*** Official *** South African Domestic Season 2019/20

[SeamUp]

Coetzee and Jansen both had fitness tests yesterday.

Van Biljon told OFM Sport that they do have a young squad, and it is just a matter of finding their own identity in white-ball cricket, and seeking consistency with the willow.

“We have struggled in the batting department to find consistency, and the bowling department looks like they have been standing up nicely.

“We have discussed a few plans and strategies as to how we want to go about the batting. I think it’s just important that we get a good score on the board, or even if we chase that we just stay in the game for a long period of time, and at the end, anything can happen.

“We do have some really good players and batters in our squad and it showed in the four-day competition. In the white-ball stuff it is just maybe a lack of identity, what we want to achieve and what the roles of the players are. They guys are still figuring that out.

“Being a young squad that will take some time to sort that out, but no one can doubt the talent that we have in our squad. We are sitting with multiple SA U19 captains, so the pedigree is right there.

“It’s about on the day who can perform. What has happened in the past has happened. It’s a new game and the guys will look for a fresh start.”

Meanwhile, the two young seamers, Gerald Coetzee and Marco Jansen, will both undergo a late fitness test on Saturday, and they could both be fit to play on Sunday.

 

[SeamUp]

Nice interview with Ryan Rickelton.

Ryan Rickelton hoping good performances might bring a Proteas call-up

The results for the Proteas this summer have made for ugly reading. One has to go back to March last year to find the last series win by the South African men’s team - a 3-0 victory at home in a T20 International series against Sri Lanka.

The team is in the midst of transition. A new coaching staff is trying to find the best blend of combinations and tactics to make the team successful once again. Below the international level, players are seeing opportunities - and for Mark Boucher and interim Director of Cricket, Graeme Smith, that is very good news.

“South Africa is going through a bit of a transition phase,” remarked, the Lions’ 23 year old left-hand opener Ryan Rickelton. “They have lost a lot of players. There are a lot of spots available and as you see, there have been a lot of opportunities for guys of all ages.”

“I think any player, well, most guys across the country will want to do well now because there are chances that will come their way and spots that need to be filled. If your name is hopefully up there you have every chance to get into the (Proteas) side, and cricket’s a funny game, you get one chance you make it work and you never know what can happen from there, you can take it and run. All the guys, myself included, are very conscious of it. Everyone is working overtime to really make sure that the last bit of this season and beginning of next season they really put their hands up.”

Indeed now is the time to be putting one’s name into selection conversations. Any ambitions to play in the 2023 World Cup require players to be scoring runs and taking wickets now. From the latter stages of next season, attention will turn to that event, and players who make an impression in the period Rickelton mentioned will be given an opportunity to start cementing their places.

Rickelton is amongst a group of young players - all in the top order - who have demanded the spotlight in this season’s Momentum One-Day Cup. The competition’s top three run-scorers; Zubayr Hamza, Grant Roelofson and Rickelton are all 24 years or younger.

Rickelton’s game is based on aggression, and taking risks, something he believes will benefit him as he chases those World Cup dreams. “It’s not that easy (being bold and taking risks). But the way the game is going, you see a lot more players are out there like that. You look at (Janneman) Malan, (Matthew) Breetzke, Roelofson and Marques (Ackerman) ….it’s a more modern way of playing. It is high risk, high reward, but you train hard for a reason and make sure your risks are one of your strengths. If you’re sticking within what you train for, at least you can be happy or satisfied that if it doesn’t come off it will come off another day I guess.”

Rickelton, Hamza and Roelofson have all scored their runs at strike-rate of over 100 this season.

For them, Breetzke and Malan, opportunities to make an impression may not only be limited to the franchise competitions. Smith is looking to elevate the status of the South African A side, and will be aiming to create more tours and series for that side over the next 18 months, building it into a proper ‘next best’ squad in the country.

Rickelton, who garnered plenty of attention in the first edition of the Mzansi Super League in 2018, for now is just concentrating on being successful for the Lions and trying to help them win a trophy.

His 324 runs in four Momentum Cup innings included a career-best 157 against the Cape Cobras in Paarl, in the second game in the competition. He admits that the season is only really starting for him, and that personal goals set at the start haven’t been achieved. “I only played one four day game, it was a bit disappointing - I really want to get back into that four-day side, because that is a format I want to do well in as well.


This season’s MSL didn’t go well either, with Rickelton being moved from his best position at the top of the order, to the middle, so that Chris Gayle, who disappointed in the competition, could be accomodated. “Obviously I was disappointed with the Mzansi Super League, I was batting at six, it was unfamiliar for me, so I couldn’t make my mark on the tournament, like I wanted to and like I did the year before. Until now, it was a bit of a slow season, so I just want to make sure I can cash in at the back end, do as well as I can to warrant getting another season and hopefully walk away at the end of March with something under my belt.”

The Lions face the Knights at the Wanderers on Wednesday night, where Rickelton will come up against another young top order batsman, Raynard van Tonder. The former SA under-19 captain has made a name for himself this season, especially in the Four-Day series. “Raynie is a class player, technically correct and hits the ball bloody hard which is frightening,” said Rickelton.

Although Van Tonder hasn’t produced a big score in the One-Day Cup yet, he is another young top order player, who is going to be demanding attention once players for 2023 start being assessed properly.

Now is the time to be seeking the spotlight. Rickelton and others in his age bracket are acutely aware of that and it must be pleasing for Smith and Boucher that that is the case.

 

[StephenZA]

I’m glad Markram does not have captaincy. Think he needs to just focus on his batting.

 

[SeamUp]

100 up for Markram. Involved a massive partnership with Rosier.

Treating this limited Knights attack with disdain.

 

[Stefan9]

Great to see him back in the runs. We need him at his best.

 

[Stefan9]

2 wickets as well for markram. kngiths still in with gous getting a big hundred. Dala getting spanked all around the ground.

 

[MrPrez]

I really think Markram should get more of a bowl for SA. If he can get through 4-5 overs in ODIs it takes a large amount of pressure off the number 7 spot in terms of bowling.

 

[Prince EWS]

I really think Markram should get more of a bowl for SA. If he can get through 4-5 overs in ODIs it takes a large amount of pressure off the number 7 spot in terms of bowling.

I like this idea in theory given he's had some success with it in the limited opportunities he's had to bowl but in practice his bowling is filthy. The more recently I've seen him bowl the colder I get on this idea.

 

[TT Boy]

The way South Africa lined up on the weekend, it only takes a few horror overs from Phehlukwayo and Bavuma and Klaasen will be having a bowl. Phehlukwayo has only done 10 overs 7 times in 56 ODIs and I’m not just picking on him, Dwaine Pretorius would be the same liability. South Africa ideally need a batsman in the top six who is good for 5 overs, having three wicket keepers in the top six limits that, but not sure if Markram is that. He is very hittable and has the control of Elgar.

 

[SeamUp]

It really is an issue that will need to be looked at in time. 6th bowler in top 6 and the number 7 position.

As things stand but will change over the 4-year cycle no doubt.

SA ODI

1. de Kock
2. Bavuma
3. Markram (ros)
4. vd Dussen
5. Klaasen (ros)
6. Miller
7. Phehlukwayo/D.Pretorius
8. Maharaj
9. Rabada/Nortje
10. Ngidi
11. Shamsi

SA A ODI

1. J.Malan
2. Rickelton
3. Hamza
4. Mulder (rmf)
5. Verreynne
6. Makwetu
7. Linde (sla)
8. Fortuin (sla)
9. Sipamla
10. B.Hendricks (left-arm)
11. Dupavillon

Shadow squad

1. Roelofsen
2. de Zorzi
3. Breetzke
4. Bird (slc)
5. Qeshile
6. Parsons (sla)
7. Potgieter (rm)
8. Subrayen (ros)
9. Coetzee
10. Jansen (left-arm)
11. Ntini

Shadow B (youngsters perhaps better performing in FC but have limited overs capabilities (ie Ackerman/van Tonder)/x-factor bashers & some wildcards)

1. Snyman (ros)
2. Gous
3. Ackerman (ros)
4. van Tonder
5. Lubbe (ros)
6. Marais
7. Smith/Galiem (rm)
8. E.Bosch
9. Burger/Tait (left-arm)
10. Cele
11. Matthews (rls)

 

[StephenZA]

Against the FC players Markram gets away with a few overs, against the likes of Warner, Finch or Smith you are more likely to get belted for 24 runs in an over. He is a nice possible option when in the team to get through a couple of overs if needed, he is not somebody you can try build a 5th bowler around. But none of this is new, lots of possible 8's, no real quality international 6's and 7's.

 

[SeamUp]

I don't think anyone should expect Markram to get through 8-10 overs but certainly could get through 2-4

But to be honest I think our highest potential with the ball to bat in the top 6 is Mulder and Parsons.

I also think that Bird offers a 2nd wrist-spinning option in a squad (after Shamsi) if we need it.

So many options above. Potgieter looks to have something.

 

[StephenZA]

Whatever happens, provided fit, Mulder needs to be pulled into the main SA squad in the ODI and Tests as soon as possible. Hopefully he gets enough cricket under his belt between now and Indian tour to get selected, and gets selected for WI tests later this year.

 

[SeamUp]

Whatever happens, provided fit, Mulder needs to be pulled into the main SA squad in the ODI and Tests as soon as possible. Hopefully he gets enough cricket under his belt between now and Indian tour to get selected, and gets selected for WI tests later this year.

Just to highlight this.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...a-2nd-unofficial-test-sa-a-tour-of-india-2019

 

[Dendarii]

Whatever happens, provided fit, Mulder needs to be pulled into the main SA squad in the ODI and Tests as soon as possible.

That's the slightly worrying thing. He does seem to have been injured a lot lately, but hopefully it's just a bit of bad luck and not something that's going to be a consistent problem throughout his career.

 

[StephenZA]

I like that Ngoepe has been getting runs recently. Think he is a better player than his stats show. Not international but a solid FC player for the Warriors. And great from Gous, it seems a quality innings to take the Knights home. Titans really are struggling for such a strong team. Warriors have totally fallen off since Smuts left and none of the youngsters have really stood up. Very erratic.

 

[SeamUp]

Wiaan Mulder turned out for Kagiso CC vs Old Edwardians yesterday and scored 131 off 132 balls . Didn't bowl though.

 

[StephenZA]

Wiaan Mulder turned out for Kagiso CC vs Old Edwardians yesterday and scored 131 off 132 balls . Didn't bowl though.

Hopefully just a precaution.

When he comes back I hope they find a way to bat him at 5/6 in LO. I think he will be lost at 7.

 

[Rasimione]

Mulder really needs to get in the side in all formats. I'm just not sure he'd do a job at 7 in the odi side. Based on what I've seen he's a proper batsmen.

 

[SeamUp]

Janneman Malan's season

4-DAY FRANCHISE SERIES
v Lions (Potch) : 10 (10) & 26 (49)
v Titans (Benoni) : 4 (5) & 41 (46)
v Dolphins (PMB) : 118 (199)
v Warriors (Newlands) : 0 (4)
v Knights (Paarl) : 114 (178) & 51 (65)
v Dolphins (Oudtshoorn) : 20 (27) & 39 (65)
v Titans (Newlands) : 30 (69) & 16 (35)
v Warriors (EL) : 26 (66) & 20 (28)

MOMENTUM ONE-DAY CUP
v Titans (Newlands) : 0 (2)
v Lions (Potch) : 23 (31)
v Dolphins (Newlands) : 23 (39)
v Knights (Kimberley) : 39 (45)