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

[SeamUp]

So far its Rudolph, Abbott and Petersen playing county cricket in the winter as the overseas players.

Wonder if Hampshire fans have any idea if Neil Mac is returning again ?

 

[SeamUp]

Proteas World Cup prep on track; PE to host Boxing Day Test

CRICKET SOUTH AFRICA (CSA) today announced a bumper programme of 23 ODI matches against five different ICC Full Member countries to intensify the build-up for the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand next year.

There could, in fact, be a 24th match if the Proteas Castle Lager ODI squad qualifies for the Final of the Triangular tournament against Zimbabwe and Australia in Harare in August and September.The Proteas will also play six Test matches in the six-month period between July 2014 and January 2015 which includes fulfilling the two-match series against Sri Lanka which was postponed last year.

The revised schedule sees a further 13 ODI matches added to the programme in the current FTP schedule.

“Once we have completed our challenge for the ICC World Twenty20 in Bangladesh next month, we will turn much of our attention to next year’s World Cup,” commented CSA Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat, “Building quality experience is a vital part of preparing our ODI squad for the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. The series of ODI matches we will be playing in these two countries will provide valuable experience for the players as they prepare for the conditions expected during the World Cup.

“At the same time we would want to respect the primacy of Test match cricket. The Sunfoil Test Series against the West Indies will be the highlight of our home summer. With the traditional New Year Test match at Sahara Park Newlands and a Boxing Day encounter at Axxess St. George’s, fans will be in for a treat as we continue to defend our No 1 status.

“There were encouraging signs of good support for Test match cricket at Axxess St. George’s and we hope to see even greater attendances over the holiday period. That’s why we want to announce our international fixtures early so that fans have plenty of time to make their holiday plans and come out in large numbers to support the Proteas.”

The Proteas will travel to Sri Lanka in July to play 2 Tests and three ODI’s. This will be followed by a trip to Zimbabwe in August/September for a single Test, three ODI’s as well as a triangular series involving Zimbabwe, South Africa and Australia. The Castle Lager Proteas ODI squad then travels to New Zealand in late October for a three match ODI series against the Black Caps. Thereafter, they remain in the Antipodes as they take on Australia in three T20 Internationals and five ODI’s during November 2014.

The relevant Boards will soon announce the detailed itinerary with venues and dates for the Proteas away tours.

The Proteas preparation for the ICC World Cup will conclude with the West Indies visiting the rainbow nation for a full series comprising three Tests, five ODI’s and two T20 Internationals."I’m excited about the upcoming International fixtures for the next year,” commented Proteas head coach, Russell Domingo. “With it being a World Cup year, we have placed a lot of emphasis on the 50-over format and have tried to maximise our preparation by playing as many matches as possible in conditions that will be similar to those in New Zealand and Australia.

"I’m particularly pleased that we have managed fit in a tour to New Zealand ahead of our two limited-overs series against Australia, and hopefully playing at the prospective World Cup venues will play to our advantage during the tournament.

"This bumper ODI schedule will allow us to finalise our group as quickly as possible and to start playing around with strategies and game plans. We will be facing strong opposition in the form of Sri Lanka, Australia, New Zealand and the West Indies, so I have no doubt that we will be adequately prepared ahead of the tournament.

"The Christmas Test is a premier fixture on our cricketing calendar and I hope the fans in Port Elizabeth will come out in their numbers to support the Proteas. This is always a fixture that the players look forward to and I'm sure the PE fans will make it a special and jovial occasion when it returns this summer against the West Indies."


WEST INDIES TOUR TO SOUTH AFRICA

10-12 December: Three-day warm-up match v SA Invitation XI, Sahara Willowmoore Park

17-21 December: 1st Sunfoil Test match, SuperSport Park, 10h30

26-30 December: 2nd Sunfoil Test match, Axxess St. George’s, 10h30

2-6 January: 3rd Sunfoil Test match, Sahara Park Newlands, 10h30

9 January: 1st KFC T20 International (D/N), Sahara Park Newlands, 18h00

11 January: 2nd KFC T20 International (D/N), Bidvest Wanderers Stadium, 15h00

16 January: 1st Momentum ODI (D/N), Sahara Stadium Kingsmead, 13h30

18 January: 2nd Momentum ODI (Day), Bidvest Wanderers Stadium, 10h00

21 January: 3rd Momentum ODI (D/N), Buffalo Park, 13h30

25 January: 4th Momentum ODI (Day), Axxess St. George’s, 10h00

28 January: 5th Momentum ODI (D/N), SuperSport Park, 13h30


ICC CRICKET WORLD CUP

15 February: South Africa v Zimbabwe, Hamilton, New Zealand (D/N)

22 February: South Africa v India, Melbourne, Australia (D/N)

27 February: South Africa v West Indies, Sydney, Australia (D/N)

3 March: South Africa v Ireland, Canberra, Australia (D/N)

7 March: South Africa v Pakistan, Auckland, New Zealand (D/N)

12 March: South Africa v UAE, Wellington, New Zealand (D/N)

18-21 March: Quarter-finals

26 and 26 March: Semi-finals

29 March: Final

 

[SeamUp]

Been really busy of late to update the last 2 rounds of the Sunfoil Series. But some exciting talents have debuted. The 3 quicks Travis Muller, Daryn Dupavillon & Vincent Moore with the first two claiming a 5-for on debut. Conway also got his long awaited Lions 4-day debut and a young opener David White is starting to carry the Warriors batting a bit. Beuran Hendricks picking up an injury. Dave Miller's 4-day form keeps getting better and Abbott keeps knocking the door down .Also good to see spinners amongst the wickets.

Cobras v Lions @ Newlands

Cobras 1st inn: 255/10 (Ontong 88, Vallie 70) (Tahir 4/62, Matshikwe 2/33, Tsotsobe 2/40, Viljoen 2/71)
Lions 1st inn: 119/10 (Bavuma 32) (Piedt 4/28, Paterson 3/33, Kemp 2/13)
Cobras 2nd inn: 101/10 (Khan 24) (Tsotsobe 5/33, Tahir 3/26, Viljoen 2/41)
Lions 2nd inn: 190/10 (Bavuma 112, Cook 42) (Paterson 4/61, Khan 2/35, Piedt 2/49)

Cobras win by 47 runs
MOM: Temba Bavuma

Dolphins v Warriors @ Kingsmead

Warriors 1st inn: 173/10 (D. Jacobs 51) (Dupavillon 5/43, Maharaj 4/38)
Dolphins 1st inn: 426/10 (D. van Wyk 127, Khan 74, Miller 71, M. Van Wyk 50) (Harmer 3/141, Walters 2/65, Theron 2/94)
Warriors 2nd inn: 208/10 (D. Jacobs 64*) (Maharaj 5/61, Dupavillon 2/21, Abbott 2/31)

Dolphins win by an innings & 45 runs
MOM: Daryn Dupavillon

Knights v Titans in Kimberley

Knights 1st inn: 290/10 (Second 69, Rossouw 52) (Wiese 5/44, von Berg 3/63)
Titans 1st inn: 301/10 (CJ de Villiers 57, V. Moore 48*) (Friend 5/76, Siboto 2/43)
Knights 2nd inn: 166/10 (R. Hendricks 45) (von Berg 7/66, V.Moore 3/25)
Titans 2nd inn: 156/3 (CJ de Villiers 52*) (Coetsee 2/31)

Titans win by 7 wickets
MOM: Shaun von Berg


Cobras v Dolphins in Paarl

Cobras 1st inn: 304/10 (Ontong 150) (Abbott 5/60, Maharaj 3/63, Alexander 2/85)
Dolphins 1st inn: 332/10 (Zondo 127, Miller 72) (Kemp 3/60, Paterson 3/61, Muller 2/60)
Cobras 2nd inn: 280/10 (Puttick 123, van Zyl 99) (Abbott 7/65, Smit 2/29)
Dolphins 2nd inn: 84/10 (Piedt 5/16 including a hattrick and Muller 5/21)

Cobras win by 168 runs
MOM: Justin Ontong

Knights v Warriors in Bloemfontein

Warriors 1st inn: 274/10 (White 112, Bailey 60) (van der Wath 6/74, Coetsee 2/44)
Knights 1st inn: 401/10 (Second 180, Rossouw 52) (Walters 4/75, Harmer 2/84, Birch 2/116)
Warriors 2nd inn: 197/10 (White 89) (Coetsee 3/47, van der Wath 2/19, Siboto 2/27, Dry 2/39)
Knights 2nd inn: 73/0 (R. Hendricks 31*, Cloete 31*)

Knights win by 10 wickets
MOM: Rudi Second

Lions v Titans at Wanderers

Titans 1st inn: 147/10 (Adams 59) (Pelser 4/28, Deacon 3/41, Tahir 2/9)
Lions 1st inn: 212/10 (McKeznie 48) (V. Moore 3/41, Wiese 3/46)
Titans 2nd inn: 110/10 (Behardien 63) (Pelser 3/16, Deacon 3/30)
Lions 2nd inn: 47/2 (Cook 29*)

Lions win by 8 wickets
MOM: Brett Pelser


Standings after 6 games

Cobras 75.02
Knights 69.36
Lions 61.66
Dolphins 58.08
Titans 46.42
Warriors 45.4

 

[SeamUp]

The CSA Central Contract List for the 2014/15 season was released last week. Besides the reduction in number of contracts, the other interesting news was that 12 players considered future Proteas would get top-up contracts once the contract lists from the 6 franchises were selected.

Kallis isn't on the central contract list but has a special contract to see him out till the 2015 WC.

CSA 2014/15 Contracted Players

Graeme Smith (Cobras)
Alviro Petersen (Lions)
Hashim Amla (Cobras)
AB de Villiers (Titans)
Faf du Plessis (Titans)
JP Duminy (Cobras)
Quinton de Kock (Lions)
Dave Miller (Dolphins)

Robin Peterson (Cobras)
Imran Tahir (Lions)

Vernon Philander (Cobras)
Ryan McLaren (Knights)
Wayne Parnell (Warriors)

Dale Steyn (Cobras)
Morne Morkel (Titans)
Rory Kleinveldt (Cobras)
Lonwabo Tsotsobe (Lions)

In: de Kock, Miller
Out: Kallis, Ingram, Elgar, Tsolekile, Phangiso, de Lange


* First bit of interesting 2014/15 franchise contract news is that it looks Johan van der Wath who is captain of the Knights isn't getting his contract extended.

 

[Prince EWS]

First bit of interesting 2014/15 franchise contract news is that it looks Johan van der Wath who is captain of the Knights isn't getting his contract extended.

Find this strange unless it's by his own choosing as he's still taking plenty of wickets. Do you think he'll hang up the boots?

 

[SeamUp]

Find this strange unless it's by his own choosing as he's still taking plenty of wickets. Do you think he'll hang up the boots?

Definitely, would rather him stay and they release Dillon du Preez so that he can continue to work with young Corne Dry.

According to the report, it says that it was a decision made by the board and not by him. Quite interesting that there are 4 games left and they in the running for 4-day comp.

Can't be ideal. Talk is the Knights contract list is out at the end of the week.

 

[Prince EWS]

Definitely, would rather him stay and they release Dillon du Preez so that he can continue to work with young Corne Dry.

According to the report, it says that it was a decision made by the board and not by him. Quite interesting that there are 4 games left and they in the running for 4-day comp.

Can't be ideal. Talk is the Knights contract list is out at the end of the week.

I can't imagine there's not another franchise who'd be interested in his services if he wanted to play on. Obviously a fair chance he may essentially just rage quit though and move onto whatever his post-cricket plan is.

 

[SeamUp]

I can't imagine there's not another franchise who'd be interested in his services if he wanted to play on. Obviously a fair chance he may essentially just rage quit though and move onto whatever his post-cricket plan is.

I reckon he will do the latter ala Hendrik Human Dippenaar.

 

[SeamUp]

With the u19 boys getting to their third WC final. Its quite interesting to look at how the system has fed players with potential into the senior system over the last few years. Also look potentially into the future.

* 1989 born obviosuly included the team who got to the WC final in 2008. Players like JJ Smuts (Warriors), Reeza Hendricks (Knigths), Rilee Rossouw (Knigths), Jono Vandiar (Dolphins), Yaseen Vallie (Cobras), SA Engelbrecht (Cobras), Wayne Parnell (Warriors), Obus Pienaar (Knights), Pieter Malan (Titans-Cobras). The big omission was David Miller (Dolphins) who supposedly just missed out. Others are like Simon Harmer (Warriors) and Hardus Viljoen (Lions) which shows the club system also works.

Born 1990 (24 years)

Batsmen: Khaya Zondo (Dolphins), Jonathan Vandiar (Dolphins), Dominic Hendricks (Lions), Temba Bavuma (Lions)
Keeper: Mangaliso Mosehle (Titans)
Spin: Keshav Maharaj (Dolphins), Dane Piedt (Cobras)
Seam: Marchant de Lange (Titans), Beuran Hendricks (Cobras)

Born 1991 (23 years)

Batsmen: David White (Warriors), Devon Conway (Lions), Colin Ackermann (Warriors), Cody Chetty (Dolphins)

Born 1992 (22 years)

Batsmen: Gihahn Cloete (Knights), Theunis de Bruyn (Titans)
Keeper: Quinton de Kock (Lions)

Born 1993 (21 years)

Batsmen: Edward Moore (Warriors), Keegan Petersen (Cobras)
Spin: Prenelan Subrayen (Dolphins)
All-rounder/seam: Calvin Savage (Dolphins)
Seam: Corne Dry (Knights), Lizaad Williams (Cobras), Anrich Nortje (Warriors), Travis Muller (Cobras)

Born 1994 (20 years)

Batsmen: Shaylen Pillay (Lions), Diego Rosier (Knights), Aiden Markram (Titans)
Seam: Daryn Dupavillon (Dolphins), Craig Kirsten (Dolphins), Vincent Moore (Titans), Jan Frylinck (Knigths)

Now the majority of the boys in this current SA u19 team below bar Markram who is '94 born above.

There is also an SA u19 tour to England later this year including youth test matches. Playing at bigger grounds than the last tour too. Plus players down the line who have potential and a reputation for the next world cups.

Born 1995 (19 years)

Batsmen: Greg Oldfield (Dolphins), Yaseen Valli (Lions), Leus du Plooy * (Titans to Knights)
Keeper: Clyde Fortuin (Cobras)
Seam: Kagiso Rabada (Lions)

* Been 12th man for the Knights in the last 2 4-day fixtures but missed out on the WC.

1996 born (18 years)

Batsmen: Grant Roelofsen (Lions)

1997 born: Next World Cup in Bangladesh (2016)

Batsmen: Murray Commins (Cobras)
All-rounder/seam: Dayyaan Galiem (Cobras) (made 2014 squad but got injured)
Spin: Sean Whitehead (Knights) (slow-left-arm)
Seam: Brandon Glover (Lions)

1998 born: (All of them qualify for 2018 WC in NZL bar Mulder)

Batsmen: Matthew Breetzke (Warriors), Raynard van Tonder (Knights), Wiaan Mulder (Lions), Bradley Hope (Dolphins) ('99 born) (bowls seam too)
Keeper: Jerome Bossr (Warriors)

 

[Jarquis]

Miller in for Ingram is a win for me and a loss for Cribb

 

[SeamUp]

Dean Elgar will play for the Titans next season.

Also rumours that Quinton de Kock could move to the Titans. As a CSA contracted player, he can play for any franchise.

Knights also waiting on Ryan McLaren to confirm he is playing for them next season as a CSA contracted player.

As mentioned above, van der Wath losing his Knights contract and set to get news of it tomorrow.

CJ de Villiers has lost his Titans contract. No surprise. Gone from someone with potential to absolute s**t

There is also talk that Shezi of the Dolphins is going to the Cobras.

 

[SeamUp]

Chinaman bowler, Tabraiz Shamzi, is back with a bang in franchise cricket. Claimed a 5-for for the Dolphins. Hundreds for Cody Chetty and Morne van Wyk too.

Transfer Talk

Junior Dala is playing for the Titans. So there could be a move on the cards from the Lions/Gauteng

Leg-spinner, Eddie Leie, of the Lions, is rumoured to be off to the Knights.

 

[SeamUp]

Some views from Boeta Dippenaar on Rossouw. This has been floating around for the last couple of seasons. Its time Rilee matures and steps up to the plate.

'Rossouw has the talent but lacks hunger'

Rilee Rossouw is the most talented batsman in South Africa, but the jury is still out on his hunger and mental strength, and he will have to pile on the runs in the remaining matches of the Sunfoil Series if he wants to gain ground on other national contenders like Stiaan van Zyl and Quinton de Kock.

This is according to Boeta Dippenaar, former South African test batsman and ODI batsman.

Dippenaar said if AB de Villiers is to retain the wicketkeeper job batting at No 5 for the Proteas, Van Zyl looks like a likely replacement after Graeme Smith’s retirement.

Van Zyl has scored two centuries and three half-centuries for the Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras and averaged 65.6 in the Sunfoil Series. He has scored 656 runs in the domestic competition.

Rossouw averages 42.3 and has scored 339 runs, but has been able to post only one century and two half-centuries.

Dippenaar thinks De Kock might replace De Villiers in the likely event of De Villiers being named national test captain after Smith’s retirement.

De Kock, though, has not been a prolific runscorer in the Sunfoil Series, and has managed only 11 runs in two matches.

“Yet I do believe the South African selectors need to give the players who are selected for the test team, an extended run for at least two years.

“Hashim Amla averaged only 18 after about 20 tests, but the selectors kept faith with him and he rewarded them for their vote of confidence as he averages more than 50 in tests right now,” he added.

Dippenaar says Rossouw is talented enough to average 50 in test cricket, but there are still questions about his hunger and mental attitude and these are questions that he needs to answer in emphatic fashion in the first-class arena.

The next few weeks in the Sunfoil Series present Rossouw with opportunities to answer his detractors by piling on the runs.

Reeza Hendricks has been talked about extensively as a stylish and talented opening batsman, yet the Chevrolet Knigths player has failed in the Sunfoil Series and averages only 22, although he has had a very good run in the Ram Slam T20 Challenge competition.

 

[SeamUp]

Looks like the Cobras 4-day dominance will continue with their win over the Titans. Only Dolphins, Knights and Lions have a chance of catching them and they have drawn their current matches.

Titan 232 (83.2 ov, VP Moore 3*, DL Piedt 6/100) - Match over | Live Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

COBRAS 1st inn: 429/10 (Yaseen Vallie 80, Dane Vilas 77, Stiaan van Zyl 71, Omphile Ramela 59) (Shaun von Berg 4/102, Vincent Moore 3/67, Junior Dala 2/121)
TITANS 1st inn: 198/10 (Graeme van Buuren 85) (Rory Kleinveldt 7/34)
COBRAS 2nd inn: 212/2d (Andrew Puttick 102*Stiaan van Zyl 86) (JP de Villiers 2/44)
TITANS 2nd inn: 232/10 (Heino Kuhn 69, Roelof van der Merwe 51) (Dane Piedt 6/100, Rory Kleinveldt 2/55)

Cobras win by 211 runs
MOM: Rory Kleinveldt

WAR 70/3 (23.0 ov, CA Ingram 12*, ML Price 37*, KA Maharaj 0/9) - Match over | Live Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

DOLPHINS 1st inn: 339/10 (Cody Chetty 120, Morne van Wyk 104*) (Simon harmer 4/85, Andrew Birch 2/49, Basheer Walter 2/61, Rusty Theron 2/68)
WARRIORS 1st inn: 240/10 (Colin Ingram 54*) (Tabraiz Shamsi 5/68, Daryn Dupavillon 3/43)
DOLPHINS 2nd inn: 257/8d (Sarel Erwee 64*, Divan van Wyk 58) (Simon Harmer 5/100, Basheer Walters 2/41)
WARRIORS 2nd inn: 70/3 (Michael Price 37*) (Robbie Frylinck 3/20)

Match Drawn
MOM: Tabraiz Shamsi

Lions 54/3 (27.3 ov, DP Conway 13*, ND McKenzie 3*, D Olivier 0/28) - Match over | Live Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

KNIGHTS 1st inn: 329/6d (Rilee Rossouw 107, Reeza Hendricks 62, Gerhardt Abrahams 50*) (Cliffe Deacon 2/65, Hardus Viljoen 2/108)
LIONS 1st inn: 121/10 (Stephen Cook 45) (Quinton Friend 4/35, Coetsee 2/2, Siboto 2/17)
LIONS 2nd inn: 54/3 (Temba Bavuma 25, Devon Conway 13*) (Corne Dry 2/2)

Match drawn
MOM: Rilee Rossouw


Table after 7 games

COBRAS 94.1
KNIGHTS 77.94
LIONS 63.66
DOLPHINS 62.86
WARRIORS 52.2
TITANS 50.38

 

[SeamUp]

I think the flatter wickets this season has resulted in spinners doing more bowling this season as you can see with so many spin bowlers in the top wicket takers. Also think some of the main fast bowlers were called up to SA (Abbott, Hendricks) and didn't play all the games and also a generation change where some of the young talented bowlers (Dry, Dupavillon, Muller, Paterson, V.Moore) started to get opportunities ahead of some older bowlers. Someone like Chris Morris has been injured and Marchant de Lange has had his own problems to deal with.

Still good to see Quinton Friend, Kyle Abbott, Hardus Viljoen, Beuran Hendricks, Rory Kleinveldt etc

Think another thing is that Harmer has been the main weapon for the Warriors on flat pitches and hasn't had as much pressure as someone like Piedt has had with a stronger seam attack. Hence the average being so high. You look at the Warriors seamers Walters has 18 wkts @ 29.61, Birch has 11 @ 35.45, Theron 11 @ 52, Gqamane who was bowling with a double stress fracture with 7 @59.28)

LEADING WICKET TAKERS -

Cricket Records | Records | Sunfoil Series, 2013/14 | Most wickets | ESPN Cricinfo

Only really Stiaan van Zyl and Rilee Rossouw backing up seasons of consistent and dominant batting. Bavuma and Zondo have shown ability as 'black' African batsman. New name like David White has stepped up. Stephen Cook might think he has a chance pushing for an opening spot. Dave Miller has grown in the longer form of the game. Stats wise Reeza Hendricks hasn't been good in the longer form this season and tbh nothing amazing in FC career average but I think there are players like him and Quinton de Kock that can make the step up to international level and do well without really having to dominate 4-day Sunfoil Series cricket.

LEADING RUN SCORERS

Cricket Records | Records | Sunfoil Series, 2013/14 | Most runs | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[SeamUp]

Kleinveldt with match figures of 9/89 over the last 4 days.

Rory Kleinveldt produced arguably one of the most devastating new-ball spells of the 2013/14 Sunfoil Series campaign in setting up the Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras’ comprehensive 211-run win against The Unlimited Titans at Boland Park in Paarl during the weekend.

Kleinveldt finished with a match haul of 9-89, but it was his spell with the second new ball on Saturday that had experienced former international players singing his praises.

By capturing 9 for 89, he also underlined his ability to hit back after he was left out of the South African test team for the deciding third test at Sahara Park Newlands against Australia.

Kleinveldt took 5-4 in four overs with the second new ball on Saturday, prompting Titans coach Rob Walter to describe his spell as “beautiful bowling. He really swung it.”

Justin Kemp, a former Proteas allrounder, said Kleinveldt swung it both ways through the air in that spell with the new ball, which saw the Titans slip from 193 for 5 to 198 all out in their first innings.

Kleinveldt finished with 7-34 in 18 overs in the first innings.

Paul Adams, a former South African legspinner and current coach of the Cobras, said Kleinveldt not only swung it through the air, but also produced movement off the seam with that second new ball.

Arguably one of the most superb deliveries of that spell was the ball that accounted for allrounder Shaun von Berg.

Von Berg is no slouch with the bat. The burly lower-order batsman massacred the Cobras earlier the season in a Sunfoil Series match at Sahara Willowmoore Park in Benoni in scoring an undefeated 105 off only 73 balls.

But he had no answer to Kleinveldt’s swing and guile at Boland Park.

Kleinveldt produced a delivery that swung away from Von Berg through the air, but moved back off the seam to disturb the timber of a bewildered and bemused batsman for a duck.

“What was so impressive, was that Rory also bowled a few bouncers to unnerve the batsmen, and he also fulfilled the role of holding seam bowler to prevent the Titans from accumulating runs at quicker than a run-rate of 2.5 on the first day,” said Adams.

Kleinveldt proved again that he is not a one-dimensional bang-it-into-the-pitch bowler, but a man for all seasons with some poison-filled arrows in his bow.

And he bowled at 140 kilometres per hour or more to trouble even the most experienced Titans batsmen.

His duel with Dean Elgar and Rilee Rossouw in Kimberley during the next Sunfoil Series clash between the Cobras and the Chevrolet Warriors could be a contest for the purists.

 

[SeamUp]

Shaun von Berg's growth as a player hasn't gone unnoticed

Even Neil McKenzie, Tahir impressed with Von Berg?s improvement

Shaun von Berg’s recent successes in Sunfoil Series games have not gone unnoticed.

Even opponents with international experience, like Neil McKenzie and Imran Tahir, have been impressed and have spoken about his dramatic improvement.

Von Berg said after The Unlimited Titans played against the bizhub Highveld Lions, McKenzie told his coach, Rob Walter, that he had seen a major improvement in Von Berg’s form the past three seasons.

And Tahir approached Von Berg to ask him what training methods he has used to increase his effectiveness.

Von Berg has captured twenty wickets in the Sunfoil Series this season at an average of 26.05.

It has included a match haul of 10 for 129 against the Chevrolet Knights in Kimberley which set up a seven-wicket win for The Unlimited Titans.

Von Berg expects more favourable conditions for spinners at Boland Park in Paarl in the Sunfoil Series game against the Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras starting on Thursday.

“I am bowling well right now,” he says.

The 27-year old leg-spinner is somebody who has got a comprehensive repertoire of different deliveries, including the traditional leg-spinner, the slider, the googly and even a flipper.

But he uses the googly less often than some other leg-spinners, like Eddie Leie of the bizhub Highveld Lions.

“Eddie bowls a googly or two in every over. I only use the googly every three overs,” he adds.

“I also employ the slider very often against the lower-order batsmen, as I use that to bowl them or trap them leg-before-wicket,” he adds.

A great performance by Von Berg against the defending champions might not do his status in South African first-class cricket any harm.

He comes up against Dane Piedt, who is increasingly rated by many local observers as a long-term successor to the current leading spinners in the country, Robin Peterson and Tahir.

Peterson won’t take part in the match starting on Thursday as he is nursing a shoulder injury.

Von Berg said he is currently operating at the right speed for success, while his different variations are all working perfectly.

 

[SeamUp]

Jacques Rudolph has come up with a few targets.

Seems like he won't play 4-day cricket in SA much anymore, just for Glamorgan. But will be around in the 4-day season at the Titans to maybe contribute in a game or 2 and to guide the young batsmen. His next aim in 4-day cricket is to get 4 more hundreds to get his 50th FC ton.

But he will play limited overs cricket for the Titans because his aim is to make the WC squad.

 

[Prince EWS]

But he will play limited overs cricket for the Titans because his aim is to make the WC squad.

Haha oh wow. Despite the fact that he's actually always been an excellent OD batsman, he's pretty old school in his methods and highly unlikely to be what South African selectors are after there IMO. I actually think he has a better chance of getting back in the Test team, even though that itself would have be down at the < 1% territory.

 

[SeamUp]

Haha oh wow. Despite the fact that he's actually always been an excellent OD batsman, he's pretty old school in his methods and highly unlikely to be what South African selectors are after there IMO. I actually think he has a better chance of getting back in the Test team, even though that itself would have be down at the < 1% territory.

Haha agree, eventhough he talks up his own stats which are excellent (List A average of 48), I think he will find it tough to break past Amla, de Kock, Kallis, AB, Miller, Faf, JP.

He spoke about when he was in England with Yorkshire how he won best limited overs batsman in England.

Always thought with him that he is very reliant on width but a talent all the same. Should have achieved much more internationally.