We will not agree on this. Faf is simply not as good as RR, period.
Test and T20, sure. but 90% of the times Faf fails at ODI's, his stats speaks for it self. He has a pathetic ODI record for 67 matches. How can our number 3 batsman average 33?, (lets not forget he averaged below 30 his first +-55 ODI's). That's simply not good enough.
Maybe he will surprise in the world cup, I hope he does. I just strongly doubt he will.
I also see Faf maybe not being selected in the ODI team in the near future, unless he starts performing. He has to go to the WC though for his experience.
Rilee needs to be a team regular and directly competes with Faf so the pressure is on.
This is a common problem in SA. Picking players and not using them accordingly. RR was originally brough in as an opener (even SvZ was touted as a player who must come into the team either as an opener or to replace Farhaan as the batsman who bowls a bit, yet Stiaan is k@k slow in limited overs matches). Rilee failed there, now he's being dropped down to 4.
Faf is a middle-order batsmen shunted up to 3 in all formats. True he's average 44 from that position in ODIS after 25 matches, but in 11 matches at #6 he averaged 35 at a SR of 97.
After 34 matches at #6 David Miller average just 32 with an exact same average as Faf - 97!
Now we want to say Rilee is better? Faf is better than both Miller&RR in every position 1-7!!! I don;t see that changing no matter how much Rilee improves.
Rilee Rossouw has never really looked good against quality seamers. So why should he be accomodated lower whereas others are doing ok there?
The best youngster in SA in terms of opening in the Limited Overs matcehs is Reeza Hendricks. After Rilee failed why shouldn't he have gotten his chance there instead? Fair enough RR was in the CWC squad so it's a case of making the most of the situation.
However I firmly believe that
Amla, QdK, Faf, AB, Miller, JP, Farhaan, Philander, Steyn Morkel, Tahir is the chosen first XI. They will stick to that and I beileve QdK will fail big time. When that happens I don't think he should be dropped completely from the squad. AB can keep while he travels as reserve. R
eeza should be given a similarly long run there at least 15 innings (just like QdK&RR).
That should be the only change because I don't see Farhaan failing in this CWC. If he does then Wiese is already pencilled in as his replacedment.
As for Parnell people should stop avoiding the issue. If he continues to do well the equation is simple - Morkel OUT, Parnell IN!
We should stop this habit of shifting players to accomodate certain preferences out of convenience.
RR failed where there's a potential vacancy. He must go back to domestic!
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