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South Africa team selection

Prince EWS

Global Moderator
It's just dawned on me that this will be our first Test summer in a decade without Dean Elgar at the top. Gonna miss those plays and misses/edges through slip.
Reminds me of Uppercut's amazing post from years ago about Paul Harris.

Gotta feel for the Aussies having to bowl to Paul Harris, possibly the most annoying tail-ender of all time. He stays on the back foot permanently so he doesn't get out to many bouncers. Most clonk off his wooden head and go for four leg-byes. If you pitch it up he'll hang the bat at everything, usually missing because he's so far back on his stumps. When you finally find the edge it'll invariably die before the slips cordon because he plays with baby-soft hands, probably going for four to third man. If the ball goes leg-side he'll try to flick it and miss, with the ball deflecting off his pads for four leg-byes. If there's one man who can drive Brett Lee to early retirement it's this man.
 

Bahseph

International Debutant
Reminds me of Uppercut's amazing post from years ago about Paul Harris.
I'm having flash backs to the Harris Era. I have some sympathy for him because I think Smith would have turned Keshav into the same sort of defensive bowler if Kesh came around in 07/08. Was like watching paint dry at times with him!
 

Prince EWS

Global Moderator
I'm having flash backs to the Harris Era. I have some sympathy for him because I think Smith would have turned Keshav into the same sort of defensive bowler if Kesh came around in 07/08. Was like watching paint dry at times with him!
Smith probably would have turned Keshav into a much more annoying tailender as well to be fair. :laugh:
 

Bahseph

International Debutant
Honestly one of my favorite Harris moments is him hitting a 6 and having this dumb smirk on his face during the SA vs Eng 08 series and Boycott losing it on commentary because he had this weird hate for Harris :laugh:.

I guess it's still one of the appeals of Tests, players that look so innocuous or unaesthetic can still have big roles. I loved watching Elgar look like every bowler was bowling hand grenades while he pushed and edged to a ton.
 

Uppercut

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Quite possibly the most statistically under-rated batsman of all time given may uncredited runs he contributed via leg byes.
I see it was followed in the thread by Jimmy Neesham getting slapped down by DCYE. What a time to have been alive.
 

andruid

Cricketer Of The Year
Honestly one of my favorite Harris moments is him hitting a 6 and having this dumb smirk on his face during the SA vs Eng 08 series and Boycott losing it on commentary because he had this weird hate for Harris :laugh:.

I guess it's still one of the appeals of Tests, players that look so innocuous or unaesthetic can still have big roles. I loved watching Elgar look like every bowler was bowling hand grenades while he pushed and edged to a ton.
Harris was quite a 'guy'. Really did a job.
 

Bolo.

International Captain
Anyone know why we still get (any) home tests that start on Wednesdays? I would start them on Fridays to maximise viewership from both a fan and financial perspective, although there may be an argument for Thursdays for the former.
 

Stefan9

International Debutant
Anyone know why we still get (any) home tests that start on Wednesdays? I would start them on Fridays to maximise viewership from both a fan and financial perspective, although there may be an argument for Thursdays for the former.
Don't think it makes any real difference when you start them in Durban. Lost boxing day cause crowds couldn't be bothered to show at the height of holiday season.
See today . Saturday with SA in sight of victory and looking at the pictures and there is hardly anyone there.

Tickets for the first 3 days were R20. Hardly anyone showed, SA20's limited R20 tickets for next season were all sold.
 

Bolo.

International Captain
Don't think it makes any real difference when you start them in Durban. Lost boxing day cause crowds couldn't be bothered to show at the height of holiday season.
See today . Saturday with SA in sight of victory and looking at the pictures and there is hardly anyone there.

Tickets for the first 3 days were R20. Hardly anyone showed, SA20's limited R20 tickets for next season were all sold.
However poor the crowds are, you are still expecting double (or whatever the number is) on the weekend if the game is still live, and that's something.

Engagement is mostly through TV though, which is easier on the weekend. Sponsorship and TV rights are a way better bigger thing for money making, which will depend on engagement.
 

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