South Africa team selection

[SeamUp]

I haven't seen much of Linde before this, so I'm hoping SeamUp fills in the gaps. But could he be our number two behind Maharaj? He just looked up for it. Even when Yadav went after him you got the feeling he was trying to get him out and now trying to not be hit for six.

After what has transpired you got to think so.

Linde always played 2nd fiddle to Piedt but never really got a prolonged opportunity in the 4-day side because of Piedt. I have actually always heard Piedt talk about Linde before saying his consistency is improving and it will need to if he gets more 4-day chances but I remember last season in PMB Linde got his chance and outbowled Piedt there. On the consistency part, I think it is fair - he can tend to drop the odd one short but he showed more consistency than Piedt for example in this last test.

I think Linde was called up before Fortuin because he looks to spin the ball more and isn't as quick through the air but I still would like to get a look at him in the limited overs stuff because of his all round ability but Fortuin didn't do to badly in the T20s just played either.

 

[SeamUp]

Yeah, I guess in the light of the Indian pace bowlers' performance, our quicks don't look particularly good. Although they were the more economical, which meant that even if they had been able keep things tight, there was a release of pressure when the spinners came on.

But the bottom line is that nobody comes out of this series with any sort of credit (with the possible exception of Hamza and Linde).

Agreed. Although I did really enjoy the Elgar and de Kock partnership and both getting 100s which has been a really serious point to our decline in tests. The lack of 100s.

Used to always watch a test and believe a South African was going to score a 100 but who was it going to be. Who would be the match winner or the one to put us in position to win or to save the game ? You haven't got that in SA cricket at the moment. If certain batsmen fail, we not getting a test match 100.

 

[SeamUp]

Faf committed to the transitional period.

Under new leadership and with a number of stalwarts no longer involved, the Proteas are looking to rebuild.

Du Plessis himself is 35 years old and while he has expressed his desire to captain the side to the T20 World Cup in Australia next October, he has not given any indication on what his ODI future looks like just yet.

Up next for the Proteas is a four-match home Test series against England that starts at Centurion on Boxing Day, and they will be under pressure to deliver a performance that restores the belief that this side is still very capable of competing with the best in the world.

Du Plessis, given what he said in Ranchi on Tuesday, is likely to remain at the helm for that series.

"It's a very young team and how I see my journey unfolding with this team is to help that transition period," he said.

"Graeme Smith was a successful captain for a very long time and then after him there were questions over who was going to captain the side.

"This period is to try and make that process a bit smoother by identifying the next leaders and captains and working with them.

"When that time is right, then it will be right, but right now it's just about that process."

The obvious captaincy candidates in the current Test set-up are vice-captain Temba Bavuma and opener Aiden Markram, but neither of those out-of-form players are commanding their places in the side currently.

Quinton de Kock is the other option.

"You look for personalities within the team who you see in three, four, five or six years to come and then the process starts," Du Plessis added.

"In a perfect world you would start the (rebuilding) process somewhere in the middle by changing one or two players and the period is shorter, but the position we find ourselves in now with a lot of experience out of the Test team, that process will probably take longer.

"Right now, it's about identifying the personalities who you believe will drive this team forward, based on character more than anything else.

"It's a rebuilding phase. The way forward when you're going through really tough times like this is to start identifying characters that will drive the team forward."

 

[StephenZA]

I think we need to be a little bit careful when we go after the fast bowlers. I think the way Faf used them in the first test was not good. Rabada should never be used as a stock bowler. 2nd test was better. But this was Nortje's debut and Ngidi's what 6th test? Philander did exactly what was asked. So Rabada on his 2nd tour to the subcontinent bowled alright (had some brilliant spells in 2nd 3rd tests) but had no support, except for Philander who was never going to do enough. Their spinners kept the pressure and ours did not.


But also the Indian batsmen understood the conditions better and that showed, Rohit played brilliantly. Withstood the early pressure from Philander and Rabada 2nd test and in 3rd test, Nortje bowled much better. But Indian batsmen then capitalised on the weaker spinners and demoralised them. Versus a SA batting unit that looked totally at sea against a group of seamers with their tail up. Yes I think Indian seem attack is great, they know the conditions better and bowled accurately; but honestly I think SA batting was that poor and made the Indian seamers look better on these pitches than it is. Hamza in my opinion showed that. The Indian spinners at home are a different class.


Ultimately I think our seamers are less experienced, but still an excellent group. Maharaj was the disappointment; although how often do we say that, when overseas spinners who do well around the RoW come and play in subcontinent and struggle. Don't bowl right lines and lengths and feel the pressure. I think our bowling is fine, if needing some more experience and growth (and a good bowling coach!). Some our batsmen just need to be replaced outright, no coaching is going to make them world class.

 

[StephenZA]

Who would be the match winner or the one to put us in position to win or to save the game ? You haven't got that in SA cricket at the moment. If certain batsmen fail, we not getting a test match 100.

This is how I felt up until 2005 or so, it was always having that long tail that got us close to the 400 marks. What those teams had that this team has not shown is real fight.

 

[StephenZA]

Batting records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com 1995-2005 hundreds

Batting records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com 2005-2015 hundreds

Kallis was such a beast...



The last five years not very pleasant viewing.
Batting records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com

 

[SeamUp]

Luke Alfred is so damn ****ing good. So many of my thoughts are in here.

Read this gents. It really is a concern where SA cricket is going.

https://m.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news...n-to-get-out-vs-india-3rd-test-ranchi-cricket

 

[Bahseph]

If Greame Smith ever got into a position of power in SA cricket there would be numerous players never sniffing the Test Team. Which isn't a bad thing! You just have to listen to his commentary when de Bruyn or Bavuma are in. Or the way he isn't afraid to criticize Faf. It hurts him to see the team play this way. As it should all of us.

 

[Dendarii]

It hurts him to see the team play this way. As it should all of us.

Except CSA don't seem to be feeling hurt, which is a worry as they're the ones who have the power to make the changes. And it doesn't make sense. If they're continually losing money then one way to address it is to have a team that people want to watch and sponsors are willing to give money towards. We certainly don't have that at the moment, and if CSA are actually trying to do something about it, it's not apparent to any of us.

 

[Rasimione]

What's the rationale of persisting with De Bruyn and Bavuma? I honestly don't get it. Based on what I've seen Hamza looks a real talent and has a history of scoring 100s unlike Bavuma.

 

[Briggs]

I have an interesting idea for CSA which they could use. Send young African black players to County cricket under Kolpak contract and once their contract ends, bring them back to SA and put them straight into the team.

 

[Stefan9]

Dr.Bacher reckons Markram should be made captain.

https://www.iol.co.za/saturday-star...-new-proteas-captain-says-ali-bacher-35976536

Meanwhile Sunday Times citing inside sources claim Temba Bavuma(god help us...) will be made test captain post england series, Markram will be made odi captain(also in the running for the test captaincy) and qdk permanent t20 captain.

 

[MrPrez]

I don't really mind Markram being made captain tbh.

I know his form has been iffy, but realistically he's not getting dropped anytime soon, and my understanding is that he's been seen as a long-term candidate for quite a while.

Might as well get him started young - it's not like anyone is expecting much of the team anyway, so he won't be under much pressure.

 

[Prince EWS]

Markram being made ODI captain and Bavuma being made Test captain would be pretty ridiculous as it'd be effectively making two players who are only selected in those respective formats based on faith rather than merit (at the moment at least in Markram's case) captain.

Bavuma should realistically be dropped from the Test side now and while I'd give Markram a bit of a run in ODIs I definitely don't think I'd make him captain in them before he actually did something. While it's obviously unlikely (particularly given he's been good at it domestically) I'm not totally ruling out him Michael Vaughaning the format, and I think making him captain would not only risk having the captain not warrant his place, but probably also increase the chances of him failing as a batsman in the format to begin with.

Markram as Test captain would be okay. Still not really perfect timing, but fine in the circumstances.

 

[StephenZA]

I think if Markram had shown some form and was not struggling then he would have been made captain in the Test format (and probably ODI) . His lack of form combined with youth (shown by smashing his hand) has made SA crickets job harder.

I`m interested to see who they pick to run the game in SA first right now, because that will likely show the priorities.

 

[SeamUp]

Right now Faf test team & QdK limited overs cricket is the best choices for me.

Everything PEWS says x 1000

 

[GoodAreasShane]

I personally tend to think captain QDK would be a terrible idea but there really isn't many options.

 

[Stefan9]

QDK should be nowhere near captaincy. All evidence any one needs is that terrible slog across the line when the aim should have been to save the test. No though nor thinking involved at all...

 

[MrPrez]

QdK in T20 cricket is fine because who the hell cares about T20I cricket.

Don't let him near the Test and 50 over captaincy jobs though.

 

[SeamUp]

Who else we got that is a certainty in the side ?

QdK delivered in the T20 series with performances and a win. Nothing long term should be placed on it but right now he is our best and only option.

Markram no
Bavuma no
Vd Dussen can he carry on good form & how long is he around for
Miller see above