Proteas vs West Indies: 2014/15

[MickeyD]

His runs column is seldom the major concern. The fact that he only occupied the crease for just 8 deliveries should be the primary concern.

He appears to have become arrogant. Maybe a game as 12th man will bring him down to Earth.

 

[WaxLyrical]

We're going to need a new set of openers very soon. Don't see the current pair as a long term solution.

 

[ZCFOutkast]

He appears to have become arrogant. Maybe a game as 12th man will bring him down to Earth.

But one must blame CSA for that not Faf himself. He was given a lot of authority far too soon despite doing little. You never saw JP get even after his initial exploits in AUS while replacing Prince.

 

[ZCFOutkast]

We're going to need a new set of openers very soon. Don't see the current pair as a long term solution.

The fact that they are the best batsmen and it leaves the team exposed if they fall should not discourage moves to make them open. I stand by my argument that for the Proteas to remain a top side those two must open. Right now Alviro is the best of the rest. Send him to Sunfoil Series and he'll simply score tons of runs just as he does in County cricket. Problem is he's not an opener. Plain&simple. SvZ, Rossouw, Bavuma, Elgar etc are nowhere near his class and won't be for some time. They don;t have his range of shots, and we'd be wasting a player with another 3 excellent seasons at the top.

I don't see the logic behind selecting these young batsmen and batting then above Amla&AB. Look at Steve Smith, made captain and he says I'll move up and bat at 4. AB minus captaincy&the gloves still bats 5, sometimes dropping himself lower. Amla gets captaincy and he decides I'll go down to four. AUS&ENG promote other senior players when icons are absent (Clarke&KP), while with Proteas it's Amla down to make up for loss of Kallis, while AB provides additional cover since Smith was also a "big" loss. Absolute nonsense!

TESTS: Amla(c), AB, Faf, Alviro, JP, QdK(wk), Farhaan, Philander, Steyn, Tsotsobe, Piedt

[ODIS: Amla, AB(c), Faf, JP, QdK(wk), Miller, Farhaan, Philander, Steyn, Tsotsobe, Phangiso]

I refuse to believe SvZ was a better option than Farhaan right now. Since their debuts in various formats Faf, Elgar, Rossouw, Miller and the seamer Abbott have all been average. I don't think SvZ will be any different, and doubt his bowling will be as good as Farhaan. Let's see how Morkel goes. It's always a win-win situation for him. If he's not taking wickets, he's softening the batsmen up for Philander&Steyn. Who on this earth wouldn't want to be Morne Morkel?

 

[WaxLyrical]

The fact that they are the best batsmen and it leaves the team exposed if they fall should not discourage moves to make them open. I stand by my argument that for the Proteas to remain a top side those two must open. Right now Alviro is the best of the rest. Send him to Sunfoil Series and he'll simply score tons of runs just as he does in County cricket. Problem is he's not an opener. Plain&simple. SvZ, Rossouw, Bavuma, Elgar etc are nowhere near his class and won't be for some time. They don;t have his range of shots, and we'd be wasting a player with another 3 excellent seasons at the top.

I don't see the logic behind selecting these young batsmen and batting then above Amla&AB. Look at Steve Smith, made captain and he says I'll move up and bat at 4. AB minus captaincy&the gloves still bats 5, sometimes dropping himself lower. Amla gets captaincy and he decides I'll go down to four. AUS&ENG promote other senior players when icons are absent (Clarke&KP), while with Proteas it's Amla down to make up for loss of Kallis, while AB provides additional cover since Smith was also a "big" loss. Absolute nonsense!

TESTS: Amla(c), AB, Faf, Alviro, JP, QdK(wk), Farhaan, Philander, Steyn, Tsotsobe, Piedt

[ODIS: Amla, AB(c), Faf, JP, QdK(wk), Miller, Farhaan, Philander, Steyn, Tsotsobe, Phangiso]

I refuse to believe SvZ was a better option than Farhaan right now. Since their debuts in various formats Faf, Elgar, Rossouw, Miller and the seamer Abbott have all been average. I don't think SvZ will be any different, and doubt his bowling will be as good as Farhaan. Let's see how Morkel goes. It's always a win-win situation for him. If he's not taking wickets, he's softening the batsmen up for Philander&Steyn. Who on this earth wouldn't want to be Morne Morkel?

Suggesting that Amla and AB opening is absurd. And you want Faf to occupy the same spot Kallis and subsequently Amla have made their own.

Worse case scenario, I would rather have QDK open just to see if he can handle the new ball and put the bowlers under pressure.

 

[MickeyD]

SA 226/3 (58 ov)
Hash 79*
AB 86*

 

[karnuffel]

Why is it that our team cannot perform as a unit. we always have one or two players that gets us out of the poop and if they fail the team fails. I dont expect the whole team to always be 100% but currently it feels like 3 or 4 players carry the team.

EDIT: and yes thats my emotional outburst based on nothing but perception.

 

[MickeyD]

SA 249/3 (62.1 ov)

Hash 86*
AB 100*

 

[Hectic]

Congrats AB.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Actually quite glad Faf didn't stay at the crease for too long, we now at least have a chance of scoring some runs at an acceptable pace.

 

[MickeyD]

SA 268/3 (66.4 ov)

Hash 103*
AB 102*

 

[Hectic]

Congrats Amla.

 

[OGroteKoning]

Why is it that our team cannot perform as a unit. we always have one or two players that gets us out of the poop and if they fail the team fails. I dont expect the whole team to always be 100% but currently it feels like 3 or 4 players carry the team.

EDIT: and yes thats my emotional outburst based on nothing but perception.

I agree with your sentiment. We need a proper opening pair who will carry their weight. And we need a proper spinner or two. Having said that, all teams go through this kind of dip. It just seem that we take longer to produce a backup for the key positions and biunce back. Your 1-4 batsmen are very specialised and I don't think they are being "developed" for those positions (Cook, Fothers, Pollock, Kirsten) comes to mind. You need a good wicket keeper who can bat. And stop rotating players. They need to get accustomed to their spots and do so with confidence. I believe AB and # does well because they know they will be the last players that will be dropped (apart from raw talent). They fill their spots with confidence. If you constantly have to prove to the selectors that you are good enough, there is undue pressure on you to perform well and that is often counter productive.

 

[Creag]

Pleased we got through 333/3 without any drama

 

[Creag]

Spare a thought for van Zyl who spent most of the day with pads on waiting for his debut. Great day for SA, the mighty # and AB.

 

[MickeyD]

SA 340/3 (91 ov)

Hash 133*
AB 141*

 

[Dan C]

Good day for SA. We should be in the position to declare by tea tomorrow. (I hope)

 

[stefan9]

I agree with your sentiment. We need a proper opening pair who will carry their weight. And we need a proper spinner or two. Having said that, all teams go through this kind of dip. It just seem that we take longer to produce a backup for the key positions and biunce back. Your 1-4 batsmen are very specialised and I don't think they are being "developed" for those positions (Cook, Fothers, Pollock, Kirsten) comes to mind. You need a good wicket keeper who can bat. And stop rotating players. They need to get accustomed to their spots and do so with confidence. I believe AB and # does well because they know they will be the last players that will be dropped (apart from raw talent). They fill their spots with confidence. If you constantly have to prove to the selectors that you are good enough, there is undue pressure on you to perform well and that is often counter productive.

Both Dale and Hash got dropped, they came back and through performance secured their spots. Some of the others simply haven't secured their spots because their performances haven't warranted a secured spot.

 

[OGroteKoning]

Both Dale and Hash got dropped, they came back and through performance secured their spots. Some of the others simply haven't secured their spots because their performances haven't warranted a secured spot.

I can't recall either being dropped. You might be right though.

 

[Wall]

AB and Amla has were playing some dreamy shots today....