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South Africa team selection

Kenneth Viljoen

International Regular
Can't take this seriously, he doesn't even bowl in most of the games at domestic level , he really should be tried out as a 6th bowling option first in white ball cricket and the UAE tour would have been the perfect opportunity to do this but he wasn't picked , he wasn't even picked in the original test squad.

The white ball and red ball coaches need to be on the same page and they also need to communicate what they want for each player to their franchise coaches aswell , you can't just randomly state a player can be a first choice all rounder when you and Rob Walter have made no attempts to groom him for the role.
 

Dendarii

International Debutant
We've given CSA plenty of flak over the years, which has been justified, but I think they deserve some credit for what they've done with the women's team.

I did have a concern that we had a bit of a golden generation and would struggle after they left, but we've been able to weather the departures of Lee, Van Niekerk, Du Preez, and Ismail. Consecutive T20 World Cup finals is no mean feat.

There still have been issues, like the whole Dane van Niekerk fitness debacle, which I still believe could have been handled differently. But CSA do seem to be getting the majority of things right with the women.
 

Bahseph

International Debutant
I agree. I think they have also done well to identify players early, although woman cricketers do tend to start at a younger age in internationals.

I really feel like the ethos of selection has changed so much over the last 15 years. T20 has really changed the game and added in more factors for selection considerations. Talented youngsters play a whole bunch of T20 around the world if they are gold enough which might slow their FC progress (eg. Brevis), but you still need to be able to identify that a player could have what it takes at international level.

You also have to factor in allowing players to make money in T20 leagues. We haven't got that 100% right yet(see the NZ tour) , but I think we are finding a balance. It means creating a depth of players especially for bilateral T20 and ODIs.

It's also important to identify between the LO formats. Some players are good at either but not both. See Reeza in T20s vs ODIs or someone like RVDD who IMHO is a better ODI than T20 bat. There are nuances there now which honestly did not exist when our last golden generation were coming through.
 

Stefan9

International Debutant
Talking of the women's game the full qouta pod cast had a good interview with Enoch nkwe before the semi. They seem to have plans in place. Especially happy with the plans for A tours. They are also looking at how they can get some red ball games:

 

StephenZA

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Do we think for the home tests we go

6 Verreynne
7 Mulder
8 Jansen
9 Rabada
10 Maharaj
11 Coetzee/Ngidi

That was the most fluent Rickelton looked in his test career so far. Pity he didn't make it count.
This seems very sensible. But I can also see, based on current selection, them playing the extra bat and dropping Coetzee/Ngidi.
 

Bahseph

International Debutant
Really hope Mulder and Verreynne go well tomorrow. I am definitely not all aboard the Mulder train but how many guys out there could realistically take the new ball in a Test and have the ability to score 100s? Not many. He just needs to start putting on the runs now.
 

StephenZA

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Does anybody feel like this is the first time in a while there is a feel of good selection? Maybe an actual future plan?

I don't think that the current team selection is the best possible team. Just that I can actually see forward progress in selection and letting the younger players try establish themselves and build a team.
 

Bahseph

International Debutant
Does anybody feel like this is the first time in a while there is a feel of good selection? Maybe an actual future plan?

I don't think that the current team selection is the best possible team. Just that I can actually see forward progress in selection and letting the younger players try establish themselves and build a team.
It seems that way. Conrad has outright said he will be giving certain guys an extended run which in itself will help the mindset of a player. Not every cricketer or person hits the ground running in a new role or environment.
 

SeamUp

International Coach
Does anybody feel like this is the first time in a while there is a feel of good selection? Maybe an actual future plan?

I don't think that the current team selection is the best possible team. Just that I can actually see forward progress in selection and letting the younger players try establish themselves and build a team.
There are definitely shoots of positivity.

I would say we picking the right batsman to get a crack at test level after they went with numbers for Hamza, Petersen, Van Tonder etc

Hope the rehabilitation programmes for Jansen and Coetzee work a treat.

Only disappointment for test level is I still feel Elgar & Harmer had something to offer. But it isn't a total train smash. Saying that, we still have to win this series and got to Zim, India, Pakistan next year so will need a second spinning option.
 
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Bahseph

International Debutant
There are definitely shoots of positivity.

I would say we picking the right batsman to get a crack at test level after they went with numbers for Hamza, Petersen, Van Tonder etc

Hope the rehabilitation programmes for Jansen and Coetzee work a treat.

Only disappointment for test level is I still feel Elgar & Harmer had something to offer. But it isn't a total train smash. Saying that, we still have to win this series and got to Zim, India, Pakistan next year so will need a second spinning option.
Yeah Piedt has questions marks around him. But who is next in line? Looks to be Muthusamy from the recent squads.
 

SeamUp

International Coach
It seems that way. Conrad has outright said he will be giving certain guys an extended run which in itself will help the mindset of a player. Not every cricketer or person hits the ground running in a new role or environment.
Cricket is a funny game. It might not feel fair to some but I think a knowledgeable cricket person does know which are the right ones to back.

Slow starts for Kallis and Amla. Two of our very best. AB got that 100 v PE in his debut series but life was tough for a while after that. All 3 got good backing.
 

SeamUp

International Coach
Yeah Piedt has questions marks around him. But who is next in line? Looks to be Muthusamy from the recent squads.
Ideally we want a different type of spinner to Maharaj?

So that would immediately turn me off Muthusamy, Fortuin, Linde, Simmonds who can be 3rd spinners on tour.

Only offies are Harmer, Piedt & Subrayen so I guess it would be Subrayen seeing that he was in the recent A squad. Got wickets v Sri Lanka A but also got serious tap. Conrad had a winter test camp and included offie Schalk Engelbrecht but he will find it tough to catch a game for Titans.

Nqaba Peter & Caleb Seleka the 2 young leggies are just white-ball at the moment & the latter isn't dominating there like Peter is.
 

Bahseph

International Debutant
Ideally we want a different type of spinner to Maharaj?

So that would immediately turn me off Muthusamy, Fortuin, Linde, Simmonds who can be 3rd spinners on tour.

Only offies are Harmer, Piedt & Subrayen so I guess it would be Subrayen seeing that he was in the recent A squad. Got wickets v Sri Lanka A but also got serious tap. Conrad had a winter test camp and included offie Schalk Engelbrecht but he will find it tough to catch a game for Titans.

Nqaba Peter & Caleb Seleka the 2 young leggies are just white-ball at the moment & the latter isn't dominating there like Peter is.
I think Subrayen is a better LO spinner than FC spinner. I have the same concerns about Muthusamy as I do about Piedt. I don't know if he will tie up an end against quality batters.
 

SeamUp

International Coach
I think Subrayen is a better LO spinner than FC spinner. I have the same concerns about Muthusamy as I do about Piedt. I don't know if he will tie up an end against quality batters.
I know what you mean x 2

I have the same concerns. It doesn't necessarily mean we thinking defensively. It just means your bowler is more flexible.

Was listening to a Moeen Ali interview. He said he knew he couldn't tie up an end but he also knew his best ball could be too good for any batsman anywhere in the world. It's an interesting mindset. Might come from not being totally relied upon as a bowler initially in the squad.
 

StephenZA

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
6 Tests next year is a travesty. All away as well. I suppose their argument is building for the T20 WC. But still its pretty pathetic. Hopefully we start seeing calendars more like 2026 going forward.
 

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