South Africa team selection

[Dendarii]

I see your logic, and it could theoretically happen if they are worried about meeting the quota. But de Bruyn hasn't done anything droppable yet so he would feel hard done by.

1. Elgar
2. Kuhn
3. Amla
4. Faf
5. de Kock
6. Bavuma
7. Morris
8. Philander
9. Phelukwayo
10. Keshav
11. Morkel

It doesn't seem like a big downgrade because JP hasn't been a consistent source of runs. I'd still like de Bruyn in there but I don't see us going in with four POCs.

It would definitely be tough on De Bruyn, especially since it was the batting and fielding that was perhaps more of a concern than the bowling, although that wasn't the greatest either, and Rabada missing does affect the bowling. Cricinfo is reporting that Du Plessis has said that going with four seamers is a possibility, but you never know with comments like that whether they're genuinely considering it or it was just a response to that point being raised as a question.

One thing that I did note from the commentary during the match was that apparently someone from the South African coaching staff had said that De Kock's ideal spot would be six, which would mean either mean playing a specialist batsman at seven or bringing in an all-rounder. So I do wonder whether the latter might be the thinking going forward, and Duminy would then be the most likely to give way. It does make the quota situation more complicated, but since most series these days seem to contain as many T20s as tests, they can potentially make up the numbers there if necessary.

 

[Bahseph]

For the first time in a long while I really have no idea how they are going to structure this team. Andile, Mosehle, Rabada ,Ngidi and Phangiso being regular T20 players could ease the quota situation and hopefully allow the team to be picked on cricketing grounds. Important match this, no time for politics.

 

[StephenZA]

I am very much in favour of 6 batsmen, wk who can bat, and 4 bowlers. Ideally one of your 6 batsmen can also turn the arm over. Playing an all rounder that may or may not add something with the bat or ball at 6/7 is no good for me. Currently until Mulder/Smith come along or Phelukwayo improves with the bat enough to bat at 6 I would rather just take an extra batsmen. Trying to pick a bowler that should bat 8/9 and putting him in at 7 does not help our batting woes.

 

[Bahseph]

I'm with you on that. The team above is only possible if they really feel we need two black African players in at all costs. Faf for Duminy is all I'd change with the batting.

 

[Stefan9]

This side top order is not strong enough to go with only 5 batsman. Only change should be olivier for kg and faf for jp in the next game.

 

[91Jmay]

I think quotas aside your suggested teams are short of bowling. If Maheraj is got after like 1st dig at Lords again, then you have Philander/Morkel/Morris bowling a lot of overs and we know Vern isn't exactly a fan of bowling lots of overs.

 

[StephenZA]

I think quotas aside your suggested teams are short of bowling. If Maheraj is got after like 1st dig at Lords again, then you have Philander/Morkel/Morris bowling a lot of overs and we know Vern isn't exactly a fan of bowling lots of overs.

If Maharaj is not bowling well enough then he must not get picked and we go to another bowler. But I have always been in favour of a 4 man bowling attack. I your first choice 3 seamers are not gonna bowl out the opposition then what is the 4th choice seamer gonna do? Whereas the extra batsmen is always useful. Yes ideally you have a Stokes, Moeen, Kallis,... but SA have no genuine batting all-rounder that can play at 7. For me until that happens we keep picking 6 batsmen, QDK, and 4 Bowlers.

The no-balls where terrible, but overall our bowlers bowled Eng out twice. Just don't drop Root! Our batting on the other hand looks fragile.

 

[91Jmay]

If Maharaj is not bowling well enough then he must not get picked and we go to another bowler. But I have always been in favour of a 4 man bowling attack. I your first choice 3 seamers are not gonna bowl out the opposition then what is the 4th choice seamer gonna do? Whereas the extra batsmen is always useful. Yes ideally you have a Stokes, Moeen, Kallis,... but SA have no genuine batting all-rounder that can play at 7. For me until that happens we keep picking 6 batsmen, QDK, and 4 Bowlers.

The no-balls where terrible, but overall our bowlers bowled Eng out twice. Just don't drop Root! Our batting on the other hand looks fragile.

Yeah fair call, I was more thinking a short term situation because of KG nonsense suspension.

 

[Bahseph]

Our bowlers always create enough chances. Maharaj is still new to Tests so I'm willing to brush it off as a learning experience because I believe he has the control needed to succeed at this level.

 

[Rasimione]

Oliver or Morris?

 

[marc71178]

Speaking as an outsider, it would appear to me that the best thing you can hope for at the moment is a coloured keeper batsman capable of batting 7 coming along and becoming a guaranteed pick. Any chance of that happening?

 

[StephenZA]

Oliver or Morris?

I say Olivier, SeamUp says Morris.... either/or really.

 

[StephenZA]

Speaking as an outsider, it would appear to me that the best thing you can hope for at the moment is a coloured keeper batsman capable of batting 7 coming along and becoming a guaranteed pick. Any chance of that happening?

Mosehle is the only coloured/black keeper and he is not good enough. Klaasens looks the more likely option but he needs improve his wk.

 

[marc71178]

Mosehle is the only coloured/black keeper and he is not good enough. Klaasens looks the more likely option but he needs improve his wk.

Ah right. Just thought it would kill 2 birds by helping meet the quota whilst freeing de Kock up a bit to replace an inferior batsman.

 

[StephenZA]

Ah right. Just thought it would kill 2 birds by helping meet the quota whilst freeing de Kock up a bit to replace an inferior batsman.

In reality any black quality players would be nice. This is the whole issue, however you cut it and for whatever reason we do not have enough players of colour particularly black players. Hence the quota, if the players existed then we would not have a quota`s.

The argument of why we do not have enough players of colour and whether the quota system helps, or is right/wrong is another discussion.

 

[Dendarii]

Mosehle is the only coloured/black keeper and he is not good enough. Klaasens looks the more likely option but he needs improve his wk.

Clyde Fortuin was part of the under-19 side that won the World Cup (from which has come Rabada, Phehlukwayo and Markram), but hasn't been able to push on from there. But with a first class average of 25.90 and a List A average of 15.06, it doesn't look like he'll ever be a good enough batsman to be considered for higher honours.

 

[StephenZA]

Clyde Fortuin was part of the under-19 side that won the World Cup (from which has come Rabada, Phehlukwayo and Markram), but hasn't been able to push on from there. But with a first class average of 25.90 and a List A average of 15.06, it doesn't look like he'll ever be a good enough batsman to be considered for higher honours.

Forgot about him... but yes I agree don't think he will push on with his batting

 

[StephenZA]

Aiden Markram to remain with Test squad | Cricket | ESPN Cricinfo

So Markram staying with Test squad. I know the SA 'A' games have been changed due to Aus issues. But for me this is a clear indication that Kuhn has a limited time to prove himself, I don`t think that SA are going to hang about again and may just say Markram it is and give him an extended run, than older players who don`t perform.

 

[Marius]

On the keeper issue, is Rudi Second white, or is he coloured?

My changes to the side would be Morris in for Rabada and Faf in for JP.

Vut that gives us seven white players which I'm not sure will fly.

But if Phehlukwayo plays and De Bruyn gets dropped instead of JP then our cricket is an absolute joke.

 

[Bahseph]

Oliver or Morris?

From what I've seen of Olivier he is more in the Morkel mould while Morris does get swing. I'm leaning towards Morris just based on the fact that KG is being replaced and not Morkel.