***Official Australia in South Africa***

[aussie]

Hear, hear. Is there a better leather-flinger (Roebuckism) than Bracken, in helpful conditions? In our ranks, only McGrath bests him.

The amazing thing is that, even though the South Africans have foreshadowed 'greentops' weeks ago, the selectors (in full knowledge of this) still sent Bracken home.

all hail Trevor Hohn's & his crew , hopefully Lee & Kasper stay fit for all 3 tests

 

[Goughy]

de Villiers can `keep, but he`s easily in on his batting alone. He`s also an awesome fielder in general.

Well I was not implying DeVilliers should be dropped. IMO he is a quality keeper.

There is only a place for 1 keeper in a side. And that is your best batsman/keeper. If you think DeVilliers is the better batter then he should be in the team the same goes for Boucher.

The only time the 2 should ever play is if they are both in the top 6/7 batters in the country. Is that the case? I don't think so and they miss out on an extra batsman due to a strange selection policy.

If you think they are both in the top 6/7 batters in SA then fair enough. An arguement could definatley be made that Boucher deserves a place purely as a batsman, I just don;t hold it.

Playing both isn't too much of a problem in the ODI's but come the tests this type of selection leaves SA weaker than they could be.

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.

This team doesnt bat below 4 and would not have the remotest chance of posting a competitive total on a consistent basis.

Agreed, see above. Though I think no remote chance maybe a little harsh.

 

[howardj]

My First Test team:

Gibbs
Smith
Rudolph
Kallis
Prince
De Villiers
Pollock
Hall (whoever the next best quick is)
Boje
Ntini
Nel

It pains me to leave the Bouch out, but the team's interests are paramount. Therefore, Gibbs moves up to opener (the burden would be too big for AB otherwise). Not ideal for Gibbs to be moved to opener, but - again - you don't beat Australia by taking the comfortable options.

 

[Demolition Man]

My First Test team:

Gibbs
Smith
Rudolph
Kallis
Prince
De Villiers
Pollock
Hall (whoever the next best quick is)
Boje
Ntini
Nel

It pains me to leave the Bouch out, but the team's interests are paramount. Therefore, Gibbs moves up to opener (the burden would be too big for AB otherwise). Not ideal for Gibbs to be moved to opener, but - again - you don't beat Australia by taking the comfortable options.

Will not happen. Boucher is in fine form with the gloves and harldy out of form with the bat. AB's innings have been streaky at best. People are getting bit carried away with him I think.

 

[howardj]

Will not happen. Boucher is in fine form with the gloves and harldy out of form with the bat. AB's innings have been streaky at best. People are getting bit carried away with him I think.

Agree - it won't happen. But, as stated by Goughy, I think the salutary question is: is Boucher one of the best six batsmen in the country? In my view - no. Therefore, he should not be playing, when you already have in the team a more than serviceable gloveman who is, in my view, a better batsman than Boucher, and is capable and worthy of batting in the top six. As I say, though, it would be harsh on the Bouch, and certainly not a selection to be lightly made.

 

[chalky]

Andrew Hall should not be playing test cricket. His bowling isn't up to it and the only success he has ever had as a batsmen was that defensive hundred he got against India. He is a useful one day bowler who can bat a bit but nothing more. If South Africa don't have 4 better bowlers than Hall then they are in real trouble.

Before the series in Australia I thought Boucher should have been dropped and De Villiers played as a wicketkeeper batsmen. But Boucher has more than earned his place for me. If Kallis is fit and can bowl that gives you a 4th seamer.

My team:

Smith
De Villiers
Gibbs
Kallis
Rudolph
Prince
Boucher
Pollock
Boje
Ntini
Nel

 

[DanielFullard]

I am really looking forward to this test match and even though I think the Aussies will win it is a very interesting contest. If the bowling is as average as it was in the ODI then maybe we will see some collosall scores being posted.

 

[TazzX]

A "more than serviceable" wicketkeeper is not good enough. We need the best to play against the best. Boucher is easily one of the best keepers in the world and his batting form is great. What cricket formula says only play 1 keeper? AB is much more a batsmen to the SA side than a keeper. I don't see how having both of them in the team makes SA a weaker side when they are the best SA has to offer.

Why is Prince in the team? That guy is useless ...

Gibbs is not a opener, he likes it at #3 and that is where he should bat.

Hall is playing cause Langeveld is still injured, but he getting there and we need to develop depth in the team so I have no problem with him being in the team.

I hope we see Zondeki back in the team at some point, bright future ahead of him if given the game time.

 

[chalky]

A "more than serviceable" wicketkeeper is not good enough.

I think De Villiers is a bit better than that, was outstanding in the test that he kept against England. But I agree Boucher is more than worth his place in the team.

Why is Prince in the team? That guy is useless

Scored a very good hundred against Warne, McGrath & Co in his last test and generally looked good in that series. But havn't seen a great deal of him I wouldn't argue with Dippenar or McKensie instead of him.

Hall is playing cause Langeveld is still injured, but he getting there and we need to develop depth in the team so I have no problem with him being in the team.

I think having Boye at 9 is more than enough batting depth and Kallis isn't a bad 5th bowler (if fit ). For me Hall just isn't good enough with bat or ball to make a test team.

 

[Goughy]

A "more than serviceable" wicketkeeper is not good enough. We need the best to play against the best. Boucher is easily one of the best keepers in the world and his batting form is great. What cricket formula says only play 1 keeper? AB is much more a batsmen to the SA side than a keeper. I don't see how having both of them in the team makes SA a weaker side when they are the best SA has to offer. .

The 'more than servicable ' quote is a little harsh. Just because he bats up the order does't mean he is not a proffesional keeper. This is not like putting Stewart behind the stumps and making a keeper out of a batsman. This is what he does for a living.

It makes them weaker because instead of Boucher you play another batsman. A strong batting line up is essential against a top team. As for Boucher's batting form, don't confuse one day form with Test cricket. Last 10 tests he averages under 25 with only one 50.

Why is Prince in the team? That guy is useless ...

The quality of batting in SA from club level up is outstanding so he is certainly not useless but he is unlikely to be in the top 10-15 batsmen in the country. At every level he has looked a notch below those around him. Certainly not a bad player but SA has better.

What I am waiting for is when SA unleash Thandi on the world in a season or 2. Im not saying he will be success, thats impossible to predict but I never thought I would get excited and pay good money in anticipation of seeing a young SA spinner.

 

[Langeveldt]

What I am waiting for is when SA unleash Thandi on the world in a season or 2. Im not saying he will be success, thats impossible to predict but I never thought I would get excited and pay good money in anticipation of seeing a young SA spinner.

Oh definitely, he looked very good from what I've seen of him this season on Supersport.. Haven't had the privelage of seeing him in the flesh, lets just hope he gets all the encouragement needed..

 

[TazzX]

Tell me more about this Thandi, its hard to follow SuperSport from the other side of the world.

 

[Goughy]

Tell me more about this Thandi, its hard to follow SuperSport from the other side of the world.

Thandi Tshabalala.
21 yr old, black offspinner. Plays for the Eagles.
Turns the ball a lot and I really like his action. Rumoured to bowl the doosra (but who isn't nowadays).
First really made his name in the Pro20 (Twenty/20 to everyone else). Av. under 14, wicket every 2 overs and good econ rate for this type of cricket.
Floats the ball beautifully and its hard for the batsmen to use their feet.
In all forms of the game he has shown the ability to beat the batsman both in the air and off the pitch.

Definately on to watch for. He is still young but I do not think he is too far away given the paucity of spinning options in SA.

 

[luckyeddie]

i need to download tht match....
need a site for tht

Sorry, but posting a link on here would be a questionable activity that could get the site owner into trouble.

There's likely to be someone who's got something on P2P somewhere though - happy hunting.

 

[luckyeddie]

Thandi Tshabalala.
21 yr old, black offspinner. Plays for the Eagles.
Turns the ball a lot and I really like his action. Rumoured to bowl the doosra (but who isn't nowadays).

Strange that - I can pick pretty well everyone's just by watching the bowler's elbow.

/hobbyhorse of the week - not singling anyone out because they all seem as bad as one-another.

 

[Goughy]

Strange that - I can pick pretty well everyone's just by watching the bowler's elbow.

It is amazing how easy it is to pick. Is that because its impossible to bowl without throwing? I don't know (well I have an opinion but Im keeping quiet)

Tshabalala (its fun typing that, try it) is often refered to as having the ability and is working hard at it in the nets.

 

[aussie]

Looking ahead of the game, i know the talk has been so far to pick the 2 spinners & expose SA's weakness againts spin. But personally i would hope the pitch assist the seamers because i would love for Tait to play since i believe that he may cause more trouble to SA than MacGill, since they would not have seen him before. They may have clips but its nothing like the real thing.

Even though MacGill bowled fairly well againts SA in Australia i sorta felt that SA graudually improved a bit againts playing the spin twins & with Symonds being the all-rounder i'm not convinced about his bowling at all, so for me i would go for Tait at Cape-town & the majority of the series.

I must add is disappointing that Bracken has been excluded, this would have been a great oppurtunity for him to try and establish himself in the test side in conditions that can suit his bowling...

 

[Woody_cloudofsm]

A "

Gibbs is not a opener, he likes it at #3 and that is where he should bat.

Herchelle Gibbs is successfully one of the greatest openers of the modern era any team he plays in he should always open he and gary kirsten alongside hayden langer marvan and sanath are one of the greatest opening combinations in history for gods sake he averages nearly 50 in test cricket as an opener smith should bat at 3 so he doesnt get caught in front or bowled by to predigious inswingers to the left handers kasper and lee

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Smith averages more opening than Gibbs does.

 

[marc71178]

Looking ahead of the game, i know the talk has been so far to pick the 2 spinners & expose SA's weakness againts spin. But personally i would hope the pitch assist the seamers because i would love for Tait to play since i believe that he may cause more trouble to SA than MacGill, since they would not have seen him before. They may have clips but its nothing like the real thing.

Yes, the clips probably don't show the wide deliveries...