Helped to have such a talented group of players to coach too.
Tbf, they've always had a talented group of players. This may actually be the least talented for ten years in fact, and Arthur has to take some of the credit for turning talent into success.Yup and its not as if this group has had unparalleled success all of a sudden, they have stuck with a core group of talented players, they have had their lows and highs, but they didn't do much chopping and changing and they are reaping the rich divedends now, i think Aussie selectors can take a leaf out of the book of their South African counter-parts.
like some of the australian opposition aren't ? give me a breakMickey Arthur's cleverly turned into a complete wanker, so his captain doesn't have to be & can concentrate on his cricket. It's the SA quota system in action.
like some of the australian opposition aren't ? give me a break
Looking at the South African team from 10 years ago, I'd take Kirsten over McKenzie, and that's probably about it in terms of batting.Tbf, they've always had a talented group of players. This may actually be the least talented for ten years in fact, and Arthur has to take some of the credit for turning talent into success.
Shaun Pollock had a sterling run from 1998 to 2002 when he took 229 wickets from just 53 tests at amazing average of 20!!!Looking at the South African team from 10 years ago, I'd take Kirsten over McKenzie, and that's probably about it in terms of batting.
I'd be interested to see if either Donald or Pollock had a year as prolific as Steyn's 2008 was either.
Pollock's golden run from 98 to 03 had nothing to do with Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe was a reasonably good side during then.pollock's career was like a flash to me, his peak must have came at a time when i wasn't watching as much cricket, because BAM he's played 100 odd tests captained his country and retired. shame really, donald was pretty good, he would have started a lot earlier too if not for the apartheid ban, he would have been ready to go at 22 probably.
i reckon either of them would have had a fat at the season steyn just had though, albeit inflated by bangladesh
In fact, Donald had a stupendous run for 7 seasons starting from 1995-96 to 2000-01, wherein he took 241 wickets from 50 tests at an astounding average of 19.95!Donald's best year was 1998 when he took some 80 odd wickets!
Kirsten > SmithLooking at the South African team from 10 years ago, I'd take Kirsten over McKenzie, and that's probably about it in terms of batting.
I'd be interested to see if either Donald or Pollock had a year as prolific as Steyn's 2008 was either.
You've tactically lined them up though. Smith and Steyn would absolutely stroll into that team. Don't really get how you can say Steyn will never be as good as Donald either. Bit dismissive.Kirsten > Smith
Gibbs < de Villiers
Kallis of 1999 < Kallis of 2001/02-onwards
Cullinan > McKenzie
Cronje > Prince, comfortably
Rhodes > Amla
Boucher = Boucher
Klusener > Morne Morkel with bat and ball
Pollock of 1999 obviously > Ntini by quite some distance
Donald > Steyn by quite some distance and that will NEVER, EVER CHANGE!!!!!!
Harris > Adams
I'd take SA of 1999/2000 over the current team, easily. Australia are weaker, and this will doubtless fool many people into believing that the team that conquered Australia must be better. However, Australia of 2001/02 and 2005/06 would almost certainly beat this current SA team (as well as this current Aus team) easily.
Equally, a side of Hudson, Kirsten, Wessels, Cullinan, Cronje, Rhodes, McMillan, Richardson, Matthews, de Villiers, Donald > both the SA side of 1999/2000 or the current one.
I guess they should be the other way around. The "better than" arrow is right though, so CBA editing.Dicko, have you mixed up Harris and Adams?
I've put comparable with comparable. Best, and left-handed, opener vs best, and left-handed, opener; best seamer vs best seamer; spinner vs spinner (assuming the "you must have variety" crap); etc.You've tactically lined them up though. Smith and Steyn would absolutely stroll into that team. Don't really get how you can say Steyn will never be as good as Donald either. Bit dismissive.