Pakistan Tour of South Africa 2018/19

[Tec15]

Should be the last of de Bruyn for a while now? I'd ideally give him one more series, but jeez he's botched up the starts, literally thrown it away.

There is a series in India later this year and he should be given an opportunity to play there considering his hundred in SL. A random domestic basher is not likely to do better there.

 

[StephenZA]

Yeah. Lucky enough to sit in a box. Went with my old man. Previous client of his down from England so he offered us to come.

It was a good days cricket. Runs and wickets. I wanted us to bat longer in the morning just to perhaps draw the game out as could have gone again today.

Nice. Always good to sit in the boxes. Best of all worlds.

The walking wounded here. Going to cobble a top 6 together for 5 days time ?

Gives de Bruyn and Hamza a shoot off chance? Hoping Wanderers is a bit more batting friendly give the batsmen a chance to show there skill without having a 'ball with your name on it' sort of feeling.

 

[GRAB]

They persisted with Bavuma this far so I doubt they’ll ditch De Bruyn in a hurry.

"Persisted" - Bavuma's average was above 30 at the same point as de Bruyn is now, and has never dropped below. He hits a score of 50 plus every 3 games and has ground out in so many tough situations (Hobart anyone?)

 

[TT Boy]

Idk, with Mulder and Hamza waiting and India series ahead, if they will. Bavuma's case is a bit different for multiple reasons. I'm

Also, after the same number of games Bavuma was averaging 35+. Temba hasn’t kicked on but he has been pretty consistent. de Bruyn hasn’t.

 

[TT Boy]

A leggie bowling medium pace.

 

[StephenZA]

Nice of Ali to end it like that?

Best part of this match is the fight shown by the SA batsmen. Getting to 430 was a huge effort and best batting I've seen from the team in a good long while. Well done boys.

 

[StephenZA]

Lol. Nicholas thinking we gonna to see something for the spinners at the Wanderers!

 

[SeamUp]

Nice. Always good to sit in the boxes. Best of all worlds.

Gives de Bruyn and Hamza a shoot off chance? Hoping Wanderers is a bit more batting friendly give the batsmen a chance to show there skill without having a 'ball with your name on it' sort of feeling.

The opening situation interests me if Markram doesn't play.

 

[Bijed]

"Persisted" - Bavuma's average was above 30 at the same point as de Bruyn is now, and has never dropped below. He hits a score of 50 plus every 3 games and has ground out in so many tough situations (Hobart anyone?)

Yeah, Bavuma really needs to fix his conversion problem, but regardless, he's a far more valuable player than an outsider would probably assume from his mid-30s average, especially since SA play in a lot of low-scoring games. Took me a while to start respecting his batting, but now have a lot of respect for some of the work he's done. de Bruyn OTOH is averaging sub-20 after this match (I assume, cricinfo not updated yet) which isn't good enough however you spin it. Though, I don't really know much about who might replace him - does he get for chances because there's no-one else really to bring in?

Anyway, well played SA

 

[SeamUp]

Lol. Nicholas thinking we gonna to see something for the spinners at the Wanderers!

What's he smoking.

Sri Lanka are here for PE and Durban. They will get the pitches that suit them most but you probably feel 2 of the 3 venues used for this series should have been used with PE/Durban getting 1 so that Sri Lanka gets 1 bouncy/quick(ish) wicket.

 

[M0rphin3]

They persisted with Bavuma this far so I doubt they’ll ditch De Bruyn in a hurry.

Also, after the same number of games Bavuma was averaging 35+. Temba hasn’t kicked on but he has been pretty consistent. de Bruyn hasn’t.

Yup. And has played crucial knocks too, when the top order's been fragile.

Only thing on my mind rn is subcontinent conditions and how Hamza/Mulder is gonna fare over there, while de Bruyn has more exposure (and success) on that front.

 

[M0rphin3]

. Though, I don't really know much about who might replace him - does he get for chances because there's no-one else really to bring in?

Anyway, well played SA

Hamza/Mulder is up next. He's being persisted with because of his ton, I presume. And that's fair enough, the guy is promising and everything. But gotta convert, not sure he deserves any more chances atm.

 

[StephenZA]

What's he smoking.


Sri Lanka are here for PE and Durban. They will get the pitches that suit them most but you probably feel 2 of the 3 venues used for this series should have been used with PE/Durban getting 1 so that Sri Lanka gets 1 bouncy/quick(ish) wicket.

It is a bit of a surprise considering what happened in SL earlier this last year. Maybe a test of groundsman to see about getting pace in the wickets?

 

[Bolo]

I don't think the pitch had quite as much pace (at least consistently) for that role to have worked yesterday. Easy to say with hindsight of course. Would like to see that enforcer thing used in specific situations only. I remember an ODI where Kallis pulled us out of a hole bowling that way...

Feel for de Bruyn. Battling for his spot and he can only come out and make 20.

Morkel and Broad's career improvement should be evidence enough.

 

[StephenZA]

The opening situation interests me if Markram doesn't play.

Hamza? Bit tough on the kid though. but does generally play 3. I think it would be unfair on de Bruyn as well. I would prefer we don't call in a specialist opener for one match though.

 

[Bolo]

The opening situation interests me if Markram doesn't play.

I thought markham was a natural opener at first, but the I see of him, the more I think he'd be better suited to 4 or 5. Plus we need to fill a 2 or 3 middle order spots soon, which would make balancing the side easier. Opportunity for a dry run here maybe?

 

[SeamUp]

Hamza? Bit tough on the kid though. but does generally play 3. I think it would be unfair on de Bruyn as well. I would prefer we don't call in a specialist opener for one match though.

Definitely wouldn't open him. If he comes in, its for Amla (if he isn't alright) or de Bruyn (dropped).

I thought markham was a natural opener at first, but the I see of him, the more I think he'd be better suited to 4 or 5. Plus we need to fill a 2 or 3 middle order spots soon, which would make balancing the side easier. Opportunity for a dry run here maybe?

Yeah. You can see this being spoken about as we move forward and if things don't go well with the players they try especially when Amla and Faf retire.

But when Markram is functioning like that first innings how demoralising is it for the opposition when the opener just looks so dominant and scores so fast. We luck when we had Gibbs and Smith who could do that.

 

[StephenZA]

Definitely wouldn't open him. If he comes in, its for Amla (if he isn't alright) or de Bruyn (dropped).

Who would you open with if Markrams injured? Call up Malan with his current form?

Edit: Just noticed that J. Malan has not batted? Has he injured himself?

 

[Heboric]

Well done boys

The irony that Pakistan are leading the batting charts for the series

 

[SeamUp]

Who would you open with if Markrams injured? Call up Malan with his current form?

Edit: Just noticed that J. Malan has not batted? Has he injured himself?

Yes. Mentioned it in domestic thread. Went off after 2.5 overs in the game.

Down to Reeza Hendricks , Pieter Malan or Edward Moore but being his home ground I think it would be Reeza. He is in the limited overs sides and may just be a reward for his years of domestic service whilst he knows it won't be a long term thing.