SA fight for survival
9 Mar 2009
An unbeaten 164-run partnership between Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers has left South Africa with hope of saving the series.
The Aussies added 39 runs in 40 minutes to their overnight total and declared on 331-5, with Phil Hughes eventually out for a career-best 160.
In chasing an imposing target of 546, Neil McKenzie survived an early scare on three when he countered Billy Bowden’s lbw decision. TV replays showed it was too high and after the reprieve McKenzie soldiered on to a patient 31 in an opening stand of 63 with Hashim Amla, before Peter Siddle produced a seaming delivery to break the partnership.
Amla – forced to open due to Graeme Smith’s hand injury – once again looked at ease in his knock of 43 but threw it away due to a lack of concentration. Amla hasn’t struggled to get starts all summer against Australia, and this time he foolishly flayed at a wide ball from Siddle and edged straight to Ricky Ponting at second slip.
Immediately after Siddle then cut a dejected figure as Kallis was dropped first ball by Marcus North at slip.
This miss halfway through the second session proved costly as Kallis and AB de Villiers made the Aussies work for any further reward adding an unbeaten 164.
The new ball is due first thing tomorrow, and this will be the defining period if the hosts wish to save the series against a fresh-again Siddle and Mitchell Johnson.
Australia 352 (1st innings)
Phillip Hughes 115, Simon Katich 108, Michael Hussey 50, Dale Steyn 3-83.
South Africa 138 (1st innings)
JP Duminy 73*, Mitchell Johnson 3-37, Andrew McDonald 3-25.
Australia 331-5 declared (2nd innings)
Phillip Hughes 160, Ricky Ponting 81, Jacques Kallis 1-21.
South Africa 244-2 (2nd innings)
Jacques Kallis 84*, AB de Villiers 68*, Peter Siddle 2-39.
South Africa trail by 301 runs
Click here for full scorecard.
80 Comments
9 Mar 2009, 09:41 am
SA is in “Hughes” trouble.
9 Mar 2009, 09:56 am
Our chances of drawing this game is 30% since their is a 30% chance of rain today and tomorrow in Durban according to weathersa.
9 Mar 2009, 09:58 am
If only we could clone….”sigh”
A squad of 12 JP Duminy’s would’ve been nice… );
9 Mar 2009, 10:01 am
#2 It is just a game: Shame to rely on God of Rain for 2 straight Tests at home to avoid defeat. I suspect Aussies will declare as soon as Hughes gets 150 and bowl them out before any rain comes.
Sort of total anti-climax after glory in Australia.
9 Mar 2009, 10:06 am
… or declare when Hughes finally goes out.
9 Mar 2009, 10:06 am
I really can’t understand why JP only bowled 3 overs???
Anyway…I know it’s harsh, but it seems like there’s some underground things going on, I mean 20 runs from 9 batsmen.
And another thing, why not let 9 batsmen play 20/20 style cricket, let JP bat through the innings and we might have a chance to reach 250 for a change.
And if they then get bowled out for under 150 in an innings, I’ll still support their style of cricket, hehe.
Make JP captain!!!
9 Mar 2009, 10:09 am
#6 Double Edge: Mite as well let the one day squad play the third test with a one day mindset so that they can get some practice.
9 Mar 2009, 10:09 am
#6 Double Edge: That would be nice to see Proteas batsmen trying surpass this huge deficit and going for a win anyway instead of simply trying to protect wicket till 5 day ends or rain comes to save them.
9 Mar 2009, 10:09 am
#4 Nils: I still think Aussies played bad in Australia rather than we playing well. I still think this isn’t our best squad by far. There is some awesome talent out there and in form and they need a chance, like Duminy.
9 Mar 2009, 10:13 am
#7 It is just a game: If we lose this test (which we most probably will and deserve too), then this is the most logical approach, but do we have logical selectors? But the Aussies will most probably do this and still beat us.
9 Mar 2009, 10:15 am
#9 Double Edge: Who would you include in the curreent squad?
9 Mar 2009, 10:17 am
#9 Double Edge: Sure, SA have talents and will get stronger. And so will Australia, some current newbies are looking quite promising.
More good SA-Aus battles ahead.
9 Mar 2009, 10:21 am
#12 Nils: Are you guys watching?
9 Mar 2009, 10:25 am
#13 hater: Unfortunately, this time – no. Could not find any live streaming I can see.
Have to rely on cricinfo.com text commentary.
9 Mar 2009, 10:26 am
Hughes out, Ponting should declare now, if he will be too greedy, he may end up with a draw.
9 Mar 2009, 11:07 am
What’s happening??
9 Mar 2009, 11:14 am
How difficult could it be…#16 Dawn: ons pomp hulle nog al die pad.
Player Runs
BC Lara 400*
ML Hayden 380
BC Lara 375
DPMD Jayawardene374
GS Sobers 365*
L Hutton 364
ST Jayasuriya 340
Hanif Mohammad 337
WR Hammond 336*
MA Taylor 334*
DG Bradman 334
GA Gooch 333
Inzamam-ul-Haq 329
A Sandham 325
V Sehwag 319
CH Gayle 317
Younis Khan 313
RB Simpson 311
JH Edrich 310*
V Sehwag 309
RM Cowper 307
DG Bradman 304
LG Rowe 302
9 Mar 2009, 11:40 am
We will not surrender. Go Proteas.
9 Mar 2009, 13:13 pm
#18 shooter: I like your attitude
9 Mar 2009, 13:16 pm
We’ll have to pick up the run rate a bit if we want to win the match.
9 Mar 2009, 13:28 pm
#11 Corndog: Well, there is players like: Bosman, Van Wyk, Van Jaarsveld, Henderson, Ackerman, Hall, Deacon, Abdullah, Reddy, Dawson, v/d Wath, Kleinveldt that could be considered to be given a chance.
9 Mar 2009, 13:30 pm
And what did Hall do wrong to not deserve his place in the squad? I’m not too sure if he doesn’t want to play tests, but if this is not the case, why not?
9 Mar 2009, 13:36 pm
#21 Double Edge: Players like Van Wyk, Ackermann, Van Jaarsveld have been given chances and just don’t seem up to it at that level. I agree that Henderson and vd Wath had limited chances and might make a contribution to the side. The guys like Deacon, Abdullah, Reddy and Kleinveldt have shown promise but not sure if they are iternational standard. Regarding Hall I have never been a fan even though he has done good things, just don’t like the guy, but that’s just me.
This team has not lost a series since 2006 and are good players each one knowing their role in the team. The changes I would make is Boucher dropped for Prince with AB taking the gloves (it does not matter whether he wants to do it or not). The other spot up for grabs is Mckenzie if he does not perform in the 3rd test.
9 Mar 2009, 13:39 pm
Gggggrrrrrrrrrr. Why why why does Amla choose this moment to lose concentration! And McKenzie…his loss of form after a brilliant run is disturbing. Come on guys, show the grit you did in Australia!
9 Mar 2009, 13:43 pm
It would have been nice to have had Prince’s grit out there. It seems that his behind-the-scenes value has been missed, apart from the presence he gives on the field. Smith made up for this in Australia but his (Smith’s) own bad luck has exposed a weakness.
South Africans needs to remember one thing – it took a while for Australia to really crack through to the No. 1 spot even after they had been knocking at the door for a while. That experience is what built their mental strength. SA need to build on what they have done over the last year and a half, build that mental toughness to challenge the Aussies home and away.
Also, they need to get Morkel firing!
9 Mar 2009, 13:48 pm
23 And Harris out, yes he bowled well yesterday, but that was on a pitch with huge cracks in it. Useless in field, kuk with bat. Bring in Botha, he proved himself in Oz…
We need a left arm seamer… Parnell/Tsotsobe
Its a good start to the day. Lets keep it ticking over!!
GO BOYS!!
9 Mar 2009, 13:52 pm
24 Mike Brass
Agreed, If Smith is sitting out next test, Prince should slot straight back into team.
Im still not entirely convinced by Morkel, think Albie offers more…
9 Mar 2009, 13:59 pm
I still think current form should be considered when selecting a squad. Look at Duminy, he’s the stand out, consistent performer in the squad. And how long did he have to knock on the door before he got his chance?
I don’t say give all of them a chance at once, but look at the current form of 1 or 2 players in the SA squad, drop them and select one of the guys who is in good form. We might just end up with another JP.
This might just let the guys in the squad think twice as well and push them that extra bit harder to perform. I sometimes get the feeling some players are a bit too comfortable with their potition – that they’ve got it, now it’s theirs, no matter how they perform in the next 10 matches. Maybe they just need a bit of a wakeup call and get dropped after 3 bad games to give a youngster a chance.
9 Mar 2009, 14:01 pm
I was impressed with Botha in Aussieland. He offered a lot in his bowling, batting on onfield leadership. Replace Harris.
Albie offers more in the batting stakes but I am not convinced he is as good a bowler in test cricket and we need to maximise the chances of taking wickets. Botha coming in would strengthen the tail for batting anyways.
I would say bring in Prince and Botha for the third test.
A left arm steamer can’t replace anyone right now and Tsotsobe just underwent an operation. Boucher needs to stay. Making too many chancges will upset the dynamics of the team.
9 Mar 2009, 14:02 pm
And if we lose this test, the 3rd would also be a great opportunity to give a few guys a chance, but then again Australia will take the 3rd test as a practise run for the upcoming 1 day matches and we should probably do the same.
9 Mar 2009, 14:04 pm
#29 Mike Brass: Dynamics Shmamics! After a batting performance like the 1st innings, is there any dynamics left?
9 Mar 2009, 14:14 pm
I just wonder what happened to the Proteas on the flight back to SA after their highly successful tour of Australia. I can’t believe this is the same team that beat Australia 2-1 in Tests and 4-1 in ODIs. Are these guys imposters? Were the real team members abducted by aliens on the flight back from Perth? If not I recommend that South African based fans book your tickets for their next Australian tour. Home advantage doesn’t seem to be worth anything to the Proteas.
9 Mar 2009, 14:15 pm
One **** performance does not make a team **** after everything they have done and nor is it cause for panic selections. The latter is a recipe for ensuring we lose the third test!
9 Mar 2009, 14:40 pm
That’s fine by me. If we lose this test we’ve lost the test series. I’d rather lose the 3rd test as well and win all the 1 day matches, than win the 3rd test and lose the 1 day series.
9 Mar 2009, 14:41 pm
#33 Mike Brass: And it’s not one, it’s two.
9 Mar 2009, 14:53 pm
#29 Mike Brass: Yes bring in Prince and Botha for the test at Newlands. We need to bat lower down the order than we are doing at the moment. Right now Kallis and Ab batting really well but if one of them go out we only have JP to come, the rest just add a few runs.
We really need a opener with GS for the future. Thats our problem we don’t have a opener to score the runs.
142/2 at the moment. Would be awesome if we could make a draw here. Just cant see that happen.
9 Mar 2009, 15:02 pm
This match is ongoing and it would be a fine rear-guard action as well as a psychoological blow to the Aussies if the match was drawn.
It will only be two after this match is complete and if SA loses.
The one day side has a different make-up. Saying that a number of changes to the test side and losing the match that way wouldn’t impact on the one day side is silly.
9 Mar 2009, 15:04 pm
McKenzie was that partner for smith. He scored over 1000 test runs in a calendar year which was a fantastic achievement. The Aussies have worked him out but it does not mean he should be discarded. He still has another year or two left in him.
The problem instead is that the selectors need to be grooming a successor to McKenzie as a squad member, ala Duminy.
9 Mar 2009, 15:10 pm
Boucher needs to make a contribution with the bat again, dammit.
9 Mar 2009, 15:21 pm
Im sorry, but as Puma has put it, if JP or Kallis get out the rest just add a few runs – this includes our keeper, Can anyone remember when Boucher made decent runs for us?
Mike, I dont see why if we have already lost the series, some changes could be made. This is the perfect oppurtunity to blood some new players against some serious competition. We usually do that against lower order teams (Bangladesh).
I think by mixing up our bowling attack instead of having 3 fast/medium right hand bowlers will strengthen the attack.
I would give Parnell a run. He captained the younger SA team, so he must have some talent, he got a limited run in Aus,
My team for CT;
Alma
Prince (c)
Kallis
AB (Wk)
JP
Albie
Botha (v/c)
Steyn
Ntini
Parnell / Abdulla
Morne Morkel ??
7 main bowlers. Duminy can assist if needed.
Batting down to 7 / 8 if you decide to lose Morne – cant think of anyone to fill in… Maybe Puttick
9 Mar 2009, 15:23 pm
or Ihmran Kahn – played extremely well against Aussies in the SA Presidents Board XI
9 Mar 2009, 15:41 pm
It is to do with team dynamics. You would break up a team which has been extremely successful in recent times, not lost a series since 2006 and beat Australia in Australia simply because of what might be two loses in a row. To institute the changes you suggest would result in a set back to team dynamics and confidence. You ease youngsters into successful teams against ; you don’t make wholesale changes,
9 Mar 2009, 15:55 pm
Fair enough, but to keep players with the skills that JP has shown waiting in the wings for 18 months is criminal, it makes me think “who else is waiting for a chance to prove himself?”. If we are to become the no1 team in the world we will need to think about the future, and this lies with the younger players. The problem is that we as South Africans dont back ourselves, where as the Aussies will risk putting a 20 year old into the team – and he excels.
We may not have lost a series since 2006, that does not meant that there is no room for improvement in our team.
Plus the changes I made were for players already in the squad, besides the estranged Prince. And the left arm seamer which I think is paramount (abdulla / parnell
9 Mar 2009, 16:09 pm
#42 Mike Brass: NM has to go. No question about it he is just very average at the moment. Now that Smith is injured he will probably still be there for the Cape Town test. Pity as he is just not playing well at all. Bring back Prince. Also play J. Botha he can bowl and bat or play Albie Morkel he can bat and bowl too.
We also don’t bat far down. Once JP is out that is it. The rest just don’t contribute much.
9 Mar 2009, 16:24 pm
Shark, JP developed into the player he is now through exposure to the squad environment, learning off senior players and putting that learning int practice in the lesser provincial competitions. He needed to pay his dues and he did so successfully.
Now they need to follow a similar process with other players, starting with an identified successor to McKenzie.
9 Mar 2009, 16:27 pm
I don’t agree McKenzie should go. He has only played badly against Australia and his average since coming back into the team is good.
He cannot go anyways as it would mean a new opening pair for the third test. It’ll never happen.
I would personally shift De Villiers or Amla to open with McKenzie, and bring in Prince and Botha (for Harris). Botha for Harris is a “like for like” and Prince is a necessary replacement.
9 Mar 2009, 17:21 pm
Good boys! More of the same tomorrow please:-)
9 Mar 2009, 17:46 pm
Mike, you make some valid points. And I agree that we wont being many changes from the line up that is playing at kingsmead. However, Botha’s contribution with the bat and in the field (not to mention leadership) means that he is head and shoulders above Harris in all depts. This is the kid who was banned because the Aussies had a problem with his action. That in itself is enough – its sorta like Cullinan and Warne – any advantage against such fierce competitors is to our advantage.
Yes JP has learnt a lot from our senior players, but he would not have played in Oz if Prince was fit. I dont want players with such talent waiting for someone to get injured to have a shot at the big time. We need to back the youth!
Imran Kahn should play instead of NM – he proved himself in the Prseidents XI. Enough said.
Brilliant performance from our Boys today, Lets keep it going. If we make it through the morning and newball we are in with a shot at the draw!!
9 Mar 2009, 17:51 pm
Botha should come in.
Yes JP had to wait – everyone bar Kallis had made over 1000 runs in a calendar year! You don’t go around dropping those sorts of players for someone who has never been involved in the squad and who needs exposure to cricket of a higher standard than the absymal rot dished at provincal level.
We know who the backup bowlers are. We don’t know who the backup opening pair are and that needs to be fixed. smith will be around for a long time but McKenzie won’t be. Identify and train so the person or people will be fully prepared when they need to step into the breach. There is no one with that capability yet – we need players who will succeed the moment they step into the team.
9 Mar 2009, 17:51 pm
What a performance! I am touched! Well done AB and King!
Maintain this for a full session – if both AB and King survives, they will score 80-90 in it without any problem. That means we have to make 210-220 in 60-65 overs.
Go Proteas Go!
I think its time to keep an eye on Imran Khan, this guy is making runs consistently, he just scored a ton few days ago as well. Elegant lefty can be given a chance for the 3rd test if we lose this Durban test. McK should go!
My team for 3rd test :
Imran Khan
Hashim Amla
Jacques Kallis
Ashwell Prince [ c ]
AB de villiers
JP Duminy
Mark Boucher [ w/k ]
Paul Harris
Morne Morkel / Lonwobe Tsotsobe
Dale Steyn
Makhaya Ntini
Both is an ODI material so…
9 Mar 2009, 17:54 pm
“…those sorts of players for someone…” wasn’t referring to JP but rather to bringing in youngsters to displace established players who have proven records.
It would surprise me if Arthur hasn’t thought of these things on how best to handle an enlarged squad system to ensure the development of backup openers.
I am praying that Kallis and de Villiers can bat for some time tomorrow. De Villiers wants to be known as a great… Well, there is no better opportunity to make your name than now, de Villiers!
9 Mar 2009, 19:51 pm
#50 masudvorajee: Is Imran Khan that Pakistan guy that now has SA citizenship? Not sure. If it is heard he is brilliant. Can bowl spin too.
Well done to Kallis and AB for keeping our hopes alive here.
At 3 they had 142 at 5pm it was 244. Putting on a 100 between them in 2 hours on those conditions was brilliant. If they can survive the first 10 to 15 overs tomorrow with the new ball we are in with a chance. These bowlers are now looking very tired. The heat and humidity will get to them if we can stay in. That pitch though looking like a lot of cracks there now. So hoping Kallis and AB can stay in for as long as possible with that new ball. If they do they could well be in until lunch time tomorrow.
Go Proteas.
9 Mar 2009, 20:17 pm
#52 Puma:
Nope, this Imran Khan was born and braught up in SA only. The guy you were talking about is Imran Tahir. Imran Tahir is a bowler but Imran Khan is a good batting all-rounder. He opens for Dolphins.
9 Mar 2009, 21:05 pm
Only a moron replaces his most economical test bowler (Harris) for a man (Botha) who has no test experience, has been called and stood down in the past for chucking, and who openly states that he prefers ODI to test cricket.
9 Mar 2009, 22:23 pm
Expect some sort of brilliance to spill forth from you Tackler. Im not going to type this again, if you want to see my reasonin, find my old posts. Only a does would keep a fat, slow, useless batsman and a bowler that hardly spins the ball unless the pitch has gone to **** in there team…
Yes he (Botha) openly states the he prefers the ODI, that doesnt mean that if he was given the opportunity to play a test he would turn it down.
9 Mar 2009, 22:47 pm
The South African test team will be strengthened in the next few months with the availablity of Lonwabo Tsotsobe and Imraan Tahir. Unfortunately neither can be selected for the 3rd test. The balance of the SA side is a bit of a problem … the tail starts at 8 and Boucher is not scoring runs. That is fine against mediocre bowling attacks or on the subcontinent but against Australia one needs a bit of insurance down the order.
For the next test my side would be:
Imraan Khan
JP Duminy
Hashim Amla
Kallis
Prince
De Villiers
Boucher
Albie Morkel
Dale Steyn
Morne Morkel
Makaya Ntini
Duminy and Khan to bowl spin
For the next series my side would be:
Smith
Khan
Amla
Kallis
Prince
Duminy
De Villiers (wk)
Steyn
Tahir
Tsotsobe
Ntini
10 Mar 2009, 00:16 am
Tackler, only a fool (aka your racist self) would overlook the claims of a spin bowler who takes wickets and can bat. Botha is the no. 2 test spinner in Arthur’s rankings and the no. 1 ODI spinner.
He has the ability to play test match cricket.
10 Mar 2009, 00:19 am
#55 Travelling Shark: McKenzie isn’t fat or useless – his record over the past calendar year (and since returning to international cricket) makes a mockery of that statement.
Harris did reasonably well in Australia and elsewhere. I just feel that Botha is superior in all facets of play to him.
10 Mar 2009, 00:59 am
I was surprised to find out that AB, Boucher and Graeme Smith are in the top 10 run scorers for South Africa. It’s surprising how few South African batsmen have scored more than 5000 test runs.
If Kallis and AB see us past Lunch then Jaque’s place amongst the greats will be even more assured.
I have a feeling that Kallis will be joined by AB and Graeme in the 10 000 runs group.
10 Mar 2009, 01:23 am
#57 Mike Brass: You pick the number one spinner first, if you need a spinner at all. (And you usually do). You don’t pick the number two spinner, especially if he is untested and unproven at test level.
If you really need another batsman, you pick a genuine batsman. Botha is not a genuine batsman or even a genuine all-rounder. He’s a specialist ODI orthodox bowler. Harris is a specialist test bowler.
10 Mar 2009, 01:27 am
#48 Travelling Shark:
Imraan Khan?
C’mon Shark, remove the provincial bias.
The reality is he made a century, on an absolute featherbed, against the Aussies in a warm-up match, where there was absolutely nothing at stake.
That deos not him a Test opener make, I’m afraid.
Jeez, some of you guys clutch at straws (Psycho included) without thinking. One decent innings on a dead track, against a group of players fresh off the aeroplane and keen to run out the jet-lag and he’s suddenly our answer at the top of the order.
Pathetic. I can think of half-a-dozen domestic openers with better records and form…and not one of them is bashing on the door for selection…Puttick, Petersen, Snijman, Bosman, Gibbs, the list goes on.
That’s our problem, we don’t have great openers…which is why we had to play McKenzie, a natural middle-order batsman, there. Considering all the above, he’s done remarkably well.
But yes, disappointed that he has faled to capitalise on his starts.
I say again, if you’re looking for under performer uber alles, there’s a chap behind the stumps, who has a propensity for uttering such inanities as “Aaaaaaah laaark uuut, Paul, aaaaah laaaark uuut.
But to the present…can we survive and draw, dream big and actually win?
Yes, if Kallis and De Villiers survive the second new ball, the first session; and Smith comes out to bat sooner rather than later. No point when he has tailenders at the other end, he needs to bat with other batsman if he’s to be of any use.
I’m no doctor but let’s get real, it’s a frigging fracture…pump him full of painkillers, strap the fractured finger and send him out if and when the next wicket falls.
No, if we don’t do the above.
Can we still win? Yes, but it would mean everything that needs to go right does. In our favour, the track looks most benign…and remember Kirsten’s heroics against England at Kingsmead, Trescothick and Strauss when following on in 2004.
Of course, history also says no.
And our batting stops at Duminy.
We’ll see…
10 Mar 2009, 04:06 am
As his career is already on the decline, it’s high time Kallis chimes in with his maiden double-ton. Racking up a spate of super-patient average-boosting fifties, sixties and seventies and then going out isn’t good enough.
10 Mar 2009, 04:38 am
#62 TheTackler:
Why would you care a jot about Kallis and his career?
You delight in putting the knife in whenever we falter, running for cover when some of your outrageous predictions blow up in your face.
10 Mar 2009, 04:50 am
#63 Joe Maher: Tackles makes perfect sense to me Joe in his statement above. This might not always be the case but IMO Kallis has been presented with the perfect opportunity to sit alongside the two batting greats of our time by delivering a massive performance to save a crucial Test.
10 Mar 2009, 05:21 am
Punter made a big mistake declaring so late… let’s hope the boys can show some moxie and enforce the draw…
10 Mar 2009, 05:50 am
#64 TASSIES:
I don’t doubt the sense of his statement. It is true that Kallis needs that big double ton to put the icing on a great career; more importantly to deliver a near-impossible victory.
My gripe is that Tackler cares little for his compatriots.. My wish is that if he hasn’t anything decent or constructive to say, he says nothing.
That’s wishful thinking, I know, but this constant crusade to belittle and trash everything South African is purile in the extreme.
10 Mar 2009, 06:35 am
#66 Joe Maher: The key words is great career ,/i> ! He has that already and the double ton will just add to it.
As for Tackles, he has calmed down a lot but I am sure is working his way up towards 2011…I wonder if he had any offers for his revamped caravan yet?
10 Mar 2009, 06:36 am
Oops, buggered that one up…
10 Mar 2009, 08:04 am
jeez! some holy cows are just never to be touched isn’t it.. how much more does neil have to play himself out of the team before some people here agree he has to go? yes he had a good 08 but what does it matter? 10 test innings just one score of 50.. and bar the ton in england what other score of significance has he really made against decent opposition? a coupla centuries against bangladesh dont count here.. as for boucher.. great servant of south african cricket over the years but he really has to score some runs..i would not drop.. but ‘rest’him and give ab the gloves and play prince. now why would anyone wanna drop our best bowler, second only to steyn, in harris i dont know.. and someone dismissed the imraan khan on th basis he scored runs supposedly on a flat track against a jet legged australia.. jeez! what is he supposed to do? not score? is he up for international cricket? i dont know.. but his form suggests he be given a shot
10 Mar 2009, 08:08 am
The Proteas have a opportunity to create history and should take it.
10 Mar 2009, 08:36 am
#69 all round.zn:
Rubbish, what form has Khan showed?
Eff all, he’s not even in the top six openers I’d consider as a replacement…and none of them are banging the door down.
So Mckenzie must go while useless Boucher should be given ‘a rest’.
Get real, another dropped catch yesterday, still no runs with the bat, zero form for the last how many years?
Get rid of the clown, now.
10 Mar 2009, 08:42 am
Actually, the obvious pick for our top order woes is Jacques Rudolph, but he has been so royally phucked around by Cricket SA that he’s now a Kolpak player.
Smith and Rudolph would make a very useful opening partnership, I believe.
10 Mar 2009, 09:42 am
joe.. you obviously didn’t get my drift about the ` rest` boucher statement .. i meant he should be dropped but him being a legend.. the word dropped sounds harsh so used the better sounding word.. but what it boils down to tho.. is him being left out of the team.. dude what do u have against imraan? he has scored a coupla 100s in the supersport series and a few fifties.. someone please get the stats out
10 Mar 2009, 09:52 am
rudolph would be great but then again so would be kp and rathbone and mike catt and all those other south african born sportsmen we cant call upon now.. point is he isn’t available now so we dont have him.. didnt rudolph bat at 3 anyway?
10 Mar 2009, 09:55 am
#53 masudvorajee: Thanks masudvorajee was not sure just saw the name Imran. Then I think if Imran can bat well and bowl thats what we need. A good all rounder. Maybe he should start in the next test.
Lets see how today goes. Hoping we can pull off a draw here.
10 Mar 2009, 09:56 am
#73 all round.zn:
Nithing against Imraan, it’s just that his first class average is in the mid-to-upper 30s.
Hardly compelling, you’d agree, especially when McKenzie’s is in the early-to-mid 40s and he’s being regularly slammed as our weakest link.
10 Mar 2009, 09:57 am
#74 all round.zn:
Rudolph started his career as an opener.
10 Mar 2009, 11:57 am
#77 Joe Maher:
FYI
Imraan Khan is the leading run scorer in Supersport Series cricket this season with 600 runs at an average of 60. He has scored 3 centuries and 2 fifties. In addition he has scored a century against Australia for the SA Presidents team. He was also the leading SA batsmen on the SA Emerging players tour of Australia last year. The reason his first class average is only 38 is because he started his career as an off-spinner batting down the order.
10 Mar 2009, 12:57 pm
58 Mike Brass
a fat, slow, useless batsman and a bowler that hardly spins the ball unless the pitch has gone to **** in there team… From my previous post was referring to Harris. Not McKenzie… Still think NM is not the man to open the side. Bring in Kahn
56 Psycho has the right idea. Perfect team, I wouldn’t change a thing.
Joe Maher. It has nothing to do with provicial bias when it comes to the SA team, grow up a bit…
Kahn may not be the answer and your other options are valid (Gibbs excluded, I dont feel like waiting 10 test for him to find his “form”) but if he is on the fringes on breaking into the team, what do we have to lose??
#78 lol, in your box Joe Maher!
10 Mar 2009, 20:14 pm
#79 Travelling Shark: That spinner “who hardly spins the ball” (as if spinning is a party trick) also happens to be the Proteas’ most economical bowler, conceding under 3 runs an over on a deck so spin-hostile that the best team in the world didn’t even play a spinner.
You really have to get over a fixation on the QUANTITY of spin and realise that it’s the QUALITY of the spin that matters most. Many top test spinners, like Dan Vettori and Anil Kumble also impart modest quantities of spin on the ball, but beguile batsmen with tight control of flight, length, placement and movement in the air to sow doubt in their minds and force hesitant strokes.
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