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SA's best pre-isolation XI, isolation XI, and post-isolation XI

Marius

Marius

International Debutant
It's always hard putting together an all-time XI for any country and SA is no different, but SA has a 'nice' natural division of eras, pre-isolation, isolation, and post-isolation.

Because I am a nerd with no life I once drew up the best XI for each era and posted it on Twitter but I'll post them here too, and let me know what you think.

For players that could be in two XIs (i.e. Graeme Pollock could be in the pre-isolation and isolation XIs) my self-imposed rule was that they could only be in one XI, not two.

So, pre-isolation XI:
Alan Melville
Bruce Mitchell
Herbie Taylor
Dudley Nourse
Jackie McGlew
Trevor Goddard
Denis Lindsay
Mike Proctor
Peter Pollock
Hugh Tayfield
Neil Adcock

Isolation XI:
Barry Richards
Jimmy Cook
Peter Kirsten
Graeme Pollock
Kenny McEwan
Kevin McKenzie
Clive Rice
Ray Jennings
Alan Kourie
Vince van der Bijl
Garth le Roux

Post-isolation XI:
Graeme Smith
Hershelle Gibbs
Hashim Amla
Jacques Kallis
AB de Villiers
Darryl Cullinan
QDK
Vernon Philander
Keshav Maharaj
Dale Steyn
Kagiso Rabada

Pollock, Kirsten, Prince, and Ntini all unlucky to miss out.
 
Marius

Marius

International Debutant
Fuller Pilch said:
Good sides but I think you forgot Faulkner from the 1st team. Personally I'd prefer Kirsten over Gibbs, and think S Pollock and Donald should be 2 of the 1st names on any SA team sheet. Boucher would also be amongst those unlucky to miss out.
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Yes, Faulkner is a good shout. And of course, Donald, thinking about it more I would maybe have him instead of Rabada.
 
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Coronis

Coronis

International Coach
Procter really makes no sense on the pre isolation XI when you see Pollock in the isolation XI… IMO it should really be players who didn’t play tests only in the isolation XI (or maybe a year/no. of prior tests cutoff for players like Procter and Richards).

Apart from Pollock and Donald, who should be locks, from a first glance I’d have Eddie Barlow opening for pre-iso and Gary Kirsten for post-iso.
 
B

Bolo.

International Captain
Coronis said:
Procter really makes no sense on the pre isolation XI when you see Pollock in the isolation XI… IMO it should really be players who didn’t play tests only in the isolation XI (or maybe a year/no. of prior tests cutoff for players like Procter and Richards).

Apart from Pollock and Donald, who should be locks, from a first glance I’d have Eddie Barlow opening for pre-iso and Gary Kirsten for post-iso.
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All of this.

Pre isolation: Drop Procter (first reasons Coronis stated) and either Melville or McGlew for Faulkner and Barlow. Lindsay might be a bit contentious, but whatever.

Isolation: McKenzie out for Procter. I know Jennings is considered RSAs best ever WK, but I'd consider dropping him for a WK bat (if there is a good one, no idea). McGewan could probably be replaced by someone who went international.

Post: I think Kirsten is a touch better than Gibbs. Pollock and Donald are strictly better like for like replacements for Philander and Rabada.

These teams end up nicely balanced. The first two have a questionable bat. Rabada ridiculously unlucky to miss out, and Vern good as well. But not too far off from the first 3 XIs if there were no era restrictions, and all the bowling attacks are very nicely balanced.
 
Coronis

Coronis

International Coach
Bolo. said:
All of this.

Pre isolation: Drop Procter (first reasons Coronis stated) and either Melville or McGlew for Faulkner and Barlow. Lindsay might be a bit contentious, but whatever.

Isolation: McKenzie out for Procter. I know Jennings is considered RSAs best ever WK, but I'd consider dropping him for a WK bat (if there is a good one, no idea). McGewan could probably be replaced by someone who went international.

Post: I think Kirsten is a touch better than Gibbs. Pollock and Donald are strictly better like for like replacements for Philander and Rabada.

These teams end up nicely balanced. The first two have a questionable bat. Rabada ridiculously unlucky to miss out, and Vern good as well. But not too far off from the first 3 XIs if there were no era restrictions, and all the bowling attacks are very nicely balanced.
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Completely missed Faulkner not being listed - just assumed he was there. Obvious lock surely.
 
Kenneth Viljoen

Kenneth Viljoen

International Regular
My Pre Isolation XI would be :

1.Bruce Mitchell
2.Eddie Barlow (CPT)
3.Herbie Taylor
4.Dudley Nourse
5.Jackie Mcglew
6.Aubrey Faulkner
7.Denis Lindsay (WK)
8.Trevor Goddard
9.Peter Pollock
10.Hugh Tayfield
11.Neil Adcock

Isolation XI

1.Barry Richards
2.Jimmy Cook
3.Peter Kirsten
4.Graeme Pollock
5.Colin Bland
6.Clive Rice (C)
7.Mike Procter
8.Ray Jennings (WK)
9.Alan Kourie
10.Vincent Van Der Bijl
11.Garth Le Roux
 
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Kenneth Viljoen

Kenneth Viljoen

International Regular
92 and onwards

1.Graeme Smith
2.Herschelle Gibbs
3.Hashim Amla
4.Jacques Kallis
5.Gary Kirsten
6.AB De Villiers
7.Quinton De Kock (WK)
8.Shaun Pollock
9.Dale Steyn
10.Kagiso Rabada
11.Alan Donald

I wouldn't bother with a spinner if it ain't a great bowler , over rates may be a problem though ..
I had to find a place for Gibbs so I put Kirsten in the middle order , he has two test hundreds at No
5 so he has batted there .
 
B

Bolo.

International Captain
ataraxia said:
Lee Irvine's a nice choice for this, but given the existence of Rice + Procter + Kourie the batting is inevitably heavily shored up anyhow.
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Le Roux and V D Bijl also add a touch, but you can never have enough batting. Never really heard anything about the quality of Irvine's keeping though- don't know if he is good enough despite his batting being reasonably well regarded.
 
bagapath

bagapath

International Captain
Pre Isolation XI:

Bruce Mitchell
Eddie Barlowe *
Herbie Taylor
Graeme Pollock
Dudley Nourse
Aubrey Faulkner
Trevor Goddard
John Waite. +
Peter Pollock
Hugh Tayfield
Neil Adcock

Isolation XI:
Barry Richards
Jimmy Cook
Peter Kirsten
Kenny McEwan
Allan Lamb
D Lindsay. +
Mike Procter
Clive Rice *
Alan Kourie
Vince van der Bijl
Garth le Roux

Post-isolation XI:
Graeme Smith *
Gary Kirsten
Hashim Amla
Jacques Kallis
AB de Villiers
QDK +
Shaun Pollock
Dale Steyn
Kagiso Rabada
Keshav Maharaj
Allan Donald
 
K

Krypto

U19 Vice-Captain
These are some incredible lists and great read . Surprised by pre-isolation names left out . Especially Bert Vogler . Also two others that need to be considered Alf Hall and Collin Bland
 
Marius

Marius

International Debutant
Bolo. said:
Isolation: McKenzie out for Procter. I know Jennings is considered RSAs best ever WK, but I'd consider dropping him for a WK bat (if there is a good one, no idea). McGewan could probably be replaced by someone who went international.
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ataraxia said:
Lee Irvine's a nice choice for this, but given the existence of Rice + Procter + Kourie the batting is inevitably heavily shored up anyhow.
Click to expand...
Yeah, Jennings will bat at 8 in that XI, and he had an FC average of 23 or so, which is fine for your number 8. And Jennings wasn't a Gilchrist but he wasn't a complete mug with the bat.
 
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