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

[ProteasFan]

Originally Posted by Marius

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

Dane Vilas went completely over my head. He would be a good choice. As for Kuhn, there's something about him, I dislike, can't tell you what though :/

[marc71178]

Originally Posted by 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.

If he is already a much much better option then how come he doesn't keep when they both play in the same team?

[Prince EWS]

Originally Posted by marc71178

If he is already a much much better option then how come he doesn't keep when they both play in the same team?

I think he meant that he was a better option as a package; not that he was actually a better gloveman already.

[marc71178]

The thing is, if he's not a better gloveman, how is he of much use to the SA team?

Also, by not keeping regularly we have no idea how much of a package he actually is.

[Garson007]

In my mind, to be a full package he'd need a set of balls.

[SeamUp]

Originally Posted by marc71178

If he is already a much much better option then how come he doesn't keep when they both play in the same team?

It's obvious. Thami Tsolekile is a senior figure within the Lions set-up and is a solid keeper so they won't drop him.

Earlier this season Quinton De Kock took the gloves v the Dolphins on a Wanderers deck darting around a bit and did well. In fact go to the 2nd innings and look at the commentary on the dismissals of David Miller & Cody Chetty.

Lions v Dolphins at Johannesburg, Sep 27-30, 2012 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

Then he kept brilliantly at the u19 WC against our pace attack and our classy spinner Prenelan Subrayen. See some good stumpings off Subrayen.

Footage thanks to Kippax :

South Africa U19's Bowling Attack - YouTube

[morgieb]

Originally Posted by marc71178

The thing is, if he's not a better gloveman, how is he of much use to the SA team?

Also, by not keeping regularly we have no idea how much of a package he actually is.

Better package, as he said.

Plus Tsolokie's a more experienced figure. With that said he didn't really impress me when he last played tests.

I think De Kock should move sides.

[uvelocity]

Originally Posted by Garson007

In my mind, to be a full package he'd need a set of balls.

yes! surely someone can change their name to balls

de kock and balls really putting india to the sword here!

[marc71178]

Originally Posted by morgieb

Better package, as he said.

Plus Tsolokie's a more experienced figure. With that said he didn't really impress me when he last played tests.

So if he's a better package, he surely should be keeping for the team then? Screw experience, surely that's all factored into the whole package thing?

[chaminda_00]

If De Kock going to have a serious shot at the National team, he needs to do what Wade did in Australia and move teams. So he isn't held behind a mediocre keeper batsmen, like Wade was with Paine.

[Marius]

Originally Posted by chaminda_00

If De Kock going to have a serious shot at the National team, he needs to do what Wade did in Australia and move teams. So he isn't held behind a mediocre keeper batsmen, like Wade was with Paine.

Maybe he backs himself to make the national side as a batsman?

In that case he is already getting opportunities from that point of view at the Lions.

[Dan]

Originally Posted by marc71178

So if he's a better package, he surely should be keeping for the team then? Screw experience, surely that's all factored into the whole package thing?

If Thami didn't keep, I suspect CSA would send down a message requesting he keep whenever he plays (given he's centrally contracted and all).

Hence why Brad Haddin keeps ahead of Peter Nevill for NSW when they both play.

[marc71178]

Which again suggests that de Kock's keeping is being over-rated on here. If he were as good as is being made out, surely they'd want him keeping as much as possible so as to get extra practice both at it and combining the dual roles?

[sphynx]

This series will mark Australia's rise back up towards the top of the test table over the next 3 or so years imo.

Whilst SA will most likely win it imo, Australia's young fast bowling stocks are looking ominous for the future, and this will be the series that kick starts some of its experience ahead of an Ashes assault in England.

Pattinson, Cummins, Hazlewood and Starc are all among the best young fast bowlers in the world, and they are all of a similar age and will come through together.

They all offer something slightly different as well, Cummins and Pattinson are the genuine fast bowlers, aggressive, tearways; Hazlewood consistently swings it, and is extremely consistent in his line and length, and still gets that 140km/h average; Starc the tall left hander, plenty of bounce, and swings the new ball.

[Burgey]

Really hoping Ponting maintains this form. It's a fantastic prospect having the Saffie attack against him if he's approaching his best. Be great for Australia if he has a terrific subset to his career.