CSA worried about crowd attendance...

[Craig]

I would say Trott would struggle to make the South African team as it is. IMO Prince and Duminy are better, and even taking in quotas, they would be good enough to be picked on merit alone, and which they are. It's a different kettle of fish when Justin Ontong was picked to play Test cricket, when on merit, there is no way he should ever of played Test cricket.

Smith
Opener/Prince ?
Amla
Kallis
AB de Villiers
Duminy

Even with Prince opening, there is still no room for Trott. No idea how they would fit Pietersen in if he could still play for South Africa. None of them deserve to be dropped.

 

[marc71178]

If KP had been available I daresay at least one of them wouldn't have got the chance in the first place so the doesn't deserve to be dropped thing wouldn't apply.

 

[Furball]

No idea how they would fit Pietersen in if he could still play for South Africa. None of them deserve to be dropped.

Smith
Prince
Kallis
KP
ABdeV
JP

 

[jboss]

Smith
Prince
Kallis
KP
ABdeV
JP

There is no way that Prince will open (due to domestic form) Elgar will almost certainly make a debut. Amla will be out so more likely

Smith
Elgar
AB(he better perfom here or take the gloves)
Duminy
Prince
Kallis
Boucher
usual......

 

[four_or_six]

If KP had been available I daresay at least one of them wouldn't have got the chance in the first place so the doesn't deserve to be dropped thing wouldn't apply.

Also, if KP had stayed in South Africa he may never have been the player he is today. His whole mindset may have been different, and it may have affected his output hugely.

 

[Uppercut]

Always found it odd how little interest there is in going to tests in South Africa. I look forward to tests there so, so much.

 

[popepouri]

There is no way that Prince will open (due to domestic form) Elgar will almost certainly make a debut. Amla will be out so more likely

Smith
Elgar
AB(he better perfom here or take the gloves)
Duminy
Prince
Kallis
Boucher
usual......

He's already demonstrated that he score in that position. They're not going to change the current lineup for the first test, domestic form or not. Prince is a guy that will find form when he needs it.

 

[Craig]

I don't see Kallis batting at 6 myself.

 

[popepouri]

I don't see Kallis batting at 6 myself.

That's cause the last time he did that was 5 years ago.

 

[zaremba]

Smith
Prince
Kallis
KP
ABdeV
JP

There is no way that Prince will open (due to domestic form) Elgar will almost certainly make a debut. Amla will be out so more likely

Smith
Elgar
AB(he better perfom here or take the gloves)
Duminy
Prince
Kallis
Boucher
usual......

I don't think GingerFurball was actually picking a team for the next Test, TBH.

 

[jboss]

I don't think GingerFurball was actually picking a team for the next Test, TBH.

Sorry I saw Prince and I thought "test". He is not part of our ODI squad.

 

[jboss]

I don't see Kallis batting at 6 myself.

I see him having to move down the order towards the end of his career into a position where a normal all rounder would bat. Such a move would be needed to let the other regulars and long term members get familiar with their positions.

To those that think that Prince will open I say: Remember that it was a temp solution while Smith was injured AND mckenzie was dropped. Smith is back and I think the selectors will let someone like Elgar(who does open and is in excellent form and has youth on their side) open with Smith. AB will start to have to move to no 3 to prove himself as there are a handful of batsman with wither youth, form or experience that are being kept out of squad.

Khan + Amla (if he is left out) are fighting for that place. I think if AB fails this tour at no 3 the selectors will tell him to take the gloves, given the talent that must be left out of the squad.

The bowling is an issue however not because of lack of depth but because of so many reasons why the following players can all make the team.

Parnell: Has youth on his side but poor domestic form yet also had no domestic form before making ODI debut and rose to the occasion. He can also make good runs.
Langeveldt:Experience and consistent.
Morkell:Hitting good form and has done well vs England in last series + age.
Mclaren:Form + age + batting ability.
Tsotsobe:Form + age
Zondeki: Form + age.
Theron: Form + age.
Ntini:Has been promised to play(do not agree with this) for his 100 test cap. He should not make the squad because of his age and form being less than above prospects.

Van the man can also make the squad if the selectors feel risky.

 

[Matt79]

Sorry I saw Prince and I thought "test". He is not part of our ODI squad.

You're kidding right?

The presence of Kevin Pietersen in the squad might also have indicated that he wasn't suggesting a line up for South Africa in either the next test OR ODI.

 

[Langeveldt]

Kust read an article on sports24.co.za CSA is apparently worried about low crowd attendance and I could not be happier. I saw this coming months ago when the IPL was in SA and I think there are a couple of underlying issues here.

1) Over exposure of poor cricket.

The IPL personally bored me to death and was a bit too much cricket for the season. It also hits you in the pocket.

2) Ticket prices

I speak for a lot of South Africans who can not afford the small fortune it costs for prime international games.

CSA are in charge of this. This point is very valid as the next two points I make will further make case for the prices being charged.

3) Most South African die hard cricket lovers are sick of behind the scene alliance of Boucher Smith and Arthur. Mark Boucher is according to most should have been dropped long ago due to his inability to score runs. Whats more is that a lot of people felt that AB was telling the selectors to do by not taking the gloves. Now to a SA fan you probably dont mind how much money it costs to see the best SA team and MANY feel that this is not the best SA team.

We could have a batting line up of
1)Smith
2)Elgar/Some other new batsman
3)Amla
4)Dumminy
5)Prince
6)Kallis
7)AB
8)bowler
9)bowler
10)bowler
11)bowler

That looks good but will never happen because AB is not a team player.

The last point (point4) is that think the public are sick of the quota system and this one is my beef with CSA. Seeing top quality players in the other team because of quota system is bound to p off some people.

Just thought I would share my thoughts behind why this could be so that people here dont think the SA crowd are being funny.

If there is one decent point in here, I can't find it.. Test matches have never been well attended in SA, because like in most countries, test cricket isn't very fashionable.. Ticket prices have never been too bad in PE, and still nobody will watch test cricket.. Just check out the crowds that get pulled for T20 and my point gets illustrated.. As for people not watching because of quotas or because Boucher isn't playing, well I guess people would rather not see the number 1 ranked side in the world whose worst player happens to be white?

Try paying 60 pounds to go and sit in the rain at the Oval in London and you'll realize that, apart from the lack of silverware, the SA cricket fan really has it very good at the moment..

 

[popepouri]

I see him having to move down the order towards the end of his career into a position where a normal all rounder would bat. Such a move would be needed to let the other regulars and long term members get familiar with their positions.

They might tinker with the order in later less competitive series but not this one (unless things become woeful).

To those that think that Prince will open I say: Remember that it was a temp solution while Smith was injured AND mckenzie was dropped. Smith is back and I think the selectors will let someone like Elgar(who does open and is in excellent form and has youth on their side) open with Smith. AB will start to have to move to no 3 to prove himself as there are a handful of batsman with wither youth, form or experience that are being kept out of squad.

Khan was the temp solution more than Prince. You can bet they were trying to find a place for him in the team because he averages over 47. Khan scored 20 and Prince scored 150. It's pretty clear cut, Smith will come back and take the place of Khan who has had a worse season than Prince. Injuries aside, the lineup for the first test will be:

Smith
Prince
Amla
Kallis
AB
Duminy

Want an avatar challenge on that?

Khan + Amla (if he is left out) are fighting for that place.

I don't see what Amla has done wrong to lose his spot.

I think if AB fails this tour at no 3 the selectors will tell him to take the gloves, given the talent that must be left out of the squad.

Doubt it, Kuhn would be first choice. They're not going to put unwanted pressure on his AB's batting when he could be (if he isn't right now), the best batsman in the world.

The bowling is an issue

Something we agree with.

however not because of lack of depth but because of so many reasons why the following players can all make the team.

Parnell: Has youth on his side but poor domestic form yet also had no domestic form before making ODI debut and rose to the occasion. He can also make good runs.
Langeveldt:Experience and consistent.
Morkell:Hitting good form and has done well vs England in last series + age.
Mclaren:Form + age + batting ability.
Tsotsobe:Form + age
Zondeki: Form + age.
Theron: Form + age.
Ntini:Has been promised to play(do not agree with this) for his 100 test cap. He should not make the squad because of his age and form being less than above prospects.

Don't see Langers or Monde getting a chance. Langers is more of a limited overs specialist and Monde is hopeless. I think McLaren might make a late run for a spot so it will be him and Morkel fighting for number 8. Parnell has lost his spot to McLaren in ODIs and he hasn't impressed in first class. He needs to hit some form in the SSS but the selectors will probably let him get more exposure to international cricket via ODIs instead of throwing him into tests right now.

Selectors have ignored Theron so I don't see how he can get a spot unless he has an amazing SA A game.

Tsotsobe will be Ntini's replacement after he gets his 100th cap unless Ntini gets a fantastic run of form in the next couple of games.

Van the man can also make the squad if the selectors feel risky.

Hasn't shown enough in first class matches in fact he can't played in the SSS.

 

[jboss]

If there is one decent point in here, I can't find it.. Test matches have never been well attended in SA, because like in most countries, test cricket isn't very fashionable.. Ticket prices have never been too bad in PE, and still nobody will watch test cricket.. Just check out the crowds that get pulled for T20 and my point gets illustrated.. As for people not watching because of quotas or because Boucher isn't playing, well I guess people would rather not see the number 1 ranked side in the world whose worst player happens to be white?

Try paying 60 pounds to go and sit in the rain at the Oval in London and you'll realize that, apart from the lack of silverware, the SA cricket fan really has it very good at the moment..

1) This article was about the T20 games that were half empty.
2) Because not everyone in SA is upper or middle class some people find a days wage for 3 hrs of cricket expensive. then there is the cost od food and drink at the grounds as well.
3) I spek for myself here and not anyone else... I will not even go watch a free game to support my country when the team is based on a racial selection over one of merit. Why should I support rascism and even worse why should I pay for it? Further more if you wish to make the comparrison between us and England then you should be looking at what english fans get:
A quality team that is half developed by the SA fan's hard earnt money.
A team that is not picked on race.

 

[G.I.Joe]

1) This article was about the T20 games that were half empty.
2) Because not everyone in SA is upper or middle class some people find a days wage for 3 hrs of cricket expensive. then there is the cost od food and drink at the grounds as well.
3) I spek for myself here and not anyone else... I will not even go watch a free game to support my country when the team is based on a racial selection over one of merit. Why should I support rascism and even worse why should I pay for it? Further more if you wish to make the comparrison between us and England then you should be looking at what english fans get:
A quality team that is half developed by the SA fan's hard earnt money.
A team that is not picked on race.

Aren't you the guy who pitched for Mike Proctor in a World XI selection thread recently?

 

[Matt79]

If we're talking strictly about the quota's effects on levels of interest in the game and from that, crowd attendance, surely the quota is likely to result higher levels of interest and participation from the black majority than would otherwise be the case - so medium term it might be a swings and roundabouts situation, and long term of benefit to the level of interest in the game?

 

[Furball]

Sorry I saw Prince and I thought "test". He is not part of our ODI squad.

Learn to read an entire post, it might save you from looking like a bit of a spacker.

 

[jboss]

If we're talking strictly about the quota's effects on levels of interest in the game and from that, crowd attendance, surely the quota is likely to result higher levels of interest and participation from the black majority than would otherwise be the case - so medium term it might be a swings and roundabouts situation, and long term of benefit to the level of interest in the game?

Yes we have seen what theories do to our game. Theory was that more T20 fans will grow the game and yet all it has done is bring little intrest to the true game. Most these fan boys of T20 dont have a clue obout thing such as seclarations etc.

I do not attend T20 becuase it is a fake for the same reason I will not attend a fake "SA" team game. It is a laugh at the game and the history of it. It is also sad that in our country that the one thing that used to unite us is being thrown to the dogs. Could you imagine what would happen in other countries if similiar actions were taken?