South Africa team selection

[SeamUp]

I like that he has a clear plan. Domingo didn't seem to bring his own approach, more carried on from what was put in place.

If Mulder can nail down the spot at 6/7 and Lucky can improve his all-round game I think we will have lots of options going forward.

One thing I'd like is more intensity from all the players. No more runouts like Maharaj especially.

I must say his bold approach is different and much needed. We've perhaps maybe not optimised our talents by trying new things ? Possibly what you're implying Bahseph ? Excited how things are building with Otis.

 

[Bahseph]

Yeah I think we became stagnant. We lost Kallis and our comfortable team balance went off. Then we got a few injuries and retirements and things just started looking unsettled.

I don't see Gibson making non openers open( Van Zyl or de Bruyn) or making hasty calls on our spinners. I also feel he is less prone to falling to the political game than a local coach. I like it so far.

 

[StephenZA]

Yeah I think we became stagnant. We lost Kallis and our comfortable team balance went off. Then we got a few injuries and retirements and things just started looking unsettled.

I don't see Gibson making non openers open( Van Zyl or de Bruyn) or making hasty calls on our spinners. I also feel he is less prone to falling to the political game than a local coach. I like it so far.

While I agree with the principal of what you are saying. I will give a little leeway to the selection. Most of the quality players at FC level where middle order batsmen, and like many before were given the opening position where we have struggled on and off for many years. Even Markram was encouraged to start opening because it was seen as away to get into the SA side long term (and quite rightly).

I think the best thing Gibson is doing is trying to get our players to back themselves and play more aggressive cricket, which is good, particularly because he was hired as a coach who could give us a World Cup. I just hope we don`t fall into the #intent trap!

 

[StephenZA]

So looking at the squad and considering Gibsons comments, I feel that Morris is likely to play. Does everything Gibson likes; I'm not convinced that is the best idea as I find Morris a little to erratic for my liking. Great LO not sure about tests yet. Considering how we have balanced the team in the past and the more aggressive attitude of the top order batsmen, I think Bavuma is a better choice.

If we play an out and out bowler though, after thinking about it for a bit, I think I would prefer Ngidi over Olivier. Olivier is a medium/fast bowler that really needs movement and should probably be given the new ball; But you can't do that when you have Philander, Morkel, Rabada in your team. Will he add enough as a 4th pace bowler... not convinced. Ngidi however looks good in a 4 man pace attack, aggressive bouncy sort of bowler. Can rough up the batsmen if needed and long run probably has a much higher ceiling than Olivier. So in a 4 man pace attack think Ngidi over Olivier. If Philander/Morkel/Rabada were injured would probably go Olivier as the more experienced bowler.

 

[SeamUp]

Looking at a couple of articles there is a chance Bavuma plays and Maharaj doesn't.

These aren't the normal wickets prepared and like Newlands it is set to be spicy according to some reports.

 

[StephenZA]

Looking at a couple of articles there is a chance Bavuma plays and Maharaj doesn't.

These aren't the normal wickets prepared and like Newlands it is set to be spicy according to some reports.

I truly hope not. He has done everything asked of him and more. Can control an end if needed, been threatening on all the pitches he's played and bring variation to the attack when needed. Great if we consistently bowl India out in 50 or less overs he is not needed, but we can't assume that. Even India played a pacer during the series in India.....

 

[Bahseph]

Am I right in stating that Gibson also wants five bowlers because practically all our quicks bar Rabada have been injured in the past year and a bit? If it's not as spicy as we think who's going to contribute a few overs? Markram possibly. Bavuma?

 

[vcs]

Bavuma could actually be a vital selection on this series where it seems 50 is a match-winning score. Straight swap for Steyn wouldn't be a bad idea IMO.

 

[Bahseph]

I would have loved Bavuma to be walking in when we were losing wickets all over the place. He just needs to learn to cash in when set and he will be a stalwart in our middle order for years to come.

 

[Dendarii]

I would have loved Bavuma to be walking in when we were losing wickets all over the place. He just needs to learn to cash in when set and he will be a stalwart in our middle order for years to come.

Not just when he's set, but when the team is set as well. He seems to have this odd inability to score runs when a big platform has been laid by the batsmen. Obviously, being able to score runs in a difficult situation is valuable, but he can't build a career around only doing that.

 

[SeamUp]

I truly hope not. He has done everything asked of him and more. Can control an end if needed, been threatening on all the pitches he's played and bring variation to the attack when needed. Great if we consistently bowl India out in 50 or less overs he is not needed, but we can't assume that. Even India played a pacer during the series in India.....

I would agree. I suppose we have to trust them to make the call on game-plan and pitch conditions for this series.

This is from News24. It brings both sides to the argument.

Of the 40 wickets to fall at Newlands, 37 belonged to the seamers and that trend looks set to continue on the Highveld.

Speaking after his side’s win on Monday, Gibson made it abundantly clear that he wants to keep playing four specialist seamers throughout the series.

His views on Maharaj, though, were less convincing.

"He is still a very important part of our group, whether he plays or not," the coach offered.

South Africa are likely to go for one of Duanne Olivier, Lungi Ngidi or Chris Morris as Dale Steyn's replacement but they will field four quicks. That much is certain.

Maharaj, though, bowled just 10 overs in the entire Cape Town Test match, and that was without Steyn on the field in the second innings.

If that is going to be the case once more in Pretoria, then it doesn't make much sense having a spinner in the side.

Of course, there is no way of knowing how a Test match will progress. If India do offer more resistance and their batsmen occupy the crease for longer periods, then Maharaj will certainly come into play.

But with four fit and, hopefully, firing seamers operating, would it not make sense to go with the extra batsman instead?

 

[Dendarii]

South Africa are likely to go for one of Duanne Olivier, Lungi Ngidi or Chris Morris as Dale Steyn's replacement but they will field four quicks. That much is certain,

But is it certain? If you look at what Gibson was quoted as saying, it was more along the lines of "playing four quicks is something that will come under serious consideration for every match". That's by no means a definite statement that they will play four quicks at Centurion.

 

[SeamUp]

But is it certain? If you look at what Gibson was quoted as saying, it was more along the lines of "playing four quicks is something that will come under serious consideration for every match". That's by no means a definite statement that they will play four quicks at Centurion.

I also tried to pick up on how definite this was. But then I thought if that was the coastal wicket and we playing India on the highveld when else are we going to look to play 4 quicks ?

This is what Otis said so in essence he doesn't say it exactly out of his mouth that he will only play 4 fast bowlers.

"I'm a very fast-bowling minded coach and I guess we will always have to find a balance to see if we can get four fast bowlers in the team, first of all. We'll look at things like are the conditions suited to four fast bowlers. If not we try and shape the team in other ways," Gibson said. "Ultimately, especially in this series and for the rest of the summer, we will be looking to see how best we can fit four fast bowlers into whatever formula we come up with."

 

[oblongballs]

But is it certain? If you look at what Gibson was quoted as saying, it was more along the lines of "playing four quicks is something that will come under serious consideration for every match". That's by no means a definite statement that they will play four quicks at Centurion.

But they should, shouldn't they?

The team I'd go for is:

1. Elgar
2. Markram
3. Amla
4. AB
5. Faf
6. QDK
7. Maharaj (not sure how useful he is but difficult to drop him from a winning side)
8. Philander
9. Rabada
10. Olivier
11. Morkel

Straight swap for Steyn. Keep up the pace and bounce. India obviously find it difficult.

 

[Dendarii]

I also tried to pick up on how definite this was. But then I thought if that was the coastal wicket and we playing India on the highveld when else are we going to look to play 4 quicks ?

I do agree that the Highveld would be the place to play four quicks. My issue is more around the level of reporting that there's been during this series.

First people were saying that Steyn would miss out because Gibson said he wouldn't pick him as part of a three-man pace attack, then Cricinfo seemed convinced that one of Morris or Phehlukwayo would play, and now they're taking Gibson's statement to mean that four quicks will definitely play. It's one thing to state (or the Steyn missing out) as a headline, but to write future articles based off what the headline and not what was actually said is shoddy journalism.

 

[Stefan9]

Do we really expect better from Firdose?

 

[SeamUp]

I do agree that the Highveld would be the place to play four quicks. My issue is more around the level of reporting that there's been during this series.

First people were saying that Steyn would miss out because Gibson said he wouldn't pick him as part of a three-man pace attack, then Cricinfo seemed convinced that one of Morris or Phehlukwayo would play, and now they're taking Gibson's statement to mean that four quicks will definitely play. It's one thing to state (or the Steyn missing out) as a headline, but to write future articles based off what the headline and not what was actually said is shoddy journalism.

Oh yes. That's for sure.

I remember Cricinfo stating Steyn won't be playing after that Otis Gibson press conference and then they had to change the headline after many probably found fault with it.

 

[Marius]

Do we really expect better from Firdose?

Boggles my mind how she has that job.

 

[Marius]

But they should, shouldn't they?

The team I'd go for is:

1. Elgar
2. Markram
3. Amla
4. AB
5. Faf
6. QDK
7. Maharaj (not sure how useful he is but difficult to drop him from a winning side)
8. Philander
9. Rabada
10. Olivier
11. Morkel

Straight swap for Steyn. Keep up the pace and bounce. India obviously find it difficult.

I'd go with that side, but Morris for Olivier.

When Morris gets it right he's great, and he strengthens the batting. Vern at 7 is a bit high.

 

[Rasimione]

Bavuma for Maharaj and Morris for Steyn,that's how the team will line up. Gibson likes pace and aggression and Morris fits the bill. In the last game Rabada was told to let rip and it showed. He wasn't holding back.