How to fit Duminy in the Test team

[Boces]

He has to play, but so does Prince. That leaves two options:

1. Bin Boucher
2. Bin McKenzie

The latter was poor in Australia, but averaged 60 last year in Tests. Plus, although he seems to be able to do everything, having Duminy open is... silly.

But de Villiers has said he doesn't want to keep, and Boucher seems an integral part of the team, often setting the field whilst Smith ponders Minkie.

I like a middle-order of:

4. Kallis
5. Prince
6. de Villiers
7. Duminy

 

[medicnick83]

Ditch KcKenzie and give Duminy a chance - KcKenzie has more than enough chance to show his colours.

Hell, completely ditch Gibbs - the oke can't play properly anymore.

 

[Boces]

Ditch KcKenzie and give Duminy a chance - KcKenzie has more than enough chance to show his colours.

Hell, completely ditch Gibbs - the oke can't play properly anymore.

Gibbs isn't in the Test team and Duminy isn't an opener (yet).

 

[medicnick83]

Let's keep it that way!

If SA don't want Duminy, Cape Cobras don't him coming back!

 

[Devill]

Might ditch Mackie because then AB can open with smith, or even Amla and smith.

I doubt that they would ditch boucher before a couple of others.

We can also not sacrafice a bowler.

Steyn, Ntini, Morkel, Kallis, Harris. Duminey and Smith can also roll the arm over a bit.

My team

1. Smith
2. Amla
3. Kallis
4. Prince
5. AB
6. Duminy
7. Boucher
8. Morkel
9. Harris
10. Steyn
11. Ntini
    
12. Mackie

 

[killadoob]

I am sorry but the last person i want to see back in the team is prince.

Kallis is bad enough to slow the run rate to basically nothing, prince and kallis at the pitch together scares the crap out of me because i am sure they have a comp as to who can block the most balls in a day.

We beat the aussies 2-1 in a test series why change the formula of a winning team.

1.kensie
2.smith
3.kallis
4.duminy
5. ab
6.boucher
7. botha (you cannot leave him out the team after his bowling in the day series)
8. A or M morkel
9. steyn
10.ntini
11.that new black guy forgot his name
12.prince

 

[Boces]

1. Smith
2. Amla
3. Kallis
4. Prince
5. AB
6. Duminy
7. Boucher
8. Morkel
9. Harris
10. Steyn
11. Ntini
12. Mackie

Amla is the first 3 we've ever had, and Kallis likes 4.

Not sure why Harris is in the team ahead of Botha, but it seems to be working.

 

[Boces]

We beat the aussies 2-1 in a test series why change the formula of a winning team.

Not a statement entirely backed up by the team you posted.

 

[Devill]

I am sorry but the last person i want to see back in the team is prince.

Kallis is bad enough to slow the run rate to basically nothing, prince and kallis at the pitch together scares the crap out of me because i am sure they have a comp as to who can block the most balls in a day.

We beat the aussies 2-1 in a test series why change the formula of a winning team.

1.kensie
2.smith
3.kallis
4.duminy
5. ab
6.boucher
7. botha (you cannot leave him out the team after his bowling in the day series)
8. A or M morkel
9. steyn
10.ntini
11.that new black guy forgot his name
12.prince

The "new black guy" and Albie morkel are not ready for test cricket IMO. Also they did not play in one test against Aus in Aus. Then also I see you left out Amla!?

Botha is not a wicket taker IMO and as much as I don't like harris he seems to keep the runs down while picking up one or two a game.

Amla is the first 3 we've ever had, and Kallis likes 4.

Not sure why Harris is in the team ahead of Botha, but it seems to be working.

I think the fact that he is tall and a left arm bowler makes him a bit harder to play, he also picks up more wickets then botha. I still say Roelf VD merwe is better than them both.

Ok fine then AB and Smith open, Amla at 3 and kallis at 4, prince at 5 and duminy at 6

A pretty mean batting lineup!

 

[killadoob]

What we need in our team is quite simply batsmen who look to score 300+ a day, not prince and kallis who are happy to stand around for 7 hours and score 200 runs.

We need to start playing like the aussies and look to win test matches from the beginning, the aussies either win or lose matches they very rarely draw and we need to adopt that attitude. We have the talent to be the best cricket team in the world for many many years to come we just need to keep positive and play positive.

I believe our test team would be much better off with botha in it as our main spin bowler but then as you point out botha does not take many wickets so maybe just give him a test run or something to see how he does .

O shoot i did leave out amla my bad, thought i had put him in. Cannot leave out amla.

 

[sox63]

I think the team will remain unchanged for the first test in JHB. Though Mackenzie is not having a good time of it, there is nobody else to open the batting. And all the other batsmen have become accustomed to their positions, and I'm sure they would love to stay there.

Prince will just have to wait for an opportunity, becuase I'm sure he wont be too keen on opening the innings.

 

[Boces]

Ok fine then AB and Smith open, Amla at 3 and kallis at 4, prince at 5 and duminy at 6

A friend of mine suggested AB to open too - that way you don't mess too much with the batting line-up.

 

[Boces]

I think the team will remain unchanged for the first test in JHB. Though Mackenzie is not having a good time of it, there is nobody else to open the batting. And all the other batsmen have become accustomed to their positions, and I'm sure they would love to stay there.

Prince will just have to wait for an opportunity, becuase I'm sure he wont be too keen on opening the innings.

Prince will play ahead of Duminy. They both need to be there.

 

[Devill]

I think the team will remain unchanged for the first test in JHB. Though Mackenzie is not having a good time of it, there is nobody else to open the batting. And all the other batsmen have become accustomed to their positions, and I'm sure they would love to stay there.

Prince will just have to wait for an opportunity, becuase I'm sure he wont be too keen on opening the innings.

Lol, you will be surprised at what these guys will do to get into the team

A friend of mine suggested AB to open too - that way you don't mess too much with the batting line-up.

AB has not done to badly with the opening thing. He is more suited to a nr 5 position IMO however.

Prince will play ahead of Duminy. They both need to be there.

Yeah he might because he has a good record and he is vice captian for the test team... I really think they should play Mackie as 12th man.

 

[Ou grote]

Prince hasn't played any cricket for a while afaik.
He'll need to play a few to get match fit again.

Can't see the selectors putting him straight back into international cricket.

As for Duminy, he's still new and has had a great run, he's going to lose form at some stage. Bowlers will work him out. He won't be averaging 60+ in test cricket for his whole career.
I reckon it'll be closer to the 40's.

 

[WonderBob]

I dont think there will be any changes to the team other than a Duminy / Prince swap. Sad, but that's the way it will be I reckon.

Prince is the VC in the test squad and has proven himself through the years to be a very capable batsmen and shown that he can perform under pressure. Dont think he will be left out, certainly not for the first test.

Dropping Mackenzie and forcing someone else to become an opener is not an option in my opinion. Yes Mac is also a makeshift opener, but he has been doing it successfully for more than a year now. Amla is by far the best no3 we have had in years and AB is just starting to settle into his position (compare his performances when he was shuffled around the batting lineup to his performances since he has been batting at no5 consistently)

Also, no reason to mess with the bowlers. Albie Morkel just isn't a test bowler, and Tsotsobe is not ready for test cricket I reckon. The bowlers performed well and won us a test series in AUS, no reason to mess around there.

Cant answer the question in the thread title unfortunately, how about just playing 12 instead of 11?

 

[Devill]

I dont think there will be any changes to the team other than a Duminy / Prince swap. Sad, but that's the way it will be I reckon.

Prince is the VC in the test squad and has proven himself through the years to be a very capable batsmen and shown that he can perform under pressure. Dont think he will be left out, certainly not for the first test.

Dropping Mackenzie and forcing someone else to become an opener is not an option in my opinion. Yes Mac is also a makeshift opener, but he has been doing it successfully for more than a year now. Amla is by far the best no3 we have had in years and AB is just starting to settle into his position (compare his performances when he was shuffled around the batting lineup to his performances since he has been batting at no5 consistently)

Also, no reason to mess with the bowlers. Albie Morkel just isn't a test bowler, and Tsotsobe is not ready for test cricket I reckon. The bowlers performed well and won us a test series in AUS, no reason to mess around there.

Cant answer the question in the thread title unfortunately, how about just playing 12 instead of 11?

Lol, or hope prince is still injured for a while longer

Well on the bright side this is a pleasant problem

 

[Tassidar]

JP must wait his place. Ashwell is VC and has proven himself time and again. Not denying he has the talent or the ability, but it is unfair on a team that is working to drop anyone. The only possiblity AFAICS is to drop Boucher, but even then I wouldn't support decision.

Great position to be in, though

 

[milomak]

to drop boucher means AB as keeper and i think that would mean we lose something in the field. And AB probably hasn't kept in some time for a consistent period. I wonder if he even does keeper training routines much.

But Prince in before JP. Basically same reasons as others. But I still love JP.

 

[chiskop]

1. Bin Boucher
2. Bin McKenzie

Or 3. Bin Prince.

I like a top/middle order of Mac / Smith / Amla / Kallis / AB / JP.

Smith said in the interview on Inside Edge that he wants to settle on a VC for both ODI and Tests - I don't think Prince will ever be that person.

JP must wait his place. Ashwell is VC and has proven himself time and again. Not denying he has the talent or the ability, but it is unfair on a team that is working to drop anyone.
...
Great position to be in, though

Disagree. JP has proved himself (If not, I cannot imagine what else you'd require?)

I agree that you don't change a team that is working - and the team that beat Australia in both the Tests and ODIs relied quite heavily on Duminy's contributions.

And I also agree that it is a good position to be in - I'd rather be dealing with our selection posers (Duminy/Prince, Harris/Botha, Boucher/AB) than Australia's.