***Official*** Australia in South Africa 2013/14

[benchmark00]

Man this interview must cut some posters up rough.

 

[uvelocity]

whats he got up his nose, in his eye and on his arm?!?

mitchell pearce of cricket imo

 

[Second Spitter]

Yeah Peterson out for de Kock would mean just that.

Baffling considering de Kock averages 48~ something in FCC. But who opens? ABD? Since he's the only Saffer who looks competent against MJ, it would kinda make sense.

Alternatively, they would need to axe JPD and give somebody like Ackermann a baptism of fire to open.

 

[Prince EWS]

But who opens?

He meant Robin, not Alviro.

 

[harsh.ag]

Yup, Robbie P needs to be dropped for a specialist bat. Can a Saffer tell me about their best bat after the current first line-up? Can't be de Kock surely? And McLaren needs to go for a left arm pacer like Parnell, or maybe Kyle Abbot.

 

[Dan]

Going in with both Robbie P and McLaren weakened both the batting and bowling of South Africa. Should have grabbed the fourth-best seamer irrespective of batting ability (so one of Hendricks, Abbott or McLaren), and not played Peterson. With Duminy in the side and bowling just as much and as effectively as Peterson, one of the two is surplus to requirements - and Duminy can bat (well, he's in wretched form but that's not really the point I'm making).

McLaren was never a Test #7's arsehole, and Peterson should probably be shot for the way he faced up to Johnson (didn't see it, but apparently it was pathetic). When you're the new Ashley Giles, you have to try and contribute everywhere in your game - something he won't do in this series by the looks of things. If they really want a specialist spinner, pick Harmer at 8 and drop Duminy for a better batsman (especially if they can bowl 5 overs of medium pace per day).

A replacement for Alviro is sorely needed as well.

1. Smith
2. Petersen
3. Amla
4. Faf
5. ABdV
6. Duminy
7. de Kock +
8. Philander
9. Steyn
10. Morkel
11. McLaren/Hendricks/Abbott (adjust batting order as applicable)

 

[Dan]

Yup, Robbie P needs to be dropped for a specialist bat. Can a Saffer tell me about their best bat after the current first line-up? Can't be de Kock surely? And McLaren needs to go for a left arm pacer like Parnell, or maybe Kyle Abbot.

If you really want a left-armer and couldn't care less about batting ability, Beuran Hendricks

 

[ajdude]

hahahah i can't stop laughing at this interview with symonds

 

[Second Spitter]

He meant Robin, not Alviro.

Alviro looked out of his depth more than any RSA batsmen....... he has two 50's in his last 10 innings.

The out-of-the-box solution would be to move ABD to open or give Colin Ackermann a go (also a useful spinner).

 

[Prince EWS]

Another out of the box solution would be to drop Dale Steyn and open the bowling with Mr.Prez.

Ackermann can't even make the Warriors side at the moment.

 

[Shri]

Is Obus Pienaar any good? Seen his name mentioned in an article. Left arm pace bowler and a decent bat, people are saying

 

[Eds]

Prez is SA's answer to MJ after all. Good call.

 

[Garson007]

Still say my team for the dead rubber (because it would be dreaming for the second) is:

Elgar (came good at St Georges last time - should really play there this time too, but again it's not the dead rubber just yet)
Smith
Amla
Du Plessis
De Villiers
Van Zyl/De Kock
Duminy
Philander
Abbot/Morkel/Hendricks
Steyn
Morkel/Hendricks/Abbott

 

[BoyBrumby]

AB's hand is ****ed. He can't go on keeping with it or it actually will start damaging his batting, which it quite clearly hasn't to this point.

Has long standing back issues too, doesn't he?

Keeping not a renowned panacea for hands or backs.

Would love to see de Kock in (arf, arf, etc...) for Robbie P but there is an alternate keeper in the squad already, isn't there?

 

[Cabinet96]

Yeah, if a another keep does come in it'll probably be Tsolekile coming in for Peterson and batting eight, behind McLaren.

 

[harsh.ag]

Nah, let Quinton in. This XI would have a better chance:

Smith
Alviro
Amla
ABdV
Faf
Duminy
de Kock +
Philander
Steyn
Morkel
Hendricks

de Kock and ABdV can share keeping responsibilities.

 

[Burgey]

Can't help but think Duminy is a bit of a liability atm tbh. I mean if he's going to be the sole spinner because he bowls as well as Robbie P, that's hardly an endorsement, and his bating has been **** for quite a while hasn't it?
I dunno, maybe they brush a spinner altogether rather than hoping someone can be ordinary at best but gets picked because they hope he will bat well despite being in horrible nick.

 

[harsh.ag]

Can't help but think Duminy is a bit of a liability atm tbh. I mean if he's going to be the sole spinner because he bowls as well as Robbie P, that's hardly an endorsement, and his bating has been **** for quite a while hasn't it?
I dunno, maybe they brush a spinner altogether rather than hoping someone can be ordinary at best but gets picked because they hope he will bat well despite being in horrible nick.

The bigger problem for SA is the genuine lack of good batsmen around to replace anybody in the first team. I had to go back all the way to Rudolph, Prince and McKenzie for decent names, and I am sure nobody wants that. Elgar is not a good enough prospect at the moment, and neither is anybody else knocking on the door as such. Keeping Duminy and getting de Kock in seems the best play right now.

My idea, get KP in the team. Pass a new law if you have to. Maybe the "Stolen Players Law/KP Law" which restores the Saffers playing rights to all the players lost to England

 

[Tangles]

It's always very hard to fit him in if you're winning.

Lehmann on Watson. Fmd that's just too funny. Golden.

 

[wiff]

Watson unlikely to be fit/selected for the second test.

Watson 'hard to fit in': Lehmann

YES please yes