South Africa team selection

[Bahseph]

Ngidi is such a natural wicket-taker. Hopefully Steyn/Nortjie can compliment him, Rabada and Tahir for the WC. Still believe if we do succeed in any way its going to be through them.

 

[Dendarii]

Interesting comment from Neil Manthorp (I think - he's the one who usually writes these tour diaries), which pretty much confirms what we suspected about Miller keeping during the last ODI.

Titans coach Mark Boucher joined the squad for a low-key practise session two days before the Centurion ODI and worked with? Not Quinton de Kock. He spent time attempting to shave the (very) rough edges off the (extremely) part-time glovework of David Miller and (slightly less part time) Rassie van der Dussen.

https://www.supersport.com/cricket/south-africa-v-sri-lanka-201819/news/190306_Tour_Diary_Sri_Lanka_in_South_Africa_Week_4

 

[GRAB]

Dominic Hendricks making a (too) late push to be considered. Another player from the lost generation like Cloete and Vandiar who never really converted their batting talents into consistent runs... He is also a part time keeper though.

 

[StephenZA]

Interesting comment from Neil Manthorp (I think - he's the one who usually writes these tour diaries), which pretty much confirms what we suspected about Miller keeping during the last ODI.

Yeah. Him taking the gloves the other day pretty much confirmed that is what they thinking and probably put the end to Klaasen in the squad.

 

[Rasimione]

Interesting comment from Neil Manthorp (I think - he's the one who usually writes these tour diaries), which pretty much confirms what we suspected about Miller keeping during the last ODI.



https://www.supersport.com/cricket/south-africa-v-sri-lanka-201819/news/190306_Tour_Diary_Sri_Lanka_in_South_Africa_Week_4

Well I'm not too displeased at Klaasen's dropping to be honest.

 

[TT Boy]

Interesting comment from Neil Manthorp (I think - he's the one who usually writes these tour diaries), which pretty much confirms what we suspected about Miller keeping during the last ODI.



https://www.supersport.com/cricket/south-africa-v-sri-lanka-201819/news/190306_Tour_Diary_Sri_Lanka_in_South_Africa_Week_4

I don't think it’s Neil. He was working for TalkSport covering the England tour of the West Indies.

 

[MrPrez]

While Markram played a very silly shot to get out, I'm still convinced he has to play in our XI.

For me our best XI is one of the two below:

1. de Kock
2. Markram
3. Faf
4. van der Dussen
5. DuminyMiller
6. Miller/Duminy
7. Phehlukwayo
8. Rabada
9. Steyn
10. Ngidi
11. Tahir

or

1. de Kock
2. Amla
3. Markram
4. Faf
5. Duminy/Miller
6. Miller/Duminy
7. Phehlukwayo
8. Rabdaa
9. Steyn
10. Ngidi
11. Tahir

I'm still uncertain whether we risk an out-of-form Amla or go for the safe but unspectacular Rassie.

 

[StephenZA]

Think the 2nd team, I would put Faf at 3 Markram at 4 and Duminy at 6. I want Amla/Faf to guide the innings. Give QDK and Markram license, with Duminy and Miller playing the situation as needed.

My situation has to do with the extra 4. It is easy if we don't take Amla, then it is Reeza and van Dussen; but even an out of form Amla I feel with his experience, will be as good as Reeza/van Dussen? Maybe that is nostalgia. Otherwise Pretorius seems favoured as the extra all-rounder, Nortjie and Shamsi.

Edit: I would still pick Mulder, but I understand why/if they don't.

 

[Dendarii]

Think the 2nd team, I would put Faf at 3 Markram at 4 and Duminy at 6. I want Amla/Faf to guide the innings. Give QDK and Markram license, with Duminy and Miller playing the situation as needed.

Second team for me as well. Van der Dussen hasn't done much wrong, except that he's scored a little slowly, so 4 is a little too low for him. Ideally he should open or bat at 3, and for now I'd go with a top 3 of Amla, De Kock, and Markam.

 

[MrPrez]

Think the 2nd team, I would put Faf at 3 Markram at 4 and Duminy at 6. I want Amla/Faf to guide the innings. Give QDK and Markram license, with Duminy and Miller playing the situation as needed.

My situation has to do with the extra 4. It is easy if we don't take Amla, then it is Reeza and van Dussen; but even an out of form Amla I feel with his experience, will be as good as Reeza/van Dussen? Maybe that is nostalgia. Otherwise Pretorius seems favoured as the extra all-rounder, Nortjie and Shamsi.

Edit: I would still pick Mulder, but I understand why/if they don't.

I'm pretty comfortable in taking Amla in the squad over Reeza. Reeza hasn't looked particularly impressive, whereas we at least know that Amla can be great at this level.

I think the other four, presuming Amla and Markram are in the starting XI, need to be Rassie, Pretorius, Nortje and Shamsi.

The only possibility outside of that 15 for me is Reeza for Nortje to provide more options with the bat. But I'm not really on board with that.

 

[MrPrez]

Think the 2nd team, I would put Faf at 3 Markram at 4 and Duminy at 6. I want Amla/Faf to guide the innings. Give QDK and Markram license, with Duminy and Miller playing the situation as needed.

I understand why you'd want Faf 3 and Markram 4, but i just trust our middle order so little that I want Faf a bit lower just as an insurance policy.

I'd be happy with Faf at 3 if Duminy puts another decent performance in in the final ODI though. But if he's not on song I worry about the middle overs for us.

 

[SeamUp]

Personally I want Markram opening and playing match-winning knocks (big 100 type scores quickly) so if QdK doesn't get you Markram will sort of thing. Of course Markram needs to get it going.

I would still have van der Dussen in the team and that is coming from not a big fan of his. Right now with the strength of our batting line-up going to 7 (of which it is Phehlukwayo - we will need a steady-heady).

1. Markram
2. QdK
3. Faf
4. vd Dussen
5. Miller
6. Duminy
7. Phehlukwayo
8. Rabada
9. Steyn/Nortje
10. Ngidi
11. Tahir

 

[Dendarii]

The only possibility outside of that 15 for me is Reeza for Nortje to provide more options with the bat. But I'm not really on board with that.

Given the four frontline bowler strategy, Nortje has to be in the squad. Not necessarily in the starting XI, but you need someone in the squad as cover for the three seamers.

And I'll be the one to bring it up - Amla's probably going to be in the first-choice team as that will get the numbers right and keep the politicians happy...

 

[SeamUp]

This team will need to have the perfect tournament to win it. I think we know the expectations should be low. I think firstly the fielding unit needs to hunt in packs. Give us every advantage possible. Markram, Faf, Miller, Duminy all quality fieldsman. Phehlukwayo has his moments too of being really good but think he can be better. vd Dussen is steady and probably best as a boundary-rider.

 

[MrPrez]

Given the four frontline bowler strategy, Nortje has to be in the squad. Not necessarily in the starting XI, but you need someone in the squad as cover for the three seamers.

Agreed, but if they were to find a way to get an extra batsman, that'd be how they do it. Hope they don't though.

And I'll be the one to bring it up - Amla's probably going to be in the first-choice team as that will get the numbers right and keep the politicians happy...

I'd be surprised if he was dropped anyway. It would be a bold move in the public eye even if he's in poor form.

 

[Rasimione]

Reeza is not gonna be on that plane at all. Amla and De Kock will open with Faf at 3 and Van Der dussen at 4. Markram needed to continue scoring runs to justify batting at 3. It just hasn't worked for him.

 

[SeamUp]

JP Duminy has just announced his retirement from 50-over cricket after the world cup. Will still be available for T20s

"The last few months on the sidelines have given me an opportunity to re-assess my career going forward and to plot some goals I’d like to achieve in the future,”

"I will still be available to play international and domestic T20 cricket, but would also like to invest more time towards my growing family, who are my number one priority."

"I have been privileged to live out my dream playing a sport I love, and I am forever grateful for the support I have received from my team mates, coaches, family, friends and fans throughout the years.”

It's crazy. Where has time gone ? It seems like the other day he made his debut for Western Province as a schoolboy scoring 50 and then touring Sri Lanka as a 20 year-old with SA.

 

[Stefan9]

a Player who never fulfilled his potential. Loyal servant.

 

[StephenZA]

JP Duminy has just announced his retirement from 50-over cricket after the world cup. Will still be available for T20s

up until the T20 WC one assumes.

 

[Bahseph]

Sad to see JP go. Never produced the way we wanted but still one of my favorite batsman to watch on song.

On the WC selection, my heart is saying Amla and Markram but my head is saying we have to have Rassie in. As mentioned above, our team is top heavy. Someone sticking it out and ensuring we get a semi decent score could allow our bowling attack to come to the party,cos that's where our strength is. Hopefully Andile has a blinder this WC,he will be very crucial at 7.