***Official*** Australia in South Africa 2018

[StephenZA]

Yeah, if Faf misses out which supposedly may happen I would play Klaasen at 6 or 7

I would prefer they pick Mulder..... think he would add more to the team. Klaasens is obviously first back up wicket keeper but would not think it was right to pick him as pure batsmen....

https://www.supersport.com/cricket/sunfoil-series-201718/stats The stats for the year are interesting....

There would be a number of players in good form that would be understandably unhappy if Klaasens got picked in front of them as a pure batsmen. Pity Ackermann has gone Kolpak. I wonder how much the SA 'A' match versus Aus may determine selection?

 

[SeamUp]

GRAB has it somewhere.

Checking cricinfo quickly.

2017/18 : 292 @ 48.66 Two 100s SR 59.28
2016/17 : 635 @ 48.84 One 100 SR 52.91
2015/16 : 94 @ 18.80 SR 46.30

 

[Marius]

GRAB has it somewhere.

Checking cricinfo quickly.

2017/18 : 292 @ 48.66 Two 100s SR 59.28
2016/17 : 635 @ 48.84 One 100 SR 52.91
2015/16 : 94 @ 18.80 SR 46.30

Those Klaasen's franchise numbers? If so, they're pretty good.

Can't wait for him to get a Test gig and the inevitable shrieking about him getting picked ahead of Mangi Mosehle.

 

[Marius]

Wonder how close Rudi Second is to a gig?

 

[StephenZA]

Wonder how close Rudi Second is to a gig?

Seems to be in great form and deserves a shot.... but he is another 28+ age group again?

Edit: I know I keep on going on about this, but Faf was considered to be picked late and he was just 27... I don't know if that supports my opinion or not, but think Faf is far better than some of these others getting mentioned.

 

[Marius]

Seems to be in great form and deserves a shot.... but he is another 28+ age group again?

That was one of Australia's strenghts I always thought.

They'd pick the best guy at the time, didn't matter if he was 30, if he was picking up sticks or making runs he would have a shot. And they would have had a good few seasons' experience in one of the roughest FC arenas in the world.

Look at guys like Stuart Clark, Lehmann, etc, all made their debuts at a fairly old age. Or guys like Martyn, Hayden, and Langer - debuted young but then a long time in Sheffield Shield stuff and then asbolutely bossed it when they got a chance again.

 

[SeamUp]

Those Klaasen's franchise numbers? If so, they're pretty good.

Can't wait for him to get a Test gig and the inevitable shrieking about him getting picked ahead of Mangi Mosehle.

Yeah, I would say he has done a lot of things right and is a good example of a late developer. But he is barely 26 I think so he can still improve slightly too.

I think Mangi is a good person by hearing him talk but he has got away with being mediocre for so long and showing no improvement.

Seems to be in great form and deserves a shot.... but he is another 28+ age group again?

Edit: I know I keep on going on about this, but Faf was considered to be picked late and he was just 27... I don't know if that supports my opinion or not, but think Faf is far better than some of these others getting mentioned.

Second does score runs but he is a proper grinder type. He might even open in the A game but again I don't see him as an adaptable batsman unlike Klaasen can be.

Faf was smashing limited overs and I think Stiaan and Rilee could have felt quite aggrieved by his test call up ahead of them but Mike Procter/Craig Matthews?/Shafiek Abrahams? made a good gut-call that we spoke about above.

 

[SeamUp]

That was one of Australia's strenghts I always thought.

They'd pick the best guy at the time, didn't matter if he was 30, if he was picking up sticks or making runs he would have a shot. And they would have had a good few seasons' experience in one of the roughest FC arenas in the world.

Look at guys like Stuart Clark, Lehmann, etc, all made their debuts at a fairly old age. Or guys like Martyn, Hayden, and Langer - debuted young but then a long time in Sheffield Shield stuff and then asbolutely bossed it when they got a chance again.

Suppose that is where strong FC systems come into it and right now ours is a long way off what it was 3/4/5 years or so ago.

 

[SeamUp]

I would prefer they pick Mulder..... think he would add more to the team. Klaasens is obviously first back up wicket keeper but would not think it was right to pick him as pure batsmen....

https://www.supersport.com/cricket/sunfoil-series-201718/stats The stats for the year are interesting....

There would be a number of players in good form that would be understandably unhappy if Klaasens got picked in front of them as a pure batsmen. Pity Ackermann has gone Kolpak. I wonder how much the SA 'A' match versus Aus may determine selection?

That little burst with the ball at the end of the last game doesn't look too bad taking the whole game into context.

I think they will give him another winter with the A team. Hopefully score some big runs. Think he will be there and there abouts next summer.

 

[StephenZA]

That was one of Australia's strenghts I always thought.

They'd pick the best guy at the time, didn't matter if he was 30, if he was picking up sticks or making runs he would have a shot. And they would have had a good few seasons' experience in one of the roughest FC arenas in the world.

Look at guys like Stuart Clark, Lehmann, etc, all made their debuts at a fairly old age. Or guys like Martyn, Hayden, and Langer - debuted young but then a long time in Sheffield Shield stuff and then asbolutely bossed it when they got a chance again.

Agreed.... but you are looking at a peak Aus side, that had some great players with huge depth during that era.... now compare it to what they have now; picking younger players (23-25) like Hanscombe or Bancroft. Even Aus with a much stronger FC setup is not rolling world class players off the ranks and looking towards younger generation players.

Ultimately you have to go on what you see in the player and I am much further away than the selectors and coaches, gut calls like SeamUp mentions is what it comes down to...it is just unfortunate that we have a couple of batting injuries that take us away from getting an obvious 7/4 split that would be ideal for the Aus series.

 

[Marius]

Agreed.... but you are looking at a peak Aus side, that had some great players with huge depth during that era.... now compare it to what they have now; picking younger players (23-25) like Hanscombe or Bancroft. Even Aus with a much stronger FC setup is not rolling world class players off the ranks and looking towards younger generation players.

Ultimately you have to go on what you see in the player and I am much further away than the selectors and coaches, gut calls like SeamUp mentions is what it comes down to...it is just unfortunate that we have a couple of batting injuries that take us away from getting an obvious 7/4 split that would be ideal for the Aus series.

Yeah, I suppose your ideal XI, assuming no injuries or political considerations would be:

Markram
Elgar
Hash
AB
Faf
Temba
QDK
Vern
Maharaj
Steyn
Rabada

 

[the big bambino]

Agreed.... but you are looking at a peak Aus side, that had some great players with huge depth during that era.... now compare it to what they have now; picking younger players (23-25) like Hanscombe or Bancroft. Even Aus with a much stronger FC setup is not rolling world class players off the ranks and looking towards younger generation players.

Ultimately you have to go on what you see in the player and I am much further away than the selectors and coaches, gut calls like SeamUp mentions is what it comes down to...it is just unfortunate that we have a couple of batting injuries that take us away from getting an obvious 7/4 split that would be ideal for the Aus series.

Australia don't pick players on age or "gut" as a policy. They pick on performance irrespective of age. Handscomb and Bancroft got their spots because they performed at the critical moment, not because the selectors "saw something in them". Accordingly they'll get dropped if they don't perform, as happened to the younger Martyn, Hayden and Langer and has happened to Handscomb while Bancroft is teetering. Its happened to both Marshes. Whereas a gut pick like Maddinson exploded in their faces. They probably gut picked Paine too. But he worked, possibly because he is more mature and his skill as a keeper is known. It seems our fc class comp does favour producing more mature players bcos it works over young players until they develop the skill to survive then prosper. They are usually approaching their 30s when that happens.

You could say Jhye Richardson is a gut pick but there'll be less pressure on him bcos, all things being equal, he'll be a squad member instead of in the test team. So he can be groomed rather than be expected to perform. But overall the fc system seems to favour experienced and older players and gut picks are a sign of desperation on the part of selectors.

 

[GoodAreasShane]

I don't understand why so much emphasis is being placed on Dale Steyn. Even if he is fit by the 3rd test, rushing him back with minimal cricket again is a massive risk considering his recent injury history.

 

[Chrish]

Absence of Steyn will be felt in Asia. It would be inconsequential in SA IMO.

 

[Daemon]

Australia don't pick players on age or "gut" as a policy. They pick on performance irrespective of age.

hahahahahahhhahahahahahahahahahahah

 

[Adders]

I don't understand why so much emphasis is being placed on Dale Steyn.

Because he's, errrr.....Dale Steyn?

 

[Gnske]

Australia don't pick players on age or "gut" as a policy. .

Could this be bait?

 

[Starfighter]

Australia don't pick players on age or "gut" as a policy.

I seem to remember we once picked a player averaging only 30-odd that shield season because he was 'in a good space'.

 

[GoodAreasShane]

Because he's, errrr.....Dale Steyn?

I am not disputing that Steyn is a truly world class bowler, not at all. But that all counts for nothing if he can't stay on the park. Considering South Africa still have a pretty impressive looking pace attack without Steyn, they probably would be better off being fairly cautious, not risk having him break down mid game yet again.

 

[harsh.ag]

Steyn really is a selection problem. Going with 4 bowlers with him there is fraught with danger and yet, with QdK's form in the dumpster, the 5 specialist batsmen strategy makes it difficult for them to win against the Aussies.