***Official*** South Africa in Australia 2012

[benchmark00]

Originally Posted by Prince EWS

Can't actually remember who said it - I want to say Ponting but that doesn't seem right - but I believe someone in the Australian setup the top six was basically set in cement for the South Africa Tests and would be reviewed after that, so I'd be really surprised if Cowan was dropped for Haddin before the series.

Yes it was p00ntang.

[Spikey]

but we all took it as merely supporting cowan

(and i guess it should be noted cowan had a much worse start to the shield season last season)

[Briony]

Originally Posted by Spikey

i've got the suicide pact drawn up - if duminy scores a ton in the series, we all kill ourselves. godspeed

He played a few important innings in the England series and made a ton when he replaced Kallis in NZ.

[Quaggas]

One does not replace Kallis

[ProteasFan]

I think our team pretty much picks itself. The only position up for grabs is the wicketkeeper. Do we play AB as a specialist batsman? If we do, who will lose out to Thami? I think Rudolph will not make it. I think Duminy has improved alot in the last year and I feel that he is starting to come of age. I am expecting big things from him during our summer season.

My expected team for the first test:
Smith
Petersen
Amla
Kallis
AB
Duminy
Thami
Philander
Steyn
Morkel
Tahir


Also, just some interesting stuff to know. Steyn needs 13 wickets to reach 300 wickets. If he gets it in the 3rd test, he will reach it in 60 tests. Brilliant!

Also, Amla is 54 runs away from 5000 runs. expect him to reach that during this series.

[Hurricane]

Originally Posted by Quaggas

One does not replace Kallis

haha

[NUFAN]

Originally Posted by ProteasFan

Also, Amla is 54 runs away from 5000 runs. expect him to reach that during this series.

Paying $1.0001 at the moment on NUFBET.

Would be a pretty big (and welcome) surprise if he doesn't get there at the GABBA..

[Briony]

Originally Posted by ProteasFan

I think our team pretty much picks itself. The only position up for grabs is the wicketkeeper. Do we play AB as a specialist batsman? If we do, who will lose out to Thami? I think Rudolph will not make it. I think Duminy has improved alot in the last year and I feel that he is starting to come of age. I am expecting big things from him during our summer season.

My expected team for the first test:
Smith
Petersen
Amla
Kallis
AB
Duminy
Thami
Philander
Steyn
Morkel
Tahir


Also, just some interesting stuff to know. Steyn needs 13 wickets to reach 300 wickets. If he gets it in the 3rd test, he will reach it in 60 tests. Brilliant!

Also, Amla is 54 runs away from 5000 runs. expect him to reach that during this series.

Saw that Thami guy keeping in the CL the other night. Didn't look that flash to be honest. Obviously struggling in the wicketkeeping stakes if he's the best SA's got. Batting record doesn't look great either. Would be an Aussie bonus if he played.

[howardj]

Barn burner of a series

Frothin

[Marius]

Originally Posted by ProteasFan

I think our team pretty much picks itself. The only position up for grabs is the wicketkeeper. Do we play AB as a specialist batsman? If we do, who will lose out to Thami? I think Rudolph will not make it. I think Duminy has improved alot in the last year and I feel that he is starting to come of age. I am expecting big things from him during our summer season.

My expected team for the first test:
Smith
Petersen
Amla
Kallis
AB
Duminy
Thami
Philander
Steyn
Morkel
Tahir

Agreed.

Still not sold on Thami but AB can't be the permanent keeper.

One thing about Tsolekile going to Aus is that it will give Quentin de Kock the opportunity to keep for the Lions which is good.

[Prince EWS]

I wouldn't be that surprised if South Africa just straight up brought Tsolekile in for Tahir for the first Test. They obviously fancied the option of having batting down to seven given the decision to give de Villiers the gloves for the whole series in England, and Tahir isn't going to get much out of the Gabba. Kallis could operate as the fourth bowler and Duminy could prove some spin as the fifth if need be.

I'd still pick Tahir personally and I think that's what they'll do, but the above is an option I don't think has been floated. I certainly think it's more likely than South Africa going in with four specialist quicks (as has been suggested a couple of times) as the quality really drops off after the first three and Kallis is in the side anyway.

[ProteasFan]

Originally Posted by Briony

Saw that Thami guy keeping in the CL the other night. Didn't look that flash to be honest. Obviously struggling in the wicketkeeping stakes if he's the best SA's got. Batting record doesn't look great either. Would be an Aussie bonus if he played.

I don't think you will find alot of South Africans happy with Thami in the team but I don't think we have another "ready" replacement, maybe smit from the Dolphins but he too isn't up to international level IMO.

The long term position looks much more promising with Quinton De Kock. The lad has huge potential as a batsman and he kept wicket an junior level. However, he hasn't been keeping wicket for his Franchise, The Lions, Because Thami is the senior guy, so he has been playing as a batsman.

I hope they fast track Quinton and give him the gloves early in his career, much like they did to Mark Boucher.

[ProteasFan]

Originally Posted by Prince EWS

I wouldn't be that surprised if South Africa just straight up brought Tsolekile in for Tahir for the first Test. They obviously fancied the option of having batting down to seven given the decision to give de Villiers the gloves for the whole series in England, and Tahir isn't going to get much out of the Gabba. Kallis could operate as the fourth bowler and Duminy could prove some spin as the fifth if need be.

I'd still pick Tahir personally and I think that's what they'll do, but the above is an option I don't think has been floated. I certainly think it's more likely than South Africa going in with four specialist quicks (as has been suggested a couple of times) as the quality really drops off after the first three and Kallis is in the side anyway.

I don't even want to comtemplate going in with 3 specialist seamers in the team and Kallis as the back up. If Aus get a big partnership going our bowlers are going to suffer. I love the way Smith manages his bowlers. When our bowlers bowl a spell, they are normally operating at full pace, this is due to Smith's management of his bowlers. A spinner not playing would be a disaster and our bowlers would take a lot of strain IMO.

[sonnench]

The sooner we get de Kock into the NT set up, the better. This dude has crazy potential, and the is already at 19, a much, much better option than Thami.

Hopefully the first two tests go our way so we can give guys like Faf du plessis and Rory Kleinveldt a go.

[Marius]

Originally Posted by ProteasFan

I don't think you will find alot of South Africans happy with Thami in the team but I don't think we have another "ready" replacement, maybe smit from the Dolphins but he too isn't up to international level IMO.

I think Dane Vilas or Heino Kuhn would be decent options, probably better than Thami (at least from a batting point of view).