***Official Australia in South Africa***

[Demolition Man]

The South Africans are going to target Kasper, I fear for us if he doesn;t get lucky.

 

[Demolition Man]

I think that reason could be that one of the 2 is Brett Lee and he's not consistent enough to be risked as one of only 2 seamers.

Totally agree, but kasper it hardly consistent either.

 

[Demolition Man]

Can someone explain to me why stuart clark and kasper were picked ahead of bracken and Gillespie ????

Please I would really love to know why. Apart from the fact that Hohns loves kasper.

 

[Nate]

Wow, three posts bagging him out in a row. We get the point.

He has performed admirably on the International Stage for a while now, only being dropped after a few bad Ashes matches. He came back to domestic cricket and has been the head of the Queensland attack. There isn`t really a reason not to pick him.

 

[mikeW]

Wow, three posts bagging him out in a row. We get the point.

He has performed admirably on the International Stage for a while now, only being dropped after a few bad Ashes matches. He came back to domestic cricket and has been the head of the Queensland attack. There isn`t really a reason not to pick him.

I agree and for those asking why he was selected ahead of Gillespie just look at their season records. the only player that shouldnt have been is Stuart Clark he must be the most unthreatening bowler in Australian cricket and his domestic record isnt even that good compared to others.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

McGrath and Pollock never really had the "pace" though, and I wouldn't say they've got better over time, been pretty much consistent through their careers.

I wouldn't really say that's true... Pollock was express pace when he first arrived on the scene and gradually dropped off over time, while McGrath was never an outright fast bowler he was a bit quicker in the mid to late 90s than he is now. It's not so big a deal for McGrath as it was for Pollock though.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Wow, three posts bagging him out in a row. We get the point.

He has performed admirably on the International Stage for a while now, only being dropped after a few bad Ashes matches. He came back to domestic cricket and has been the head of the Queensland attack. There isn`t really a reason not to pick him.

Kasprowicz is a bit hard to pick. I think he'll go alright if South Africa prepare green pitches to negate the spinners, and South Africa is usually a pretty good place for swing bowlers as well, which suits Kasprowicz in his new ball role.

I'd still be happier with Gillespie there though. I just can't see Kasprowicz leading a test attack, he's more of a support bowler, whereas Gillespie at his best is capable of anything. They both had comparable domestic seasons, but if Gillespie is back to his best I'd prefer him to any other bowler around.

I think everyone will agree though that Clark shouldn't play. He's a pretty solid ODI bowler because he's accurate and gets difficult bounce and has a good yorker, but I can't see him taking wickets in test cricket. There's half a dozen bowlers back at home I'd prefer to him, at least.

 

[Nate]

I used to really detest Kasper and Clark. But both have worked their way into my favour, especially Kasper with numerous displays of courage and effort. Everyone also says he`s a top bloke and he seems it. Good luck to both of them, and I really do think Kasper will have a great series.

 

[Top_Cat]

I'd still be happier with Gillespie there though. I just can't see Kasprowicz leading a test attack, he's more of a support bowler, whereas Gillespie at his best is capable of anything. They both had comparable domestic seasons, but if Gillespie is back to his best I'd prefer him to any other bowler around.

If anything, it's Dizzy who's never had the opportunity to truly lead the Test attack. Kasper did on the tour below and was our only pace bowler worth anything for the tour. His performance in the third Test was just brilliant and is why a lot of Indians and Indian posters on here rate him higher than some Aussies do.

http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1997-98/AUS_IN_IND/

 

[TazzX]

G Smith
AB de Villiers
Gibbs
Kallis
Kemp
Boucher
Pollock
Boje
Hall
Nell
Ntini

Thats what I would like to see from the SA team. Perhaps dropping Hall for Dippenaar or Rudolph to get the extra batsmen since we have Kallis and Kemp bowling again.

 

[Nate]

No way can you drop Rudolph. Can`t believe he wasn`t in the one-dayers, awesome player. I wouldn`t have Kemp in there.

 

[TT Boy]

I wouldn`t have Kemp in there.

Kemp's not in the test squad.

 

[Nate]

Works for me then, doesn`t it?

 

[Nightsorrow]

dont know if its been mentioned before, but why is bracken not in the test squad?
as far as im concerned, his main problem with the selectors was his lack of penetration when the batsmen werent looking to attack. the one problem i see is bracken's lack of the other way swing, the one swinging away from the RH. if he increased his pace, that would be good too.

 

[Nate]

dont know if its been mentioned before, but why is bracken not in the test squad?
as far as im concerned, his main problem with the selectors was his lack of penetration when the batsmen werent looking to attack. the one problem i see is bracken's lack of the other way swing, the one swinging away from the RH. if he increased his pace, that would be good too.

I agree that a slight increase in pace would be good to see, but often when tries too hard, he screws up his length pretty badly. And he doesn`t really have an away-swinger but he has a really good straighter one that sometimes he gets to cut away a bit.

We were talking a bit about it the page before this one.

 

[TazzX]

No way can you drop Rudolph. Can`t believe he wasn`t in the one-dayers, awesome player. I wouldn`t have Kemp in there.

Very avg strike rate, for a ODI pretty much up there with Dippenaar. Who would he have replaced in the ODI's?

With No Kemp I would think it will be either Rudolph or Dippernaar

 

[TazzX]

That's a good point. I for one like the FTP, but surely some thought could go into it to prevent sides going 3 or 4 years without playing then playing twice in 6 months!

The return home series within 6months make sense to me and I like it. Keeps things interesting. If this series would have been played in 2 from now there would have been no anger and spark like there is now

Its going to be a MASSIVE Test series.

Test > ODI's

 

[andyc]

Yeah, it makes it more interesting for me too. For one, we can compare the differences in the two teams, which are generally the same, when playing home and away.

 

[Goughy]

G Smith
AB de Villiers
Gibbs
Kallis
Kemp
Boucher
Pollock
Boje
Hall
Nell
Ntini

Thats what I would like to see from the SA team. Perhaps dropping Hall for Dippenaar or Rudolph to get the extra batsmen since we have Kallis and Kemp bowling again.

Easiest way to get an extra batsman in is not to play 2 wicketkeepers

 

[TazzX]

Easiest way to get an extra batsman in is not to play 2 wicketkeepers

What are you smoking?