven's Sake.

I can't see anything wrong with the punishments handed out, Rabada has form in this area and you can't let people get away with that s**t on the field otherwise things will get out of control.

With the Proteas getting their arses handed to them over in India it’s probably a good time to have another look at this thread. A lot of what I said in my first post has been pretty accurate, the player drain has continued and has started to take its toll on results big time.

Honestly Zimbabwe wouldn’t do much worse than what South Africa are dishing up in India, in fact I reckon they’d do better. This South African side has folded like a deck of cards, seriously lacking leadership out there.

Imagine how bad it will be in 10 years time ?

Players who need to be being looked at, in my opinion, can be found below.

Future batters of South African Cricket:

. Aiden Markram - Obviously been bedded in nicely, but has to be stuck with. His ODI stats are dreadful but he'll get there. So talented, stupidly in fact.

. Zubayr Hamza

. Raynard Van Tonder

. Kyle Verreynne

. Jannamen Malan

. Matthew Breetzke

. Bryce Parsons (Simply remember this kids name).

. Andrew Louw

jaybro wrote: ↑Mon Oct 21, 2019 10:02 am

With the Proteas getting their arses handed to them over in India it’s probably a good time to have another look at this thread. A lot of what I said in my first post has been pretty accurate, the player drain has continued and has started to take its toll on results big time.

Honestly Zimbabwe wouldn’t do much worse than what South Africa are dishing up in India, in fact I reckon they’d do better. This South African side has folded like a deck of cards, seriously lacking leadership out there.

Imagine how bad it will be in 10 years time ?

SA competed fairly well in the first Test - showed some fight at least. But they totally lost the plot after that. Its difficult to imagine that India are as good as these scores look or that SA are as bad. Here's the question, though...would England have fared much better? How about Australia? Australia you reckon would have surely done better than SA here.

I’d be very confident in saying both England & Australia would have done much better than what South Africa have done, that 2nd Test pitch wasn’t a dust bowl, in fact all the pitches have been fair. They just don’t have a good side atm and will only win Tests at home where their fast bowling unit can rip a team apart for a low score, even then their batting is a worry and will likely fall to pieces as well.

They’ve lost their last 5 tests two of which were at home to Sri Lanka

They're missing their 'banker' in the middle order, all good sides at least one or two. It's no surprise that NZ have shot up the rankings on the back of Williamson, Ross Taylor and even Nicholls now can be counted on for runs, India obviously have Virat & Pujara and Australia have Smith (who almost counts as two players he's that good).

It's no surprise England have struggled of late as Root has declined whilst the other nations all rely on different guys putting their hands up to do the job from innings to innings. Looking at South Africa they had three bankers in their side with Amla, Kallis & AB all in the one side, but Kallis retired then AB and now Amla so they're left with Faf, who to be honest isn't in the same calibre and can't be relied on for runs when the rest fail.

Faf is a great player and a really good leader (although in this series he's been average in both areas) but the side needs that one guy at least, who can average 55-60 in Tests. Looking at their side they have a pretty good opening partnership in Markram & Elgar despite the recent dip in form for Aiden, in comparison to the other opening partnerships around the world I'd say that's a good one. But their middle order is pathetic, they haven't been able to replace Kallis, Hash or AB at all, De Bruyn looks a decent player but he can't make runs, Bavuma is a quota player and Hamza is still unproven.

They have a lot of the key ingredients to a good side, as I said they have a good opening partnership, a good captain and a really good pace attack, but they're lacking that banker in the middle order and some leadership.

Sad state for SA, but hope they build from here with the inexperienced squad getting the exposure from here on. Only Maharaj looked like he belonged in the league (even with the bat), toiling away despite the toss disadvantage for him, and Rabada and Elgar looked good in patches. Batting a massive letdown.

jaybro wrote: ↑Tue Oct 22, 2019 1:05 am

They're missing their 'banker' in the middle order, all good sides at least one or two. It's no surprise that NZ have shot up the rankings on the back of Williamson, Ross Taylor and even Nicholls now can be counted on for runs, India obviously have Virat & Pujara and Australia have Smith (who almost counts as two players he's that good).

It's no surprise England have struggled of late as Root has declined whilst the other nations all rely on different guys putting their hands up to do the job from innings to innings. Looking at South Africa they had three bankers in their side with Amla, Kallis & AB all in the one side, but Kallis retired then AB and now Amla so they're left with Faf, who to be honest isn't in the same calibre and can't be relied on for runs when the rest fail.

Faf is a great player and a really good leader (although in this series he's been average in both areas) but the side needs that one guy at least, who can average 55-60 in Tests. Looking at their side they have a pretty good opening partnership in Markram & Elgar despite the recent dip in form for Aiden, in comparison to the other opening partnerships around the world I'd say that's a good one. But their middle order is pathetic, they haven't been able to replace Kallis, Hash or AB at all, De Bruyn looks a decent player but he can't make runs, Bavuma is a quota player and Hamza is still unproven.

They have a lot of the key ingredients to a good side, as I said they have a good opening partnership, a good captain and a really good pace attack, but they're lacking that banker in the middle order and some leadership.

Amla is not in the same class as Kallis and AB, IMHO. A very good player but I get the feeling he was a home track bully. A South African Mahela Jayawardene (also a fine player, but not in the class of a Sangakkara or Dravid).

Mate look at his record he was class

Find it funny how you under rate good players like Root & Amla yet you’ll put Mushy up with Kohli etc

South Africa have picked 6 uncapped players in their squad for their Test series v England

South Africa have named six uncapped players in their squad for the first two Tests against England, the first of which begins on Boxing Day. Fast bowlers Beuran Hendricks and Dane Paterson, opening batsman Pieter Malan, allrounder Dwaine Pretorius, wicketkeeper-batsman Rudi Second and middle-order batsman Rassie van der Dussen are all in line for a debut.

Aidem Markram has also been named in the squad after he had fractured his wrist while on tour on India and hasn't played since, but Lungi Ngidi, who suffered a Grade 1 hamstring tear ahead of the Mzansi Super League (MSL) playoff, was not considered. The squad includes only a single specialist spinner in Keshav Maharaj, with Dane Piedt and Senuran Muthusamy both left out from the party that toured India. Theunis de Bruyn, the No. 3 batsman, was the biggest casualty from the India whitewash and has been dropped while allrounder Andile Phehlukwayo has been recalled.

"The high number of uncapped players coming into the squad is a reflection of our policy to acknowledge players who do well at franchise level and have put their hands up for selection," Linda Zondi, CSA's recently reinstated independent selector, said.

Paterson is the best example of that. He is second on the list of wicket-takers in the 4-Day Franchise Series, with 18 wickets at 21.55. The leading wicket-taker, Malusi Siboto, was not considered while the third-placed bowler, 19-year-old Gerald Coetzee, suffered a hamstring injury at the Mzansi Super League (MSL) and will play in the Under-19 World Cup instead. Paterson's competition is likely to be Hendricks, who has only played in two first-class matches this summer and has taken three wickets at 32.33.

"Paterson has been the second leading wicket-taker in four-day cricket this season, including a seven-wicket haul in an innings, and we want to go into the Test series with a full arsenal of fast bowlers who have always provided one of our traditional strengths. Beuran Hendricks is also part of this strategy and adds variety to the attack as a left-arm swing bowler," Zondi said.

This means South Africa's first-choice attack is likely to be made up of familiar names: Rabada, Philander, Maharaj and the recently-capped Anrich Nortje. Paterson and Hendricks could come into the mix if an all-pace attack is considered, especially at the usually spicy Centurion wicket where the first Test will be played.

South Africa may also consider a seam-bowling allrounder, which is where Pretorius and Phehlukwayo could be in contention. Pretorius has recovered from a broken hand he suffered during the MSL, and is fit for today's final. Phehlukwayo, meanwhile, has been a regular white-ball player for South Africa. He has played just four Tests - two against Bangladesh, one against Zimbabwe and one against India - but scored 156 runs in six innings and took five wickets in his three matches for Dolphins this summer. Allrounder Wiaan Mulder, who made his Test debut against Sri Lanka in February, was not considered because of a back injury.

South Africa's bigger conundrum will be in the batting line-up, where everything from Elgar's opening partner to the middle order is up for debate. Markram has not played any cricket since punching a wall in Pune, but will have a chance to prove his worth in a round of 4-day fixtures starting Thursday. If he doesn't impress, Malan may come into the reckoning. He lies 10th on the list of run-getters, with 199 runs in six innings at an average of 33.10, identical figures to his younger brother Janneman, who has also been overlooked.

At No.3, Zubayr Hamza has been preferred to de Bruyn, who scored 82 runs in five innings in India (one as a concussion substitute) before being dropped. De Bruyn has instead been picked in the South Africa A side that will play England in a warm-up match from Friday, and could make a case for selection during the second half of the Test series. Temba Bavuma will captain the A team, which also includes Reeza Hendricks and Kyle Verreynne, both of whom may consider themselves unlucky to have missed out on the Test squad.

Verreynne sits fourth on the first-class run-charts and Hendricks ninth, but van der Dussen is the batsman the selectors have gone with for the first two Tests.

Van der Dussen was South Africa's second-highest run-scorer during the World Cup where he showed remarkable composure. He also hung around the Test squad for the first match in India before returning home to score 307 runs in three matches for the Lions at an average of 76.75, including one hundred and two fifties. Van der Dussen is currently 10th on the Franchise 4-day charts and third on the averages.

The wicketkeeper position, which has been Quinton de Kock's for most of his career, is also in competition. Second, who was included in the squad to tour India but withdrew after an injury, is back in contention. Second has scored 220 runs in four Franchise first-class matches this season at 31.42 and has been included in the squad, leaving no room for Heinrich Klaasen, who made his debut in India.

The A team, meanwhile, will be coached by former Test opener Ashwell Prince, and includes MSL stars such as batsman Pite van Biljon and bowler Nandre Burger. Prince will be assisted by former national assistant coach Malinbongwe Maketa and former Warriors coach Piet Botha.

"The selection of the A side to play England in a three-day tour match is confirmation of our policy to make this team our official South African second XI and it has a good mix of experienced and young players," Zondi said.

Squad: Faf du Plessis (capt), Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Dean Elgar, Beuran Hendricks, Keshav Maharaj, Pieter Malan, Aiden Markram, Zubayr Hamza, Anrich Nortje, Dane Paterson, Andile Phehlukwayo, Vernon Philander, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Rudi Second, Rassie van der Dussen

South Africa A squad: Temba Bavuma, Nandre Burger, Theunis de Bruyn, Reeza Hendricks, Pieter Malan, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dane Piedt, Lutho Sipamla, Glenton Stuurman, Pite van Biljon, Kyle Verreynne

Interesting that Bavuma, Pieter Malan & Phehlukawayo have all been picked for the A game as well, considering Bavuma is playing and he will undoubtedly be picked for the 1st Test, does that mean Malan & Phehlukawayo are also 'pencilled in' for the 1st Test??

Why would these guys be picked for this match and not the other uncapped players Paterson, Hendricks, Pretorius, Second & Rassie??? Maybe I'm wrong? Maybe Bavuma isn't a sure thing?

Interesting to see if they go with the allrounder Pretorius or Phehlukawayo ?? They've shown their willingness to sacrifice the extra batsman for a 5th bowling option, although in recent times their batting looks weak with the retirements of AB, Amla etc

My XI

Elgar

Malan

Markram

Faf

Hamza

Rassie

QDK

Philander

Maharaj

KG

Nortje

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id ... land-tests

Personally I’m quite happy with the squads which have been selected. However there’s some additions which, again, leave me scratching my lid..

Hendricks is scarily over rated. People around SA cricketing circles seem to have this perception that he clicks in at 90mph regularly and can swing the ball both ways, when really, he’s been in and around 82-83mph for the past 4 years or so. He’ll get panned in the test series.

Andile is not a test cricketer, simple. He’s done some fantastic things with the white ball for SA since his inception into the national side but I really don’t understand how he can get selected over a talent like Wiaan Mulder. Quotas are a big thing (as we know all too well) in SA. I’m not doubting his talent and his desire to succeed but right now, at this stage in his career, he’s not quick enough with the ball to be successful in test cricket.

Picking Malan, Rudi Second and Rassie Van Der Dussen made me smile a lot, because it shows a more rounded basis for selection based on meritocracy, opposed you filling the quotas. These three have been so successful over the last few seasons I’ve always wondered how they keep getting omitted. When I saw Munsammy (spelling) and Piedt picked for India I cringed terribly, as they looked, were and are bang average. These three batters at least bring some solidity with the bat as well as over 100 FC games each. Having young Hamza in there, too, is a good thing. Markram looks to be fit again and and back in the frame, which is always a good thing. Glad they’ve finally dropped De Bruyn.

Finally, the fact that SA are now (finally!!!!!) picking Dwayne Pretorius is great news. I really rate this guy and think he could provide balance with the ball and bat. The fact that the selectors are also throwing around the names of Siboto, Nandre Burger (sharp!), Gerald Coetzee, Kyle Verreynne and young Mnyake suggests to me they’re starting to realise that they need to begin blooding younger players. Kids like Matt Briezkee, Raynard Van Tonder, Jannamen Malan etc must be selected in the LOI squad, they’re too good to be ignored.

And finally, can we all just remember the name...Corbin Bosch!? What a talent he’s going to be/is! Pace pace pace

Personally I’m quite happy with the squads which have been selected. However there’s some additions which, again, leave me scratching my lid..

Hendricks is scarily over rated. People around SA cricketing circles seem to have this perception that he clicks in at 90mph regularly and can swing the ball both ways, when really, he’s been in and around 82-83mph for the past 4 years or so. He’ll get panned in the test series.

Andile is not a test cricketer, simple. He’s done some fantastic things with the white ball for SA since his inception into the national side but I really don’t understand how he can get selected over a talent like Wiaan Mulder. Quotas are a big thing (as we know all too well) in SA. I’m not doubting his talent and his desire to succeed but right now, at this stage in his career, he’s not quick enough with the ball to be successful in test cricket.

Picking Malan, Rudi Second and Rassie Van Der Dussen made me smile a lot, because it shows a more rounded basis for selection based on meritocracy, opposed you filling the quotas. These three have been so successful over the last few seasons I’ve always wondered how they keep getting omitted. When I saw Munsammy (spelling) and Piedt picked for India I cringed terribly, as they looked, were and are bang average. These three batters at least bring some solidity with the bat as well as over 100 FC games each. Having young Hamza in there, too, is a good thing. Markram looks to be fit again and and back in the frame, which is always a good thing. Glad they’ve finally dropped De Bruyn.

Finally, the fact that SA are now (finally!!!!!) picking Dwayne Pretorius is great news. I really rate this guy and think he could provide balance with the ball and bat. The fact that the selectors are also throwing around the names of Siboto, Nandre Burger (sharp!), Gerald Coetzee, Kyle Verreynne and young Mnyake suggests to me they’re starting to realise that they need to begin blooding younger players. Kids like Matt Briezkee, Raynard Van Tonder, Jannamen Malan etc must be selected in the LOI squad, they’re too good to be ignored.

And finally, can we all just remember the name...Corbin Bosch!? What a talent he’s going to be/is! Pace pace pace

sloandog wrote: ↑Tue Dec 17, 2019 12:28 am

Andile is not a test cricketer, simple. He’s done some fantastic things with the white ball for SA since his inception into the national side but I really don’t understand how he can get selected over a talent like Wiaan Mulder.

Mulder is injured Sloan, otherwise I reckon he would have been there

Reading this article it would seem Smith & Boucher are more interested in picking the best side and not a quota side, which I totally agree with

Graeme Smith and Mark Boucher reiterated that they understand what South African cricket needs regarding transformation, but admitted that they will seek more clarity regarding the finer details of the expected policies, writes Naeemah Benjamin.

Interim Director of Cricket Graeme Smith announced Mark Boucher as the Team Director of the Proteas at a Media briefing in Cape Town on Saturday.

The former Proteas wicketkeeper batsman is undoubtedly one of South Africa’s finest, but is he the right man to take the Proteas forward?

Only time will tell.

What I can say is, the face of South African cricket certainly does look much stronger than it did a few weeks back and England will surely be wary of a reaction from a wounded Proteas side.

One of my major concerns was how the new leadership group would handle the sensitive topic of transformation.

Both Smith and Boucher gave a careful answer when asked about how they would handle the policies expected regarding the topic.

“Transformation is there, I’ve been involved with it when I was playing cricket, and now as a coach as well,” said Boucher.

“To be honest with you, I still have to find out exactly what the policies are – Graeme is probably going to have to look after that space as well, but I understand what our country needs.

“I understand we need the guys to come through but within reason as well, I’m not going to be a coach to throw a guy into a viper’s nest if he’s struggling a bit, I’d like to look after that space and try to help him rebuild his confidence and get him back onto the field.

“It’s all about me looking after the players. I understand that transformation needs to take place, but we want to look after the players as well and ultimately give them the best chance to perform.”

I know there are many like me, who are eager to see what work will go into making our domestic circuit great again.

Transformation is an important part of our cricket and I personally feel more needs to be done and more players need to be produced and looked after.

Smith emphasised this with his comments when he highlighted that more work needs to be done at the lower tiers of cricket.

“I’m very aware of transformation. I’ve captained the country for 11 years and it was a big part of the stuff I had to focus on, deal with and be aware of,” said Smith.

“So that’s not different now. I need to obviously get in and understand the policies that are in place, understand the decisions. But the one thing I do want to focus on is bringing back some excellence back into our game.

“Our performances have been below par, I don’t think that at the domestic level we have hit the standards that we need, we’ve lost a number of players as well.

“We need to look at all systems across the board, we need to look at coaching, we need to look at the pipeline, we also need to be producing enough players so that it makes it easy to pick and then transformation is not a topic any more.

“I need to understand from that perspective what’s been done at the bottom levels, what’s been done to bring players through to grow the game and to develop the next tier of talent – that’s the focus.

“That’s where I think the most important discussions on transformation are going to happen.”

They toe the company line of saying transformation is important etc but raise the valid point that I've been pushing the whole time that putting in guys who aren't up to it isn't helping them nor is it inspiring anyone to want to be them.

As they said in this article CSA are better off putting their efforts into finding and developing young 'coloured talent' at club & school level so they're ready to play franchise cricket at a high level.

By giving free passes to franchise sides they've diluted the talent in their first class system and again thrown these poor kids into the deep end.

https://cricketfanaticsmag.com/graeme-s ... -policies/

Reading this article it would seem Smith & Boucher are more interested in picking the best side and not a quota side, which I totally agree with

Graeme Smith and Mark Boucher reiterated that they understand what South African cricket needs regarding transformation, but admitted that they will seek more clarity regarding the finer details of the expected policies, writes Naeemah Benjamin.

Interim Director of Cricket Graeme Smith announced Mark Boucher as the Team Director of the Proteas at a Media briefing in Cape Town on Saturday.

The former Proteas wicketkeeper batsman is undoubtedly one of South Africa’s finest, but is he the right man to take the Proteas forward?

Only time will tell.

What I can say is, the face of South African cricket certainly does look much stronger than it did a few weeks back and England will surely be wary of a reaction from a wounded Proteas side.

One of my major concerns was how the new leadership group would handle the sensitive topic of transformation.

Both Smith and Boucher gave a careful answer when asked about how they would handle the policies expected regarding the topic.

“Transformation is there, I’ve been involved with it when I was playing cricket, and now as a coach as well,” said Boucher.

“To be honest with you, I still have to find out exactly what the policies are – Graeme is probably going to have to look after that space as well, but I understand what our country needs.

“I understand we need the guys to come through but within reason as well, I’m not going to be a coach to throw a guy into a viper’s nest if he’s struggling a bit, I’d like to look after that space and try to help him rebuild his confidence and get him back onto the field.

“It’s all about me looking after the players. I understand that transformation needs to take place, but we want to look after the players as well and ultimately give them the best chance to perform.”

I know there are many like me, who are eager to see what work will go into making our domestic circuit great again.

Transformation is an important part of our cricket and I personally feel more needs to be done and more players need to be produced and looked after.

Smith emphasised this with his comments when he highlighted that more work needs to be done at the lower tiers of cricket.

“I’m very aware of transformation. I’ve captained the country for 11 years and it was a big part of the stuff I had to focus on, deal with and be aware of,” said Smith.

“So that’s not different now. I need to obviously get in and understand the policies that are in place, understand the decisions. But the one thing I do want to focus on is bringing back some excellence back into our game.

“Our performances have been below par, I don’t think that at the domestic level we have hit the standards that we need, we’ve lost a number of players as well.

“We need to look at all systems across the board, we need to look at coaching, we need to look at the pipeline, we also need to be producing enough players so that it makes it easy to pick and then transformation is not a topic any more.

“I need to understand from that perspective what’s been done at the bottom levels, what’s been done to bring players through to grow the game and to develop the next tier of talent – that’s the focus.

“That’s where I think the most important discussions on transformation are going to happen.”

They toe the company line of saying transformation is important etc but raise the valid point that I've been pushing the whole time that putting in guys who aren't up to it isn't helping them nor is it inspiring anyone to want to be them.

As they said in this article CSA are better off putting their efforts into finding and developing young 'coloured talent' at club & school level so they're ready to play franchise cricket at a high level.

By giving free passes to franchise sides they've diluted the talent in their first class system and again thrown these poor kids into the deep end.

https://cricketfanaticsmag.com/graeme-s ... -policies/