Mickey Arthur resigns as SA coach

[OzzieCapie]

It's rare that the whole top 6 average over 50 for a whole season, not sure its even happened.

I think 2008 was pretty close, hence why they were the top team by the end of that year.

edit:
All except Kallis actually...who averaged 31...he wasn't dropped Abe

The others were;
Smith 72
McKenzie 53...then the Aussies found his deficiency
Amla 52
Kallis 31
AB 58
Prince 64

...and Ntini took 54 wickets...

That is why they were no 1 in 2008

The quota contingent really underperformed:erm:

 

[WonderBob]

Between October 2005 and December 2007 he averaged only 30. Thats 20 matches and 38 innings. We lost 8 games and won 9 in that time. I am sure some other players we cut during that run. Of late, his performances seem to be better but I can almost guarantee that if any other player had run of 20 matches and 38 innings where they averaged only 30 as a front line batsmen they would be gone.

4 years ago? I thought you meant now? I can point out many players (not just in SA) that go through dips in form, but are not dropped. Its like someone said, you stick with your class players, even if they do go through a dip in form. Kallis took forever to show what he could really do when he started playing, and imagine where we would have been if he was not given the proper chance.

Then add the fact that Smith was captain it would have taken more of a '20 match averaging 30' run to get him dropped.

McKenzie for example, when he played years ago, he was given lots of chances and never really performed up to standard. Then he got dropped went away for quite a while, and got selected again. He then performed brilliantly for a period and then hit some bad form / bad luck. And the fact that he was at the end of his career and not a youngster just starting out with a long future ahead of him, probably made the decision to drop him a no brainer.

Some players do get protected yes, but usually not for the reasons you'd think.

 

[Vis1/0N]

I think 2008 was pretty close, hence why they were the top team by the end of that year...
...That is why they were no 1 in 2008...

Sadly we reached no 1 when Australia had lost Gilchrist, Warne and McGrath, and 15 test veteran Mitchell Johnson played as a senior bowler with Brett Lee. Pity no test nation was able to give a proper thrashing to the teams of Taylor and Waugh. Wins here and there, but...

 

[stefan9]

Rapport says vincent barnes was initially asked to take the side to india but when he demanded that smith,boucher and snape be sacked the board changed their minds. After that he wanted to resign but realised his contract didn't offer the same severance as arthur's did. Van Zyl only agreed to it if he could bring wessels along. Ntini was a big issue, the board felt he was an exception and should have played.

 

[Ou grote]

Sadly we reached no 1 when Australia had lost Gilchrist, Warne and McGrath, and 15 test veteran Mitchell Johnson played as a senior bowler with Brett Lee. Pity no test nation was able to give a proper thrashing to the teams of Taylor and Waugh. Wins here and there, but...

Sadly Australia got to #1 after Viv Richards etc etc retired.

 

[Submolecule]

I'm busy reading the article too, very interesting article indeed. Ill post a bit later after I have finished reading it through.

 

[OzzieCapie]

Rapport says vincent barnes was initially asked to take the side to india but when he demanded that smith,boucher and snape be sacked the board changed their minds. After that he wanted to resign but realised his contract didn't offer the same severance as arthur's did. Van Zyl only agreed to it if he could bring wessels along. Ntini was a big issue, the board felt he was an exception and should have played.

Its the' Rapport', so therefore we can discount all of those.

 

[Devill]

Rapport says vincent barnes was initially asked to take the side to india but when he demanded that smith,boucher and snape be sacked the board changed their minds. After that he wanted to resign but realised his contract didn't offer the same severance as arthur's did. Van Zyl only agreed to it if he could bring wessels along. Ntini was a big issue, the board felt he was an exception and should have played.

]

The board is scared of whole scale change. But I would also not sack smith and boucher. I do however feel ntini was dropped for valid reasons.

Sadly Australia got to #1 after Viv Richards etc etc retired.

LOL