South Africa team selection

[Prince EWS]

SeamUp, I hope van der Dussen makes the XI, surely he is worth a shot over De Bruyn and Bavuma.

Im concerned that SA will want a 5th bowler like a Pretorious, Mulder or Phehlukwayo and it will see Bavuma retained and vdD miss out.

Pretorious and Mulder are injured anyway.

 

[NUFAN]

Pretorious is returning from injury. I named 3 options due to the uncertainty around injuries anyway. I just want to see your classic 6 bats keeper 4 bowlers.

 

[StephenZA]

Mulder is a potential genuine top 6 international bat. SA's aren't excited because he could fill a number 7/8 all-rounder role. It is because he has the ability to bat top 6 and bowl 15 good overs. He is 21, but I am a big advocate for getting him in sooner rather than later. Particularly, now with Boucher in charge. Lets see how quickly he develops then. Under Ashwell with the A team will be good as well.

 

[StephenZA]

It is going to be interesting to see what happens to Bavuma here. Political pressures, but it was obvious the men at the top and Nkwe where pushing him to be a future captain. I do not think that will happen under Boucher/Smith 'directorship' unless Bavuma genuinely starts stepping up.

 

[StephenZA]

https://twitter.com/o_ramela/status/1205878078964207616

If you want to understand how good a coach @EnochNkwe is. Just realise that he could have walked away from the assistant coach position.

But he put his country before personal ambition. He decided to be a patriot, while showing maturity and integrity throughout the process.

 

[StephenZA]

https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-ne...o-repair-the-damage-enoch-nkwe-faf-du-plessis

This is probably one of the most telling paragraphs.

Importantly, the board have been removed from the process of trying to fix what is so obviously broken. "There is no relationship [with the board] at this stage," Smith said. "My point of call had been Jacques. We're trying to sort the game and take it forward." Smith said he had yet to talk to any board members since his appointment, and none of the remaining eight were present on Saturday. His agreement to take the position, which followed him refusing weeks ago, is thought to have hinged on Moroe's axing.

"I didn't have a lot of confidence in the leadership of CSA," Smith said. "I made the communication very clear that I didn't feel you could achieve in this role with the leadership that was there at the time. You need a robust CSA for people to be able to challenge each other. You need trust, and you need to have an environment that's ready for that. I didn't feel the environment was ready before I took this job. If I'm going to come in I want to be able to do the best [I can]. I feel that the opportunity is there now. I have a lot of confidence in Jacques as the CEO."

This head on talk about the possible look of things also important.

But it is the replacement of Nkwe with Boucher that sticks out as potentially contentious. Both have won titles at franchise level but Nkwe has coached for longer and, as the holder of a level four certificate, is the more qualified of the two. Nkwe is also back in a game that is determined to transform itself to better reflect the majority of its players and supporters, as well as the wider nation. Boucher is white. But he comes with the credibility of a successful international career - which Nkwe never had.

"I felt the Proteas needed a really hardened, internationally experienced guy," Smith said. "Mark is tactically very knowledgeable. We all know what qualities he has as a man as well. I felt those decisions were the best for the current Proteas set-up. We've had a number of chats with Enoch in terms of his path going forward, and developing him into a high standard international coach. We feel he has a lot of qualities that are going to be very useful to Mark, and in progressing his own future in South African cricket." Smith said he was braced for questioning from a society that unflinchingly interrogates racial issues: "I expect that. My job is to create cricket excellence. I 100% feel I've made the right decision for the Proteas in terms of cricket excellence. I feel Enoch's appointment as assistant coach is the right thing, also for Enoch's future. We also need to think about managing people and not just a number. I'm very aware of transformation. I led my country for 11 years. I had to be very much part of managing those processes. Mark's appointment, as a battle-hardened international cricketer, is what was needed."


Did Nkwe consider himself demoted? "Not at all," he said. "Whatever decision that gets made, if I'm not involved then I go back to franchise cricket and do my utmost to impact the system positively. I've been fortunate enough to be offered the opportunity to remain in the set-up. There's a lot of room for growth, but I feel I'm going to make a massive impact - not only in the team but in our country. We're going through a bit of a tough time, but there's no better opportunity than to be inside and help transform the team to become the best in the world."

 

[Dendarii]

It is going to be interesting to see what happens to Bavuma here. Political pressures, but it was obvious the men at the top and Nkwe where pushing him to be a future captain. I do not think that will happen under Boucher/Smith 'directorship' unless Bavuma genuinely starts stepping up.

Neil Manthorp had an interesting take on Bavuma, saying that because he's a scrapper who has done well in difficult circumstances making him vice-captain might not have been the best idea as it guarantees him his place and he'd be better off knowing that he needs to fight to keep it.

https://manners-on-cricket.com/let-bavuma-fight-for-his-place-hes-worth-it/

 

[SeamUp]

SeamUp, I hope van der Dussen makes the XI, surely he is worth a shot over De Bruyn and Bavuma.

Im concerned that SA will want a 5th bowler like a Pretorious, Mulder or Phehlukwayo and it will see Bavuma retained and vdD miss out.

I think they will reward Rassie with an opportunity in the England series. Right now , SA needs to get results and stay competitive with the big 3 to stay in the financial bubble. I think Boucher and selectors especially Zondi who was convenor of selectors when picking him and probably was one his bigger successes will think he is experienced and proven more than anything the international stage isn't too much for him mentally even if not the most talented. So taking that all into consideration I think him and Hamza will be ahead of de Bruyn and Bavuma in selection. I would let de Bruyn and Bavuma play for SA A team and compete for a spot with others.

 

[SeamUp]

https://twitter.com/o_ramela/status/1205878078964207616

Liked Colin Bryden's response to this. Huge divide on twitter and obviously race is the issue. Surely, this decision is the best for us to move forward. We have Boucher, Nkwe and Prince all involved.

Colin Bryden
@colinbryden1
·
19h
What an uplifting press conference today.
@GraemeSmith49
@markb46
and Enoch Nkwe - cricket can go forward, especially when Board gets the message and quits.

Colin Bryden
@colinbryden1
·17h
The hallmark of today's press conference was the obvious determination (and patriotism) of all involved to get SA cricket back on track.
@EnochNkwe
will be an important part of that.
Quote Tweet

Omphile Ramela
@o_ramela
· 18h
If you want to understand how good a coach @EnochNkwe is. Just realise that he could have walked away from the assistant coach position. But he put his country before personal ambition. He decided to be a patriot, while showing maturity and integrity throughout the process.

 

[SeamUp]

Neil Manthorp had an interesting take on Bavuma, saying that because he's a scrapper who has done well in difficult circumstances making him vice-captain might not have been the best idea as it guarantees him his place and he'd be better off knowing that he needs to fight to keep it.

https://manners-on-cricket.com/let-bavuma-fight-for-his-place-hes-worth-it/

I think that is a massive problem in our cricket.

The decent black players possibly relax (maybe even unknowingly & more mental than anything) because they are comfortably ahead of others competing in their race category or they are promoted too soon and thrown away quickly if they don't succeed. Racial quotas just cannot continue. Players need that edge knowing if they not performing they have to look over their shoulder. Then the big part of our weakening in domestic cricket is those players in the 3 that have to play hanging on for too long failing continually.

 

[SeamUp]

ESPNcricinfo
@ESPNcricinfo
JUST IN: Lungi Ngidi has suffered a Grade 1 hamstring muscle tear, he will miss the #MSLT20 final for Tshwane Spartans and the Boxing Day Test against England as well

 

[honestbharani]

Shame

 

[SeamUp]

Shame

It is. He needs to get back on a strict fitness regime. Lungi of India home series was strong and fit and he acknowledged that Boucher played a big role in that.

We are also rushing the process possibly in getting him back from fitness which isn't ideal.

 

[SeamUp]

They need to plan his come back very carefully. Whilst he is injured he will only be able to strengthen his upper body so he shouldn't come back immediately even for the Titans.

"He will commence his rehab and return to play program with the aim of getting him fit to play for the Titans in January 2020 and based on his progress, a decision will be made regarding his availability for selection for the Proteas team."

 

[SeamUp]

Looks like van der Dussen and D.Pretorius will be picked in the test squad : https://www.netwerk24.com/Sport/Krieket/bouch-hulle-kies-dalk-rassie-dwaine-vir-toets-20191215

 

[SeamUp]

Really enjoyed this.

https://www.sport24.co.za/Cricket/Proteas/opinion-csa-board-needs-to-go-for-crickets-sake-20191216

1 of our greatest fast bowlers
Cricketing family. Grandfather played FC & dad a great SA batsman whose career was stopped because of WWII.
Worked for the ICC
Extremely knowledgeable about the game.
Good to see him still giving his views. Too many people like him haven't had enough of a platform in our cricket I feel.
#BigVince

 

[SeamUp]

Just been given news/communication ? https://twitter.com/tbavuma10/status/1206525755217391616?s=20

If it is, I hope challenging his position spurs him on.

EDIT : It has been deleted.

Basically Temba put a picture up of himself hitting a shot with a caption : Don't tell anybody they can't do something. Even me. Cricket. SA Cricket.

 

[StephenZA]

P.Malan, Second, van der Dussen, Pretorius, B.Hendricks, Paterson all in the test squad. Even Phehlukwayo.

Some filthy selections.

Disappointing selection here. Obviously injuries a factor. But feel the should have gone Janneman/Moore over Pieter Malan. Van der Dussen and Second deserve their shot. Dont think we should be looking at Pretorius, B.Hendricks, Paterson or Phehlukwayo for the tests squad.

 

[Dendarii]

Posting it here as it goes a bit beyond South Africa vs England, but what is with the continued selection of Pieter Malan ahead of Janneman? I could understand if they picked both of them as they do seem to bat well together, but if you're going to go for just one of them then shouldn't it be Janneman by virtue of being seven years younger and therefore having the potential for a longer career? It's not as though Pieter has a significantly better record than Janneman, so I don't get why they continue to favour him.

 

[SeamUp]

Think this is the tquote that explains the selection. Perhaps if they had more time or played a lower profile series v Windies/Sri Lanka/Pakistan they may have been more creative. But either way they need to assess these guys and possibly draw a line under them soon. Just my opinion but by picking them and giving a pecking order it could make things more complicated. Don't forget a lot of these guys are the one's who failed for SA A. The average age of the 6 uncapped players is supposedly 30.

stuart hess
@shockerhess
Jeez...six uncapped players in that squad. “The high number of uncapped players coming into the squad is a reflection of our policy to acknowledge players who do well at franchise level and have put their hands up for selection,” commented CSA Independent Selector, Linda Zondi.