*** Official *** Sri Lanka in South Africa, Nov 27 to Dec 9 2024

[Dendarii]

Verreynne's century against New Zealand was in 2022. Elgar does have one, as does Bedingham.

Batting records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com

stats.espncricinfo.com

 

[SeamUp]

I read a stat that we have more hundreds in the last 8 Tests than we did in the last 25 Tests. That's a big factor. Stubbs going back to back is really encouraging.

So important to have at least 2 batsmen in your top 6 to be more than just okay to good. Stubbs is our big hope right now to be at least 1 of those.

Think I mentioned it before but he reminds me of KP in some ways. Can look tall and ungainly sometimes but hits the ball at the top of the bounce, can mix timing and pure strength as well as has the reverse sweeps and sweeps.

 

[Heboric]

They are saying Rickelton and Paterson are in the team for tomorrow, article is behind a paywall

 

[Dendarii]

Cricinfo are also saying it, so it's pretty much confirmed, barring any last minute incidents.

 

[Stefan9]

Bavuma confirmed it at the presser.

 

[Kenneth Viljoen]

Disagree with the selection changes , Muthusamy deserves another go after his last test performance and Maphaka is better than Paterson.

 

[SeamUp]

SA won the toss & chose to bat.

 

[SeamUp]

Proteas test record at St George's since readmission. Our worst performing ground with Durban.

Played: 20

Won: 10
Ind 92, Pak 98, Win 98, Nzl 00, Nzl 13, Aus14 Srl 16, Zim 17, Aus 18, Bgd 22

Drawn: 4
Eng 95, Eng 99, Ind 01, Win 14

Lost: 6
Aus 97, Eng 04, Pak 07, Win 07, Srl 19, Eng 20

 

[Stefan9]

That is unlucky for Tony. 2 umpires calls.

Interesting call to send Ryan at 3.

 

[StephenZA]

That is unlucky for Tony. 2 umpires calls.

Interesting call to send Ryan at 3.

Assume its because he normally opens. Maybe he has just not felt comfortable lower down the order at international level. What is interesting is where Stubbs will bat now.

If Stubbs ends up at 4 long term as SA premium batsmen for the next 10 years then that would never have been on my bingo card...

 

[Bahseph]

Aiden, Aiden, Aiden...

Well done to Kumara! Really adds a much needed pace element to this Sri Lankan Team.

 

[StephenZA]

It is probably harsh on Markram, but when you have players like Hermann piling on the runs domestically you have to feel that Markram should be under huge pressure. The only thing keeping him in the team for me right now is how much he was earmarked early on has a huge talent that could also lead. But I really don't want us to have another Duminy situation of hanging on to a player just because...

 

[StephenZA]

St Georges is that pitch that can always result in a collapse, but if a batsmen really gets in can go big. So its the pitch you want to take your time on and build into something.

 

[Bahseph]

It is probably harsh on Markram, but when you have players like Hermann piling on the runs domestically you have to feel that Markram should be under huge pressure. The only thing keeping him in the team for me right now is how much he was earmarked early on has a huge talent that could also lead. But I really don't want us to have another Duminy situation of hanging on to a player just because...

Stubbs or Bedingham might get there but you really feel he is the one guy in the batting lineup that can rattle a big 150 out of nowhere and win a game for the team but he rightly should be under pressure. He has scored more than de Zorzi in this series so far though...

 

[Dendarii]

Stubbs or Bedingham might get there but you really feel he is the one guy in the batting lineup that can rattle a big 150 out of nowhere and win a game for the team but he rightly should be under pressure.

While it wasn't to win the game, there was that century he made against India when no one else could do anything. So he's certainly capable, just doesn't do often enough.

 

[StephenZA]

Stubbs or Bedingham might get there but you really feel he is the one guy in the batting lineup that can rattle a big 150 out of nowhere and win a game for the team but he rightly should be under pressure. He has scored more than de Zorzi in this series so far though...

de Zorzi has something in the bank from the Bangladesh series.

The problem with Markram is that he has had plenty of opportunity and hasn't kicked on. And we have tried him lower order and higher in the order. He has always looked likely (just like Duminy) but in the end he is just not performing at the level that he is expected to or is required at this stage of his career. Aiden is 30 and has played 42 test matches, at this stage we shouldn't be having to worry about his performances, he should be consistently contributing.

And harshly this is especially true for a team that is trying to build into something, what benefits SA more in 3-5 years time? The hope that Markram has done something just before retiring or having someone like Hermann with 20-40 tests under his belt and the peak of his power?

 

[StephenZA]

Thats a big wicket for SL based on form...

 

[Bahseph]

de Zorzi has something in the bank from the Bangladesh series.

The problem with Markram is that he has had plenty of opportunity and hasn't kicked on. And we have tried him lower order and higher in the order. He has always looked likely (just like Duminy) but in the end he is just not performing at the level that he is expected to or is required at this stage of his career. Aiden is 30 and has played 42 test matches, at this stage we shouldn't be having to worry about his performances, he should be consistently contributing.

And harshly this is especially true for a team that is trying to build into something, what benefits SA more in 3-5 years time? The hope that Markram has done something just before retiring or having someone like Hermann with 20-40 tests under his belt and the peak of his power?

Agreed. I just think he falls into the camp of one of Conrad's guys so he will get leeway.

 

[StephenZA]

Agreed. I just think he falls into the camp of one of Conrad's guys so he will get leeway.

I don't even disagree with Conrad here... I`ve been advocating for Markram for a long time. But at a certain point you need to cut your loss and move on. We see what Conrad does.

 

[SeamUp]

This is a big knock for Rickelton too.

He scores runs here he secures his spot for the Pakistan series. If not, it opens up the debate for an AR or even Breetzke of they want to keep the same balance.