**Official** South African Domestic Season 2013/14

[SeamUp]

What a game. Great by the Dolphins.

What I thought was ridiculous though was the Cobras guy, Mgijima, coming in at 9, and not bowling.

It's clear that he simply a quota player. Surely him just making up the numbers in the XI is worse for him than if he was playing for one of the franchise feeder teams, and actually getting some game time?

I support transformation, but incidents like this are just silly.

Cobras don't have a 'black African' worthy of their XI. With the new rules, you have to play 1 but it defeats the purpose like you say.

Talk is that they are bringing in Shezi from the Dolphins next season.

 

[SeamUp]

Last 6 rounds of the Sunfoil 4-day Series starts up Thursday this week again.

Proteas not in XI should be released.

Leaders Knights have injuries to Diego Rosier and Dillon du Preez who have both had operations and look to be out for the season. Pite van Biljon recovering from injury in Ram Slam for them too and set to miss first 2 games back.

Table:

Knights 4 2 0 0 2 0 41.54
Lions 4 1 2 0 1 0 41.42
Cape Cobras 4 1 1 0 2 0 40.84
Warriors 4 1 0 0 3 0 38.54
Dolphins 4 1 1 0 1 1 31.92
Titans 4 0 2 0 1 1 24.64

Fixtures:

FEB 13-16

Dolphins v Warriors @ Kingsmead, Durban
Cobras v Lions @ Newlands, Cape Town
Knights v Titans @ Diamond Oval, Kimberley

FEB 20-23

Cobras v Dolphins @ Boland Park, Paarl
Knights v Warriors @ Chevrolet Park, Bloemfontein
Lions v Titans @ Wanderers, Joburg

MAR 6-9

Cobras v Titans @ Boland Park, Paarl
Lions v Knights @ Wanderers, Joburg
Warriors v Dolphins @ Buffalo Park, East London

MAR 13-16

Knights v Cobras @ Diamond Oval, Kimberley
Titans v Dolphins @ Willowmoore Park, Benoni
Warriors v Lions @ St George's Park, Port Elizabeth

MAR 27-30

Dolphins v Lions @ Kingsmead, Durban
Cobras v Warriors @ Newlands, Cape Town
Titans v Knights @ SuperSport Park, Centurion

APR 3-6

Knights v Dolphins @ Chevrolet Park, Bloemfontein
Lions v Cobras @ Wanderers, Joburg
Titans v Warriors @ SuperSport Park, Centurion

 

[Marius]

Cobras don't have a 'black African' worthy of their XI. With the new rules, you have to play 1 but it defeats the purpose like you say.

Talk is that they are bringing in Shezi from the Dolphins next season.

That also defeats the purpose to a degree, if they just bring in guys from other franchises, and don't develop their own guys.

But it is actually ridiculous the the Cobras had six whites in the team for the final, four coloureds, and one African, and in theory it doesn't count as 'transformed'.

Coloured and Indian players must love the fact that somehow they do not count towards transformation anymore.

 

[Prince EWS]

Cobras don't have a 'black African' worthy of their XI. With the new rules, you have to play 1 but it defeats the purpose like you say.

Talk is that they are bringing in Shezi from the Dolphins next season.

Has there been any talk of franchises targeting some of the black Zimbabweans? It would defeat the purpose even further but I reckon Hamilton Masakadza and Elton Chigumbura in particular could be quite successful in the RamSlam.

 

[SeamUp]

That also defeats the purpose to a degree, if they just bring in guys from other franchises, and don't develop their own guys.

But it is actually ridiculous the the Cobras had six whites in the team for the final, four coloureds, and one African, and in theory it doesn't count as 'transformed'.

Coloured and Indian players must love the fact that somehow they do not count towards transformation anymore.

It would be very difficult to produce a 'black African' out of nowhere so they have to. Suppose they just happy if all teams have one 'black African' so that all teams keep to the rules. So sharing of 'black cricket player resources' will definitely happen. There are just areas that produce more than others.

Yup, it is ridiculous. The Cobras have a big coloured region so in the past all teams had to have 4 players of colour in the XI and ideally one of them 'black' which all teams kept to besides the Cobras who instead played 5 coloureds which CSA passed.

 

[Dan]

Anyone know where one can find some footage of Hendricks or Harmer? Would definitely be interested to see what they look like from a technical standpoint.

 

[Marius]

It would be very difficult to produce a 'black African' out of nowhere so they have to. Suppose they just happy if all teams have one 'black African' so that all teams keep to the rules. So sharing of 'black cricket player resources' will definitely happen. There are just areas that produce more than others.

Yup, it is ridiculous. The Cobras have a big coloured region so in the past all teams had to have 4 players of colour in the XI and ideally one of them 'black' which all teams kept to besides the Cobras who instead played 5 coloureds which CSA passed.

I was looking at some of the teams playing the CSA 3 Day comp.

For example, in one match SWD had only 3 white players. However, because out of the 8 remaining players, only one was black (the rest were coloured), the bizarre situation exists that this team would not be 'transformed', despite only having 3 whites in the side.

I know it is important and necessary, but I find this obsession with race a bit tiring.

 

[SeamUp]

Has there been any talk of franchises targeting some of the black Zimbabweans? It would defeat the purpose even further but I reckon Hamilton Masakadza and Elton Chigumbura in particular could be quite successful in the RamSlam.

Can't see it. Only 6 teams and I doubt they would be the sort of overseas players the franchises would go for.

Back in the late 80's and into the 90's our domestic teams did get loads of West Indians into the set up to try an introduce more 'black Africans' into the games. There was some class players like Alvin Kallicharan, Sylvester Clarke, Malcolm Marshall, Desmond Haynes, Eldine Baptiste, Kenny Benjamin, Vasbert Drakes, Reon King etc

But now they want to see South African 'blacks' to feed into the Proteas team and obviously with limited number of teams in our main stream cricket there are limited spaces for overseas players and our own talent so that is why I doubt they would bring in Masakadza or Chigumbura.

 

[Prince EWS]

Can't see it. Only 6 teams and I doubt they would be the sort of overseas players the franchises would go for.

Back in the late 80's and into the 90's our domestic teams did get loads of West Indians into the set up to try an introduce more 'black Africans' into the games. There was some class players like Alvin Kallicharan, Sylvester Clarke, Malcolm Marshall, Desmond Haynes, Eldine Baptiste, Kenny Benjamin, Vasbert Drakes, Reon King etc

But now they want to see South African 'blacks' to feed into the Proteas team and obviously with limited number of teams in our main stream cricket there are limited spaces for overseas players and our own talent so that is why I doubt they would bring in Masakadza or Chigumbura.

I guess it'd depend on if the franchises felt like playing within the spirit of the transformation rules or not.

The Cobras didn't actually select an overseas players last night and they turned out with a specialist #9 batsman as their quota player. Hamilton Masakadza would've offered far more value in that slot, wouldn't have displaced another overseas player as there wasn't one in the side and likely wouldn't have cost much at all given ZC don't actually pay their players.

If they agreed with the principle of the transformation quota rules and wanted to select a black African eligible for South Africa then they'd not do it, but if they thought it was a rort and/or were more focussed on winning, it could be a really good option for them in general.

 

[SeamUp]

Anyone know where one can find some footage of Hendricks or Harmer? Would definitely be interested to see what they look like from a technical standpoint.

Difficult to get long footage.

But Harmer bowls a couple of balls here:

Parnell, batsmen secure big win for Warriors - YouTube

 

[SeamUp]

I was looking at some of the teams playing the CSA 3 Day comp.

For example, in one match SWD had only 3 white players. However, because out of the 8 remaining players, only one was black (the rest were coloured), the bizarre situation exists that this team would not be 'transformed', despite only having 3 whites in the side.

I know it is important and necessary, but I find this obsession with race a bit tiring.

To be frank, I've been over it for a long time but what can you do ?

I get your point but they will always talk about the demographics of the country and those teams don't met them. To me politics shouldn't effect sport. They should keep working away behind the scenes to get players in who deserve to be there.

Quite a few teams like Boland, only pick 1-3 white players per game as well. What about the supposed minimum of 4 'white players' ? 2 blacks have to play per provincial XI.

 

[SeamUp]

I guess it'd depend on if the franchises felt like playing within the spirit of the transformation rules or not.

The Cobras didn't actually select an overseas players last night and they turned out with a specialist #9 batsman as their quota player. Hamilton Masakadza would've offered far more value in that slot, wouldn't have displaced another overseas player as there wasn't one in the side and likely wouldn't have cost much at all given ZC don't actually pay their players.

If they agreed with the principle of the transformation quota rules and wanted to select a black African eligible for South Africa then they'd not do it, but if they thought it was a rort and/or were more focussed on winning, it could be a really good option for them in general.

Yeah, you would think so but all provincial teams and franchise teams are in agreement on transformation and the need to produce more opportunities for South African black players. Even examples like yesterday, he didn't do anything but he is representing their people. To me the right-term is window-dressing really and it doesn't get to the root of the problem but they don't seem to care.

So the Cobras will now look to bring in from the outside that is for sure. Zimbabwean cricketers wouldn't have even entered their minds as they don't count.

 

[Dan]

Difficult to get long footage.

But Harmer bowls a couple of balls here:

Parnell, batsmen secure big win for Warriors - YouTube

The turn on that first ball is ridiculous. Doesn't look to have the greatest of actions from over the wicket in terms of beating batsmen in the air (IMO going around like Lyon or Maxwell would cause him to get more side on and do more with the ball in flight), but in saying that, it's by no means a bad action - and judging from replaying 1 ball is pretty flawed in the first place. Obviously gives the ball a good rip as well.

Would obviously like to see more of him before passing any meaningful judgement, but he looks decent enough there.

 

[SeamUp]

The turn on that first ball is ridiculous. Doesn't look to have the greatest of actions from over the wicket in terms of beating batsmen in the air (IMO going around like Lyon or Maxwell would cause him to get more side on and do more with the ball in flight), but in saying that, it's by no means a bad action - and judging from replaying 1 ball is pretty flawed in the first place. Obviously gives the ball a good rip as well.

Would obviously like to see more of him before passing any meaningful judgement, but he looks decent enough there.

I know it means nothing but he is a real top bloke too from what I've seen and heard.

The talk on the domestic scene is that if there is any spin in the wicket, he will find it. But obviously as a orthodox spinner like him and much like Lyon they need have some guts/a thick skin about them when they get to the international scene. That is where he will be tested.

 

[SeamUp]

Chris Morris to finally go and have surgery on his ankle. Out for 6 months. Misses the remainder of the domestic season and IPL.

 

[Jarquis]

Literally looks like Harmer just walks through his action

 

[Eds]

Literally looks like Harmer just walks through his action

Have you even seen him play a FC match?

 

[Jarquis]

!!!

 

[Dan]

Literally looks like Harmer just walks through his action

Yeah, which is why the turn he extracted really surprised me. And to be fair, while he does only walk through on that delivery posted, he still gets quite a bit of hip rotation.

 

[SeamUp]

Yeah, which is why the turn he extracted really surprised me. And to be fair, while he does only walk through on that delivery posted, he still gets quite a bit of hip rotation.

I've always seen a good pivot and a high front elbow as the most important thing for an off-spinner.

Whether he walks into the action or takes a hop, skip and a jump is all down to personal comfortability more than anything.