**Official** Australian Domestic Season 2013/14

[dermo]

the team is filled with guys who just haven't quite made it. hughes, klinger, ferguson, botha etc all have come close without quite making it, this was inevitable

 

[Top_Cat]

Nah bollocks to that, QLD and Tas have won Shields with rank nobodies filling their sides. It's no excuse. They should be better and that they've mainly been falling over at the business end of the season is the elephant in the room. That Botha continues, seemingly unquestionably, to command a top-6 spot is too.

 

[brockley]

Has the Redback squad been named,if so who in it?

 

[brockley]

Andrews
Cooper
Ferguson
Head
Hughes
Klinger
Lawford
Ludeman
McDonald
Mennie
Putland
Raphael
Richardson
Sayers

 

[Prince EWS]

Nah bollocks to that, QLD and Tas have won Shields with rank nobodies filling their sides. It's no excuse.

His point wasn't that they're **** players, but more along the lines of what you were saying really. They're really talented guys who haven't quite made it in international cricket despite many thinking they had the talent to, perhaps largely for mental reasons, and having lots of players like that tends to lend itself a bit to "choking". The Queensland and Tasmania teams you mentioned had a lot of players who were very much at their level in domestic cricket rather than failed international prospects.

 

[Top_Cat]

I'm honestly not seeing a significant difference between Cowan/Doolan/Cosgrove and Klinger/Hughes/Ferguson in that sense.

The choke is too consistent with SA to be just the players. If there's one thing the South African team have taught us for 20 years, one factor doesn't come into it with choking and that's talent. The environment and leadership are huge.

 

[Top_Cat]

Anyway, I'm just being facetious, the current SA side could have crumbled a few times of late and haven't. I'll genuinely be surprised if they lose to Tassie.

 

[uvelocity]

what else does sa and sa have in common

 

[dermo]

if south australia persist with using botha as a top 6 batsman, they're far better off without him

 

[Prince EWS]

if south australia persist with using botha as a top 6 batsman, they're far better off without him

It's not the right selection but this just isn't true because their sixth specialist batsman (Raphael) is only averaging a run or two more than Botha this season, and the latter has been the second best spinner in the Shield this season. He shouldn't be batting higher than seven but the team is better with him at six than him not playing at all for mine.

 

[Prince EWS]

Actually nah you're probably right now that McDonald is back. They could field a top 6 of Hughes, Klinger, Head, Cooper, Ferguson, McDonald and not need Raphael, which even if Botha doesn't play at all is probably a better side than one with Botha at six. Obviously that top six with Botha at seven is the goer though.

 

[brockley]

Can Redbacks take 20 wkts without Botha,yeh first innings points?
Any word if Botha is coming back next season(World Cup 2015?)

 

[Top_Cat]

Yeah and hopefully they won't go into the match thinking they need only 1st dig points. They'd still be relying on other results to even keep their place in the final.

Kane Richo looked good in Adelaide, think he'll go well in Bellerive. The rest aren't bowling with much penetration, though.

 

[morgieb]

Redbacks starting XI should be:

1. Hughes
2. Klinger
3. Head
4. Ferguson
5. Cooper
6. McDonald
7. Botha
8. Ludeman
9. Mennie
10. Sayers
11. Putland

That looks ****ing mean on paper, btw.

 

[morgieb]

Redbacks starting XI should be:

1. Hughes
2. Klinger
3. Head
4. Ferguson
5. Cooper
6. McDonald
7. Botha
8. Ludeman
9. Mennie
10. Sayers
11. Putland

That looks ****ing mean on paper, btw.

With whoever's the spinner they named coming in for Botha this week.

 

[brockley]

Thomas Andrews Australian Under 19 Spinner,came over from the Northern territory,bowls left arm orthodox from what i can remember.
Guess Zampa is losing his contract.

 

[Prince EWS]

Redbacks starting XI should be:

1. Hughes
2. Klinger
3. Head
4. Ferguson
5. Cooper
6. McDonald
7. Botha
8. Ludeman
9. Mennie
10. Sayers
11. Putland

That looks ****ing mean on paper, btw.

I think I'd pick Kane over Mennie. Can't justify it with numbers yet really but just think he has more to offer.

 

[Dan]

I think I'd pick Kane over Mennie. Can't justify it with numbers yet really but just think he has more to offer.

Obvs the best XI is:

1. Klinger
2. Hughes +
3. Richardson
4. Ferguson
5. Head
6. Cooper
7. McDonald
8. Botha *
9. Mennie
10. Sayers
11. Putland

 

[Prince EWS]

The C00ps bats four. Don't you guys forget it.

 

[Dan]

In seriousness though, Botha's justifying his place as a spinner this year - should be at 7 (quaal00des at 8) as a part of a 4 man attack. Not a number 6 in a 5 man attack, with the worst 'keeper-batsman in the country at 7.

Richardson vs Mennie is tough, because Richardson arguably has more of an upside, but Mennie has put up some seriously impressive numbers - averaging a touch over 25 at about 4wpm in his career to date (which is about the same as Putland, ftr). You'd love him as a fourth seamer in a 3 + Richardson + Botha attack, but Ronnie Mac does that job and does actually command a place in the top 6.

But yeah, Botha at 6 in a team including McDonald is thoroughly unnecessary. Playing a batsman short the whole time.