South African Domestic Season 2008/9

[TT Boy]

Hearing decent things, at lease pace wise, about Lions youngster Craig Alexander. Believe he has genuine pace, anyone ?

Alexander has pace, was nippy when he use to turn out for RSA U19's.

Quick bowlers in South Africa are of course Steyn, Morkel but aside from them only Kruger, Alexander, de Wet, Arnold, Abdullah and Zondeki (occasionally) can testify to having any sort of real pace. Parnell is quickish, around the 135kph mark currently and his only just turned 19 so he may develop into a genuine fast bowler and apparently Quinton Friend of the Dolphins has a bit of pace but I haven’t seen him bowl.

But most of the bowlers in South Africa this year are medium pacers or roly-poly bowlers like Philander and Kleinveldt.

 

[TT Boy]

With HD gone, and Prince, Kallis or Boucher possibly playing, that Warriors side looks strong and a possible title contender. On it's day the batting lineup could be de Bruyn, A Jacobs, D Jacobs, Prince and Kallis, not to mention the fast bowlers and international spinning allrounders.

Fancied and still do the Titans but it looks like they have a problem with transformation targets. Rushdi Jappie is currently opening alongside Kuhn but the guy is 23, averages below 20 and I seriously doubt his anything to tell your Mum and Dad about. No wonder the Titans were pissed when Tahir was classed as 'white'.

 

[TT Boy]

Bowlers have once again dominated proceedings…

Close of day two scorecards...

Lions 255 (Petersen 131, Robbie P 2/12, Tsotsobe 2/29), Warriors 263/8 (Davey Jacobs 59, Arno Jacobs 50, Werner Coetsee 2/16)
Eagles 296 (Bailey 91, Zondeki 3/62), Cobras 125 (Henderson 29*, Langeveldt 19, CJ de Villiers 4/32, du Preez 4/48), Eagles 78/6 (Rossouw 39*, Kleinveldt 2/19, Langeveldt 2/21)
Titans 211 (Bodi 62, Friend 3/33), Dolphins 141/5 (Kent 34*, Tahir 5/49)

The Warriors from reports had the Lions on the knees whilst the Jacobs were at the crease. Davey in particular took a fancy to Andre Nel and smashed him to all parts – the pair put on over 100 in nigh on 15 overs until Arno fell softly.

In Kimberley, the Cobras were saved some embarrassment as they slipped to 60 for 8 but Claude Henderson and the tail slogged them to 125. In reply the Eagles top order was blown away with only 18 year old Riley Rossouw currently offering any form of resistance.

In Natal, bad weather meant the day was curtailed early but Imran Tahir still found time to take the first fifer of the season. Two leg-breaks accounted for opener Gobind and Miller whilst HD and Ahmed Amla were bowled (and done) by googlies. Morne Morkel bowled economically (18 overs for 39) but from reports his still struggling with the injury he carried during the England tour and wasn’t particular threatening on a surface which has pace and bounce. A concern for South Africa.

 

[popepouri]

Little has been said about CJ De Villiers. Although I haven't seen him bowl, he seems to take bundles of wickets. What type of bowler is he?

Morne Morkel bowled economically (18 overs for 39) but from reports his still struggling with the injury he carried during the England tour and wasn’t particular threatening on a surface which has pace and bounce.

Morne seems prone to injury. He might have a pull a Shaun Pollock, adjust his action and slow his pace.

 

[Woodster]

Morkel's problems are a worry for SA, he will need to be at his peak for the tour to Australia, however, there is plenty of time before then to correct or recover from any problems.

Imran Tahir seems to be carrying on from where he left off in England. His googly is a very dangerous delivery.

 

[Woodster]

Great start to the domestic season for Alviro Petersen who has made 131 and 120 for the Lions in an intriguing contest against the Warriors. Lions have a lead of 177 runs with 3 second innings wickets remaining. Robin Peterson has picked up a useful 4-39. Plenty on South Africa 'A' keeper Matt Harris shoulders to ensure they achieve a lead they can defend.

 

[Woodster]

All done and dusted at Kimberley, as Cape Cobras have been rolled over for 214, chasing 301. Great start for the Eagles, du Preez and de Villiers doing the bulk of the damage second time around again, 3-28 and 3-70 respectively.

 

[TT Boy]

Great start to the domestic season for Alviro Petersen who has made 131 and 120 for the Lions in an intriguing contest against the Warriors. Lions have a lead of 177 runs with 3 second innings wickets remaining. Robin Peterson has picked up a useful 4-39. Plenty on South Africa 'A' keeper Matt Harris shoulders to ensure they achieve a lead they can defend.

Only the second man to achieve such a feat since the creation of the franchise system.

Robbie P currently has a fifer for the Warriors. Oh dear.

 

[TT Boy]

Little has been said about CJ De Villiers. Although I haven't seen him bowl, he seems to take bundles of wickets. What type of bowler is he?

Haven't seen him bowl but from all accounts his ‘fast’ medium. CJ likes Kimberley though, took a fifer against the Sri Lankans only a few weeks ago which is a fair effort considering the ground is usually a road. Although, God knows what was up with this wicket if non bowlers such as Bailey were getting the ball to zip around.

 

[TT Boy]

The Lions beat the Warriors by 37 runs and the Dolphins/Titans game ended in a draw after rain prevented any play today.

Scorecards…

Lions 255 (Virus 131, Robbie P 2/12), Warriors 311 (Kreusch 85*, Alexander 3/68), Lions 311 (Virus 120, Robbie P 5/60), Warriors 213 (Kreusch 49, Nel 4/51)
Titans 211 (Bodi 62, Friend 3/33), Dolphins 292 (Kent 91, Tahir 5/103)

 

[Langeveldt]

Not a happy start for the warriors

 

[TT Boy]

Ryan McLaren according to Neil Manthrop’s latest article on SuperSport has made himself available for selection for the national side. Interesting part of the story is that McLaren has not been offered a national contract because (senior) players and CSA feel that national contracts should be earned and Paul Harris never was given one for leaving Warwickshire, he had to perform to get one. So McLaren will be taking a huge pay cut to play for the Proteas but he will feature in this months games against Kenya and the Bangladesh series where he will make his test debut.

http://www.supersport.co.za/cricket/columns.aspx?id=6598&headline=Saving+Private+Ryan

The South African ODI squad for the Kenyan games is apparently going to be announced this week but at present South Africa don’t have any appointed national selectors, so it will be interesting to see who will actually be selecting the side.

Just a guess because I don’t know how serious the South Africans are taking it but I fancy we may see a side like this for the series…

Bodi
Amla
Virus
Duminy
AB – w/k
A. Morkel
McLaren
Botha – Capt.
Parnell
M. Morkel
Steyn

Du Preez
Abdullah
Elgar

 

[Marius]

Ryan McLaren according to Neil Manthrop’s latest article on SuperSport has made himself available for selection for the national side. Interesting part of the story is that McLaren has not been offered a national contract because (senior) players and CSA feel that national contracts should be earned and Paul Harris never was given one for leaving Warwickshire, he had to perform to get one. So McLaren will be taking a huge pay cut to play for the Proteas but he will feature in this months games against Kenya and the Bangladesh series where he will make his test debut.

http://www.supersport.co.za/cricket/columns.aspx?id=6598&headline=Saving+Private+Ryan

The South African ODI squad for the Kenyan games is apparently going to be announced this week but at present South Africa don’t have any appointed national selectors, so it will be interesting to see who will actually be selecting the side.

Just a guess because I don’t know how serious the South Africans are taking it but I fancy we may see a side like this for the series…

Bodi
Amla
Virus
Duminy
AB – w/k
A. Morkel
McLaren
Botha – Capt.
Parnell
M. Morkel
Steyn

Du Preez
Abdullah
Elgar

Just posted a thread asking what the situation was with McLaren after reading Manthorp's article.

That's quite an experimental side ythere, but its a possibility, especially seeing as Smith is injured, and they'll probably rest Kallis and Boucher.

And this side will probably still wipe the floor with the Bangledeshis.

 

[TT Boy]

The Bangladesh test series will probably be treated mildly serious so I doubt new faces unless they are going to Australia will feature. Duminy will probably open for Smith if he is still injured, whilst McLaren will replace either Nel or Harris and Ntini may give way to someone else but I doubt say someone like Tsotsobe will tour Australia.

 

[popepouri]

So David Wiese scored a double-hundred on the weekend at less than a run a ball. I'm really hoping he moves on to a different franchise or gets picked soon by the Titans.

http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/southafrica/engine/match/359942.html

 

[Furball]

In an interview with Ashwell Prince in Wisden, he says he's looking to open in List A for his franchise this year - hopefully he'll be a success because Prince is a player I really like watching.

 

[TT Boy]

Early team news for this weeks SuperSport games…

Hashim Amla, HD Ackerman and Jon Kent are all out of the Dolphins game with the Lions at Durban. Amla is still struggling with an ankle injury he picked up in England, HD is going to be a best man at a wedding and Kent’s wife is due to give birth. So the Dolphins have no batting whatsoever to speak off. In regard to the Lions, Neil McKenzie is likely to return.

Herschelle Gibbs is also posed to return this week as the Cobras face the Titans. Gibbs was in court last week so he missed the game with the Eagles. Stiaan van Zyl is the unfortunate guy who will have to make way. Monde Zondeki has a groin injury and will miss the game and the Cobras are apparently struggling to find a replacement due to injuries which have also hit Western Province’s seam attack.
As for the Titans, Albie Morkel is expected to return whilst Dale Steyn is still unavailable.

Makhaya Ntini returns for the Warriors game against the Eagles at Sahara Oval but Mark Boucher and Jacques Kallis are still unavailable for selection. Ntini is likely to replace Sinethemba Mjekula whilst Wayne Parnell is struggling with a hamstring injury and could make way for Rusty Theron. The Warriors team is announced in full tomorrow and opener, JJ Smuts maybe included after two good knocks for Eastern Province last week, whilst the Warriors were once again forced into opening with Johan Botha and provincial player, Michael Smith.

Also an interesting footnote to this week’s games and that is Indian umpire, Suresh Shastri will be umpiring at Kingsmead. Shastri is part of a newly established exchange programme between CSA and the BCCI, which sees Indian officials umpiring in South Africa and South African umpires doing the same in India.

 

[Goughy]

Hashim Amla, HD Ackerman and Jon Kent are all out of the Dolphins game with the Lions at Durban. Amla is still struggling with an ankle injury he picked up in England, HD is going to be a best man at a wedding and Kent’s wife is due to give birth.

Thats terrible. Wouldnt even have been valid when I played club cricket let alone as a pro. Talk about letting your teammates down.

Especially poor form from a senior pro.

 

[TT Boy]

Thats terrible. Wouldnt even have been valid when I played club cricket let alone as a pro. Talk about letting your teammates down.

Especially poor form from a senior pro.

Yeah pretty poor form from HD considering with Amla ruled out, the Dolphins batting relies heavily on him but apparently the Dolphins were aware of Ackerman's off field commitment before he signed on for the season.

The Dolphins have had to recall 35 year old (semi-retired), Doug Watson, who now coaches and plays provincial cricket for KwaZulu inland, 29 year old, Grant Rowley who hasn’t played a first class game in five years and Morne van Vuuren.

 

[TT Boy]

Monde Zondeki has a groin injury and will miss the game and the Cobras are apparently struggling to find a replacement due to injuries which have also hit Western Province’s seam attack.

Well they found one but he hasn't played a first class game let alone a SuperSport game in some years...
http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/44745.html

Also tomorrow will see Makhaya Ntini play franchise cricket for the first time, his never represented the Warriors in a four day game whilst Herschelle Gibbs will play his first SuperSport game in over three years.