You laugh, but doesn't the quota system only apply to black Africans, of which Ontong is not? I'd rather see Tshabalala get the gig anyway, at least he can bowl..
Quotas apply to anyone of colour but how many South Africa politicians would be enthralled to see Cape Coloureds populate the side? Ontong was transformation material seven years ago, however, at twenty eight and with Percy Sonn six feet under, Justin is hardly been selected for purely political reasons. If South Africa were playing the political card then Zondeki (in particularly) and Tshabalala would be selected. Ontong, crazy as it may sound has been selected for reasons which outweigh the guy’s skin tone and are disclosed if anyone bothered to read the article regarding his selection. The first rationale being that Ontong has only been selected for two games; a
20/20 and the first ODI. After Sunday he may be let go from the squad entirely. He was initially only going to be selected for the
20/20 on his home ground, a selection which is hardly extraordinary considering his aggressive, in very good form, he can also bowl ‘apparently’ and is easily one of the finest fielders in the country. The reason why he is being kept on for Sunday is that Gibbs is missing the game at Centurion for ‘personal reasons’ and AB de Villiers is filling in as opener for the day, leaving a vacant slot at number five for probably
one game only.
It’s all well and good lambasting the selectors and suggesting alternative motives or even players but his only been selected for one fifty over game and is batting at number five. Martin van Jaarsveld is of course going to terminate his Kolpak contract to play
one game of cricket in a position he doesn’t enjoy playing in, similarly asking Andrew Puttick to bat there is also rather stupid considering his an opener whilst Human bats no lower than three, coming in at five possibly in the 25th plus over of the match and asking him to go at a run a ball is again not workable. Ontong however, is a number five. His record maybe pathetic but he was misused greatly by the selectors and his no longer being asked to bowl ten overs an innings, neither is he being asked to bat at three or ludicrously at ten anymore.
Neil McKenzie was picked on form and people celebrate, “wow, what a great player”, when in reality the guy’s test and first class average is worse than Hashim Amla. However, Justin Ontong gets selected; a player in form yet form has nothing to do with his selection, merely the colour of his skin. If he fails then so be it but if McKenzie and Human get multiple stabs at it then surely Ontong deserves the same opportunity?
and wpdavid, it is agree with the above in case you didn't quite catch that.
was so looking forward to some awesome light entertainment and now two of the best to watch are missing. and i can't believe they explain the absence of Nel, but not Steyn. GAH.
