England tour to SA: 2015

[Neoprod]

I think there is a good batsman in there, I can't explain it but he looks very easy on the eye...

Not unlike Dave Warner when he started off...needs to learn about his game.

 

[stefan9]

I think there is a good batsman in there, I can't explain it but he looks very easy on the eye...

Not as an opener, he has no clue in that position.

I think the long break coming up has something to do with it....we don't play test cricket again till August so not much opportunity for a new person to make an impression.

Its about winning the series. Van zyl losing his wicket inside the first few overs every innings puts unneeded extra pressure on hash at nr 3. I rather have cook there who knows what opening is about.

 

[Neoprod]

Not as an opener, he has no clue in that position.



Its about winning the series. Van zyl losing his wicket inside the first few overs every innings puts unneeded extra pressure on hash at nr 3. I rather have cook there who knows what opening is about.

I hear you. Has Stephen Cook been facing the quality of Broad, Anderson and Finn in Sunfoil cricket though?

It's reasonable to expect he'll have to adjust to this level of intensity.

 

[Garson007]

I think there is a good batsman in there, I can't explain it but he looks very easy on the eye...

His defensive technique is terrible.

 

[Wall]

His defensive technique is terrible.

He reminds of jacques rudolph in that they both look like there is something in their games but they can't reproduce it at international level...

 

[stefan9]

I hear you. Has Stephen Cook been facing the quality of Broad, Anderson and Finn in Sunfoil cricket though?

It's reasonable to expect he'll have to adjust to this level of intensity.

He made a 50 and carried his bat in the first innings of the SA a vs england game, only other SA a batsman to make a 50 in the game was QDK.

I would say that 50 is more then what van zyl has done for ages...

 

[WaxLyrical]

Feel for Cook. His potential test career = RIP

Dad must be gutted. This was probably the best opportunity.

He just has to keep on piling on the runs.

 

[Badprop_za]

Dad must be gutted. This was probably the best opportunity.

He just has to keep on piling on the runs.

Arguably one of the better players since re-admission not to play test cricket.

 

[Agent_Smith]

Is it just CSA's squad selection policy before the start of a series that dictates who plays and who doesn't? Are substitutions only made in the event of injury (Morris for Steyn as an example)? I can only imagine that this is the case. You almost get the sense that CSA would be too embarrassed to bring someone in from outside into the initial squad based on form as it would mean their selection policy and criteria were wrong.

The idea of 'These are our selected players and we'll back them' is an admirable one but you need to leave yourself some wriggle room.

 

[pinball wizard]

The idea of 'These are our selected players and we'll back them' is an admirable one but you need to leave yourself some wriggle room.

It's pretty easy to get a player in the current squad out. I mean you don't really believe these professional athletes are constantly getting injured playing a bit of soccer or pole dancing or whatever the current excuse is?

 

[stefan9]

Is it just CSA's squad selection policy before the start of a series that dictates who plays and who doesn't? Are substitutions only made in the event of injury (Morris for Steyn as an example)? I can only imagine that this is the case. You almost get the sense that CSA would be too embarrassed to bring someone in from outside into the initial squad based on form as it would mean their selection policy and criteria were wrong.

The idea of 'These are our selected players and we'll back them' is an admirable one but you need to leave yourself some wriggle room.

No. QDK was called into the squad after the first test even without any injuries .

 

[Agent_Smith]

No. QDK was called into the squad after the first test even without any injuries .

Which makes Cook's exclusion at the top of the order even more baffling. Thanks for highlighting his selection. I'd completely forgotten about it.

 

[Neoprod]

He made a 50 and carried his bat in the first innings of the SA a vs england game, only other SA a batsman to make a 50 in the game was QDK.

I would say that 50 is more then what van zyl has done for ages...

Good point.

 

[sox63]

van Zyl has got one hell of a powerful Sangoma

 

[DanDango]

^

 

[Neoprod]

Jimmy Cook should go get tips on stirring from Cheeky Watson

 

[OMB]

Duminy proving a point now that he's not in the squad?

 

[stefan9]

Duminy proving a point now that he's not in the squad?

He is still in the squad and its the same old same old wit him. Gets dropped makes tons of runs at first class level, comes back into the test team gets 100 early on then fails till he gets dropped.

He has had countless chances to establish himself at test level. Its time to move on from him.

 

[AirWolf]

Duminy proving a point now that he's not in the squad?

Pity he fails dismally to make same point in national side.

 

[Agent_Smith]

Can't see the team being changed now for The Wanderers (despite double tons from Duminy and Vilas). Philander still ruled out, Steyn is 50/50. Should he be passed fit, bringing him in for Piedt might be a viable option. Wanderers is usually conducive to an all pace battery so you could probably get away with not playing a spinner here. However, think I'd still rather Piedt in ahead of Abbot should Steyn not make the grade. With Wanderers being the homeground of Bavuma, Morris, QdK (and I think Rabada), it would make sense to retain the all.

van Zyl
Elgar
Amla
du Plessis
de Villiers
Bavuma
QdK
Morris
Piedt/Steyn
Rabada
Morkel