South Africa team selection

[StephenZA]

It is the same thing that SA selection has been doing for awhile, picking the people that perform the best consistently. Which is all well and good for when you have an established team. I think a bit more proactive selection needs to be made when rebuilding. The people in the know, have a good idea who the youngsters of quality are that can truly make a step up and they need to be brave.

 

[Dendarii]

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.

I can understand the selections of Hendricks and Paterson as with Ngidi out there's no one who should obviously to replace him so they've gone for two guys with a lot of first-class experience and decent records. I would have liked to have seen them go for some of the younger bowlers instead, but it seems like they've gone the safer route.

As for Pretorius and Phehlukwayo, it looks like they want to go the all-rounder route even though the only real candidate for the job is injured. I suppose you might be able to make a case for Pretorius as he has a first-class batting average of 39.05 and bowling average of 23.87 (although I don't know what his franchise stats are like), but not for Phehlukwayo.

 

[Dendarii]

The average age of the 6 uncapped players is supposedly 30.

Pretorius - 30 years, 262 days
Hendricks - 29 years, 191 days
Malan - 30 years, 126 days
Paterson - 30 years, 256 days
Second - 30 years, 162 days
Van der Dussen - 30 years, 312 days

So that's an average of 30 years, 157 days.

 

[SeamUp]

By Age. Under 25s in bold.

1. Elgar (32)
2. Markram (25)
3. Hamza (24)
4. van der Dussen (30)
5. du Plessis (35)
6. Second (30)
7. de Kock (27)
8. Philander (34)
9. Maharaj (29)
10. Rabada (24)
11. Nortje (26)

12. B.Hendricks (29)
13. Pretorius (30)
14. Paterson (30)


SA A

1. P.Malan (30)
2. R.Hendricks (30)
3. de Bruyn (27)
4. Bavuma (29)
5. van Biljon (33)
6. Verreynne (22)
7. Phehlukwayo (23)
8. Piedt (29)
9. Sipamla (21)
10. Stuurman (27)
11. Burger (24)

 

[SeamUp]

It is the same thing that SA selection has been doing for awhile, picking the people that perform the best consistently. Which is all well and good for when you have an established team. I think a bit more proactive selection needs to be made when rebuilding. The people in the know, have a good idea who the youngsters of quality are that can truly make a step up and they need to be brave.

Agree 100%

Lets see what this coaching staff can do in the short-term. Hopefully the youngsters nail the door down starting from Thursday in the 4-day series.

We definitely need some foresight but I can see Prince/Boucher saying they want people ready and hardened for the England series. Convinced Prince would have had a big say in the SA A team he is working with even if not a selector.

 

[SeamUp]

I can understand the selections of Hendricks and Paterson as with Ngidi out there's no one who should obviously to replace him so they've gone for two guys with a lot of first-class experience and decent records. I would have liked to have seen them go for some of the younger bowlers instead, but it seems like they've gone the safer route.

As for Pretorius and Phehlukwayo, it looks like they want to go the all-rounder route even though the only real candidate for the job is injured. I suppose you might be able to make a case for Pretorius as he has a first-class batting average of 39.05 and bowling average of 23.87 (although I don't know what his franchise stats are like), but not for Phehlukwayo.

Again agreed. I honestly am not sure what the need will be for guys like Pretorius and Phehlukwayo unless they are there to push Philander and the fitness concerns with him. That he needs competition. Not that those 2 can get anywhere near Philander at his best in red-ball cricket but maybe just for him to know he needs to be the biz v England. I am just worried about creating pecking orders though.

 

[Dendarii]

Again agreed. I honestly am not sure what the need will be for guys like Pretorius and Phehlukwayo unless they are there to push Philander and the fitness concerns with him. That he needs competition. Not that those 2 can get anywhere near Philander at his best in red-ball cricket but maybe just for him to know he needs to be the biz v England. I am just worried about creating pecking orders though.

Maybe they're there more as a backup to Philander as a bowler who can bat a bit. Obviously the bowling would be weakened if they had to come in for him, but the batting wouldn't be affected as much as if Paterson or Hendricks were to replace Philander should the need arise, which it very possibly could.

 

[Stefan9]

Isn't malan basicly only cover in case Markram doesn't prove his fitness in the titans game? That's my understanding.

Not a big fan of paterson,hendricks & pretorius.

 

[StephenZA]

Is the squad for the entire series?

The one thing I case say about this selection is it does give those youngsters a chance to show themselves at domestic in the next few weeks rather than just carrying drinks.

 

[Stefan9]

Believe its for the first 2 tests

 

[Rasimione]

Phehlukwayo, Pretorius, Paterson and Malan are not test players and never will be. I've rarely questioned Linda Zondi and his selection committee but this time I'm dissapointed. I'm not a fan of bits and pieces players at test level. It never works.

 

[SeamUp]

By Age. Under 25s in bold.

1. Elgar (32)
2. Markram (25)
3. Hamza (24)
4. van der Dussen (30)
5. du Plessis (35)
6. Second (30)
7. de Kock (27)
8. Philander (34)
9. Maharaj (29)
10. Rabada (24)
11. Nortje (26)

12. B.Hendricks (29)
13. Pretorius (30)
14. Paterson (30)


SA A

1. P.Malan (30)
2. R.Hendricks (30)
3. de Bruyn (27)
4. Bavuma (29)
5. van Biljon (33)
6. Verreynne (22)
7. Phehlukwayo (23)
8. Piedt (29)
9. Sipamla (21)
10. Stuurman (27)
11. Burger (24)

Just assessing things again. Faf loves Hulk. Hulk is getting his test debut over Second isn't he ? Still don't see why he wants 5 bowlers to risk a top 7 that has been brittle.

 

[Bahseph]

I made the point in the MSL thread(Not sure if you blokes read that), but Faf is a Pretorius fan. You can tell by the way he used him for the Paarl side. I may be in the minority here but I don't think he will do too bad in Tests. A little Ryan McLarenesque. But if we are thinking about him going forward then we have an issue.

 

[SeamUp]

I made the point in the MSL thread(Not sure if you blokes read that), but Faf is a Pretorius fan. You can tell by the way he used him for the Paarl side. I may be in the minority here but I don't think he will do too bad in Tests. A little Ryan McLarenesque. But if we are thinking about him going forward then we have an issue.

Thing is, I still back Second to get a test 100 over Pretorius so i would rather want him in my top 7.

Rabada, Philander & the other quick should be fairly fresh. They ticked over a little bit in MSL

Faf is worried that Maharaj has to bowl 20+ overs if we bowl first I reckon. Also worried about losing a quick to injury during the game. More I think of it, Pretorius is playing.

 

[StephenZA]

I wonder what Smith/Boucher think of Pretorius?

 

[SeamUp]

I wonder what Smith/Boucher think of Pretorius?

Would love to be a fly on the wall during the discussion. Smith definitely wouldn't want to pick bits and pieces.

I guess it depends what type of Centurion pitch it will be. It may make them lean towards Pretorius for bounce and bit of seam at times when he bowls & if it get easier to bat the older the ball gets.

 

[StephenZA]

I can see them playing Pretorius at a place like Wanderers in place of Maharaj, but to play him as a 5th bowler/allrounder... If our 3 front line quicks can't do the job against the current English batting line-up in SA then we are in trouble already.

The only reason I am such a big fan of Mulder is he could potential be a quality top 6 international batsmen.

 

[StephenZA]

I think this has been mentioned, but this Richardsons advisory committee seems a fools errand at the moment. Was there not and independent report 18 moths ago or so that was just ignored by the CSA board? They have something to implement, we all know what needs to be done. The starting point should be the sacking of the CSA board.

 

[SeamUp]

I think this has been mentioned, but this Richardsons advisory committee seems a fools errand at the moment. Was there not and independent report 18 moths ago or so that was just ignored by the CSA board? They have something to implement, we all know what needs to be done. The starting point should be the sacking of the CSA board.

It looks like 'passing the buck' but what I would say is, there are some serious people involved and their findings should at least be interesting. Whether it is implemented is another story.

 

[StephenZA]

It looks like 'passing the buck' but what I would say is, there are some serious people involved and their findings should at least be interesting. Whether it is implemented is another story.

Like everything else in SA you can have the best advise but if you don't implement that advise because of political grandstanding and lining your own pocket it becomes pointless.

The pressure on the board needs to be pushed up even further... sponsors, SACA and public need to continue onwards while momentum is there, because if it dies down now and we have a good home series against Eng, then the board is going to keep going quietly under the radar. Right now anybody working with CSA should be demanding a stipulation of the entire boards resignation.

Amazing how quiet supersport has been during this...