South Africa team selection

[TT Boy]

Mulder has only been overlooked for this series. He debuted in the last home test that South Africa played, didn’t score any runs, story of Mulder’s international career so far, and presumably wasn’t considered here as he doesn’t bowl spin and isn’t good enough currently to warrant a top six berth.
Sure, he scored runs in the A series but so did Markram. He is 21 and going by what’s available e.g. not a lot, he is going to play plenty more for South Africa in the coming years. Let’s not forget he played international cricket in October 2017; Mulder’s first FC game was in October 2016.

 

[Bahseph]

Okay Gents please go read Firdose's article on Cricinfo about dropping de Bruyn and Markram. I don't know if it's just me but I really don't like her style.

 

[StephenZA]

Okay Gents please go read Firdose's article on Cricinfo about dropping de Bruyn and Markram. I don't know if it's just me but I really don't like her style.

I don't know how much that was sarcasm of just enough not reading the Firdrose bashing that goes on around here...


And resting anybody is pointless at this stage. Plenty of rest after the 3rd test available.

 

[Bahseph]

Sarcasm! Not my strongest suit as you can see. Also, I think the concept of a "dead rubber" is gone now. We are in a Test Championship. Every game has to be treated with the same respect. Just wanted to add that along with your point.

 

[Dendarii]

I know picking holes in her articles is sometimes like shooting fish in a barrel, but in her opening paragraph she describes Hamza as an opener. Does he have a history of opening? I thought he was a number 3/4. If he were to replace Markram then he would have to open but that wouldn't make him an opener.

 

[StephenZA]

I know picking holes in her articles is sometimes like shooting fish in a barrel, but in her opening paragraph she describes Hamza as an opener. Does he have a history of opening? I thought he was a number 3/4. If he were to replace Markram then he would have to open but that wouldn't make him an opener.

I think he has and can open, but 90% of his FC career is at 3.

 

[SeamUp]

I think he has and can open, but 90% of his FC career is at 3.

As much an opener as de Bruyn which they aren't.

Love all the talk is resting Markram, de Bruyn, Bavuma or leaving them out for fresh minds but Hamza is the only reserve batsman unless they going to play Klaasen.

 

[StephenZA]

How many bad Fidrose articles are we going to have to put up with... she seems to be making up for lost time, there is some additional dross everyday now.

 

[Dendarii]

How many bad Fidrose articles are we going to have to put up with...

She has good articles?

 

[Bolo.]

My theory is that CSA had a cunning plan to get her on board to have a talking point besides RSA's ineptitude.

 

[DriveClub]

South African cricket is going to decline due to quotas and kolpak, inevitable tbh

 

[Dendarii]

South African cricket is going to decline due to quotas and kolpak, inevitable tbh

I don't think you can say it's inevitable for those reasons given that white players aren't performing and Kolpak might not be an option after Brexit.

 

[StephenZA]

So the whole query around Markram is that he actually hurt and fractured his wrist because he hit something after his 2nd innings dismissal.
https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/...-ruled-third-test-self-inflicted-wrist-injury

I've always said the Markram is to hard on himself, but I also worry about the SA dressing room at the moment (as the mental state of the people inside not the physical room!)

 

[StephenZA]

South African cricket is going to decline due to quotas and kolpak, inevitable tbh

I don't think you can say it's inevitable for those reasons given that white players aren't performing and Kolpak might not be an option after Brexit.

Kolpak does not help, but it is not an issue in of itself. Quota issues at FC level have caused a weakening of domestic structure. But I think this is very much a SA team in rebuilding phase, which every team can struggle with, the question is if you can come back from it and based on talent, SA should.

The overall issue is just with failing structures in CSA that need to be fixed from mismanagement and some bad decisions. But mismanagement in SA goes far beyond cricket.

 

[Dendarii]

but I also worry about the SA dressing room at the moment (as the mental state of the people inside not the physical room!)

There was that spat between Rabada and De Kock, which could have just been frustration or it could be an indication that things aren't particularly good behind the scenes right now.

 

[StephenZA]

The person I feel sorry for right now is Nkwe... yes he has taking over as interim coach of a struggling team, but if he has backroom problems as well, must be a nightmare when people are questioning you as coach combined with being in the job for 6 weeks before going to India. Talk about getting a hiding to nothing. About the only thing is that I don't feel anybody is laying blame at his door but rather higher up.

 

[MrPrez]

Yeah, unfortunately he's black, too, which means that he will get a disproportionate amount of criticism from the ignorati as a "BEE" or "Quota" coach that doesn't know what he's doing.

 

[Dendarii]

What also doesn't help is that he wouldn't have been supporters' choice as coach as in all likelihood the general preference would have been for Boucher and then Prince.

 

[SeamUp]

The person I feel sorry for right now is Nkwe... yes he has taking over as interim coach of a struggling team, but if he has backroom problems as well, must be a nightmare when people are questioning you as coach combined with being in the job for 6 weeks before going to India. Talk about getting a hiding to nothing. About the only thing is that I don't feel anybody is laying blame at his door but rather higher up.

CSA is to blame for everything giving into government demands.

They have ripped apart a structure that was doing well for SA cricket and now all players are suffering because they aren't being prepared sufficiently for international cricket.

That is right down to schoolboy and underage level cricket for me which was the heartbeat and success behind our cricket for decades. Basically our academies. Not sure we have to old school cricket coaches anymore like we used feeding these young lads knowledge second to none.

But lets not rule out what the window dressing has done from coaches to team make ups at international, franchise and provincial level. We not thriving off excellence anymore. Players are missing out to players less deserving when there are already players being carried in teams. To much talent from a coaching perspective and player perspective has been lost. I don't think any cricket system can survive losing 20 of your best domestic players.

Coaches ?

Ford, Domingo, Klusener, Gobind, Burger, G.Morgan, Birrell, P.de Bruyn, McKenzie, Langeveldt, Boje and tons more - we have been losing too many of these guys.

We've kept Birrell and Simons for MSL and got G.Kirsten back for it.

 

[SeamUp]

Our current franchise coaches.

Prince
Warriors ? Mfuneko Ngam ?
Khan
Kruger
Gwavu
Boucher

Who are the Provincial one's ?

WP : Paul Adams
BOL : Henry Williams
EP : Piet Botha
BOR : Not sure
KZN C : Roger Telemachus
KZN I : Yusuf Abdulla
NC : Loots Bosman
FS : Not sure
GAU : Not sure
NW : Not sure
NOR : Geoff Toyana
EAS : Richard Das Neves

Andrew Puttick who is batting consultant for WP/Cobras joined the SA A team with Piet Botha. 3 of those provincial coaches have already been franchise coaches.