Pakistan Tour of South Africa 2018/19

[TT Boy]

Duminy replacement. Keep looking like a million bucks when out there but find ways of getting out.

You would take Duminy like performances from de Bruyn at the moment. Test average isn’t much better than Rabada’s. I can’t see how he gets selected for the Sri Lanka series after that shot. Shame as he is easy on the eyes.

 

[GRAB]

Yeah as top 6's go, anything with mid 90's Hudson (as opposed to early 90's) and mid 90's Rhodes (as opposed to late 90's) and Cronje was hardly awe-inspiring...

 

[StephenZA]

Wickets have been lively but batting on both sides has been so poor. Probably the worst South African batting unit I can recall.

Don't think it is our weakest top 5/6 since readmission... but we had so many allrounders to cover that we always got to 300...

I just wonder with our atmospherics. You take all grass off and with our small grounds (add thin highveld air) batting becomes too easy. There hasn't been loads of grass on this pitch but it has seamed and swung but runs have flowed at times as well.

Durban and PE are the grounds now where there can be dull periods. No movement, slow, difficult to time and you end up waiting for reverse.

I do enjoy watching test cricket in SA but maybe our batsman have got into this mindset of a constant fight and battle which doesnt help like you say. I remember Elgar was going through that before last summer v India.

I like the PE dull periods.... requires patience form both batsmen and bowlers . And gives you time to fetch and.enjoy your beer.

It is difficult to flatten SA wickets, without turning into stupid slow roads. I do think something needs to be done about the inconsistent bounce. It is arriving a day to early.

 

[M0rphin3]

Would this be the last of TdB we'd see for a while? So frustrating because I actually think he's promising. Ugh.

Hamza seriously unfortunate though, should get a proper run.

 

[StephenZA]

And you just know if de Bruyn does get dropped for Hamza the word 'quota' is going to get mentioned. The surprise that Hamza got picked initially by the SA public was shocking. We have been discussing him for 3 years on here?

 

[Ahmad Zahir]

Whenever I watch SA cricket match I always wonder from where do these white people come from because when I went there, I saw more Pakistanis than white there

 

[SeamUp]

Don't think it is our weakest top 5/6 since readmission... but we had so many allrounders to cover that we always got to 300...

I like the PE dull periods.... requires patience form both batsmen and bowlers . And gives you time to fetch and.enjoy your beer.

It is difficult to flatten SA wickets, without turning into stupid slow roads. I do think something needs to be done about the inconsistent bounce. It is arriving a day to early.

That I agree with. About keeping moisture prep right before the test so cracks don't start. They've always played a role in Jhb and Centurion on day 4/5 which is fine but I had never seen it in Cape Town before. Its normally rough there and not cracks.

 

[M0rphin3]

And you just know if de Bruyn does get dropped for Hamza the word 'quota' is going to get mentioned. The surprise that Hamza got picked initially by the SA public was shocking. We have been discussing him for 3 years on here?

I think people whine on about quotas (absolutely necessary IMO) despite them deserving a place, just a general trend IMO, them somehow feeling that it's "unfair" and complains about it whenever they get a chance.

TdB got a hell lot more chances that he deserves, and he should have at least not ended up with a sub 20 average (which includes the Ton) - that's dire af.

 

[Stefan9]

And you just know if de Bruyn does get dropped for Hamza the word 'quota' is going to get mentioned. The surprise that Hamza got picked initially by the SA public was shocking. We have been discussing him for 3 years on here?

To be fair the general public has no way to know of these guys as there is hardly any franchise cricket coverage. Only the cricket fanatic knows anything about what is happening at that level.

 

[GRAB]

And you just know if de Bruyn does get dropped for Hamza the word 'quota' is going to get mentioned. The surprise that Hamza got picked initially by the SA public was shocking. We have been discussing him for 3 years on here?

Even bitching on the local cricket club's Whatsapp. You'd think those okes would know better...

 

[GRAB]

To be fair the general public has no way to know of these guys as there is hardly any franchise cricket coverage. Only the cricket fanatic knows anything about what is happening at that level.

To be fair, if you don't know, you shouldn't be opening your fat gob...

 

[Stefan9]

To be fair, if you don't know, you shouldn't be opening your fat gob...

True but we know human nature.

 

[Ahmad Zahir]

How are Hamza’s stats in OD? Is he like Bavuma too?

 

[Borges]

Another 80 runs or so should be enough for South Africa to wrap this up.

 

[Stefan9]

How are Hamza’s stats in OD? Is he like Bavuma too?

Worse. Strike rate under 70 with an average of 29. Bavuma has a strike rate of 80 with a 30 average.

 

[GRAB]

How are Hamza’s stats in OD? Is he like Bavuma too?

7 Franchise games - no 50's, average of 17 and s/r of 61 - hence no MSL contract. Amla's domestic List A record is pretty modest too, but once he had confidence in tests he turned out ok. Of course he moved to opener for the Proteas where he was in the middle order for Dolphins.

 

[Borges]

This is slowly drifting away. Give a couple of overs to Shadab and see what he can do.

 

[artvandalay]

Maybe the drought has also had an effect on saf pitches. It wasn't quite so bowler friendly around 13-14. The india series then is a good example so too the '14 series against australia.

 

[vcs]

That 2014 series vs. Australia was brilliant.

 

[StephenZA]

Maybe the drought has also had an effect on saf pitches. It wasn't quite so bowler friendly around 13-14. The india series then is a good example so too the '14 series against australia.

Most of the major grounds use borehole water so it should not be to much of an issue. If it is a weather issue it would be heat from direct sun and that would be poor pitch preparation and understanding. Think they are struggling with the balance between watering the pitch but maintaining pace is the pitch. But I`m no curator.