2007/2008 WI tour to SA thread

[sand_man]

Gibbs is averaging only 26 over the last 30 innings.

Amla is averaging 49.25 over the last 5 matches but if you take away his two hundreds it's only 14.38.

Smith is averaging 39.44 over the last 5 matches but if you take away his only decent score then it's only 24.

AB is averaging 35.33 over the last 5 matches.

Kallis is averaging 120.85 over the last 5 matches.


I have no time for SA cricket any more. Smith runs the side and Micky Mouse is just an appleaser.

yeah you make valid points and the stats don't lie but I wouldn't make such drastic wholesale changes. I reckon that could be detrimental to the longterm well being of the team. I would however replace the coach, he is as amateurish and incompetent as they come, oh where oh where art thou Ray??!!...

 

[feo]

That's it, game over. Nel should be promoted a place or 2 up the order, his batting has definitely improved. It was fun to watch Gayle **** bricks for a while there while Nel and Steyn had their fun.

 

[maverick]

Morne Van Wyk in for Boucher and take over from Gibbs to open.
Gibbs bat at 6 to try and get some form back.
Mckenzie in for Prince.
Pollock in for Ntini.

 

[Abe]

Morne Van Wyk in for Boucher and take over from Gibbs to open.
Gibbs bat at 6 to try and get some form back.

He has already tried that and it didn't work. He averages 26 over 15 odd test matches. Thats one long poor run of form. I would give someone else a chance.

Mckenzie in for Prince.
Pollock in for Ntini.

Agree with that one 100%. Ntini needs a wake up call. He should have been dropped before Pakistan instead of Polly.

 

[mccrack]

Morne Van Wyk in for Boucher and take over from Gibbs to open.
Gibbs bat at 6 to try and get some form back.
Mckenzie in for Prince.
Pollock in for Ntini.

And the powers that be read this and interpreted as follows :

White replace White, promote white to open / demote black to middle order.
White in for Black.
White in for Black.




But on a serious note, a hard line needs to be taken with the players, if you dont perform you're out, simple ..... and that includes Smiff.
3 yrs without a century and still being preserved is ridiculous, that's at least 2 yrs that someone else could have performed well if given an oppurtunity.


EDIT: That said .... no-one exactly setting the cricketing world on fire with batting performances :

http://www.supersport.co.za/cricket/content.aspx?id=14923&cat=91

 

[Luke7777]

Colour-coded

Zondeki in for Ntini
Dumini in for Prince
Pollock in for Harris
Boucher stays
AB to open
Alvero Peterson/Bodi in for Gibbs

 

[mccrack]

Colour-coded

Zondeki in for Ntini
Dumini in for Prince
Pollock in for Harris
Boucher stays
AB to open
Alvero Peterson/Bodi in for Gibbs

Now that's a lot more colour friendly

But then there is no spinner

 

[sand_man]

Believe me the only change this team needs is Jennings in Arthur out...

 

[Abe]

Believe me the only change this team needs is Jennings in Arthur out...

You would have to get rid of Smith as well. Rumour is that Smith was the reason Jennings was fired. They players thought they were too good to drink water from a tap and had to have Energade instead etc.

 

[AirWolf]

That's it, game over. Nel should be promoted a place or 2 up the order, his batting has definitely improved. It was fun to watch Gayle **** bricks for a while there while Nel and Steyn had their fun.

Lol I did catch a bit of that.

Those two produced our 2nd highest partnership which does say a lot about our openers

 

[sand_man]

You would have to get rid of Smith as well. Rumour is that Smith was the reason Jennings was fired. They players thought they were too good to drink water from a tap and had to have Energade instead etc.

Yeah I heard that too. How did a youngster at the time and essentially the new boy on the block become so influential, captain or not, surely the coaching appointment isn't his call??!!

 

[Abe]

Those two produced our 2nd highest partnership which does say a lot about our openers

If I remember correctly, SA have had 1 opening partnership over 50 in the last 10 innings.

 

[Luke7777]

Now that's a lot more colour friendly

But then there is no spinner

Dumini (Offspin), Bodi(Left arm wrist) & Smith

 

[feo]

Does Smith even qualify as a spinner? Duminy and Bodi are good choices though.

 

[The Cosmos]

One thing is for sure.... Oz is going to kick out butts bigtime next year...again....

 

[mercurial]

what about Harris? he performed really well and was suddenly just out of the picture.

 

[feo]

One thing is for sure.... Oz is going to kick out butts bigtime next year...again....

Well if we don't sort out our top order batting and introduce some proper spin bowlers (Harris is OK I guess) then I guess we deserve a good beat down. This whole spinner BS has been going on for years and SA cricket just hasn't produced a good spinner. Also, one of the previous posts said that we've only had ONE opening partnership of over 50 in the last 10 matches, that's pretty amazing. Gilchrist and Hayden almost always make a good start for the Aussies.

 

[AirWolf]

Well if we don't sort out our top order batting and introduce some proper spin bowlers (Harris is OK I guess) then I guess we deserve a good beat down. This whole spinner BS has been going on for years and SA cricket just hasn't produced a good spinner. Also, one of the previous posts said that we've only had ONE opening partnership of over 50 in the last 10 matches, that's pretty amazing. Gilchrist and Hayden almost always make a good start for the Aussies.

Yeah, I've always admired their opening partnership even in the ODIs. SA seriously need to sort out that area of our game.

 

[sox63]

Well if we don't sort out our top order batting and introduce some proper spin bowlers (Harris is OK I guess) then I guess we deserve a good beat down. This whole spinner BS has been going on for years and SA cricket just hasn't produced a good spinner. Also, one of the previous posts said that we've only had ONE opening partnership of over 50 in the last 10 matches, that's pretty amazing. Gilchrist and Hayden almost always make a good start for the Aussies.

We do need a spinner in our team, and I think Harris is more than OK, he took 4 2nd innings wickets in that WI collapse. Lets not forget it was not a pitch condusive to spin.

As for the opening partnership, Smith and Gibbs have historically been our best openers, in both forms of the game. I guess I'm more of the thinking that form is temporary and class is permament. AB just does not have the discipline to be opening, he just seems intent to play a shot at balls he should not be playing at. Not someone you need to take the shine of the new ball.

My pick would be Smith and Kallis opening, with Amla at three and Gibbs at four. Kallis is by far our best batsman, and seeing as though he he comes in at like the 2nd/3rd over regularly these days, might as well let him open.

Our bowling is a bit confusing, Steyn looks like a bowler who can have good days and bad ones. We need more consistency, so replace him with Pollock, and keep Nel and Ntini, their attitude and aproach to their bowling is reason enough to keep them in.

Boucher just needs to play, there is no two ways about it, he is the BEST wicky in the world, and the last thing we need is dropped catches behind the wicket from someone who is going to replace him.

Now where that job application for SA cricket selectors.

 

[feo]

We do need a spinner in our team, and I think Harris is more than OK, he took 4 2nd innings wickets in that WI collapse. Lets not forget it was not a pitch condusive to spin.

Well he's the kinda bowler that has 1 good day, 10 OK days and a few bad days thrown in here and there. Also, his action is so flat and I can see batsmen getting used to his bowling pretty quick. Orthodox spin is not what we need. I know asking for a SA version of Murali is over the top but hey, that's what we need., someone that can mix it up and spin it both ways and disguise the spin well, all we have are spinners that just give us more of the same (MOTS™).

As for the opening partnership, Smith and Gibbs have historically been our best openers, in both forms of the game. I guess I'm more of the thinking that form is temporary and class is permament. AB just does not have the discipline to be opening, he just seems intent to play a shot at balls he should not be playing at. Not someone you need to take the shine of the new ball.

Well, Smith always seems to be struggling for form but yeah I'd also keep him as an opener and bump Kallis up to open with him.

My pick would be Smith and Kallis opening, with Amla at three and Gibbs at four. Kallis is by far our best batsman, and seeing as though he he comes in at like the 2nd/3rd over regularly these days, might as well let him open.

+1

Our bowling is a bit confusing, Steyn looks like a bowler who can have good days and bad ones. We need more consistency, so replace him with Pollock, and keep Nel and Ntini, their attitude and aproach to their bowling is reason enough to keep them in.

I wouldn't take Steyn out, he swings the ball and has his slower ball as well (although he seems to overuse it nowadays). I'd replace Ntini with Polly until Ntini learns how to add some variety to his attack.

Boucher just needs to play, there is no two ways about it, he is the BEST wicky in the world, and the last thing we need is dropped catches behind the wicket from someone who is going to replace him.

+1

Now where that job application for SA cricket selectors.