*** Official*** South Africa in England 2017

[S.Kennedy]

Stokes is desperately out of nick right now. I saw him against Worcs, washed-out pink ball silliness, and he was out for a duck and went for 0/81. Wood completely eclipsed him.

 

[Pothas]

He bowled really well last week though, I am not really worried about him but he does need some more runs.

 

[S.Kennedy]

It is weird as I'd have said his batting was stronger in the limited overs, and his bowling stronger in the tests. Marginal mind.

 

[Bijed]

His ODI batting has come on really well tbf. I don't like him at all as a bowler in that format, though.

 

[S.Kennedy]

Can be devastating but you may as well forget about economy.

 

[mr_mister]

A good argument for why averages by position should not have much significance on its own.

Amen. So Ali averages best at 4 and 7. That tells us nothing

 

[gettingbetter]

With all the talk about England's team, what about South Africa? Will it be a straight swap - Rabada for Olivier?

 

[CricAddict]

With all the talk about England's team, what about South Africa? Will it be a straight swap - Rabada for Olivier?

Yes, I think that will be the only change. Makes both batting and bowling better.

 

[Moonsorrow999]

With all the talk about England's team, what about South Africa? Will it be a straight swap - Rabada for Olivier?

Yeah, I'd have thought that the only one injury permitting. Olivier did nothing to prove to me that he should play over Rabada at least. Man, if Steyn were fit and Abbott around, how would they handle it?

 

[StephenZA]

For SA it i relatively easy at the moment, Rabada in for Olivier. I can't see any other needed change, unless they wish to go Morris out for de Bruyn, but think that is unlikely. And the very unlikely change of Markram in for Kuhn. If that happened it would be Markram for a long while regardless of numbers, but they will probably give Kuhn at least this series.

SA play Bangladesh in Sept/Oct. Who are SA playing end of the year Dec/Jan? I know its Aus in Feb/March.

 

[Dendarii]

Yeah, I'd have thought that the only one injury permitting. Olivier did nothing to prove to me that he should play over Rabada at least. Man, if Steyn were fit and Abbott around, how would they handle it?

I think Steyn, Rabada, Philander would definitely make the team, but whether or not they go with a fourth seamer becomes a tricky question. Playing Abbott or Morkel would create a bit of a long tail, so Morris might get the nod ahead of those two because of his batting. Alternatively they might opt for another batsman, which has been what they were doing up until the last test.

 

[Dendarii]

SA play Bangladesh in Sept/Oct. Who are SA playing end of the year Dec/Jan? I know its Aus in Feb/March.

I think it's India, but I'm not certain.

 

[Adders]

Yeah, I'd have thought that the only one injury permitting. Olivier did nothing to prove to me that he should play over Rabada at least. Man, if Steyn were fit and Abbott around, how would they handle it?

**** I bet he's devastated about that.

 

[StephenZA]

I think Steyn, Rabada, Philander would definitely make the team, but whether or not they go with a fourth seamer becomes a tricky question. Playing Abbott or Morkel would create a bit of a long tail, so Morris might get the nod ahead of those two because of his batting. Alternatively they might opt for another batsman, which has been what they were doing up until the last test.

Yeah... but if Steyn, Philander, Morkel, Rabada could not bowl the opposition out cheaply, then SA did not need a 7th batsmen on such a flat pitch

 

[Groundking]

At least if we do go back to some order of JYB, Stokes and Moeen at 6/7/8 it means we've got 3 batting spots available for the endless wheel of **** to go through, so there's more chance of finding somebody who gets into the team permanently and makes a spot his own.

 

[Dendarii]

Yeah... but if Steyn, Philander, Morkel, Rabada could not bowl the opposition out cheaply, then SA did not need a 7th batsmen on such a flat pitch

That's true. I forgot that Duminy's been dropped, so now the seventh batsman is less of a requirement.

But that's the poser - do they go for what would be one of the more formidable bowling attacks you're likely to see (and don't forget Maharaj, who is currently averaging under 26) with the goal of knocking the opposition over cheaply or do they go for the extra security of the additional batsman? But that's the sort of selection dilemma that you want to have.

 

[Moonsorrow999]

**** I bet he's devastated about that.

Toxic much.

 

[StephenZA]

That's true. I forgot that Duminy's been dropped, so now the seventh batsman is less of a requirement.

But that's the poser - do they go for what would be one of the more formidable bowling attacks you're likely to see (and don't forget Maharaj, who is currently averaging under 26) with the goal of knocking the opposition over cheaply or do they go for the extra security of the additional batsman? But that's the sort of selection dilemma that you want to have.

In truth we will unlikely ever see that line-up.... I am always a fan of 6 batsmen, wk, 4 best bowlers. With QDK at 4 now, we have a spot at 7/8 for an allrounder which is great for Morris. I would prefer a batting allrounder and hope Smith/Mulder comes good sooner rather than later.

 

[honestbharani]

They can always drop Maharaj for Duminy's offies on a track where the seamers can do most damage.

 

[Marius]

They can always drop Maharaj for Duminy's offies on a track where the seamers can do most damage.

Maharaj is probably a better batsman than Duminy at the moment.

But, as others have said, re: the SA side, only change I see is Rabada coming in for Olivier.

Wonder how the race averages are looking at the moment, because the last Test we were two short of the quota, and this Test we will probably be one short.