South Africa team selection

[Bolo]

I don't have much faith in your 1st bowling lineup. 2 pretty new bowlers, one erratic and one who isn't as effective with an old ball. 4 man attack without rabada must have spin IMO as insurance. Philander and Ngidi are a little injury probe as well.

5 man pace is always overkill if there's a decent spinner available IMO.

 

[Rasimione]

.
.
.
De Kock
Philander
Ngidy
Olivier
Morkel

Morkel and Morris are nearly similar type of bowlers so I would love to see Olivier there.

If Gibson wanna go with 5 bowlers then it can be...

6. De Kock
7. Mulder
8. Morris
9. Philander
10. Ngidy
11. Olivier

That's overkill.

 

[StephenZA]

Rob Houwing pretty much going with what I think.
https://www.sport24.co.za/Cricket/Proteas/rabada-issue-influences-proteas-shape-20180319

But I think Bavuma is still injured?

 

[Stefan9]

Rob Houwing pretty much going with what I think.
https://www.sport24.co.za/Cricket/Proteas/rabada-issue-influences-proteas-shape-20180319

But I think Bavuma is still injured?

Wasn't fit enough to play for cobras

 

[StephenZA]

With Rabada playing... no expected team change. Assuming Bavuma still not fit.

 

[Tec15]

What's Steyn's progress now? Will he play a first class game between now and the fourth test in order to get match fit? Would love to see him come in for Maharaj and SA deploy a four pronged pace attack for the Johannesburg test.

 

[Dendarii]

What's Steyn's progress now? Will he play a first class game between now and the fourth test in order to get match fit? Would love to see him come in for Maharaj and SA deploy a four pronged pace attack for the Johannesburg test.

I think what's likely to happen for Joburg is that Morkel will come in for Maharaj, it being his final opportunity to play for South Africa and get to 300 wickets. If Steyn's fit then he would come in for Ngidi, but it will be four quicks regardless.

 

[Marius]

I think what's likely to happen for Joburg is that Morkel will come in for Maharaj, it being his final opportunity to play for South Africa and get to 300 wickets. If Steyn's fit then he would come in for Ngidi, but it will be four quicks regardless.

He should only play if we think the pitch should suit him and four quicks. Letting him play just to try get to 300 wickets is ridiculous.

 

[TT Boy]

And if Morne bowls anything like he did in the first innings in Durban he won't even get those 3 wickets. Also, Maharaj has got 11 wickets so far this series. It would have to be an absolute green mamba or Steyn being fit for him to get the axe.

 

[Bolo]

Maharaj is likely to be a more effective bowler against AUS than Morkel on almost any pitch, plus there is the advantage of variation and something to be said for his batting. Tough to find a place for Morkel if there is likely to be any turn at all.

 

[SeamUp]

I would tend to agree. But if there is one test ground in SA to not need spin it is the Wanderers and If it is the test pitch at the Wanderers normally used then it is highly unlikely spin will be needed.

But at the end of the day we got to go with what they decide depending on the conditions.

 

[Bolo]

Ya. Needs to be very condusive to pace on top of not spinning, because otherwise Maharaj would be a better inclusion as a holding bowler. It's the Wanderers, so it's possible. Would like to see a bit of green for Vernon to utilise and combat reverse as well, which makes this more likely.

 

[Heboric]

She must have been flicking her bean when writing this article:

SA set to miss 2017-18 transformation target - ESPNcricinfo

**** I just hope some trough feeder is not going to poke its nose and force team changes

 

[Bolo]

She must have been flicking her bean when writing this article:

SA set to miss 2017-18 transformation target - ESPNcricinfo

**** I just hope some trough feeder is not going to poke its nose and force team changes

Woeful as usual from her.

If ngidi is fit he plays, because he's shown himself to be the better bowler. Ignoring the extra bowler question (as she does), if bavuma is ready, he plays because he is the incumbent and de bruyn has done nothing to suggest he should be displaced. To write this article is to suggest these players are only in because of transformation, effectively disparaging these players.

Missing targets is a very legitimately article on its own. If she wants to write about that she should. I'm not sure why she always wants to bury a transformation agenda in another article. Maybe there is some form of cognitive dissonance at play, and she doesn't actually believe black players are ever good enough. Maybe Cricinfo has gotten sick of her rabid agenda and realised readers have too and have put a gag order on her writing (too many) pure transformation articles. So she gets around this by writing nauseating hybrids that effectively disparage black players. Either way, she should find a way to write more honestly, in a way that readers actually want, and without denigrating the black players she claims to champion.

 

[Dendarii]

And for what it's worth, she's got her numbers wrong. Her figure of 407 caps, which she's used as the basis for the overall percentages, is the count including the two tests yet to come. It should be 385 caps, which gives 19.74% black and 51.43% non-white (although that doesn't actually change the story).

 

[Marius]

Jeeslike Moonda is useless.

Was reading Werner Coetsee's Cricinfo profile and the write-up is by our favourite cricket writer, who says Coetsee is from Bethlehem, a sleepy town in North-West....

Never mind its in the southern Free State, but whatevs.

Werner Coetsee | Cricket Players and Officials | ESPNcricinfo

 

[SeamUp]

Kenneth has a point.

Ken Borland
As keen as I was to see Bavuma return to Test action, I think it sets a very dangerous precedent that he is chosen without playing a single franchise game in 2 months. Opens the door for the same to be done with Steyn, and it's not right.

 

[SeamUp]

^^^

Nothing like time in the middle. Bavuma played and missed twice before actually getting out.

Interesting to see the Steyn situation now. Steyn wearing M.Morkel's top like he knows something.

I just don't like it because CSA's protocol is always you have to play to prove your fitness.

 

[StephenZA]

^^^

Nothing like time in the middle. Bavuma played and missed twice before actually getting out.

Interesting to see the Steyn situation now. Steyn wearing M.Morkel's top like he knows something.

I just don't like it because CSA's protocol is always you have to play to prove your fitness.

Could just be support.... unsure why Bavuma played above de Bruyn. Don't blame him to much but he got a good one from Cummins, during a good spell. I always go back to Bavuma's fielding though when I must consider between Bavuma and de Bruyn?

 

[SeamUp]

Could just be support.... unsure why Bavuma played above de Bruyn. Don't blame him to much but he got a good one from Cummins, during a good spell. I always go back to Bavuma's fielding though when I must consider between Bavuma and de Bruyn?

Just feel a precedent is set. There is only so much good bowling. There is a reason he is averaging 32-33 in his 28th test. Saying that I don't think the early signs of de Bruyn have been majorly impressive either way but we need to form definite decisions and de Bruyn probably needed the series. If Bavuma was the incumbent set in stone I would say fine, he comes back in.

Wonder if they know this will be M.Morkel's last test. Odd to get an ODI jersey for a 2nd last game. AB's parents are down too.