South Africa Domestic Season 2011/12 - Page 2

SeamUp · 19-09-2011, 05:40 AM

NASHUA TITANS

Coach: Matthew Maynard

Former England and Glamorgan batsman is the new coach. Titans have a very strong squad as usual and will look to compete in all competitions. Only real additions are young quick Machant De Lange and fast-bowler Rowan Richards from Cobras (WP) amateur ranks and Harris returns after one season with Lions.

BATSMEN
Pieter MALAN (22)
Jacques RUDOLPH (30)
Henry DAVIDS (31) ROS
Farhaan BEHARDIEN (28) RM
AB DE VILLIERS (27)
Faf DU PLESSIS (27) RLS
David WIESE (26) RMF

KEEPERS
Heino KUHN (27)
Mangaliso MOSEHLE (21)

SPINNERS
Paul HARRIS (33) SLA
Roelof VAN DER MERWE (27) SLA
Shaun VON BERG (25) RLS

FAST/SEAM BOLWERS
Albie MORKEL (30)
Morne MORKEL (27)
Ethy MBHALATI (30)
CJ DE VILLIERS (25)
Hardus VILJOEN (22)
Machant DE LANGE (21)
Rowan RICHARDS (27) left-arm

Youth:
Batsman: David Bunn (19), Regardt Verster (18), JP Kok (18), Lesiba Ngoepe (18) & Jurie Snyman (16) who has won SA U15 cricker of year two years in a row.
Fast bowler: Vincent Moore (17)

brockley · 19-09-2011, 06:57 AM

Isn't conway a somerset lad now,lost cause he will be english soon.

TT Boy · 19-09-2011, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brockley

Isn't conway a somerset lad now,lost cause he will be english soon.

? Don't think so. He played second XI for Somerset last year but hasn't been seen since in England.

Kirk Wernars is probably lost to Sussex/England however. No franchise gig with the Cobras.

SeamUp · 19-09-2011, 08:05 AM

Yeah, Conway just played for Somerset 2nd XI and did well and they would welcome him back anytime supposedly.

Kirk did decently for himself, did expect him to but good luck to him.

SeamUp · 22-09-2011, 04:41 AM

A sign that maybe Rudolph could be getting a re-call to test team.

Martin van Jaarsveld returns as captain of the Nashua Titans

The Easterns Titans franchise has announced Martin Van Jaarsveld as new captain of the Nashua Titans team. Van Jaarsveld replaces Jacques Rudolph, who stepped down as captain after one season at the helm. Martin van Jaarsveld previously represented the Nashua Titans team during the period 2004-2007 and captained the side during the 2005-2007 seasons.

Under Martin’s previous reign as captain, the Nashua Titans were joint winners of the SuperSport Series in 2005-2006 and outright winners in the 2006-2007 season.
Martin van Jaarsveld returns to the franchise having played for Kent County Cricket Club in England since 2005. In 2008 Martin van Jaarsveld was voted Professional Cricketers' Association player of the year after a season of outstanding performances for Kent.

The Chairman of the Easterns Titans franchise, Andy O’Connor said: “We are delighted to welcome Martin van Jaarsveld back home to assume the captaincy. I do not think that we could have found a better candidate to lead such a talented squad during the forthcoming season.”
Matthew Maynard said: “I am delighted that we have been able to secure Martin van Jaarsveld as our Captain for the 2011/12 season. Martin has been a huge part of the history of the Nashua Titans and I am very confident, that together, we can bring back the winning culture and silverware into the SuperSport Park trophy cabinet.

Martin is one of the most highly respected players and captains around and I feel very privileged to have the opportunity to work closely with him.”
Martin van Jaarsveld expressed his pleasure to captain the Nashua Titans team: “I am really honoured to lead the Titans again. My care and history for the franchise run deep in my veins and I am looking forward to working with a very talented squad and the new coach, Matthew Maynard. I know the expectations will be high and hopefully there will be some silverware round the corner.”

SeamUp · 22-09-2011, 04:45 AM

Knights looking to improve fortunes - SuperSport - Cricket

Knights looking to improve fortunes

The Chevrolet Knights hope that last season’s success, when they clinched the MTN40 title, will prove to be just the lift they need as they search for an improvement in their four-day form, Knights coach Sarel Cilliers said on Wednesday.

The Knights may have won the MTN40 series last year but they finished a disappointing fifth in the four-day SuperSport Series with just one win from 10 matches although, in mitigation, it must be pointed out that their season was heavily affected by bad weather during the early part of 2011.

The new SuperSport Series starts on September 29 and the Knights will begin their campaign with a trip to SuperSport Park in Centurion to play the Nashua Titans.

Cilliers, who is entering his third season as head-coach of the Knights, said that winning the MTN40 was a nice start but there was room for improvement.

“If you win a trophy it always helps to settle things down a bit but we can still improve,” he told SuperCricket in Durban where his team was playing a four-day warm-up match against the Sunfoil Dolphins.

“One of the things that we are hoping to improve on is our four-day cricket, especially the way that we play it. We have been working on that and we have strategized around it and made some plans so hopefully we can improve our standings in the four-day format,” he explained.

The Knights’ hopes of making a serious tilt at the SuperSport title have been bolstered by the return to fitness of former Protea, Boeta Dippenaar.

Dippenaar’s presence at the top of the order was sorely missed by the Knights last year and he brings stability to a batting line-up which includes such talented stroke-makers as Rilee Rossouw, Reeza Hendricks, Obus Pienaar and Morne van Wyk.

“We all know the experience he brings,” Cilliers said of Dippenaar.

“He’s recovered very well from his injury and is playing well at the moment. He is one of those guys that can hold an innings together. Guys can play around him and we all know that he is a guy who likes to score big hundreds so he is vital, especially in the four-day format.”

NEW SIGNING

The Knights, in an effort to improve their fortunes in the longer format of the game, have also signed former Dolphins paceman Quinton Friend.

In the last two years Friend has captured 67 wickets in the SuperSport Series and he adds to an already formidable pace attack which includes Johan van der Wath, Ryan McLaren, Victor Mpitsang and Dillon du Preez.

“It’s (the signing of Friend) balanced our attack, given us a few more options as regards our fast bowlers and it adds a bit more sting,” said Cilliers.

“Quinton will obviously add some pace to the attack and it will add a new dimension to our game.”

The Knights’ bowling attack may look formidable but their batting line-up is even more impressive and in Rossouw, Hendricks and Dean Elgar the Knights posses three of the finest young talents in the country while Pienaar was one on the break-out stars of last season.

“We have an interesting set-up in our batting line-up. There are nine batsmen in the squad at the moment so there is going to be some tough competition to get in to the top six or seven places.

“Guys like Dean and Reeza have stepped up and there is also Rilee while Obus scored a hundred and a double-hundred in the last two (SuperSport) matches last season.

All-rounder Pienaar scored two centuries last season which included a 177-ball double-ton against the Titans.

Cilliers said that the 21-year-old Pienaar was a player to keep an eye on.

“When he gets going it’s difficult to contain him and he is definitely a guy that we are looking to use in the different formats. He’s a good prospect for us and is somebody who can give us a bit of an edge in the middle-order,” Cilliers enthused.

Despite all the positives Cilliers does acknowledge that his team lacks an experienced spinner after the decision not to renew Thandi Tshabalala’s contract at the end of last season.

But Cilliers is looking forward to a youngster staking a claim for the regular spinner’s berth.

“I don’t see too many weaknesses around (but) the one thing we lack in our system at the moment is a recognised spinner that has proven himself at the top level.

“We haven’t signed one which is actually a positive for us because there are six or seven youngsters that are on the brink of getting the opportunity of their lives. We are looking forward to introducing them and seeing how they put their hands up for the season. I’m quite excited to see who is going to step up and take that role,” he concluded.

Samuel_Vimes · 22-09-2011, 04:48 AM

I like the Knights side. Don't know why they had to ditch the Eagles nickname (or, indeed, Tshabalalalalalalala).

Go Q.

SeamUp · 22-09-2011, 08:57 AM

Coach has high expectations for Lions - SuperSport - Cricket

Coach has high expectations for Lions

Highveld Lions coach Dave Nosworthy is harbouring high expectations for the coming season, saying that nothing less than ending their trophy drought will do.

The Lions have won just one title - the 2006/07 Standard Bank Pro20 - since the introduction of the franchise system in 2004, but Nosworthy says this season he will no longer be harping on about building a team.

"It's simple, our goal is to win trophies. We've had three really good years of positioning ourselves and now we are where we want to be. The core group is the same, so we have continuity, and we have real depth compared to the other franchises. So now it's just up to the guys to step up," Nosworthy told SuperCricket.

The Johannesburg-based team have been steadily climbing the mountain in domestic cricket, finishing third in last season's SuperSport Series and reaching the semifinals of the MTN40. And their success has been based on a tremendous batting arsenal.

Alviro Petersen, Stephen Cook and Jonathan Vandiar provide an excellent top-order, backed by the experienced Neil McKenzie and Zander de Bruyn, while there is a queue of young batting talents waiting to explode on to the scene in Chris Morris, Quinton de Kock, Temba Bavuma and Dominic Hendricks. The likes of Jean Symes and Gulam Bodi will also be in the mix, while Thami Tsolekile is a fine wicketkeeper and gutsy batsman in the lower-order.

Craig Alexander and Ethan O'Reilly, two marvellous prospects, will lead the quick bowling department, while the likes of Ettiene Gerber, Pumelela Matshikwe, Cliffe Deacon and Shane Burger will be competing for the back-up seamer's role.

Although Paul Harris has returned to the Easterns Titans, Dale Deeb and Aaron Phangiso are two fine young left-arm spinners.

"Craig and Ethan are exciting bowlers and are very much the front-runners to take the new ball, but it will be horses-for-courses and Pumelela Matshikwe, Cliffe Deacon, Chris Morris and Shane Burger are all in the picture as well.

"Apart from losing Paul, we also released Werner Coetsee, but it's time now for Dale Deeb to show what he can do. He turned 21 a couple of weeks ago and he will come through, he'll get better and better the more he plays. Aaron has quickly improved the more he's played the last few seasons, so we have two quality left-arm spinners, as well as Jean Symes," Nosworthy said.

The Lions' first appointment this season is a SuperSport Series match at the Wanderers next weekend against the KZN Dolphins, who have rather jaywalked their way through the last few seasons.

Nosworthy's team is also free of the injury curse that has plagued them in recent seasons, with the coach reporting a 100% fit squad to choose from for their opening encounter against a team who are liberally dipping into the fountain of youth again this season.

"The Dolphins are dangerous, they've gone through a bit of a building phase, but they still have lots of quality," Nosworthy said.

Several former Lions players (Devon Conway, Robbie Frylinck, Tabraiz Shamsi) are in the mix in Durban and Nosworthy says it helps to know their make-up.

"We've lost a few players to them, so we know them pretty well, we know what goes on in their heads, so that's a bonus."

And what will be the Lions' ingredients for success?

"We need to ensure that our strategies are well-thought-through and in place. We'll be going all out to nullify their strengths, but we're not focusing on individuals, but rather the Dolphins as a unit. Looking after the way we play is our priority and we want to manipulate the game to our strengths," Nosworthy said.

Their excellent batting line-up should once again make the Lions extremely hard to beat - they lost just once in last season's SuperSport Series - but they will need to get the best out of their inexperienced bowling attack to challenge for the four-day title

SeamUp · 22-09-2011, 09:00 AM

Titans to play like Sir Viv? - SuperSport - Cricket

Titans to play like Sir Viv?

Matthew Maynard's role-model was the great Sir Vivian Richards and the new Easterns Titans coach said on Monday that his charges would be encouraged to play with the same aggression and boldness as the legendary West Indian.

Richards was the scourge of county attacks when he played for Glamorgan from 1990 to 1993, at the same time as Maynard was the Welsh club's key home-grown batsman, and the ferocity and aggression of West Indian cricket certainly rubbed off on him.

"The person I learnt the most from was Viv Richards, he had incredible self-belief. He could also really motivate within a group out in the middle, and he wasn't even the captain.

"Bold and aggressive, I believe that's the way to play, but the players have to have the skills to execute that brand of cricket. There's no point trying to get a batsman like Chris Tavare [a famously plodding England opener who had a strike rate of 30.60 in his 31 tests] to play like Viv Richards. My job will be to get the Titans players to play as effectively and positively as they can, but in a way that suits their games," Maynard said at SuperSport Park on Monday.

Maynard himself was a renowned shot-player during his career, which included four tests and 14 ODIs, but the 45-year-old did not shy away from the fact that it is the bowlers who will end the Titans' frustrating trophy drought.

"Bowlers are the ones who control games, you just have to look at Australia's attack when they were number one in the world and England now, and South Africa aren't far behind. There's huge potential here at the Titans and we'll have Morne Morkel available for the first couple of games, while Ethy Mbhalati knows exactly where to put the ball. There's undoubted talent in the rest, but they need to learn about bowling plans and executing those plans," Maynard said.

Maynard, who was Duncan Fletcher's assistant coach during the rebirth of English cricket in the mid-2000s, replaces Chris van Noordwyk as the Titans head coach and is aware the post attracted plenty of attention from around the world.

"I finished as director of cricket at Glamorgan last November and I was looking at a variety of posts - Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the Wellington franchise in New Zealand as well. But once I was offered the Titans post, I withdrew from the rest.

"I know quite a bit about this franchise - the standard of their players, the facilities and how stable the whole organisation is - and I fancied an overseas challenge, it was a good move for my coaching career to go abroad.

"I know I beat off some very strong candidates for the post and I know that the Titans' faith in me will be rewarded," Maynard said.

Titans chairman Andy O'Connor put his new coach under extreme pressure when he said he expected 10 trophies in the next five years at Monday's season launch at SuperSport Park.

"There are some excellent players here and a good number of them are used to success, which is identified by silverware. They've been in the hunt the last couple of years and it's my job to turn those near misses around. It's about the processes and decision-making under pressure. They scored 220 in last season's twenty20 final, so that's a game you'd expect to win.

"The mental side of the game is a big aspect, the players need clear game-plans, but that's something you work out with the players. They're not told that by the coach, it's a player-led thing," Maynard said.

Briony · 29-09-2011, 07:33 AM

Rudolph made 80 but Peterson is on 88* in the first innings of the opening to their domestic season.

TT Boy · 29-09-2011, 07:44 AM

Virus first 100 in South Africa for 2 years. Had a decent county season but you expect more from your overseas player than a 42 average and just 2 FC hundreds. Rudolph still might have the inside track over Virus, after having a good A tour of Zim and scoring more heavily in England.

Few runs from Kuhn today. Though he really needed a big score to convince the selectors that they shouldn't go back to Bouch in limited overs cricket and also put pressure on Bouch for the tests.

TT Boy · 29-09-2011, 07:51 AM

de Wet on debut for the Dolphins. Getting a bit of tap, as is Imran Tahir but he can be given a bit of a reprieve as its still September and hardly the sort of conditions suited for spin. Tahir picked a wicket up today with his second ball mind.

Nantie Wayward also back playing cricket after a 2 year absence and is as wayward as ever. Looks like he may have broken down after 5 overs as well.

jan · 29-09-2011, 08:35 AM

Guys, anybody could give a hint where to watch Super Sport Series? Live and online .)

SeamUp · 29-09-2011, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TT Boy

Virus first 100 in South Africa for 2 years. Had a decent county season but you expect more from your overseas player than a 42 average and just 2 FC hundreds. Rudolph still might have the inside track over Virus, after having a good A tour of Zim and scoring more heavily in England.

Few runs from Kuhn today. Though he really needed a big score to convince the selectors that they shouldn't go back to Bouch in limited overs cricket and also put pressure on Bouch for the tests.

Petersen has always struggled in the longer version of the game in South Africa but so do many openers I guess. He really let the bat do the talking today. I am in favour of Rudolph but you cannot drop the incumbent who hasn't been poor in the few games he has had I guess, especially after getting a daddy hundred today.

Its going to be a good battle over the next few years for the opening position. Both Rudolph and Petersen were on our cricket programme the other night and they know they're battling it out for the same position and Rudolph also had very encouraging words about Dean Elgar pushing them as well eventhough he didn't score runs today but he has come off a hand injury himself and scored a fair few hundreds for SA 'A' as well. When Elgar goes big he tends to go very big as well

Heino is a good little player and is no doubt in the reckoning but prob will go back to Bouch for ODI's.

SeamUp · 29-09-2011, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jan

Guys, anybody could give a hint where to watch Super Sport Series? Live and online .)

The longer format of the game isn't shown on SuperSport in South Africa anymore. Its been like that for the last 5 years or so.

Like most games all over the world, the best place is to just follow on cricinfo.

19-09-2011, 05:40 AM	#16 (permalink)
SeamUp State Vice-Captain Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Cape Town Posts: 1,244	NASHUA TITANS Coach: Matthew Maynard Former England and Glamorgan batsman is the new coach. Titans have a very strong squad as usual and will look to compete in all competitions. Only real additions are young quick Machant De Lange and fast-bowler Rowan Richards from Cobras (WP) amateur ranks and Harris returns after one season with Lions. BATSMEN Pieter MALAN (22) Jacques RUDOLPH (30) Henry DAVIDS (31) ROS Farhaan BEHARDIEN (28) RM AB DE VILLIERS (27) Faf DU PLESSIS (27) RLS David WIESE (26) RMF KEEPERS Heino KUHN (27) Mangaliso MOSEHLE (21) SPINNERS Paul HARRIS (33) SLA Roelof VAN DER MERWE (27) SLA Shaun VON BERG (25) RLS FAST/SEAM BOLWERS Albie MORKEL (30) Morne MORKEL (27) Ethy MBHALATI (30) CJ DE VILLIERS (25) Hardus VILJOEN (22) Machant DE LANGE (21) Rowan RICHARDS (27) left-arm Youth: Batsman: David Bunn (19), Regardt Verster (18), JP Kok (18), Lesiba Ngoepe (18) & Jurie Snyman (16) who has won SA U15 cricker of year two years in a row. Fast bowler: Vincent Moore (17) Last edited by SeamUp; 19-09-2011 at 07:36 AM.

19-09-2011, 08:05 AM	#19 (permalink)
SeamUp State Vice-Captain Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Cape Town Posts: 1,244	Yeah, Conway just played for Somerset 2nd XI and did well and they would welcome him back anytime supposedly. Kirk did decently for himself, did expect him to but good luck to him. Last edited by SeamUp; 19-09-2011 at 08:49 AM.

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19-09-2011, 06:57 AM	#17 (permalink)
brockley International Regular Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: australia Posts: 3,383	Isn't conway a somerset lad now,lost cause he will be english soon.

22-09-2011, 04:41 AM	#20 (permalink)
SeamUp State Vice-Captain Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Cape Town Posts: 1,244	A sign that maybe Rudolph could be getting a re-call to test team. Martin van Jaarsveld returns as captain of the Nashua Titans The Easterns Titans franchise has announced Martin Van Jaarsveld as new captain of the Nashua Titans team. Van Jaarsveld replaces Jacques Rudolph, who stepped down as captain after one season at the helm. Martin van Jaarsveld previously represented the Nashua Titans team during the period 2004-2007 and captained the side during the 2005-2007 seasons. Under Martin’s previous reign as captain, the Nashua Titans were joint winners of the SuperSport Series in 2005-2006 and outright winners in the 2006-2007 season. Martin van Jaarsveld returns to the franchise having played for Kent County Cricket Club in England since 2005. In 2008 Martin van Jaarsveld was voted Professional Cricketers' Association player of the year after a season of outstanding performances for Kent. The Chairman of the Easterns Titans franchise, Andy O’Connor said: “We are delighted to welcome Martin van Jaarsveld back home to assume the captaincy. I do not think that we could have found a better candidate to lead such a talented squad during the forthcoming season.” Matthew Maynard said: “I am delighted that we have been able to secure Martin van Jaarsveld as our Captain for the 2011/12 season. Martin has been a huge part of the history of the Nashua Titans and I am very confident, that together, we can bring back the winning culture and silverware into the SuperSport Park trophy cabinet. Martin is one of the most highly respected players and captains around and I feel very privileged to have the opportunity to work closely with him.” Martin van Jaarsveld expressed his pleasure to captain the Nashua Titans team: “I am really honoured to lead the Titans again. My care and history for the franchise run deep in my veins and I am looking forward to working with a very talented squad and the new coach, Matthew Maynard. I know the expectations will be high and hopefully there will be some silverware round the corner.”

22-09-2011, 04:45 AM	#21 (permalink)
SeamUp State Vice-Captain Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Cape Town Posts: 1,244	Knights looking to improve fortunes - SuperSport - Cricket Knights looking to improve fortunes The Chevrolet Knights hope that last season’s success, when they clinched the MTN40 title, will prove to be just the lift they need as they search for an improvement in their four-day form, Knights coach Sarel Cilliers said on Wednesday. The Knights may have won the MTN40 series last year but they finished a disappointing fifth in the four-day SuperSport Series with just one win from 10 matches although, in mitigation, it must be pointed out that their season was heavily affected by bad weather during the early part of 2011. The new SuperSport Series starts on September 29 and the Knights will begin their campaign with a trip to SuperSport Park in Centurion to play the Nashua Titans. Cilliers, who is entering his third season as head-coach of the Knights, said that winning the MTN40 was a nice start but there was room for improvement. “If you win a trophy it always helps to settle things down a bit but we can still improve,” he told SuperCricket in Durban where his team was playing a four-day warm-up match against the Sunfoil Dolphins. “One of the things that we are hoping to improve on is our four-day cricket, especially the way that we play it. We have been working on that and we have strategized around it and made some plans so hopefully we can improve our standings in the four-day format,” he explained. The Knights’ hopes of making a serious tilt at the SuperSport title have been bolstered by the return to fitness of former Protea, Boeta Dippenaar. Dippenaar’s presence at the top of the order was sorely missed by the Knights last year and he brings stability to a batting line-up which includes such talented stroke-makers as Rilee Rossouw, Reeza Hendricks, Obus Pienaar and Morne van Wyk. “We all know the experience he brings,” Cilliers said of Dippenaar. “He’s recovered very well from his injury and is playing well at the moment. He is one of those guys that can hold an innings together. Guys can play around him and we all know that he is a guy who likes to score big hundreds so he is vital, especially in the four-day format.” NEW SIGNING The Knights, in an effort to improve their fortunes in the longer format of the game, have also signed former Dolphins paceman Quinton Friend. In the last two years Friend has captured 67 wickets in the SuperSport Series and he adds to an already formidable pace attack which includes Johan van der Wath, Ryan McLaren, Victor Mpitsang and Dillon du Preez. “It’s (the signing of Friend) balanced our attack, given us a few more options as regards our fast bowlers and it adds a bit more sting,” said Cilliers. “Quinton will obviously add some pace to the attack and it will add a new dimension to our game.” The Knights’ bowling attack may look formidable but their batting line-up is even more impressive and in Rossouw, Hendricks and Dean Elgar the Knights posses three of the finest young talents in the country while Pienaar was one on the break-out stars of last season. “We have an interesting set-up in our batting line-up. There are nine batsmen in the squad at the moment so there is going to be some tough competition to get in to the top six or seven places. “Guys like Dean and Reeza have stepped up and there is also Rilee while Obus scored a hundred and a double-hundred in the last two (SuperSport) matches last season. All-rounder Pienaar scored two centuries last season which included a 177-ball double-ton against the Titans. Cilliers said that the 21-year-old Pienaar was a player to keep an eye on. “When he gets going it’s difficult to contain him and he is definitely a guy that we are looking to use in the different formats. He’s a good prospect for us and is somebody who can give us a bit of an edge in the middle-order,” Cilliers enthused. Despite all the positives Cilliers does acknowledge that his team lacks an experienced spinner after the decision not to renew Thandi Tshabalala’s contract at the end of last season. But Cilliers is looking forward to a youngster staking a claim for the regular spinner’s berth. “I don’t see too many weaknesses around (but) the one thing we lack in our system at the moment is a recognised spinner that has proven himself at the top level. “We haven’t signed one which is actually a positive for us because there are six or seven youngsters that are on the brink of getting the opportunity of their lives. We are looking forward to introducing them and seeing how they put their hands up for the season. I’m quite excited to see who is going to step up and take that role,” he concluded.

22-09-2011, 08:57 AM	#23 (permalink)
SeamUp State Vice-Captain Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Cape Town Posts: 1,244	Coach has high expectations for Lions - SuperSport - Cricket Coach has high expectations for Lions Highveld Lions coach Dave Nosworthy is harbouring high expectations for the coming season, saying that nothing less than ending their trophy drought will do. The Lions have won just one title - the 2006/07 Standard Bank Pro20 - since the introduction of the franchise system in 2004, but Nosworthy says this season he will no longer be harping on about building a team. "It's simple, our goal is to win trophies. We've had three really good years of positioning ourselves and now we are where we want to be. The core group is the same, so we have continuity, and we have real depth compared to the other franchises. So now it's just up to the guys to step up," Nosworthy told SuperCricket. The Johannesburg-based team have been steadily climbing the mountain in domestic cricket, finishing third in last season's SuperSport Series and reaching the semifinals of the MTN40. And their success has been based on a tremendous batting arsenal. Alviro Petersen, Stephen Cook and Jonathan Vandiar provide an excellent top-order, backed by the experienced Neil McKenzie and Zander de Bruyn, while there is a queue of young batting talents waiting to explode on to the scene in Chris Morris, Quinton de Kock, Temba Bavuma and Dominic Hendricks. The likes of Jean Symes and Gulam Bodi will also be in the mix, while Thami Tsolekile is a fine wicketkeeper and gutsy batsman in the lower-order. Craig Alexander and Ethan O'Reilly, two marvellous prospects, will lead the quick bowling department, while the likes of Ettiene Gerber, Pumelela Matshikwe, Cliffe Deacon and Shane Burger will be competing for the back-up seamer's role. Although Paul Harris has returned to the Easterns Titans, Dale Deeb and Aaron Phangiso are two fine young left-arm spinners. "Craig and Ethan are exciting bowlers and are very much the front-runners to take the new ball, but it will be horses-for-courses and Pumelela Matshikwe, Cliffe Deacon, Chris Morris and Shane Burger are all in the picture as well. "Apart from losing Paul, we also released Werner Coetsee, but it's time now for Dale Deeb to show what he can do. He turned 21 a couple of weeks ago and he will come through, he'll get better and better the more he plays. Aaron has quickly improved the more he's played the last few seasons, so we have two quality left-arm spinners, as well as Jean Symes," Nosworthy said. The Lions' first appointment this season is a SuperSport Series match at the Wanderers next weekend against the KZN Dolphins, who have rather jaywalked their way through the last few seasons. Nosworthy's team is also free of the injury curse that has plagued them in recent seasons, with the coach reporting a 100% fit squad to choose from for their opening encounter against a team who are liberally dipping into the fountain of youth again this season. "The Dolphins are dangerous, they've gone through a bit of a building phase, but they still have lots of quality," Nosworthy said. Several former Lions players (Devon Conway, Robbie Frylinck, Tabraiz Shamsi) are in the mix in Durban and Nosworthy says it helps to know their make-up. "We've lost a few players to them, so we know them pretty well, we know what goes on in their heads, so that's a bonus." And what will be the Lions' ingredients for success? "We need to ensure that our strategies are well-thought-through and in place. We'll be going all out to nullify their strengths, but we're not focusing on individuals, but rather the Dolphins as a unit. Looking after the way we play is our priority and we want to manipulate the game to our strengths," Nosworthy said. Their excellent batting line-up should once again make the Lions extremely hard to beat - they lost just once in last season's SuperSport Series - but they will need to get the best out of their inexperienced bowling attack to challenge for the four-day title

22-09-2011, 09:00 AM	#24 (permalink)
SeamUp State Vice-Captain Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Cape Town Posts: 1,244	Titans to play like Sir Viv? - SuperSport - Cricket Titans to play like Sir Viv? Matthew Maynard's role-model was the great Sir Vivian Richards and the new Easterns Titans coach said on Monday that his charges would be encouraged to play with the same aggression and boldness as the legendary West Indian. Richards was the scourge of county attacks when he played for Glamorgan from 1990 to 1993, at the same time as Maynard was the Welsh club's key home-grown batsman, and the ferocity and aggression of West Indian cricket certainly rubbed off on him. "The person I learnt the most from was Viv Richards, he had incredible self-belief. He could also really motivate within a group out in the middle, and he wasn't even the captain. "Bold and aggressive, I believe that's the way to play, but the players have to have the skills to execute that brand of cricket. There's no point trying to get a batsman like Chris Tavare [a famously plodding England opener who had a strike rate of 30.60 in his 31 tests] to play like Viv Richards. My job will be to get the Titans players to play as effectively and positively as they can, but in a way that suits their games," Maynard said at SuperSport Park on Monday. Maynard himself was a renowned shot-player during his career, which included four tests and 14 ODIs, but the 45-year-old did not shy away from the fact that it is the bowlers who will end the Titans' frustrating trophy drought. "Bowlers are the ones who control games, you just have to look at Australia's attack when they were number one in the world and England now, and South Africa aren't far behind. There's huge potential here at the Titans and we'll have Morne Morkel available for the first couple of games, while Ethy Mbhalati knows exactly where to put the ball. There's undoubted talent in the rest, but they need to learn about bowling plans and executing those plans," Maynard said. Maynard, who was Duncan Fletcher's assistant coach during the rebirth of English cricket in the mid-2000s, replaces Chris van Noordwyk as the Titans head coach and is aware the post attracted plenty of attention from around the world. "I finished as director of cricket at Glamorgan last November and I was looking at a variety of posts - Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the Wellington franchise in New Zealand as well. But once I was offered the Titans post, I withdrew from the rest. "I know quite a bit about this franchise - the standard of their players, the facilities and how stable the whole organisation is - and I fancied an overseas challenge, it was a good move for my coaching career to go abroad. "I know I beat off some very strong candidates for the post and I know that the Titans' faith in me will be rewarded," Maynard said. Titans chairman Andy O'Connor put his new coach under extreme pressure when he said he expected 10 trophies in the next five years at Monday's season launch at SuperSport Park. "There are some excellent players here and a good number of them are used to success, which is identified by silverware. They've been in the hunt the last couple of years and it's my job to turn those near misses around. It's about the processes and decision-making under pressure. They scored 220 in last season's twenty20 final, so that's a game you'd expect to win. "The mental side of the game is a big aspect, the players need clear game-plans, but that's something you work out with the players. They're not told that by the coach, it's a player-led thing," Maynard said.

29-09-2011, 07:33 AM	#25 (permalink)
Briony State Captain Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Twilight Zone Posts: 1,972	Rudolph made 80 but Peterson is on 88* in the first innings of the opening to their domestic season.

29-09-2011, 07:44 AM	#26 (permalink)
TT Boy Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: . Posts: 16,321	Virus first 100 in South Africa for 2 years. Had a decent county season but you expect more from your overseas player than a 42 average and just 2 FC hundreds. Rudolph still might have the inside track over Virus, after having a good A tour of Zim and scoring more heavily in England. Few runs from Kuhn today. Though he really needed a big score to convince the selectors that they shouldn't go back to Bouch in limited overs cricket and also put pressure on Bouch for the tests.

29-09-2011, 07:51 AM	#27 (permalink)
TT Boy Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: . Posts: 16,321	de Wet on debut for the Dolphins. Getting a bit of tap, as is Imran Tahir but he can be given a bit of a reprieve as its still September and hardly the sort of conditions suited for spin. Tahir picked a wicket up today with his second ball mind. Nantie Wayward also back playing cricket after a 2 year absence and is as wayward as ever. Looks like he may have broken down after 5 overs as well.

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