***Official*** South African Domestic Season 2017/18

[SeamUp]

His franchise average is heading below 37,5; which I don't think it has done since around 2011. His last season over 40 was 2014/15, I think?

Just having a look now :

Franchise cricket for Cobras and Western Province/Boland
2017/18 : 194 @ 24.25
2016/17 : 477 @ 36.69 (2 100s)
2015/16 : 442 @ 29.46
2014/15 : 478 @ 43.45 (2 100s)
2013/14 : 739 @ 46.18 (3 100s)
2012/13 : 496 @ 41.33 (2 100s)
2011/12 : 302 @ 21.57
2010/11 : 678 @ 48.42 (2 100s)
2009/10 : 678 @ 52.15 (3 100s)
2008/09 : 762 @ 40.10 (2 100s)
2007/08 : 771 @ 42.83 (2 100s)
2006/07 : 486 @ 25.57
2005/06 : 447 @ 27.93
2004/05 : 749 @ 46.81 (1 100)

Provincial Cricket for Western Province
2003/04 : 733 @ 66.63 (2 100s)
2002/03 : 70 @ 14.00
2001/02 : 675 @ 56.25 (2 100s)
2000/01 : 441 @ 40.09 (1 100)


That's a solid career. I think many people felt he was the next Gary Kirsten. But don't forget he played a lot of u19 cricket with Graeme Smith, Jacques Rudolph, Johann Myburgh and Jonathan Trott.

Perhaps no real massive seasons and then the odd down season. That is where you also have to consider opening on the coast can be tougher.

Think he did alright in his SA A performances too but don't have cricket archive anymore.

 

[GRAB]

Just having a look now :

Franchise cricket for Cobras and Western Province/Boland
2017/18 : 194 @ 24.25
2016/17 : 477 @ 36.69 (2 100s)
2015/16 : 442 @ 29.46
2014/15 : 478 @ 43.45 (2 100s)
2013/14 : 739 @ 46.18 (3 100s)
2012/13 : 496 @ 41.33 (2 100s)
2011/12 : 302 @ 21.57
2010/11 : 678 @ 48.42 (2 100s)
2009/10 : 678 @ 52.15 (3 100s)
2008/09 : 762 @ 40.10 (2 100s)
2007/08 : 771 @ 42.83 (2 100s)
2006/07 : 486 @ 25.57
2005/06 : 447 @ 27.93
2004/05 : 749 @ 46.81 (1 100)

Provincial Cricket for Western Province
2003/04 : 733 @ 66.63 (2 100s)
2002/03 : 70 @ 14.00
2001/02 : 675 @ 56.25 (2 100s)
2000/01 : 441 @ 40.09 (1 100)


That's a solid career. I think many people felt he was the next Gary Kirsten. But don't forget he played a lot of u19 cricket with Graeme Smith, Jacques Rudolph, Johann Myburgh and Jonathan Trott.

Perhaps no real massive seasons and then the odd down season. That is where you also have to consider opening on the coast can be tougher.

Think he did alright in his SA A performances too but don't have cricket archive anymore.

Crichq.com is the "new" cricketarchive...
https://www.crichq.com/players/1024920/statistics/career

RSA A:
14 Matches 24 innings 5 50's 2 100's @ 45,6
9 List A 9 matches 9 innings 2 50's 1 100 @ 48,7 S/r 84,0
Strike Rate is surprisingly high, given his poor franchise List A strike rate...

 

[SeamUp]

There can't be better youth structures than KZN for seam bowling in recent years.

Calvin Savage (25) Maritzburg
Tshepo Moreki (25) Northwood
Daryn Dupavillon (24) Maritzburg
Craig Kirsten (24) Kearsney
Kerwin Mungroo (24) Ladysmith
Tom Curran (23) Hilton
Lungi Ngidi (22) Hilton
Andile Phehlukwayo (22) Glenwood
Lwandiswa Zuma (22) Maritzburg
Okuhle Cele (22) Glenwood
Brad Wheal (22) Clifton
Eathan Bosch (20) Hilton

Fraser Jones (18) Michaelhouse
Mondli Khumalo (17) Maritzburg
Michael Booth (17) Hilton

 

[SeamUp]

Just a couple of pointers from recent franchise/provincial fixtures

Farhaan Behardien scored a 100 in his 100th FC game for the Titans against Cobras in Paarl

Once again an out ground has produced a pancake of a pitch. Something needs to be done about this. It doesn't produce good cricketers. Cobras v Titans in Paarl.

Michael Cohen picked up 9 for WP in the 3-day game vs SWD. Jason Smith & Dayyaan Galiem still not pushing on (Massive winters for them)

I see Leus du Plooy didn't make the Free State 3-day team. Was starting to think that maybe him and Janneman Malan must move back home and get contracted to the Titans. Especially with so many Proteas away. Kuhn/Agathangelou may be pushed by them.

 

[SeamUp]

9th Round of Sunfoil Series

Cobras v Titans in Paarl
This was the second of 5 home games for the Cobras at Paarl and the previous game was a 500 v 500. I suppose a 400 v 400 is a slight improvement.
TITANS 435/9 decl
Agathangelou 105, Behardien 129, Hawken 52 (Paterson 3/100, Moreki 2/82)
COBRAS 460/10
Malan 180 , Puttick 86, Verreynne 75 (Hawken 4/82 , Shamsi 3/65, Mothoa 2/82)
TITANS 133/3
Agathangelou 77* (Dawood 2/32)

Warriors v Knights in East London
Looks like a fantastic game where on the final day the Warriors went gung-ho for the target set by the Knights but after losing too many wickets pulled back in but when a partnership between Harmer and Magala got going they ended up only 8 runs short before the game was called. The Warriors may come to rue this as the Cobras closed the gap. Bonus points could be crucial in the final games.
KNIGHTS 188/10
McLaren 73, Kruger 44 (Harmer 5/36, Bokako 2/26, Nortje 2/54)
WARRIORS 181/10
Cloete 64 (Baartman 4/46 , Olivier 3/57, McLaren 2/47)
KNIGHTS 248/8 decl
Kruger 87 (Nortje 4/57 , Harmer 3/82)
WARRIORS 248/8
Moore 73 , Smuts 41 , Harmer 35* (Coetsee 6/71)


Lions v Dolphins at Wanderers
The wicket probably favoured the batsman but nothing over the top as generally at the Wanderers there is something in it for everyone. Set 285 to win the Dolphins gave it a shot but ended 85 runs short with the Lions needing 3 wickets before weather intervened. Considering the new feel to the Dolphins team it was quite an impressive performance. Vilas asked to open and keep showing his team how to get on with the job as a senior.
LIONS 246/10
Ramela 60 , Mosehel 42 (Cele 3/19, E.Bosch 3/43 , Muthusamy 2/20, Mungroo 2/45
DOLPHINS 379/10
Vilas 128, Savage 100, Muthusamy 69 (B.Hendricks 5/86 Phangiso 3/62)
LIONS 417/7 decl
R.Hendricks 112, B.Hendricks 68, Cook 51, Mulder 44*, van der Dussen 43 (Cele 2/67, Muthusamy 2/68, Subrayen 2/91)
DOLPHINS 199/7
van Jaarsveld 59, Erwee 50 (Mulder 2/33 , Jamison 2/40, Phangiso 2/50)

LOG with one game to play starting Thursday 22 March
WARRIORS 128.04
COBRAS 127.02
KNIGHTS 124.32
TITANS 121.58
DOLPHINS 114.44
LIONS 96.28


Dolphins v Warriors (Durban)
Lions v Cobras (Potch)
Titans v Knights (Centurion)

Leading opening batsmen by runs
Pieter Malan 884 @ 63.14 (4 100s)
Eddie Moore 609 @ 38.06 (3 100s)
Sarel Erwee 588 @ 42.00 (3 100s)
Dean Elgar 524 @ 74.85 (2 100s)
Reeza Hendricks 522 @ 37.28 (2 100s)
Stephen Cook 515 @ 34.33 (2 100s)
Aiden Markram 439 @ 109.75 (1 100)
Andrea Agathangelou 401 @ 80.20 (1 100)

Leading top/middle order batsmen by runs (not keepers)
Vaughn van Jaarsveld 893 @ 55.81 (2 100s)
Rassie van der Dussen 822 @ 68.50 (2 100s)
Zubayr Hamza 650 @ 65.00 (2 100s)
Yaseen Vallie 632 @ 45.14 (1 100)
Colin Ackermann 628 @ 69.77 (3 100s)
Theunis de Bruyn 568 @ 81.14 (2 100s)
Omphile Ramela 523 @ 32.68 (0 100s)
Farhaan Behardien 505 @ 84.16 (1 100)
JJ Smuts 500 @ 35.71 (1 100)
Senuran Muthusamy 498 @ 33.20 (0 100s)
Aviwe Migijima 494 @ 44.90 (2 100s)
Keegan Petersen 493 @ 49.30 (2 100s)
Wiaan Mulder 452 @ 64.57 (1 100)
Stiaan van Zyl 437 @ 87.40 (1 100)


Leading wicket-keepers by runs
Rudi Second 712 @ 89.00 (2 100s)
Dane Vilas 687 @ 68.70 (3 100s)
Kyle Verreynne 523 @ 47.54 (0 100s)
Heinrich Klaasen 340 @ 34.00 (2 100s)


Leading spinners by wickets
Simon Harmer 46 @ 21.10
Shaun von Berg 29 @ 41.34
Senuran Muthusamy 26 @ 30.50
Dane Piedt 22 @ 52.36
Aaron Phangiso 20 @ 27.15
JJ Smuts 19 @ 24.63
Werner Coetsee 18 @ 40.38
Tabraiz Shamsi 16 @ 37.00

Leading seamers by wickets
Anrich Nortje 23 @ 35.43
Tladi Bokako 22 @ 24.31
Beuran Hendricks 20 @ 29.05
Malusi Siboto 20 @ 33.55
Wiaan Mulder 17 @ 30.70
Marchant de Lange 17 @ 35.88
Duanne Olivier 16 @ 35.37
Lizaad Williams 16 @ 45.18
Dane Paterson 15 @ 34.80

 

[StephenZA]

I really wish Ackerman was available, Ackermann could be a beast in 2 years time. Hopefully ends Kolpak and tries to get into the Proteas. Has a good shot.

Muthusamy is showing qualities of a decent batting allrounder. Could be a great pick for the subcontinent. Harmer has really done well, but just can't see him making the Proteas as anything but second spinner at this stage. And understandably Kolpak was probably the right choice for him. I hope he continues to play the FC in SA as it helps with that competitiveness we are worrying about.

Malan and Agathangelou are interesting cases, suddenly showing some quality, but could either really push for the Test team? I really don't feel like that. May turn into good stop gaps in 3 years time? Verreynne is showing some real potential this year, could he play as an out and out batsmen? Is his glovework better than QDK's?

Looking at the bowlers feel like our spinning stocks are stronger than our fast bowlers, but that also could be perception of needing 4 pacers with 1 backup versus 1 spinner with a backup. Or could it be the drier pitches making spinners look better and our pacers look worse?

I so hope the Warriors manage to pull it off final game. Would be great for the franchise.... punching above their weight, but look some good quality coming through as well. Harmer has undoubtedly helped.

 

[SeamUp]

I do think that when the 'big 3' in the middle order go then there is going to be a massive fight for positions. Nothing is really set in stone especially as there is no real dominance of stand-out quality like van Zyl/Rossouw were doing in the middle order. Ingram has said before that Ackermann wants to play for SA and I remember Ackermann saying he wanted to play all year round. Here is hoping.

I still think Muthusamy has a bit to do but there is a lot to like. JJ Smuts has put in solid performances for years in similar positions but Muthusamy to me has a more compact batting game for the longer format. I want to see Muthusamy start scoring 100s with the bat regularly because if he can do that then we have a real option. Ken Borland said this of Muthusamy watching the game live. He said in the game he went past 1000 Sunfoil Series Runs and 50 wickets in his 19th game. In comparison Phehlukwayo 20 games 446 runs and 21 wickets.

Yeah let them all fight for position. Be better if we got a better indication of where batsmen are with slightly sporting wickets but if Malan, Moore, Agathangelou keep putting their hands up then it can only be good. Obviously massive doubts. Malan probably the most compact to open but Moore and Agathangelou like to get on top of bowlers.

My concern is mainly the out grounds. There has hardly been anything massive in it for the seamers all season. The biggest concern is then when there is nothing in it for the seamers and then nothing in it for the spinners and you can see the averages of von Berg and Piedt for example proving that. The quality of the seamers is probably down and there a re a few freebie wickets around which makes it tough to judge players especially if your selectors aren't brave enough to make judgement calls.

Massive last group of games. Any of 4 teams could win it. I think the Titans will produce a wicket capable of them getting 20 wickets. Durban and Potch might be a bit flat for the teams needing wins there....

 

[Bolo]

Looking at the bowlers feel like our spinning stocks are stronger than our fast bowlers, but that also could be perception of needing 4 pacers with 1 backup versus 1 spinner with a backup .

Plus usually removing the top 6 or so quicks from domestic to play national, but only doing so with 1 spinner.

Until we start seeing teams field 2-3 spinners, we're producing better quicks, even if the top spinners are better than a significant portion of the quicks.

 

[Rasimione]

A season ago there was talk of introducing 2 more franchises. With questions asked about the quality of cricket, is there still a reason to look at that option?

 

[StephenZA]

A season ago there was talk of introducing 2 more franchises. With questions asked about the quality of cricket, is there still a reason to look at that option?

I think at least one more needs to be added... CSA said they were worrying about the quality, but a new franchise will not drop the quality at this stage and give opportunity for some top guys to get more game time. I wonder if it is just a money issue. Can CSA afford another franchise?

 

[SeamUp]

With regards to the above. This shows the disappointment in Morgan not being able to pick Savage when he has been fit to develop. Quite high praise.

“That is all I could ask for from the boys. Calvin Savage was magnificent with the bat in the first innings. You know, he is a really special cricketer, and he has been unlucky in the last few years to sometimes miss out when we have to balance out our selection.

“To get his maiden franchise hundred, at the Wanderers, and batting in the way that he did for us, that was something truly special. He thoroughly deserves it,” an appreciative Morgan enthused.

 

[SeamUp]

During the break there was the SA Schools T20 Competition.

The finalist teams were : Rondebosch Boys (Cobras), Grey PE (Warriors), Hilton College (Dolphins), St Andrews Bloem (Knights), KES (Lions) & St Albans (Titans) along with 2 schools qualifying from the Hubs connected schools Prestige College (Titans) & Graeme College (Warriors)
St Andrews beat Hilton in the final in a match which was clearly between the two stand-out teams.
SA u19 star Gerald Coetzee having a great tournament but well supported by regular Free State Junior Age group players Garnett Tarr, Calvin Flanegan, Ruan Cronje (man of the match in the Final) , Pheko Moletsane & Henre Koekemoer (Bowler of the tournament).
Hilton College had the player of the tournament (James Ritchie) and Batsmen of the tournament (Robbie McGaw) - Also a strong contingent of KZN Inland performers like Gareth Schreuder, Michael Sclanders, Michael Booth and John Turner.

Free State Cricket Union (FSCU) is proud of Saint Andrews for successfully representing Free State at 2018 Coca-Cola Schools T20 National Finals.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Free State Cricket Union, Johan van Heerden, congratulates St. Andrews on being crowned the 2018 Coca-Cola Schools T20 Champions. “We are extremely proud of St. Andrews School. They have been the best cricketing school in the Free State for a couple years now, and fully deserve the credit and achievement”, commented Johan. “The drive and passion shown by coach Gregg Hobson made this possible and once again it is evident that structures and hard work pays off”, added Johan.

St. Andrews qualified for 2018 Coca-Cola Schools T20 National Finals after defeating Northern Cape High in their Franchise Final at Diamond Oval, Kimberley, on 23 February 2018. Their journey towards the Franchise Final was not easy because they had to overcome their Bloemfontein rivals, Grey College, to qualify to play Northern Cape High.

FSCU also commends the school’s leadership for always doing their best to improve cricket at the school. “Compliments must also go towards the Headmaster and governing body that has strived to improve the infrastructure at the school with state of the art indoor facility and extra turf nets” says Mr van Heerden. “St. Andrews has also achieved the honour of qualifying as a Cricket South Africa BLUE CHIP SCHOOL and this clearly indicates the commitment to Cricket. It is understandable that FSCU decided to reward St. Andrews financially with this fantastic achievement”, said Mr van Heerden in conclusion.

Also on the go at the event was an All Stars XI picked and coached by Temba Bavuma (basically 2 players from each school who lost the franchise finals) and they beat a CSA Hubs XI

 

[SeamUp]

Cracking story

https://m.sport24.co.za/Cricket/wat...s-sons-face-off-on-the-cricket-pitch-20180320

 

[GRAB]

If Hamza continues to develop, that's probably one of the 3 spaces; also have a high hopes for Klaasen...

Are there any centres big enough to support another franchise? I doubt it. East London seemed to be the front-runner, then Kimberley but neither is big enough, and both have such small middle classes that you aren't going to get much support...

 

[GRAB]

Maritzburg is the home of Sunfoil, but even when there were 11 teams, there wasn't one there!

 

[Stefan9]

Will be interesting when the big 3 go. Do we assume bavuma, de bruyn and mulder take those spots?

 

[StephenZA]

Will be interesting when the big 3 go. Do we assume bavuma, de bruyn and mulder take those spots?

I don't think it is clear cut at the moment... if Amla, ABdV and Faf hang on until after the WC, then Breetzke, von Tonder, Ackermann (if he returns from kolpak!) Hamza and a few others that SeamUp has mentioned come into the mix. I expect Mulder to play at 7 sooner rather than later. With Ngidi now in the squad, does not assure Bavuma a spot and at the moment there is only 2 batting spots. I think Bavuma and de Bruyn will get first shot, but will have to perform.

 

[Dendarii]

Will be interesting when the big 3 go. Do we assume bavuma, de bruyn and mulder take those spots?

Bavuma and De Bruyn are currently the next two batsmen in line, so they'd be most likely to take two of the spots initially, but Mulder will probably bat at six or seven, so wouldn't be a direct replacement for any of the Three, and I'd agree with Hamza being a leading candidate for the remaining spot.

 

[Stefan9]

Bavuma and De Bruyn are currently the next two batsmen in line, so they'd be most likely to take two of the spots initially, but Mulder will probably bat at six or seven, so wouldn't be a direct replacement for any of the Three, and I'd agree with Hamza being a leading candidate for the remaining spot.

I am assuming qdk moves up to 6 and mulder to 7 in a post big 3 team.

 

[Dendarii]

I am assuming qdk moves up to 6 and mulder to 7 in a post big 3 team.

That could possibly happen while the Big Three are still there, so Mulder wouldn't really be a replacement for any of them, and the replacements for 3, 4, and 5 at the moment look like being Bavuma and De Bruyn, with one spot available for someone else.