Yeah, it's a reasonable reading of what he said, actually. Although even the acknowledgement that it is a sensitive subject is almost tacit acknowledgement that the selection process isn't colour blind.
Well......i always thought that their was more politics in Pakistan Ind SL Bang then in Aus SA or ENG.....hence, comes to me as a surprise that SA is also selecting players for other reasons then merely merit.Contrasting post when you look at your signature space.
This is the way I look at it. And now he's crept over the 100 Test line, and been given a 101st Test so that the 100th didn't look like mere sentimentality, he can safely be dropped.
HAA yea it was great while it lasted indeed, especially the spell in Durban when he hit both Smith & Kallis..
They weren't afraid to make the tough call regarding Pollock though. Ntini's form has been declining inexorably for a number of years now. If he wasn't chalking up his 100th in Centurion there would have been an argument to leave him out based on exposed domestic form but CSA had been planning the marketing of his 100th for some time. His form in that test was evidence enough that he was well past it. SA has possibly signed their death warrant for this series by putting external factors above cricketing reason.
Who would you have selected instead for the 1st Test instead, given Steyn's injury?
He didn't bowl that well in England in 2008 and his domestic figures this season look terrible.
I can see what you mean if you say that politics are involved in cricket (or any other sport) in many countries and that it seems to be more persistent in one country than the other.
I'm not arguing that Ntini deserves to be in the side, my point is that if you look at his record between 2000 and 2008 where he's taken 367 wickets @ 27, SR 51, then giving the guy 6 Tests before bombing him out does seem a bit harsh, although understandable.
If you look at more than just records and look at how Ntini bowled in 2007/08 and 2008, you can tell he's not been that much of a bowler for a while.
Dunno who they'll pick if they go with 4 seamers and de Wet isn't fit.
Well Parnell and Ryan McLaren are in the squad, so it has to be them really.
Ah - I'd missed the fact that McLaren's in the squad too.
Sadly he had a back injury. No doubt he is more effective than Ntini. Can bowl 150 easy.The cry went up for 'justice' and demands were made that deWet be brought back into the team for the third test asap, and funny enough, he hasn't turned out to be the great messiah some said he was....
Granted I'm not reading this tour thread, but who on Earth seriously said that?The cry went up for 'justice' and demands were made that deWet be brought back into the team for the third test asap, and funny enough, he hasn't turned out to be the great messiah some said he was....
